New to karting.

Aj Massock · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

Hey guys,

Ok so I've decided that in going to actively pursue sprint karting, specifically Texas pro kart challenge. But I need some help, I know there's more than just buying a kart, but there is a deal near me however I'm not sure if it'll work for what I need. Here's a link to the specific kart in question

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/mcy/3497697134.html

What I need to know is if I can take out the 80cc motor out and replace it with the needed Honda 125cc motor for the series.

Tim Blaney · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1127

I'm not seeing front brakes so the short answer is no, you cannot swap the 80 for a 125 and have a kart you can safely get any track time with.

Rob Howden · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:34 pm Post subject:

Hi AJ,

Welcome to eKartingNews.com and our forums. It's a pleasure to have you here and welcome to karting, in general. You're going to enjoy racing with the Texas ProKart Challenge, they're a great bunch of people and the series is growing like crazy.

In regards to the kart in question, as Tim stated, it's not going to do what you need it to do if you want to move to the 125cc class to run in S3 Novice Stock Moto. You'd be better finding a race-ready 125cc kart that is sorted. You didn't mention much about your experience, so if you are very new to motorsports in general, if might be better for you to contact your local shop to see if they have any used inventory. As a newcomer, when you're at the track, they're going to be your teacher, your mentors and your savior when something goes wrong or you have a question. I would recommend beginning a good relationship with a shop from the very beginning.

Buying used is a great way to get into the sport, but you don't want to waste money on useless equipment. Check out our forums here on EKN to see what's available:

http://ekartingnews.com/viewforum.php?f=41

There's a couple 125cc karts for sale on the first page. Scroll through and see if you find anything you like.
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David McDowell · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:35 pm Post subject:

I know this has been brought up many times before. But why start in a 125 shifter if you have never done any karting before. I know it is the biggest and the best but stepping up to that class and not having any driving, tuning, or kart experience might make it not as fun and discourage you from keeping with this great sport.

I personally took this advice and started in a WF to learn how everything works, what adjustments due, how to maintain corner speeds, how to pass, how to drive, and how the kart will kick your ass. I did well and almost won the championship. I feel that if I would of started in 125 or 80 shifter I would of been at the back of the pack and by the end of the year been over the whole karting thing because I couldn't compete.

Just my 2 cents and good luck if you go with 125.

Aj Massock · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

Thanks for your answers,

David what is the WF class?

I have a little experience with kart rentals, and my friends Arrow 125cc but nothing super competitive.

I chose to want to race the 125cc because I want to run shifters and not single speeds. But i also keep hearing to run the lower classes first. Hence one of the reasons I came to the forum before any major purchase

Britt Robinson · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:11 pm Post subject:

David McDowell · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 6:24 pm Post subject:

Wf is a briggs world formula 4 stroke. I saw they dont offer it in pro kart but due at many club tracks.

Aj Massock · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

Clinton Schoombee · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 28

Got to love the what kart to start on discussion.
I started in a shifter finished on the podium at the end of every year as i worked my way up and got to the #1 spot in EKN rankings. I then started my girlfriend in a shifter(her choice) and she become the 1st girl to win a SKUSA championship. Both of us had no prev. auto racing experience.

Its all about what you are interested in and what will keep your interest. Once i had been in a shifter the single speed bored the hell out of me.
That been said the shifter will kick your ass for a coupe months. Twisted Evil

Aj Massock · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

Rob Howden · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:57 pm Post subject:

AJ,

I'm a 20-year journalist and karter, and I still race a four-cycle. They're fun, a blast to drive, and a great way to get in the sport and learn the ins-and-outs. It's easy to buy a good used package, run a year in a four-cycle like the WF, which is short for 'World Formula', a 13 hp single cylinder four-stroke engine. If you have zero racing experience but indoor karting, moving into something a little slower paced than a shifter might be a great idea. But like Clinton said, if you have some knowledge of two-cycle engines, are in pretty decent shape, and will commit to practicing and working on it, you can certainly jump into shifters...it will be a steep learning curve, but you can do it.

If money is tight, the four-cycle class makes even more sense. There's a decent Clone following in Texas that is cheap to get into and will be a strong springboard to help you move up the classes to the shifter categories.
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Editor / Publisher
www.eKartingNews.com
www.eKartingNews.ca
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Cory Ross · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:14 pm Post subject:

I would love to see the stats on the performance of drivers based on what they started with. Those that start in a shifter and how far up they move in the classes and how quickly vs the same for those that start in a single speed kart.

I had to make the same choice a few months ago when I went got into this. I went with a Rotax because with this package I can focus on my driving and working on it and progressing. It gives me fewer things to look at when trying to see why I might be off pace. This is going to give me the best advantage in me reaching the highest skill level I can.

I bought a setup from a regular at the local track I will be racing at. The staff at the track is very familar with the kart along with being a dealer. Any problems it takes all of a few minutes to diagnose and have the new parts in hand if needed. Unlike another guy who bought a shifter kart from craigslist the same time I bought mine. I have not been to the track lately due to winter but for awhile over half the time he had owned the kart the time was spent waiting for parts to get it running again.

Dan Haynes · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:28 pm Post subject:

I raced full sized cars in the early to mid 90's. My son started racing at 10 years old in a Briggs 4 cycle. After 2 years he moved to Yamaha. I drove rental karts quite a few times. I got in his Yamaha jr. can kart and it kicked my rear! Granted, I was out of shape but after 12 laps I had to park it. It felt about 3 times as fast as the rentals.

All that said...there will be cases plead for starting in something slower, and cases made for jumping into the shifter. Not saying it can't be done but the people here will tell you that you are more likely to stay in karting for awhile if you start in a lower powered kart.

My son now races TaG (125cc single speed) but if there was another Sr. class at our track with at least 10 karts we would probably be in that instead. The maintenance on the higher powered karts is quite a bit higher in terms of wear and tear, specifically tires.
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Clinton Schoombee · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 28

Budget and knowledge is a big part. I started on a used kart that no body but my one buddy(also a newb) was running so i had discover what "worked" and what didnt. What "worked" back then would be unacceptable to me today but i did not know any better. I also practiced almost every weekend burning through 5 gal($55) of gas a day and running my tires to the cords.

If i could go back i would run a kart that a local shop was running so there would be spare parts at the track and tuning help.

Also what makes racing not boring is the dicing backand forth. Make sure there are guys to race against.

Aj Massock · Joined: 17 Dec 2012 Posts: 11

Well I've been poking around my "local" track websites. I say "local" cause the closest one is 2 hours away. But none of them seem to have any WF or clone races. It's all shifters,TaG, and stock moto...