NYC race kart noob

sin leung · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

Hey guys, Ive been a long time rental kart racer, just about ready to get my own race kart this year. I know theres quite a few of you out in NJ that races at Etown, but it was NJMP that pushed me over the edge in getting a kart for myself.

Here's some info on myself. Im 25, been a mechanic since I was 17, I do autoX and road racing with my IS300 and MR2. Rental kart wise I have been to Track Attack, New Castle, Lehigh Valley, NJMP, V17, GPNY, and the one in Montreal, all with pretty good results.

A bunch of my friends will be buying karts as well, so there will be friendly competition. I will be looking to compete in races, but looking for some serious speed at the same time. I am selling the Toyota MR2 to make this happen, so let's figure a budget of $3-4g(used), shifter would be nice, front brakes would be nice. What type of racing am I looking at?

Coming from the car world, I am used to seeing and reading comparisons between 2 or more cars. It would be nice if someone can point me towards a comparison between a few different chassis that I would be interested in. I'm 5'6, 140lb, and I like sitting in the middle.

Thanks a lot, looking forward to seeing you guys out there

sin leung · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

I forgot the most basic and most important question, where are some local shops and stores that would welcome me to browse or even try out a few karts before I buy? NY, NJ, CT all okay within reasonable distance to NYC (not going to Buffalo)

Thanks! Very Happy

Toshiya Michimi · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:42 pm Post subject:

Sin,

Try Mike Doty Racing.
http://www.mikedotyracing.com/

Santino Ferrucci · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:08 pm Post subject: www.ovrp.com

Oakland Valley Race Park

only real race track in the new york area. tim hannen from nj is now the boss.

open every day
call tim
www.ovrp.com
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Franz J Reck · Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:54 pm Post subject:

If you want the most competitive TAG racing in the tri state area, come to the Formula 125 class at Raceway Park...We run Parilla Leopard 125 cc engines, spec tires (MG Reds), we allow any airbox, any chassis (front brakes allowed), 380lbs. minimum weight (kart and driver), and we have qualifying (using each driver's onboard system)...This past weekend we had 21 Karts in our grid, and two of Mike Doty's Merlin pilots dominated...
If you want tight, competitive racing with reasonable cost, a Formula 1 karting experience, and lots of fun, come on down to Raceway Park...We have on site Kart shops and engine builders like Action Kart Shop in Woodbridge, and Full Tilt Racing for rentals, Karts, and gear....Mike Doty is there most weekends too!
We're also having the NJ Sprint series this year with three events at Raceway Park, and two events at NJ Motorsports park, comprising a five weekend series....
If you need anymore info, PM me...

Franz
#63 TopKart Formula 125 E Town

JOHN BAIO · Joined: 07 Feb 2006 Posts: 152

WHAT FRANZ SAID. Very Happy

Lewis Cronis · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:56 am Post subject:

FWIW, I would not recommend you get a shifter kart for your first.

I would recommend a TaG or Rotax (both 125cc, single speed, onboard electric start Touch And Go karts).
I would recommend not going with front brakes either (unless you intend on doing some road racing rather than sprint racing).

Visit some local tracks, look at the differences between the various classes and engine packages, ask questions....have fun.

After a year or two, if you feel the need to move up to shifter, go ahead.

sin leung · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

May I ask why a shifter is not recommended? Please consider we are drivers and enthusiasts at heart coming from full sized cars and we are looking to upgrade the experience. We may or may not handle it, would only know when I try one right?

I will be at OVRP on Wednesday. Thanks all.

Brian Mead · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

Welcome to karting and I hope you have a great time. But, Karts are not cars. You may want to consider something less than a shifter. Massive grip and grunt. If you are not used to it, or the kart really starts to bite with a push, its really a chore to move it. Karts in general outdoors are a great cardio exercise, and a shifter is that times ten. Being bobble headed can happen real quick. Not telling you what to do, just don't want someone to be upset to the point of quitting.

Franz J Reck · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:55 pm Post subject:

Sin,
You certainly sound like you have your mind set on a shifter, and your Auto X and car racing experience will take you far, but truth be told, if want to really excell at Karting i.e, outdoor two stroke Karting, you will learn more in a shorter amount of time with a TAG package to start....Here's an idea, and if I had it to do over again, (and was a little younger when I started), I would have bought the best 125cc shifter chassis that I could afford, take off the shifter arm, disconnected the front brakes, and put on a Leopard TAG package....Drive that for a half a season atleast, and if you are turning low 40's at Raceway Park's sprint track, you'll be qualifying up front, and winning races....Then, sell the Leopard TAG package to a new newbie, and then, after you've had some seat time without having to worry about jetting a CR125 or ICC shifter carb., changing a piston/ring every other race weekend....Then choose your shifter engine package of choice and have at it....You will be a smoother driver having started out in a TAG, while still learning the fundamentals of Kart driving, chassis tuning, and racecraft, which is a bit different than racing full size cars...
I can't speak for OVRP, but at Raceway Park, we have on average 18 to 22 Leopard TAG karts in our class every race weekend over the season...The ICC/Shifter class has been declining in participation over the past year or so, but the top three or four shifter pilots there are very dedicated, fast, and very tough to beat....If you started out in a shifter, you might be a bit overwhelmed by not getting up to speed quick enough, and I've seen atleast 5 guys in the past three years that started in shifters, got frustrated, and either quit, or wished they were in our F125 class with a Leopard TAG...
Plus, there are many more National events that feature TAG packages like the Man. Cup, Rotax Max challenge, Stars of Karting, and the Robopong 200....
Not trying to discourage you at all, just giving you some foood for thought!!!
You can rent any type of two stoke kart at Raceway Park with Full Tilt Racing....Keith Raffa has 125 Direct drives,125 TAGs, 125 moto shifters, 125 ICC shifters....Almost everything but a 250 cc Superkart!
You should come down on a Saturday Practice day and rent one of his Karts....You won't be disappointed....
Hope you have a great time at OVRP on Wednesday....

Franz
#63 TopKart Formula 125 E Town

Clark Gaynor · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject:

Sin, before you buy anything, go to a few tracks where you intend to race and see what's going on. Take it from there.
You're young and have been autox ing so a shifter "might" be OK. But I do agree with the other folks, a Tag might be a lot more fun to start out in.

Also, if you're interested in road racing (big/sports car tracks) check out the Woodbridge Kart Club web site. We have two races this season at NJMP. One on Lightening in May, and the other on Thunderbolt in Sept. Our other events are at Summit Point, WV, and VIR.

If you're interested in the big track stuff, drop me a PM with youre phone number and I'll give you a call.
Good luck and welcome to karting---
Clark.

Jim Maxson · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject:

Etown has some of the best tag racing around. The guys in both tag masters and F125 all put on some show.Go and check it out you wont be disappointed.

sin leung · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

Clark, I had WKC in my mind the whole time, big reason why I want a shifter. I saw a few of those videos on the full sized track and yeah, PM on the way.

With all due respect to you guys who race at Englishtown, would it make a huge difference if I said I intend to drive and race on actual tracks like NJMP, OVRP, Lime Rock, or the full sized tracks like what WKC offers. All of these places are much bigger than what Etown has to offer and it might be why nobody at Etown race shifter karts anymore.

Gary Osterholt · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject:

Sin,

Most shifter kart racing is on the decline nationwide.

And the learning curve when getting in karting is HUGE. The way to set them up is completely different than a car.

And personally here's my take on shifter kart vs. tag kart racing.

Shifter kart - fun to drive, but not so fun to race.
TaG kart - still fun to drive, but alot of fun to race. Due to the fact that the racing is normally closer.

Gary

Franz J Reck · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject: