New to Karts need some Clarification??

AJ Farmer · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

OK I'm sure this has been brought up before but i am needing some things explained for me. I find the hardest thing to understand is all the classes available for karting. Im a long time dirt track guy but its getting old i am looking for something with a little more action. Classes in the dirt track world for the most part are cut and dry but i find 1000 different classes for karts confusing. SO let get this started.

I have figured out that for the performance I'm looking for I will most likely start out in a TAG class. And then move up to a shifter if its something i wish to do. Here are some things i have wondered about.

1. So what is the difference in a TAG and a Shifter chassis or is there nothing?

2. TAG karts pretty much use a motor similar to like what a crate engine is for cars(stock bone dry with no changes)? And there are several different models which are best according to your total weight, right? What changes can you make to these if any?

3. What engines do shifters use and why the performance difference from the TAGs can they tweek engines in shifter karts and not TAGS?

4. Is the TAG Sr. class the most common for TAG? and is a TAG Sr. class in Missouri the same as a TAG Sr. class every where else in the country?

5. It seems like SKUSA has the TAG Sr. class and its most similar to the WKA Stock heavy? or Which WKA class? I ask because i wonder if its possible to race both organizations with the same kart?

5. Lastly on the SKUSA website they list classes such as s1-s4 all of which I assume are shifters but they use the same engine so what is the difference. And is the only difference in the SKUSA open shifter class and the S1 class the engines?

THANKS TO ANYONE WILLING TO HELP ME!!

Jim Derrig · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:24 am Post subject:

1. A shifter will come with front brakes, a TAG often not. A shifter also will have mounts for the shift lever welded to the frame.

2. Correct. Correct. Various tuners will say they know legal secrets for optimizing performance.

3. Long topic. Short answer: You either run a spec Honda moto engine or a "KZ" kart engine which is a purpose-built european kart engine. Which depends on where you are. You'll figure it out once you're running TAG at the local track you choose.

4. TAG Sr. means you are 16 or older. TAG Masters means you are 35 or older and the minimum weight is greater. These classes are found pretty much everywhere, with small differences from region to region.

5. Difference is skill level, weight and age. "Open" means your engine doesn't fit into the set classes.

Pretty much everyone agrees there are too many classes. Your best bet is to pick a local track and go to a race to see what classes are actually populated in your locality. That should narrow things down a lot.

Jim McMahon · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:09 am Post subject:

AJ Farmer · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

Thanks a lot guys! that helps clearing some things up. Its still all confusing. I dont understand why they would have so many classes seems a little silly to me.

Kerry Matthews · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:24 pm Post subject:

AJ,

I started in sprint racing, racing a TaG (Parilla Leopard) and went to road racing with a Stock Honda. The TaG kart is a PITA. Seems like every time I unloaded it from the trailer, it needed some part. Battery was dead. Starter brushes were bad. Ignition box was bad.

Switched over to running Stock Honda and what a difference! They are bulletproof. New ring & piston every couple of races, and a lower end once a season. Much less maintenence, and to me, a lot less stressful to run.

Now, TaG karts can be more fun to drive on sprint tracks, while shifters are more work to run on a sprint track. I road race big tracks like Laguna Seca, Sonoma, Buttonwillow, Portland, etc. where shifters are the way to go.

And switching a TaG chassis to a front brake shifter can be a hassle.
_________________
Play now, work later!

jeff grose · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 4:27 pm Post subject:

ever played golf, how many clubs can you count in a golf bag,

karting is kinda the same except it cost more and you can't throw a chassis or engine as far as you can throw a club Mad

_________________
jlgracing
#31 Gillard/PDBAmerica
IAME Leopards by P1 Engines
Tag Sr./FKCS/WKA
Driver: Jesse Grose
Remember: "No matter where you go,there you are"

AJ Farmer · Joined: 31 Jul 2012 Posts: 5

HAHA honestly it seems that way its seems like there are way too many things to worry about. Im from Eastern Kansas and the KC Karting clubs isnt too far away and Tulsa isnt that long of a drive either. Im just not sure if there is a big population of Shifter Karts at those tracks. I would hate to get into a kart and not have much of a class in the area to race and the only place to race would be traveling a long distance.[/u]

Juan D Gomez · Joined: 28 Apr 2010 Posts: 272

AJ,

Not sure about the Shifter numbers on the sprint tracks but you should check out Road Racing with KART/MARRS.
The Shirter class averages 8-12 karts and I know who can provide arrive and drive for the shifters with advance notice, if you just want to try it out.
They race right around your area and there are still a couple of events left this year:
Lake Afton (Wichita, KS) Sept. 8-9, and the big one at Heartland Park (Topeka, KS) Oct. 5-7.

PM me if you have any questions.

Juan
www.kart.org
_________________
NTK/LSGP
KART/MARRS
Arrow AX-9 CIK/MISI Parilla Leopard
"Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time"

Sam Jordan · Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Posts: 29

AJ,

I run a TAG out of the Kansas City Area and would also like to plug KART's Mid America Road Race Series. We have several natural and purpose-built road courses within a couple hours drive and always have a very strong TAG field. The KC Karting Association also has a great recently-expanded track in Liberty and there are several TAG Sr drivers that are regulars there.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

SJ

Jim Derrig · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:13 pm Post subject:

Kerry Matthews · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 2:59 pm Post subject:

Good points Jim...

The physical punishment on sprint tracks is why I went road racing. The shifter was just too much on a tight 1/2 mile track, let alone in 100 degree heat. They are much better suited for the big road tracks, although the sprint tracks beat me up in a TaG also.
_________________
Play now, work later!

Carl Beavers · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2012 6:36 am Post subject:

TAG vs Shifter.........started in the TAG class back in 2003 with my daughter and the class would have 12 - 14 karts per race, we ran Rotax Sr/Extreme chassis. The local shifter class was 6 - 10 karts per race.

Came back to karting in 2009 with my step son and the TAG class had diminished down to 3 - 4 karts per race and that included us and the shifter class had grown to 12 - 18 karts per race. So last year on a whim I picked up a nice but older shifter, Swiss Hutless/YZ125 for $1,600, and did a couple of races and had a blast. The YZ125 is competitive with the stock Honda and maybe a little stronger on the low end.

This season running the Shifter and the TAG class I can tell you the Shifters are more robust/durable and a little cheaper to run than the TAGs. Seriously considering phasing out of TAG and moving towards Shifter only. However will continue to run TAG because they easier to drive and the local class would really miss two karts.

Go to your local track and see which classes are popular. You may even like the four strokes.....not my cup of tea but very popular classes and the guys are having a good time.

Chris Foisy · Joined: 23 Mar 2012 Posts: 7

Hitting 6 inch ruts in a turn of a dirt track is physical punishment right AJ....