Why is Karting so expensive ?? Hmmm lets see!

[Michael Boone]

How much dose in cost to Homologue all that stuff on a kart??? lets find out! Thanks KartMag!




Ok lets play nice children don't make Mr Howden send you to a corner!!

Viva la Karting!!

MB
_________________
If you can't keep up don't worry I'll be coming around again !
KZ 125 Masters
FFSA National race Director
http://www.ask-ancenis.fr/

[Spencer Uzri]

It seems to be human nature to inevitably complicate even the simplest of things - or anything, really.

[Ryon Beachner]

In all fairness the article lists each individual piece of homologated bodywork, then lists the price to homologate the entire set. So, the individual prices can be thrown out. This leaves us with;

Chassis: 6000
Brakes: 5610
Engine: 13950
Carb: 3010
Airbox: 3010
Fuel Tank: 1550
Bodywork: 12040
Suit: 3010

Total: EUR 48,180

This is assuming a single manufacturer is making all of the above, and submitting it for homologation. Which is not the case, however we'll keep it all in one big number to be on the expensive side.

Much like the cost of molds, these fees are all amortized over the production life of the part, and as the CIK homologates each of these things ever 3 years, we will assume that none of these are granted a homologation extension at the end of that three years, again to keep that number as bad as possible.

We will also assume that production is only going to produce enough for one complete kart, and no extras to try and keep that cost up as high as possible, as well as ignoring the fact that multiple brands use the same set of bodywork, same engine, carburettor, etc and do not have to pay for homologation up front.

So, with the production numbers I've heard of what OTK, and CRG produce a year averaging somewhere around 4000 karts a year we then multiply that by the amount of years these products will be in production, and divide that by the homologaion cost to find the cost that is actually passed on to the consumer in each purchase.

4000 x 3 = 12,000
48180 / 12,000 = 4.015
4.015 Euro = 5.0312 USD

So we can reasonably assume that less than $5 of the cost of a complete kart goes to the CIK when built for a CIK class. Even less than that goes to the CIK when the kart is built for a class that does not use a homologated carb, airbox or engine.

I don't think this is why karting is so expensive...
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2Wild Karting
www.2wildkarting.com
Shop: (949) 206-9906

[Byron Rothenhoefer]

For example a new 2012 cr450r with fuel injection is about 8400$. An all new stock Honda shifter kart would be about 11k. Makes you wonder.
_________________
Bear #13
DR Kart
Brian Fisher Racing Engines

[Andy Seesemann]

[Tom Barth]

Karting is not expensive....Formula 1 is expensive.
_________________
Tom Barth
http://www.greenflagkarting.com/

Power is good...more power is better... too much power is just right!

[John Matthews]

Unfortunately karting will remain expensive as long as it's a small marketplace. But, if you really analyze the costs for a season of racing you'll find far more cost in expendables and transportation than base equipment. And, if you're not racing at the top level you can amortize your equipment cost over several years, or buy used equipment at half the price of new.

I actually think it's karters that make karting expensive though. US based clubs don't need to require CIK homologated equipment, and if racers were willing to run lower powered karts with hard tires the cost per event could be quite low. As it stands now, other forms of racing ie. mini sprints or spec SCCA classes are pretty competitive price wise with karting.

But, costs continue to rise because racers are willing to pay extra for an advantage not related to their actual effort in preparation or driving. I wish it was as simple as eliminating the CIK from US racing but if you look at the number of prepped, cut tires in the average dirt oval racers trailer you'll quickly realize the problem isn't just imported. Yes, they do use the same tires all season but they use a lot of them and the prep isn't cheap either.

The big issue is that karting needs to be reasonable at the entry level for new families to get involved. This can and is being done by local clubs that offer classes where folks can get started with older equipment and low powered engines. As long as these classes don't become just another place for the more experienced racers to pad their trophy rooms we might have a chance of keeping drivers long enough for them to get hooked.

JMHO,
_________________
John Matthews
Heartbeat Power, LLC.

[Jon Romenesko]

[Oscar Aguilera]

the tires come into the cost part based on what regional or skusa level races do.

most clubs have a few guys that race regionally and then some of them race nationally...and those guys usually have family or are involved them selves in the club. the natural thing to do is use the same tires that the other levels use. those tire manuf offer $$$ to use there tires and the clubs love money.

IMO the club level should run all the classes on hard tires and only the top level class on softer stuff....we would have better drivers in the end.

it never stops to amaze me that so many drivers that want the grip of softer tires.....only to get more worn out in the heat of the day after 3-5 laps and cant hold the wheel anymore.

and then have tires that will need to be replaced about every race to run up front.

as for mini sprints....the car can be bought used for what a used shifter sells for and a new one is a little more than a new all out stock 125...as for racing expenses...

ITS ALMOST NOTHING COMPARED TO KARTING!

front tires will last all season. left rear will go half the season and the right rear will need to be replaced about 3 times in the year. other than you would benifit from 2 other left rear sized tire and wheel for ease of tuning (stagger)....you wont replace those other sizes more than once for the season.

methanol is $3 a gallon...entry fee is $10 and pit pass is $25-$30 per person.

BUT WE RACE FOR MONEY! $300 to win and the pay out goes down to all that make the A main.

its also less physical in the dirt....no high heat of the sun, we race at night...

i love road courses and i love shifters and all karts on the pavement. but there is no argument for me racing a shifter over a mini sprint when the fields are deeper on the dirt in talent and we usually have a full main of 24 cars. with an occasional b main to boot.


BUT i still own my shifter and i will be back at it when our season is over on the dirt.

my heart is in a shifter...but to race at the level i prefer.(which is the most important part of racing for me)...the dirt is where it is at for me.


here we go again....if an american company built a competitive kart that didnt get homologated.....it should be cheaper?

and yeah i agree some dads or drivers make karting more expensive by buying stuff they might not need,,,,but they do the same on the dirt. that will never change. so imo you cant count that as why karting so expensive.

you can check out my racing videos on you tube at hbs racing or face book at hbsracing@yahoo.com.

i can see and know many a kart racers that could switch to the dirt and clean up if they wanted to.

just my opinion,,,nothing can take the karter out of me,,,there is nothing like it.

[Stu Hayner]

Oscar Aguilera

[Chris Hurst]

delete.

[Chris Hurst]

[Michael Boone]

Chris that's a one time fee for the design of a suit, spoiler etc etc. If you change or redesign it you have to pay again!

MB
_________________
If you can't keep up don't worry I'll be coming around again !
KZ 125 Masters
FFSA National race Director
http://www.ask-ancenis.fr/

[Oscar Aguilera]

the kt100 died for 2 reasons....it was too much constant rebuilding to run at the front and it was too small to pull the weight of the "big boy" americans in this country.

running a bunch of new guys to teach them how to drive is a great idea! but most people dont realize how physical karting is and to get passed by a mini max means your going slow....and to tire out in a $10,000 kart means you dont belong?

it was awesome in malaysia with the rental karts having a pull start kt100 and a dry clutch.....but they were not covered in heavy @ss plastic bumpers. it was for fun and no one could tweak on the kart....as soon as you let drivers "tune" the costs go up. as soon as the field is so close together on the track because of no competitive advantage...the costs go up.

if you want a hobby go buy an r/c plane....if you want a race car then you must want to race...and that is where the pocket book takes over when the body and ability cant make up the lost ground.

i remember when the kt100 costed an arm and a leg and we all found left over 125 shifter motors which required little to no maintenance and went way faster???

if they leave the rules alone you will find all these stock 125 coming down in price...it is already happening. i will stand behind the fact that i believe.....had we kept the full mod 125s and not switched to icc....the costs to get in would be way down as well. i still believe that the price to compete at the top level and have some of these same guys race at the local level will always drive the costs up by drivers having a perceived need to buy more stuff,,,,and spend more money.

the chassis cost so much because they all cost that much... there is no single chassis maker that has decided to lower the price of there kart in order to corner the market...they know they will only sell so many....and they only have so many dealers...

if an american importer decided to lower the price and order 2x more chassis up front for the year 2013....then maybe the price will start to be a factor. they are not going to lower the price if they are not going to get a better break on the buying price.

just my opinion

[Chris Hurst]