tracking (your daily) vs karting

[EAGLE5]

Word Racing, a kart dealer, says this in regards to kart safety:
"Driver Safety Equipment: Most organizations require full (abrasion resistant) driving suits (or at the very least long pants and long sleeves), shoes that cover the ankles, abrasion resistant gloves (we recommend leather motorcycle road racing gloves), neck protection, and a full face helmet that meets the latest safety standards. Rib protecters are not always mandatory, but should be - don't drive without one. Chest protection is also required for Junior drivers, and recommended for adults. Above all, drive smart and stay focused. "

Sounds like a motorcycle getup.

[strat61caster]

This is like comparing autocross to NASCAR Trucks to F1, so many different levels and ways to approach them.

HPDE however imo are simple beasts; they are casual events where you should check your ego at the door and go to have fun first and foremost. After you get a feel for it and get comfortable, get some good instructors to teach you how to not be an idiot and then not be a slow idiot and maybe eventually move up to a group that will do some time trials stuff and that's pretty much the extent of what you're able to do with a street going vehicle.

Karting, well, there's the place down the street that's a step or two above carnival bumper cars, maybe they have a competitive series and track points and lap records and that's well and good, with some good friends it'll be well worth the $50-$100 a night you blow.

But competitive karting, that's an entirely different animal, I wouldn't even bother putting it in the same category as HPDE. I haven't done it so I won't make any bullshit up, but from racing as a kid and trying to do competitive autocross, this stuff takes commitment and it isn't cheap. Competitive karting is more comparative to actually doing a competitive series in something like a Spec Miata or Chump Car, the costs will mount quick enough if you want to win that you'll question your sanity.

Maybe you can figure out a local track and just run it for fun, spend enough money to not be a rolling chicane and go home satisfied, I don't know, it's all down to your temperment, desire, and commitment. I'd say HPDE is lower cost in the long run, you can stay on street tires and keep the car mostly stock, meanwhile in karting you'll be buying multiple sets of tires per year, banging parts up and buying replacements and spending much more time tinkering. You'll get out of it what you put into it.

Nothing is stopping you from checking out both. A couple hundred bucks on a track day and a trip to the local kart track are not decisions that will be set in stone, most people are wired in a way where one will appeal to them more than the other. And honestly there's many many people who try tracking or karting once and never consider doing it again.

Do at least one track day in the 86 though, the car is ready for it.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25485

Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox

Karts are light enough you could tow one with an HF trailer behind the BRZ.

There was a local guy who towed his Formula Ford with a WRX, tried to find a picture but found a Miata towing a Kart instead:


Relevant thread: http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/show...t=56818&page=2

[86_Freak]

I do both, I auto-x and HPDE my FR-S and I wheel-to-wheel race my shifter kart. If I had to choose, I would drop the FR-S in a heart beat and only race my kart. It is the greatest feeling in the world going 100 mph in a group of karts and braking for the first corner and dicing with everyone else. I did get in an accident last year and ended up flipping and the kart landing on top of me, but not a single regret ever came into my mind after the accident (well, maybe regretting following the rookie so close.....)

But, as others said, if you don't have the means, then obviously its not possible. But if you have the means to race a kart (tow vehicle, trailer, mechanically inclined (it takes a lot to work on a kart), and $$$$), I would say 100% go that direction. I never regret racing my kart and I can see myself doing it for many years to come.

[D K]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

Karts are a great way to die, like motorcycles. So, so much more dangerous. Plus you can't legally drive your kart on the street, but you can drive your legally modded car.

When was a last time that you know of someone dying in a kart?


Pffffff

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by 86_Freak

I do both, I auto-x and HPDE my FR-S and I wheel-to-wheel race my shifter kart. If I had to choose, I would drop the FR-S in a heart beat and only race my kart. It is the greatest feeling in the world going 100 mph in a group of karts and braking for the first corner and dicing with everyone else. I did get in an accident last year and ended up flipping and the kart landing on top of me, but not a single regret ever came into my mind after the accident (well, maybe regretting following the rookie so close.....)

But, as others said, if you don't have the means, then obviously its not possible. But if you have the means to race a kart (tow vehicle, trailer, mechanically inclined (it takes a lot to work on a kart), and $$$$), I would say 100% go that direction. I never regret racing my kart and I can see myself doing it for many years to come.

So what were your injuries, how fast were you going, and what protective gear were you wearing?

[OkieSnuffBox]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

Word Racing, a kart dealer, says this in regards to kart safety:
"Driver Safety Equipment: Most organizations require full (abrasion resistant) driving suits (or at the very least long pants and long sleeves), shoes that cover the ankles, abrasion resistant gloves (we recommend leather motorcycle road racing gloves), neck protection, and a full face helmet that meets the latest safety standards. Rib protecters are not always mandatory, but should be - don't drive without one. Chest protection is also required for Junior drivers, and recommended for adults. Above all, drive smart and stay focused. "

Sounds like a motorcycle getup.

Hey, guess what. I was wearing basically all the same gear to drive my buddies caged race car with a fire bottle 6 weeks ago.

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

So what were your injuries, how fast were you going, and what protective gear were you wearing?

We get it. You're scared of karts and think they are instant death. Now quit clogging up OPs thread with your nonsense.

[86_Freak]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

So what were your injuries, how fast were you going, and what protective gear were you wearing?

I went to the ER, got checked out and had no injuries. I was going ~40 mph. I had a sore neck for about a week. I had my helmet, driving suit, gloves, driving shoes, and a foam neck collar.

Here is a video of the accident (it's at the end, obviously):

[LOLS2K]

Originally Posted by 86_Freak

I went to the ER, got checked out and had no injuries. I was going ~40 mph. I had a sore neck for about a week. I had my helmet, driving suit, gloves, driving shoes, and a foam neck collar.

Here is a video of the accident (it's at the end, obviously):

Damn! You guys really battle it out, out there. The drag race at 1:07 put a huge smile on my face. Good thing you didn't get any closer to that ledge when you flipped.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by LOLS2K

Damn! You guys really battle it out, out there. The drag race at 1:07 put a huge smile on my face. Good thing you didn't get any closer to that ledge when you flipped.

Odds are you'll get more kickass racing action at a big regional kart event than whatever is on TV that weekend.

Some of my favorite racing is in this video, Jenson Button, Dan Wheldon, Anthony Davidson, and Justin Wilson at 9 years old:

Dropping down the hole of watching old Kart races with now famous names is more entertaining than your average F1 race I'd wager.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by 86_Freak

I went to the ER, got checked out and had no injuries. I was going ~40 mph. I had a sore neck for about a week. I had my helmet, driving suit, gloves, driving shoes, and a foam neck collar.

Here is a video of the accident (it's at the end, obviously):

Scary. Glad you're fine.

[ka-t_240]

Tracking your daily can be a bad idea. What happends when you have part failure, wreck, blow a motor, go off roading and bend a control arm, etc.

[D K]

I got rear ended at the SKUSA supernationals a few years ago into turn one which lunged me into the kart ahead of me.

My kart got airborne, I landed on the rocks and just the instant when I started feeling pain, my kart landed on top of me.

Couple of cracked ribs, a bruised lung but I was ok.

This was the height of north american shifter kart racing at the time. I survived.

Any kind of regional club racing, you probably wont see super aggressive driving like this.

Wear your safety gear.

[86_Freak]

Originally Posted by D K

I got rear ended at the SKUSA supernationals a few years ago into turn one which lunged me into the kart ahead of me.

My kart got airborne, I landed on the rocks and just the instant when I started feeling pain, my kart landed on top of me.

Couple of cracked ribs, a bruised lung but I was ok.

This was the height of north american shifter kart racing at the time. I survived.

Any kind of regional club racing, you probably wont see super aggressive driving like this.

Wear your safety gear.

Supernats is a little different animal than what I race in. Supernats is more sprint racing and the races are shorter, which means people are more aggressive in passing people. I go to "enduro" races where our races are for 30 minutes on a larger track, and thus, people are typically less aggressive and there is more room. I do share the track with sprint racers every once in a while and they are noticeably more aggressive.

[86_Freak]

I was watching some of my karting videos and found this one that has some good back and forth racing in the beginning. You'll see I get punted from behind around 6:20 mark. Then when I finally catch back up to the group, someone spins right in front of me at 8:40 and I lose the group again.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRjqGULPrSs"]2015 KART MARRS - Shifter 125CC - Saturday Nationals at Hallett - YouTube[/ame]