Posts
2826
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Castle Rock, CO, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/19/2013 4:58pm
After years of unyielding passion for all things motocross, I've finally started to resign to the fact that I'll probably never get back into the sport again. I moved up to B class a few years ago and shorty after wadded up pretty bad practicing for a LL regional qualifier. I decided that I would "take a step back for a bit" and then jump back in full force within a year or so. Track days became fewer and further in between and then stopped all together when I had to sell the bike to pay for a honey moon.
I still watch the races, but they're starting to lose the luster that they once had to me. I used to soak up EVERY second of the broadcast, and now I find myself fast forwarding through the filler stuff and even most of the LCQ's (unless I see a big moment happen, in which case I'll rewind and watch it). I can't even bring myself to watch arenacross.
Maybe some day I can talk my wife into letting our kid(s) ride (if/when we have one), but she has expressed her disapproval with me getting back into it so I don't have very high hopes for her allowing our kid(s) getting into it. I still have a huge passion for the sport and I know I will never walk away from it all together, but I think I've known for a while that it just won't ever be what it was before and now I'm just finally allowing myself to admit it.
So, with all of that being said, I still need my adrenaline fix. I've done a few track days at shifter kart tracks with their rentals. The rentals aren't the high end shifters by any means, but they'll still do about 50 mph and they're a blast to drive. I was wondering if anyone else has made the jump from moto to karts, and how it went. Was it enough? How did it compare? Where did you start? What do you wish you had known before you made the transition?
I appreciate anyone's input.
I still watch the races, but they're starting to lose the luster that they once had to me. I used to soak up EVERY second of the broadcast, and now I find myself fast forwarding through the filler stuff and even most of the LCQ's (unless I see a big moment happen, in which case I'll rewind and watch it). I can't even bring myself to watch arenacross.
Maybe some day I can talk my wife into letting our kid(s) ride (if/when we have one), but she has expressed her disapproval with me getting back into it so I don't have very high hopes for her allowing our kid(s) getting into it. I still have a huge passion for the sport and I know I will never walk away from it all together, but I think I've known for a while that it just won't ever be what it was before and now I'm just finally allowing myself to admit it.
So, with all of that being said, I still need my adrenaline fix. I've done a few track days at shifter kart tracks with their rentals. The rentals aren't the high end shifters by any means, but they'll still do about 50 mph and they're a blast to drive. I was wondering if anyone else has made the jump from moto to karts, and how it went. Was it enough? How did it compare? Where did you start? What do you wish you had known before you made the transition?
I appreciate anyone's input.
It's painful for me to even consider another sport.
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What makes karting more expensive? I can buy a TAG for ~$2k. The sprockets, brakes, chain, etc... seem like they'd need to be replaced as frequently as in moto. Doing the top end once a season sounds about right, too. The only thing that I can think of is that I would need to buy more tires. Is there more to it than that?
Thanks for the input!
Don't think that I am trying to discourage you. I would suggest that you go buy a nice used single speed. But, check the local tracks first and see what everyone is running class wise. It doesn't do you any good to buy a cheap TAG kart if no one races them there. Then just go out and do it.
I eventually quit and got back into moto full time.
I agree with BAMX, shifter karts are tough to drive - and more for someone that is pretty advanced in karting.
Start out with something you don't have to shift. TAG karts are the way to go.
In the end, if you are not racing moto, karting is probably the next best thing. Get a TAG and be happy.
Raced karts in 00-02. Boring. Too expensive and wrecks are real nasty.
Tiny tires, tires, tires and more tires will be your new life.
I see you live in Colorado. Why not get into D.H mountain biking ?
I did this for a few seasons and had a blast, you'll need a good club and a kart track though.
http://www.amra.ca/
It seems like TAG is pretty well supported locally. I think I'll probably use practice tires to a further level of wear and grab new ones for races. I know they make a huge difference just from using different rental karts on the same day - one would push right through the corner and one would just rip. It was the difference between braking and not letting of the gas in a few cases.
I'm surprised to hear this is more expensive than moto. One of the things I was attracted to was the idea of a lower initial purchase ($2k-$3k instead of $4k-$5k), similar maintenance, and fewer big wrecks (ie: replacing a side pod or an axle vs radiator, bars, risers, grips, levers, etc...)
If you want to get into karting and try to make it somewhat reasonable from an expense standpoint go with a clone kart. They use cheap 4 cycle engines, basically glorified lawn mower engines but can hit speeds of 50 to 60 mph. The rules are pretty strict on what you can do in order to keep the cost down.
The only thing that comes close to replicating moto is downhill mountain biking. Seeing how you're in CO like myself, you should try Winter Park or Keystone sometime. Great fun.
I don't think I'll be the next guy from the shifter kart class to move to F1 (though I'm not opposed to the idea!), I'd just like to have fun and be competitive in the local yocal class.
I've done the downhill thing once (with my XC bike), but it doesn't appeal to me as much. I'm more of a motorized fun kinda guy. - The wrecks can be almost as bad as moto
- I'd be spending 4 hours in the truck just getting to and from the mountain
- Initial purchase price is similar, and what I don't spend on tires/chains/etc... I will spend on gas getting to the parks
- The wife couldn't easily come spectate
- I'm more of a motorized fun kinda guy
Pit Row
In the end a 3 day IKF race weekend was at least a 1000 bucks for a few plastic trophys. Now all i do is moto a little and keep one kart to do practice days with.
The series in CO jumps from Denver to Grand Junction (that's about 3.5 - 4 hours away), and I probably wouldn't make that drive to do it.
You will have a great time, Bruce Sass and I would go run laps and had a fantastic time !! but they are expensive to run with tires being the number one expense. Stacy Cooks daughter Sabre Cook is a national champ and Stacy has a big Kart operation going in Grand Junction.
I haven't made the transition but have my sights set on it in the years to come. I did drive two different karts last year in Germany that are BRP Rotax based. These are kart specific chainless two speed 125 cc two stroke motors that are an absolute blast to drive. Here are my responses based on my limited experience.
Was it enough? YES!
How did it compare? Definitely fulfilled my need for adrenaline. Being a newbie I found myself glad I wasn't driving anything bigger than a 125 as it definitely pushed my capabilities to the limit.
Where did you start? BRP Rotax test track
What do you wish you had known before you made the transition? Wish I had driven a kart a long time ago.
BRP Rotaxx has their Grand Final on the US mainland for the first time in its 14 year history in beautiful New Orleans this weekend. Over 300 racers from all over the world have qualified to come race this spec series with sealed motors that puts ALL of the emphasis on the driver. BRP Rotax's racing series provides a path for youngsters to develop through the ranks plus have classes for the more mature driver. Key factor is all these series use the same motor with the junior classes having restrictors on intake and exhausts to keep the HP down and the reliability up.
First thing I would do is investigate if there are any BRP Rotax races in your area. BTW F1 pilots Jenson Button and Kiki Raikomen (sp) both started with BRP Rotax engines.
https://www.facebook.com/GJMotorSpeedway?directed_target_id=0
2 speed shifters and with electric starters, they tend to be a spec class so the cost stays relatively lower than a regular shifter.
The thing to remember is that your kart will have a much bigger impact on your results than your bike did in motocross. Find a class that you can compete in without breaking the bank and that you'll be competitive in. The costs at the high end can be substantially higher than motocross.
BRP Rotax sells a complete motor package with the only thing needed being a rolling chassis.
You can see the paddle shifters in the steering wheel. One kart I drove was geared slightly lower than the almost brand new stocker BRP brought out and allowed for more shifting which translated into lower times.
Check out how the axle goes straight through the engine.
This is Norbert.Korenjak, BRP Rotax Director of R&D and Lord of all things two stroke. Norbert is a really interesting man and has been involved with two stroke development his entire life. Former MX racer has been heavily involved in the development of Puch and BRP Rotax two stroke engines. Can't thank Norbert enough for making my trip so memorable.
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