The chassis market in Go-Kart racing has been inundated in the last few years with a multitude of different Chassis brands and models to choose from, this makes it increasingly more and more difficult to choose the Kart that is right for you and your application.
That being said I thought it might be a good idea to set forth some guidelines that may help the new and veteran karters alike to choose a new chassis.
The first of many things to consider is what is the class that you are going to race, there are many variables that will ultimately determine this such as age of driver, location, experience level, size of driver, tires to be run and last but not least type of engine you plan on running. the best advice that I can give you here is "Do Your Research". Before you rush out and purchase anything do some solid research, attend some local events and ask a lot of questions and be realistic about your skill and experience level, it is never a good idea for a new karter to jump straight into a 125cc Shifter kart, that is a recipe for disaster.
Generally speaking most local clubs and kart shops can help out a lot with steering you in the right direction, popular classes vary from area to area so to buy a HPV powered kart to race in a predominately Yamaha market would be foolish.
Next is age group and drivers size, (these usually go hand in hand) younger drivers are usually smaller in size then older drivers so if you are purchasing a Kart for a 60 pound 9 year old it will need completely different characteristics then a kart being bought for a 200 pound 20 year old. Here is a quick rule of thumb for this problem, the smaller the driver the more flexible the chassis will need to be (28mm tubing or equivalent) if the driver is of a medium size then the chassis will need to be a little stiffer (30 mm tubing or equivalent or a combination of 28mm and 30 mm) and if the driver is large in size 200 plus pounds then you will likely need a fairly stiff Chassis (32mm tubing or equivalent or a combination of 30mm and 32mm tubing)
Once you have determined what class and engine that you want to run now you have to find a vendor and a brand, it is my experience that all chassis brands when you have the appropriate model will work and be fast so the best advice I can give you here is to find a vendor that is close by, has a good reputation and provides at the track service in your area and purchase your equipment from them, again do some research ask around at the track and see what the other racers have to say about the local kart shops, and steer clear of "Fly By Night" shops that may or may not be around to help you when you need it.
Buying a Go-Kart Chassis can be an intimidating process and because of the rather large dollar value that is associated with it you definitely want to make the right decision when you finally make the purchase so like I said do your research and be a smart consumer visit as many tracks and shops as you can and talk to as many people as possible and then make your decision this will help ensure that your karting experience a lot more enjoyable.
To find a list of importers and dealers in your area visit the web site www.kartfinder.com it will provide you with every brand and a list of dealers and give you links to their respective web pages.
Good luck with your search.
Francis
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Cost Of Karting On The Rise
I recently had a revalation about how expensive the cost of Kart Racing was getting, with the rise of a more European format here in the USA (Classes like ICA,ICC and JICA) the cost of racing is going through the roof.
With the European style classes gaining momentum her in America the demand for overseas equiptment has gone up substantially when you couple that with the current value of the Euro Dollar compared to the American Dollar you end up with rediculously expensive replacement parts not only for Chassis but for Engines as well.
As an engine builder I see what the cost is on replacment engine parts and a recent parts order for a Vortex ICC engine absolutely blew me away. The cost of these parts was shocking to say the least with a bare connecting rod costing $321.00 and a set of reeds at $119.00 just to name a few. To me this seems like an insane amout of money but relatively speeking when compared to other forms of motorsport it's expensive but not too bad.
My purpose for writing this is not to discourage new people from wanting to enter into Karting but to inform people that Karting is a diverse sport that will accomodate almost any budget. Not all forms of Kart racing are as expensive, for example, an individual can purchase a ready to roll Yamaha equiped used Chassis for somewhere aroud $2500.00 add on about another $1500.00 for some equiptment and gear and for around $4000.00 you have a ready to race package that will provide nearly foolproof operation and an incredible amount of fun.
Here is a quick list of some things a person would need to get started in the sport of Go-Kart Racing.............
1...............Appropriate Chassis for the class you decide to race(Should include tires,wheels and the appropriate size seat)
2...............An Engine to go with the Chassis (A complete engine including proper exhaust, clutch and intake silencer)
(Usually best to buy a Package deal that is allready assembled with engine and chassis together)
3..............Starter for the engine
4.............Kart stand(preferably with wheels) makes working on your new Kart alot more enjoyable
5.............Assortment of oils and lubricants(Chain lube, engine oil,clutch oil etc.)
6............ (optional for starters) Assortment of spare parts like gears, chain, extra wheels and tires and some spare chassis parts like spindles tie rods and axles
7...........Driver equiptment like a drivers suit, helmet, shoes, gloves rib vest and a neck collar.
Of course this is a fraction of what can be collected by a veteran racer over the years but this is more then enough to get a new Karter started. I hope this will give you an idea of what is required to get a good start to an enjoyable Karting experience because believe me it is an experience worth every penny.
Francis
With the European style classes gaining momentum her in America the demand for overseas equiptment has gone up substantially when you couple that with the current value of the Euro Dollar compared to the American Dollar you end up with rediculously expensive replacement parts not only for Chassis but for Engines as well.
As an engine builder I see what the cost is on replacment engine parts and a recent parts order for a Vortex ICC engine absolutely blew me away. The cost of these parts was shocking to say the least with a bare connecting rod costing $321.00 and a set of reeds at $119.00 just to name a few. To me this seems like an insane amout of money but relatively speeking when compared to other forms of motorsport it's expensive but not too bad.
My purpose for writing this is not to discourage new people from wanting to enter into Karting but to inform people that Karting is a diverse sport that will accomodate almost any budget. Not all forms of Kart racing are as expensive, for example, an individual can purchase a ready to roll Yamaha equiped used Chassis for somewhere aroud $2500.00 add on about another $1500.00 for some equiptment and gear and for around $4000.00 you have a ready to race package that will provide nearly foolproof operation and an incredible amount of fun.
Here is a quick list of some things a person would need to get started in the sport of Go-Kart Racing.............
1...............Appropriate Chassis for the class you decide to race(Should include tires,wheels and the appropriate size seat)
2...............An Engine to go with the Chassis (A complete engine including proper exhaust, clutch and intake silencer)
(Usually best to buy a Package deal that is allready assembled with engine and chassis together)
3..............Starter for the engine
4.............Kart stand(preferably with wheels) makes working on your new Kart alot more enjoyable
5.............Assortment of oils and lubricants(Chain lube, engine oil,clutch oil etc.)
6............ (optional for starters) Assortment of spare parts like gears, chain, extra wheels and tires and some spare chassis parts like spindles tie rods and axles
7...........Driver equiptment like a drivers suit, helmet, shoes, gloves rib vest and a neck collar.
Of course this is a fraction of what can be collected by a veteran racer over the years but this is more then enough to get a new Karter started. I hope this will give you an idea of what is required to get a good start to an enjoyable Karting experience because believe me it is an experience worth every penny.
Francis
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
Play Time's Over..........Back To The Grind
Well I had a wonderful holidays this year, with the absence of a WKA race over Christmas it gave me some well deserved time to relax, and believe me I needed it. Spent alot of time with Family, Friends and my Girlfriend and her Family which was thuroughly enjoyable.
We have gotten busy here at Yellow Fin Performance Engines lately which is a really good thing because it wasn't looking too good for a little while, but now the engines are rolling in and it looks like the 2007 season is underway.
A little advice to everybody out there, get your engines rebuilt early, we are offering a 10% discount on the labor charges for all complete engine rebuilds and engine blueprints thru March of 2007. I highly reccomend that you take advantage of this offer, not only is this the best time of year to have this work done but now you can get it for a discount as well......... What a deal.
2007 is underway and I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year, I hope your holidays were as fun and exciting as mine, so from my Family to yours Best Of Luck In 2007.
Francis
We have gotten busy here at Yellow Fin Performance Engines lately which is a really good thing because it wasn't looking too good for a little while, but now the engines are rolling in and it looks like the 2007 season is underway.
A little advice to everybody out there, get your engines rebuilt early, we are offering a 10% discount on the labor charges for all complete engine rebuilds and engine blueprints thru March of 2007. I highly reccomend that you take advantage of this offer, not only is this the best time of year to have this work done but now you can get it for a discount as well......... What a deal.
2007 is underway and I want to wish everybody a Happy New Year, I hope your holidays were as fun and exciting as mine, so from my Family to yours Best Of Luck In 2007.
Francis
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