Karting Virgin…Please help!

[Cisco Espinoza]

Hey everyone! As the topic states, I am a kart virgin, so please don’t be so harsh when I ask dumb questions…lol. I attended the Atlanta Motorsports Park in Dawsonville, GA couple months ago and had a blast riding the go karts. So what did I do? Yup! Went out and bought me a racing kart. Lol! By no means, am I considering getting into racing. Instead, I plan on having this kart to just have fun with my kids and friends around my neighborhood. With that being said, the kart came with a 6.5HP honda clone engine and quite frankly, it’s speed is perfect for my use. It also came with racing slick tires. One side having really wide tires where the other side not so much. I was told this set up is common because of the round track it raced on. Since I’m just using it for personal use only, what do ya’ll recommend?

[David Cole]

Cisco,

Please do not drive the kart around the neighborhood. Karts should be reserved for proper facilities and not the city streets. Start out with that. Atlanta Motorsports Park has practice days, where you can take the kart there and just drive, not race. Again, PLEASE do not drive the kart around your neighborhood.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[TJ Koyen]

+1 to David’s comment. You won’t get much help on the forum here if you intend to use a racing vehicle on public streets, it’s a big no-no.

You appear to have bought an oval kart. It’s designed to turn left only.

Driver/Coach/Wrench : Innovative Performance/Exprit
Owner : Oktane Visual - www.oktanevisual.com
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[Cisco Espinoza]

David, TJ, I appreciate your feedback and I can assure you that I wouldn’t put myself or any other person in a situation for someone to get hurt. I live in a gated small community so traffic is very limited. There’s also a abandoned Lowes across the street that we go to a lot because of the huge closed off parking lot. TJ you mentioned I have an oval kart. I’m assuming I can change that by just changing the setup of wheels I have on, right? I want to put 2 of the the same size rims and tires for the front with slightly wider slicks on the back. Can you recommend a setup?

Also, I know the current wheels on it a 5″ rims and want to know if it would be a problem to go a little bigger just to raise the kart a little?

[Gary Lawson]

That kart will not safely make a right turn and switching tires around will not help. If you tried to turn right it would flip over rather easily. These karts are not toys and shouldn’t be treated as such. We’ve all heard too many horror stories about people running karts on places other than tracks. Tracks have appropriate run off a reason case of any brake or throttle failure.

[tony zambos]

Cisco,
You are not listening. No streets or parking lots, period.

LAD Specialties customer / tony kart / rotax / kt100

[Cisco Espinoza]

Whoa…didn’t realize it was that serious but it makes sense. Well, I guess Atlanta Motorsports Park it is. Actually, that’s not an oval track so it wouldn’t do my kart any good. Guess I may just have to sell it :(

[tony zambos]

Look around to find an oval track in your area. And you could take pictures of the kart, upload them to a picture file server, PhotoBucket or Facebook, then link them to your posts. There is a how-to write up on the forum to do that. There should be someone on the forum that can help you.
A track is a great place to bring kids and friends, and a good place to make new friends. good luck

LAD Specialties customer / tony kart / rotax / kt100

[Cisco Espinoza]

Thanks Tony. I will look into that and definitely want to post up some pics so I can get you pros feedback and suggestions.

[James McMahon]

Welcome Cisco,

Not to be too preachy, but for sure, keep it for the track. Things can get bad, fast on the streets. I’ve seen even experienced racers get themselves into trouble driving on the street in less that 1000ft.

You’ve got some good options around you. There’s a total of 15 kart tracks within 50 miles of AMP. A lot of dirt ovals: http://tinyurl.com/oq4qlhw

Nearest paved oval is 169mi away from you: http://tinyurl.com/ppg8x2a

If you want to give ovals a try the “kart tech” group on facebook is worth joining: https://www.facebook.com/groups/259884964062537/

[Walt Gifford]

There’s 2 kinds of karts, off set LTO (left turn only) and straight up karts for road courses. If you have a straight kart just put the same tires on both sides and space them out the same and you’re good to turn both ways. If the rear is offset to the right just set up an oval and have fun that way.

If it’s a racing kart you’ll have a bad time on the average grass field. You need at least 4″ of ground clearance and turf tires for that kind of fun. I use to drive all around the neighborhood and the woods and fields with a Bronco kart but it was a very rural area and sometimes those trees will jump out in front of you.

People set up tracks in old parking lots all the time. It’s not legal unless you have permission from the owner but people do it. You just have to have some common sense about where light polls, buildings are and any traffic or cops that might drive through. The thing is old parking lots have allot of dusty crap on them and you’re almost sure to get a flat tire (that can’t be fixed) at some point.

Gif

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

[Cisco Espinoza]

Thanks everyone!!! I’m definitely looking into these options.

 

[Cisco Espinoza]

Day 1

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[Cisco Espinoza]

 

[Cisco Espinoza]

Can I make this a straight kart?

[David Cole]

This kart is designed for oval karting. I don’t have experience with it, but my guess is that no, you can not make this a non-oval kart.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Rick Brown]

Yes you can, well kind of. Just put the same wheels and tires on both sides. The center everything up from the center of the chassis axle, hubs, spacers etc. It will never go right as good as regular kart but it will work. I ran wka events at N.H.M.S. and Charolette in my asphalt oval kart and did decent.

[Cisco Espinoza]

Thanks Rick. What are some chassis names I can shop for that are for straight karts? Or what exactly am I looking for to buy a non oval racing kart?

[Anonymous]

This is the stuff that gets me mad. You buy a kart then think its ok to race around the neighborhood. Not smart and bad for karting. Take it to the track and stay off the street.

 

[Cisco Espinoza]

This is the kind of kart I would like to set up. Can you guys tell me what type of frame is used for this look?

[Rick Brown]

There are a ton! CRG, Tony Kart, Top Kart, Intrepid to name a few.

[David Cole]

The basic concept is correct, however the engine is not something you race. The Atlanta Motorsports Park karting program has sales of karts. Please go there to talk directly with someone to get you going on the right direction. Karting is not something you can just pick up on the internet. You need to be hands on, and then use the internet for tips and suggestions.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Anonymous]

Please listen to Mr Cole. He knows what he is talking about..

 

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