Getting Started in Karting - Part 1: Arrive and Drive

Although the Sport of Karting has been around over 50 years and is one of only 4 sanctioned by the FIA, the public remains largely unaware of the sport and or continue to have major misconceptions of karts and kart racing as a discipline.

Wikipedia has a number of articles on Karting including a good overview of Kart Racing :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kart_racing

There is also a neat Intro to Karting article on Autoblog.com.

To see some Live Semi-Pro karting racing action: see

• Supernationa XIII 2009
• Daytona Road Race (Warning large file!)
• Michael Schumacher Karting Test
• Fernando Alonso at Renault Roadshow

or search for Kart Race on Youtube

Traditional Entry to Karting

The traditional approach to getting into karting has generally been to buy a kart (engine and chassis) and joing a race league. But the steep learning curves, high up front costs etc can be a real obstacle for the uninitiated. Buying a used kart may reduce some of the up front expense but there is still the question of tools, transportation and expertise to campaign a racing vehicle with little prior knowledge.

Arrive and Drive

However, today their is a growing sub-category or karting generally called 'arrive and drive' karting where the race kart, tires, fuel and all even some gear such as helmets are provided. The would be racer simply has to join the race league, show up and drive.

With the lower power and speeds of these karts, and no need to store, haul, prepare and maintain the equipment this represents the best entry point into the sport available today.

Ontario

In Ontario, (Canada) there are several tracks that offer this type of racing and the list seems to be growing.

Among them: are:

• Cameron Motorsports, Hamilton
• Goodwood Kartways: Stouffville
• Mosports International: Mosport
• Innisfil Indy, Inisfil
• Erbsville Kartways, Waterloo

The leagues typically require you to sign up for membership (typically $99/yr or less after mid season) and then simpy pay a pit pass of $50 per event for racing.

Arrive and Drive Classes

Racing is divided into classes based on age and weight but is usually broken into:

• Cadet (or Youth) (8-12)
• Junior (or Teen) (13-17)
• Adult (18+)
• Adult leagues are usually divided further into Light, Medium and Heavy classes

Organization

Members have to go through an orientation process covering flags, safetly, rules and basic racing technique as well as read and get familiar with the sporting regulations . Some 'demonstration' or 'practice' racing is usually held early in the year prior to the start of the points season. Practice days are also available and encouraged for new members.

Events are usually held 3- 5 days a week on evenings and weekends. Club members have to join one of several 'Schedules' which repeat every two weeks. Members usually race a certain minimum number of events (~14-20) for the championships. Missed days can be made up on another schedule.

As the arrive and drive scene has grown there are increasing number of tracks offering entry level arrive and drive programs which are a step up from the Indoor Karting leagues and a step below the Club Level of Owner driver racing.

For more information, the internet or forums like canadiankartingnews.com or ekartingnews.com are useful resources. But the best source of information is often the local kart racing track.

For a list of Karting Clubs/Tracks in Ontario see the Club links here: http://www.nckc.net/links/index.asp

/FFJ

So what Happened to the CIK Four Strokes?

Here are some of the proceeding of CIK from ealier this decade when the new formula for International racing was deliberated and decided:

Communications of the CIK FIA from Meeting of Dec 2001 (Decision to Introduce Long Life 4 stroke Formula:

Communications of CIK FIA Mar, 2002 (Phased Introduction of new formula)

Communication of CIK FIA Jun 2002 (Proposal by the Manufacturers)

Latest Decision of CIK FIA Dec 2003 (Per Karting.co.uk)
...

So what killed the 4 stroke formula?

/FFJ

SwissAuto 250 4 Stroke - The 'Rotax Max' of 4 Stroke Karting?

The SwissAuto SA250 is a 34HP 250cc DOHC 4 stroke TAG motor recently introduced to the Karting market.The Swiss produced motor is now available through a number of International dealers such as Saxon Motorsports in the UK.

With the promise of high horsepower, low maintenance and simpler operation the new 250 four strokes have been a very promising development in the TAG world, except for one thing - their high price. Most TAG 4 stroke motors retail for about USD 4500.00 or about the price of an ICC.

The SwissAuto now promises to change that. Saxon Motorsports lists the SA250 for £ 1,795 or USD $2661 which is less than a Rotax Max at £ 1,872.00.

So with a cleaner, greener, more powerful, lower maintenance package available for the same or less than a 2-stroke TAG, this may well be the time for 4 stroke racers (Honda, F200, Briggs etc) looking to step up in power to think about a 4 stroke TAG alternative. So too may those that just want to focus on racing and less on servicing and maintaining their ride.

/FFJ

'Clean Two-Stroke Engines - Boyesen Reinvents the Two-Stroke'

Snowmobiles and other small recreational vehicles have traditionally been mostly powered by two-stroke motors. But recently, environmental concerns have pushed manufacturers to develop four stroke alternatives.

Now Eyvind Boyesen has come up with a simple mechanical solution that could breath new life into the 2 strokes.

The Boyesen design basically traps the fuel/air charge in the cylinder without the need for a sound wave to push it back in. It makes use of an exhaust valve linked to the crankshaft to time the opening and closing of the exhaust valve..

For details see link below:
http://www.maxsled.com/absolutenm/templates/articles_layout.aspx?articleid=1059&zoneid=17

Could this technology succeed in solving the two-stroke dilemma?

/FFj

Whatever Happened to the CIK Four Strokes?

In March of 2002 the CIK FIA met to chart the future direction of International Karting.
A decision was taken to gradually phase in modern 4 stroke, fuel injected motors to to replace the environmentally and health unfriendly 2 strokes which dominated competitive karting.

The release from the CIKFIA indicated that a vote was carried to implement these measures starting with the top level K1 (KF1) category in 2005.

However these changes were later postponed.
http://www.karting.co.uk/News-CIKFIADecisionsDec03.html


Subsequently the idea of moving to a 4 stroke formula appears to have been dropped and instead a new 2 stroke formula based on "125cc long life electric start" engines was adopted in 2007 by the CIK "in conjunction with manufacturers and the CIK Advisory Group".

Since then there has been no further word on the move to a 4 stroke formula despite a number of manufacturers, notably Suter Racing, SwissAuto, Technique Engineering and Oral Racing having developed and produced engines based on the new 250cc DOHC 4 stroke formula.

The high level of pollution and toxic exhaust produced by the 2 strokes remain a grave concern for both environmental and health reasons. It is especially disturbing considering that a a large majority of competitors are children. As the 2 stroke TAG formula continues to grow, this becomes an increasing concern with more kids getting into the sport at an earlier age.

Also at risk are the mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, friends and fans who come out to races.

A recent article by Discover Magazine outlines the seriousness of the 2 stroke problem.

It is time the industry took a serious look at this issue and devise a plan to safegaurd the health of our young competitors, their supporters and the general public and phase out this current formula in favour of a cleaner and more eco-friendly one.

For those who would prefer to keep the simplicity of two strokes, stringent measures should be implemented to ensure a cleaner formula. This could be achieved via Direct injection technology or alternatives such as found in the Aprilia DiTech, BRP Evinrude ETEC or the envirofit retrofit kit. For the rest a planned, gradual move to a modern, cleaner, greener, lower maintenance 4 stroke formula seems to be the obvious choice.

/FFJ

SODIKART Joins the 250 Club

Sodikart has released a new 250cc DOHC 4 stroke Electric Start Kart package labeled the RX250.

This complete kart package which is aimed at the emerging "Country Club" style arrive and drive market takes the 4 stroke concept to new heights with a fuel injected, 11,000 rpm engine that comes with 3 different plug and play ecus for 15, 22, 28B BHP.

Sporting an uncanny resemblance to the SwissAuto SA250, this water cooled package is mated to a lightweight chassis with 50mm rear axle and minimal adjustability 'for spec racing'.

http://www.sodikart-usa.com/index.php?P=5&act=1&ID=16

/FFJ

FIM Announces 600cc 4 Stroke replacement for 250 Class

New 600cc 4-stroke class to replace 250cc from 2011

"Following a Grand Prix Commission meeting at Assen on Friday the FIM have announced the decision to replace the 250cc category with a new 600cc class, as of 2011."

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/New+600cc+4+stroke+class+to+replace+250cc+from+2011

Wonder what this means for the future of the 250 Superkarts?

/FFJ

A New Breed of Superkart - T.A.G. 450cc 4Stroke V-twin

An innovative and enterprising company, NLR system s, is developing a new superkart package which poromises to revolutionize the sport.

The Superkart which features an Anderson Chassis, uses an Aprilia V-twin 450 four stroke motor with on-board electric start and - get this - will feature an intercooled turbo charger.

The stock Aprilia 450F makes only 50HP hence the need for a turbo to bring power inline with the 250cc 2stroke F/E Twins which typically make around 90BHP.

The on-board start is meant to eliminate the need to push start these $30k just to get started.

For details of the project see:
http://www.nlrsystems.com/superKarts.htm
http://www.ekartingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=70812

If this succeeds I might consider getting into Superkarting myself...

/FFJ