Auto X kart
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 5,907
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From: NYC
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,056
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From: Orlando, FL
Originally Posted by ArchAngel2K' timestamp='1369424890' post='22565420
So I did my first auto x event ever and took first place kart and won FTD. What I'm getting at is I see a lot of people spending so much money on their daily driver trying to make them faster and trying to win the FTD. I only spent 2400 on my kart and if parts break they are very inexpensive as compared to a street car and my daily driver won't be down for some time. What I'm getting at and what I'm asking why don't more people purchase karts for racing?
1. Transportation. It's easy if you have a truck that the kart just fits in the back...but a small utility trailer is usually better.
2. Wrenching.
If I drive the s2000... I show up, affix my numbers, check tire pressures and oil, then drive. In between runs, I sit in the car with the AC blowing. I sometimes go have a piss.
If I drive the kart... I show up, put the kart on a stand, retorque EVERYTHING, I check tire pressures, I then start the kart. If it doesn't start (which it usually doesn't right away), I figure out why. I then get it started, let it warm up. Then I shut it down, put it on the ground, get into my gear, then either push start it or have someone push me... if it starts, great. Go to the line, wait for all cars to clear the course, then I do my run. I get out of the kart, check everything, wonder why it isn't revving to 14K, etc, etc, etc.
3. Karts that get FTD "don't count". We golf clap the kart's times then move on. Sure, they get FTD, but then we get to play the real game of, who REALLY got FTD. It's not impressive seeing a kart get FTD, ever. It'd be more concerning if a kart COULDN'T get FTD from a real car (sans AMod cars... which are basically karts on steriods).
I'm one of those people who say ban karts from Autocrosses. Take the karts to kart tracks. They are better suited for handling that type of vehicle.
This is what I'm seeing with karts at auto-x. Of course they are going to be TTD, but they are not as easy to "arrive and drive".
I disagree with your statement on no karts at auto-x. It is a different breed, yes, but there is no reason that they can't assimilate into the cars for a few runs if that is what they're into. A couple guys run karts locally and they are fun to watch, I'm just not sure I'd want to have to deal with the fire suit and the whole kart experience.
To each his own, I can see the appeal and the W2W karting looks like something I could get into.
Former Moderator
Joined: Aug 2004
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Rain and pain.
Run a bumpy lot. Then run in the rain in 100 degree temps while I'm sitting in AC.
Then again, I bought an F-Mod (bigger kart with a snowmobile engine)...
They're great bang for the buck. But chicks don't dig karts as much as Porsches....
Run a bumpy lot. Then run in the rain in 100 degree temps while I'm sitting in AC.
Then again, I bought an F-Mod (bigger kart with a snowmobile engine)...
They're great bang for the buck. But chicks don't dig karts as much as Porsches....
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 25
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I sold my kart this winter after running one nationally since 09, running my s2k in STR now.
Quick list of reasons why not to run one?
All that being said it's a crazy amount of fun, and I'll probably wind up getting a motor to put on my old chassis at some point just to mess around with on occasion. Plus the folks that run karts nationally are some of the nicest/most helpful people you'll meet, which goes a long way to balance all of the additional work associated with it.
At the end of the day, it's probably one of the cheapest ways to have a full tilt nationally competitive vehicle. To be honest I have just as much fun doing an event in the s2k as I did while karting - and my event involvement now basically includes putting numbers on and setting pressures. I truely think everyone that autox's should try a shifter kart at some point, but there are plenty of reasons not to.
Quick list of reasons why not to run one?
- Any sort of weather - If it's not 70 degrees and sunny, it's going to be much less pleasant than something with heat/ac/a roof
- Cost - Initial purchase cost can be low, but parts really aren't cheap. Spindles, Rotors, bearings, etc. are often pretty similar to the corresponding parts on cars
- Breakages - No suspension and high gforces = stuff breakes far more often that something with a suspension
- Competition - With the exception of a few areas there's not a whole of people competitively running them so it's hard to gauge if your FTD means anything or if it would be 10s back from the top KM guys
- Driver development - Can't exactly get people to ride along with you, and video alone is a pretty poor substitute
- Day of event work - Even if nothing breaks there's a ton more work involved on a day to day basis of running them. Checking every bolt, ensuring you're jetted right. unloading/loading all of the ancillary crap you need
- Injury - The other downside of the forces you experience in the kart is that between bumps, chassis hop, and just picking up and putting down the damn thing you'll hurt
yourself eventually. - Places to run - not all clubs allow karts, and even if the club does, some sites specifically don't allow it.
All that being said it's a crazy amount of fun, and I'll probably wind up getting a motor to put on my old chassis at some point just to mess around with on occasion. Plus the folks that run karts nationally are some of the nicest/most helpful people you'll meet, which goes a long way to balance all of the additional work associated with it.
At the end of the day, it's probably one of the cheapest ways to have a full tilt nationally competitive vehicle. To be honest I have just as much fun doing an event in the s2k as I did while karting - and my event involvement now basically includes putting numbers on and setting pressures. I truely think everyone that autox's should try a shifter kart at some point, but there are plenty of reasons not to.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,045
Likes: 45
From: Las Vegas
Your credibility has just been destroyed. Sorry, can't and won't take anything you have to say with any level of seriousness going forward. Kinda like how I couldn't take a conversation about space travel seriously between an Astrophysicist and Lil Wayne.
They are definitely not "arrive and drive", unless you bought a well-sorted kart and have someone else work on it before each event. But, for someone to not take FTD in a kart means that person needs to learn to drive...or the kart is broken.
the Vegas region was one of the first regions to adopt karts, and has a few national F125 champions who routinely run karts here. I had my first experience driving a shifter at an autocross. I did my first Pro-Solo in a shifter. BUT, I think it's a different environment and some concessions have to be made to allow them to run (ie. proper timing light height, no full-bodied cars allowed on course while karts are running, etc, etc).
W2W in a Kart is definitely an amazing experience and they are a TON of fun ... but as far as autocrossing and karts.. I feel they should be separate. Would a kart track let me bring my car and run with the karts?
but there is no reason that they can't assimilate into the cars for a few runs if that is what they're into.
To each his own, I can see the appeal and the W2W karting looks like something I could get into.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2011
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There's a big difference for not wanting to run karts yourself and thinking they should be banned. Why ban karts and not any of the other mod classes?Not all regions have the requirement that cars and karts can't be on course at the same time. I think the only time that's required is with junior karts - which is a whole different ballgame.
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,881
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From: Near Philadelphia
There's no good reason to ban karts. I've never seen a region that has to have any special concessions for them. They're fast and fun but a lot of work and you take a beating. I understand why people would want to autocross them and I've thought seriously about getting into it on occasion but probably won't do it more than once or twice to try it at some point.
Not sure what the OP's obsession with FTD is...you should be trying to beat similarly prepped cars, not trying to have the fastest time when you clearly have the fastest vehicle.
Now if we're talking about junior karts...I have a whoooole different opinion on that.
Not sure what the OP's obsession with FTD is...you should be trying to beat similarly prepped cars, not trying to have the fastest time when you clearly have the fastest vehicle.
Now if we're talking about junior karts...I have a whoooole different opinion on that.