[Daniel Agee]

It would be interesting to hear from you guys that are in other parts of the country, but where I live in Northern California, I have 5 sprint tracks within an hour of where I live that all race at least 5 or 6 times a year. That’s 30+ races to choose from in any given year. Within 2.5 hours from where I live, there are 4 other sprint tracks. I have a lot of options for sprint racing! Whereas with the road racing, NCK (and please know I am not bashing NCK. I have never run with them and road racing seems like a lot of fun. I’m just giving my sprint perspective of why there may not be a lot of crossover) has a 5 race schedule. 4 of the 5 races are at the 2 road courses that are an hour from where I live with the 5th race being 2.5 hours away, and 2 of those races are on Mondays (to reduce track rental costs I’d imagine) and 1 is the weekend after Thanksgiving. Though I really want to give road racing a try at some point in my career, that schedule, along with the cost associated, isn’t very enticing when I can drive 15 minutes to my local track, practice for free any time I want, and race 6 times a year just at my local track for less money than road racing.

Also, one problem I think karting has in general in regards to decreasing numbers is that an ever-increasing proportion of karters see it as a stepping stone to car racing rather than karting for the fun of karting. So, for the parents that pay lots of money for their kids to race competitively, they are going to race as much as possible with the best competition possible. Not sure how road racing could tap into that, as road racing is primarily set up for Senior classes with just a few Jr. 2 classes.

[Daniel Agee]

Jim, thank you for your reply and info. Perception does not always equal reality, but I wanted to add my non-rr experienced perspective for the purposes of this topic. Like I said, I’ve been interested in trying road racing at some point, but those are some of the things that have held me back.

Understandable about Laguna Seca being more expensive than Thunderhill. I’ve experienced that when I’ve done track days with my dad in his car. Great to know, too, that there’s a first-timer introductory price. Thank you for telling me that. Is that anywhere on the NCK website? If it is, I cannot easily find it, which would pose a problem for prospective new road racers. I was only able to find out the Laguna Seca pricing based on going through the initial steps of the registration process.

[Daniel Agee]

Robert,

I have never tried road racing, though I have wanted to, so my response is that of somebody who’s considered it, but never bitten the bullet.

My first complaint is the money, yes. My local road racing series is NCK in Northern California. Looking at the entry fees for the race at the end of the month at it is $200 for 1 class, 1 day, so $400 if I wanted to race both days. Those prices are for non-member. Annual membership is $130, or $20 for a one event membership. At my local sprint track, I pay $300 for an annual membership, can practice whenever I want, and pay barely $300 in registration for the course of the whole season! So, even if I just wanted to give road racing a try, I’d nearly double my entry budget for one weekend!

Second, at this kind of ties into money, I have a KT100 and 206 is very popular in my area. To me, and maybe the fact I’ve never tried it would prove this very wrong, but to me, I would not expect these types of classes would to be that much fun because my perception is you would be full throttle for almost the whole lap. Yes, taking corners at high speeds could be more challenging than a sprint track, but at the same time, one of my least favorite sprint tracks in my area is mostly flat out and it gets pretty monotonous. So, to make road racing more challenging and fun, I’d think you’d need at least a 125 shifter, but those are much more expensive.

Which takes me finally to new people. New people shouldn’t be hopping in a 125 shifter on a road course, but that’s where the entries are. For my Yamaha, I’d only have one other person to race. That’s not very attractive.

[Daniel Agee]

PM sent with my email address in it

[Daniel Agee]

What type of chassis are you running? 30mm or 32? Also, you say you are struggling in the slow corners. Is it understeer on entry/exit? For me personally, I run a 32 while the top guys in my area have all converted to a 30. As a result, I’ve had to do everything I can to soften the rear of the kart. I went to the shortest possible rear hubs, gone out to 55″ rear width, soft seat without the secondary seat struts and then regarding your question about psi, I run about 1 psi higher in the rear than the front. I generally start my fronts at 10 cold, rear at 11. They’ll work their way up to 11.5/12.5 hot. Some of the other guys I’ve talked to with 30mm chassis get their tires to about 15-16psi hot.

[Daniel Agee]

Yes, the Utah Kart Championship is going to take place again this year. I believe they’ve already had their first two ice breaker races.

https://new.ekartingnews.com/2016/03/07/utah-kart-championship-set-for-2016/

[Daniel Agee]

When I raced IKF a decade ago in Region 11, we would use the blue flag but it was used like a black flag. It the blue flag was waved at you, you pulled off the track. I didn’t like this at all as it reduced on track time for guys, who more often than not, had been caught up in a first lap incident and were trying to stay alive. Nowadays, with the 206, we often do longer races and use the blue flag, even at the club level. This works well as it’s more of a warning to a slower driver, “Don’t get caught off guard. Hold your line. Someone faster is coming. Don’t do anything out of the ordinary.”

[Daniel Agee]

Gif, PM sent.

[Daniel Agee]

Ah ok. Someone else from a different part of the country can chime in with other options. Another option is the Jim Hall Kart Racing School in SoCal.

http://www.jimhallkartracing.com

[Daniel Agee]

I’m not sure what would be near you in Arizona (right?) but in NorCal there is the Sim Raceway Driving School in Sonoma. They have a couple different options for karting.

Programs – Sprint Kart Racing

Another option in NorCal is Race Karts Inc. that holds classes most often at Blue Max Kart Club.

Home

[Daniel Agee]

I’ve always wanted to try racing at Pat’s Acres in Canby, Oregon. That looks like a beautiful location to me.

[Daniel Agee]

My background before I give my opinion.

2005 (15yo) – KT100 at 340# with 45# lead

2006-2008 – TaG (Leopard) at 375# with 40# in ’06 to zero in ’08 (18yo)

2014 – CR80 at 375# with zero lead weight but 10# over on the scale

Just changed to LO206. Not sure what, if any, I’ll have to put on the kart but I personally am down 25 pounds to 175.

My opinion is two-fold regarding club racing and national level. I think at the national level, the weight minimum should be lower because SKUSA, USPKS, etc are meant for the semi-pros and pros, guys and gals who race often, are of  higher caliber, and should have greater fitness. Dropping weight shouldn’t be an issue and would increase the speed and intensity of these national events.

At the club level, though, weights should either be higher or clubs should offer two weight divisions for the same motor package.  When I got back into karting last fall, I bought an 80 shifter partly because I always wanted to try one but mostly because I felt the increased power would make up for my heavier weight. I was not ready for the shifter and if it weren’t for the 206 and being able to lose some pounds, I probably wouldn’t continue racing. I think the current weight minimums could be off putting to potential newbies. I’d prefer, for example, 206 light at 345# and 206 heavy at 375#.

[Daniel Agee]

Where are you located and what is your budget? I have a CR80 complete package that I’m trying to sell. I would consider taking the motor off and selling it separately for the right price. It was fully rebuilt, blueprinted, and upgraded by SwedeTech Racing in September. Only has an hour and a half on it at most since then.

[Daniel Agee]

Freddy, did Jim ever purchase any of these? I am interested if still available.

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