karting takes another slap

Jim Pelletterie · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:37 pm Post subject: karting takes another slap

Just finished reading a story in NSSN about F1 driver Jensen Button where the article matter of factly says he won a varity of karting championships around Europe then in 1998 moved up to "real race cars". I've been involved with karting for over fourty years and always thought of my karts as "real race cars" although just a bit smaller. Some of the best racing I have ever witnessed has been in karting! If it was'nt for karting most of these guys would'nt be able to drive a nail with a hammer.

Daniel Benenati · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

They should have said "single seaters", or "full sized race cars".

Christopher Ragan · Joined: 23 Sep 2001 Posts: 1387

Why would they call it moving up? Twisted Evil

Try 110 mph in a kart on a roval or natural road course. There is no up from here. Very Happy

charles hunter · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:28 pm Post subject:

Who gives a &h!t what they say. I drive for myself and could care less what ANYBODY says. drswamp Exclamation

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shaun stafford · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject:

yeah maybe they should drive this kart before they consider it not a real race car.

http://www.karting1.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3514
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Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

Tom Jensen · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:13 am Post subject:

Seriously guys, why do most kids get into karting? It's not to stay in karting. I remember watching a bunch of karters race the BMW series before the F1 race at Indy a few years back. Those were real race cars compared to a karts. Karting is what it is. It's real racing but let's face it, you might a great kart racer but that doesn't make you a racecar driver.
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John Denman · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:13 am Post subject:

As I recall, Jenson raced the 100cc direct drive karts. While they are pretty challenging on a short track its not quite the same as a shifter on a road course. Most people who have raced both would say a shifter on a road course is a significant step up from a 100cc fixed gear.

People who are looking to move up are generally looking to move beyond karting. Fame & fortune. People who are looking to have fun stay in karting, whether its a KT100 Sportsman class or a 250 winged wonder. Its all about having fun. Don't expect anything more or less.
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Christopher Ragan · Joined: 23 Sep 2001 Posts: 1387

No doubt that F1 is a lot faster, more complicated, more glamorous and only 22 or so drivers get to participate each year. And they don't get to take the car home and clean it themselves. None the less, that is a step up from kart racing. I would also concede that an outlaw sprint car would be an INSANE ride. To be great you have to really get it together.

BUT, a lot of the so called move ups from karting are just not legit. Street stocks on dirt, Showroom Stock, Formula Vee and a lot of the slower classes of road course cars. I have no beef with these classes. They are just not a move up from karting.

Alan Dove · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

What I find quite interesting is when a driver moves 'up' into cars they will tell you how hard it is and how much better it is. Then after about 2-3 years suddenly their attitude changes and they can't shut up about how much they love karting and how cars are boring and the level of competition isn't that high it's just all about money money money... and that's even when they are successful

In terms of driver quality there are no step ups or step downs. Marco Ardigo is considered one of the best drivers of all time... full stop. Just because someone chooses to race cars doesn't suddenly make them better at feeling grip and pushing a vehicle to the limit of adhesion.

Certainly the level of complication and investment goes up in cars but in terms of actual driver quality who knows.

A good karter may not make a good car driver... but when there are so many more factors to being a successful car driver than the actual driving itself. It's very difficult to measure how good a driver is by results alone especially in car racing

I know from personal experience that even guys that finish near the back may have driven by far the better race and demonstrated a higher level of driving ability.
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Kevin Callahan · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:36 pm Post subject:

"Street stocks on dirt, Showroom Stock, Formula Vee and a lot of the slower classes of road course cars."

I started in FV, small bore sports cars and showroom stock before getting into karting. You could say I've moved backwards through my racing "career."

But here's the truth. The first time I drove a kart (KT100 stock with open pipe) I thought WTH have I gotten into? That sucker was scary fast compared to the formula/sports/big cars that I could afford to drive.

Fast forward to getting into shifter finally in my mid forties. The closest I'll get to F1 or Indycar/Champcar. And, according to AJ Almendinger when I asked him to compare and contrast: "They pretty much feel the same."

Howie Idelson · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject:

Not rltrying to burst anyone's bubble but a kart is not a race car.
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Scott Heavin · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:45 am Post subject:

Thom Andresen · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:05 am Post subject:

Nicholas Cook · Joined: 18 Oct 2007 Posts: 36 Location: South Africa, KZN,

"And I love karts. It's the most breath taking sport in the world. More than F1, indeed, I used to like it most." -Ayrton Senna

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ayrton_Senna

Karting has one of the only four official world championships, alongside Formula 1, Rally, and World Touring Cars. I think this speaks for itself.

http://www.fia.com/EN-GB/SPORT/CHAMPIONSHIPS/Pages/Karting.aspx
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