We have checked out some of the local tracks and are still slowly planning on trying to get my 11 year old son racing next season. We are still a long ways from getting serious about finding a kart or spending any money, but the more I learn the more questions I have. I figured here would be a good place to look for more answers!
First, checking online here I found a track that raced karts. From the web it was all adults racing karts with no body, just the frame and seats. One of the guys was selling the kart. Put together with the body on it looked just like what I have been seeing race. That made me wonder, what should we be looking for when we do get serious about finding a kart? Are there any names to avoid? One my son found on Craigslist is listed as an Emmick Racing Go Kart. The frame looks similar to what I have seen at the tracks, but there is no body to it just the chassis, wheels, tires and engine.
Second, I have seen a few karts with the body style I have been seeing at the tracks and on here. The body looks like a figerglass shell, one piece. The front wrapping around to the sides. I have seen a few karts for sale that the body looks like a 3 piece deal. The nose is one piece, around the front wheels is open, then each side has a separate side piece. If this sounds confusing I can find and post pictures. What is the difference? Do the IKF rules allow both styles, or is one for pavement and one for dirt racing?
Third, tires! Everything I read leads me to believe tires are a huge part of the race. Some karts at the last track we watched ran smooth tires, some ran treaded tires. Is this just preference, or are there rules that require certain tires? I have not seen anything in the local track rules. It appears that the smooth tires would give better traction if done right, but karts with both styles of tire ran well.
I am still a long ways from buying a kart. We still have some money to save, and a lot to learn before we jump in. We have been spending our free time reading and learning everything we can! If it would help I can post links to the ads I have found for karts, or post pictures of the karts I have found for sale to see what I am looking at.
Thanks!
First, checking online here I found a track that raced karts. From the web it was all adults racing karts with no body, just the frame and seats. One of the guys was selling the kart. Put together with the body on it looked just like what I have been seeing race. That made me wonder, what should we be looking for when we do get serious about finding a kart? Are there any names to avoid? One my son found on Craigslist is listed as an Emmick Racing Go Kart. The frame looks similar to what I have seen at the tracks, but there is no body to it just the chassis, wheels, tires and engine.
Second, I have seen a few karts with the body style I have been seeing at the tracks and on here. The body looks like a figerglass shell, one piece. The front wrapping around to the sides. I have seen a few karts for sale that the body looks like a 3 piece deal. The nose is one piece, around the front wheels is open, then each side has a separate side piece. If this sounds confusing I can find and post pictures. What is the difference? Do the IKF rules allow both styles, or is one for pavement and one for dirt racing?
Third, tires! Everything I read leads me to believe tires are a huge part of the race. Some karts at the last track we watched ran smooth tires, some ran treaded tires. Is this just preference, or are there rules that require certain tires? I have not seen anything in the local track rules. It appears that the smooth tires would give better traction if done right, but karts with both styles of tire ran well.
I am still a long ways from buying a kart. We still have some money to save, and a lot to learn before we jump in. We have been spending our free time reading and learning everything we can! If it would help I can post links to the ads I have found for karts, or post pictures of the karts I have found for sale to see what I am looking at.
Thanks!