Kreating an Obsession Through Karting? I hope so.

"Mosqvich" (mosqvich)
08/04/2013 at 18:34 • Filed to: Go Kart, Karting, Obsession, racing, Car and Driver, Road and Track

I never bought comic books. I wasn't too much into Cowyboys and Indians, though I did have horses and was a pretty good rider. I didn't play football. But I scraped every nickel I had together to buy the latest Car and Driver , Road and Track , and other car magazines. I'm not sure why, my Dad liked cars, but it drove him crazy that I would spend my money on the magazines. To this day, I couldn't point out where my car obsession comes from. But I've been trying to foist it on my sons and its only taken a touch. My oldest, the Marine, does want a Jeep. But, try as I might, the youngest was only being polite when I'd drag him to car shows, etc... But then it hit me: karting.

A couple of weeks back I took him to spend a day at our local karting track, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . He's hooked. He absolutely loved it. Today we spent the day watching our local club, th !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , races. I've never seen him so engaged. He plays football, but he never asks to play at home, he could care less about football on TV, I'm not saying he doesn't like football, but his spark is now completely ignited. Off to the races.

What did we learn? Well, it's not cheap. A kart will set you back around $1500 to $3000 for a used one. The other kit you need, probably another grand. Each race is $70. Each practice session is $35 (which actually is a bargain). But the killer is going to be the tires: $200 for a set. Multiply that by 6 races, most racers say they go through a set per race, and we're talking $1200 in a season, plus the tires he'll use practicing. Plus, these people often go all out.

Would I be starting a hobby or a racing team? This part is going to take some thinking. I'm hoping to edge into it, perhaps renting a cart to make sure he likes it. But one thing was clear, the people were friendly. I also liked that it wasn't just kids. There were racers from age 5 to some in their 70's. I also like the number of female racers we saw. I think is really nice.

The races were a thrill to watch. From the shifter karts which hit 80 mph to the juniors, it really was enjoyable to watch. Now to figure out how I'm going to afford those tires.

DISCUSSION (51)

Tom McParland > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 18:50

Great read...I hope this ends up on the FP. I dropped a line to Ballaban on Twitter.

Mosqvich > Tom McParland
08/04/2013 at 18:53

Thanks! We had fun and I really enjoyed meeting a lot of great people and their passion. This guy even had paddle shifters!

Kinja'd!!!

Michael Ballaban > Tom McParland
08/04/2013 at 19:01

Who's Ballaban ?

MPA > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 19:10

I wish we had a kart track near St. Louis. I would love to buy a shifter kart and get on track on a regular basis.

Yes there's auto-x, but a whole day of sitting around for a few minutes of seat time isn't worth it to me. Track days aren't often enough, and a track day technically isn't racing. I want to race wheel to wheel without needing a tow rig, trailer and dedicated race car, because my girlfriend would slam my balls with a bat if I came home with all of that as we are saving for a house :)

Mosqvich > MPA
08/04/2013 at 19:13

True enough. While this can rack up some cost, it's not quite like the cost of racing a car. My understanding is we have 5 tracks in the state. Some of the Shifter Kart guys told me they can hit 90 mph on the track in Grand Junction. They were a thrill to watch.

Makoyouidiot > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 19:26

Borrow against car to get started karting to get son interested in cars? I'd do it.

05STi > MPA
08/04/2013 at 19:41

LeMons.

Tom McParland > Michael Ballaban
08/04/2013 at 20:01

I think he's some dork on Twitter who writes for mommy blogs or something. Do you that guy? ;)

Michael Ballaban > Tom McParland
08/04/2013 at 20:06

Mommyblogs are getting weird these days.

LowEndZen > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 20:17

Re: "Cowboy's and Indians"...

Neither one is a proper noun, so neither should be capitalized; also, the apostrophe should ONLY EVER be used for POSSESSION or CONTRACTION. The fact that you used and apostrophe with one direct object and not the other tells me that YOU DON'T CARE. Please, have pity on the meager number of us who actually give a shit about grammar and punctuation. READ IT TWICE; SAVE A LIFE.

Mosqvich > LowEndZen
08/04/2013 at 20:20

While appreciate your "help," I suppose I could do without your smugness and pomposity.

The fact that you used and apostrophe . . .

I guess you meant "an apostrophe," but I just can't be sure.

Tom McParland > Michael Ballaban
08/04/2013 at 20:20

LOLWUT-

Unrelated but serious (sort of shameless plug)...my wife is a new mom (our son is 10 months old) she is also disabled (paraplegic) if this is a perspective you or your mommy blog folks are interested in, I would be happy to set up a communication. Oh, and she has a Master's in Library/Information science so she is a super-ninja at finding information/research really fast.

Moarloud > LowEndZen
08/04/2013 at 20:27

Please, have pity on the large number of us who hate grammar Nazis...and just shut up! The world isn't going to end because he used a punctuation mark incorrectly. Cool your jets.

123456 > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 20:34

Great story, can't wait for the follow up. My family could never afford the money to take me gokarting for real. My first event at a local hire gokart facility had a race once every year. I finished 10th out of over 30 the first time I tried, and I was the youngest and least experienced driver. The 9 guys ahead of me were either club and national level gokarters or drivers with gt racing experience. But yeah could never afford to get a kart, join a club etc etc.

Wish you and your son the very best of luck, both on and off the track!

Blondude > LowEndZen
08/04/2013 at 20:35

I dont gave nuthin' bout grammer.

/trollolololololololololo

Michael Ballaban > Tom McParland
08/04/2013 at 20:35

Oof, I wish I could but the "mommyblog" part is only meant in jest. Mergermarket is a mergers & acquisitions news service that is a subsidiary of the Financial Times Group. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer.

Mosqvich > 123456
08/04/2013 at 20:36

Thanks. We're going to do what we can. The first season might be done with a rental race cart, and probably only 3 races. We'll see what happens after that. He really enjoyed it. So did I :)

Tom McParland > Michael Ballaban
08/04/2013 at 20:38

No worries...it was a total shot in the dark. Figured I had nothing to lose. :)

Agrajag > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 20:45

I'd say do it, but you have to take into consideration that it will only get more expensive. Especially if he starts to take it seriously. I think it was on Jalopnik, an article about how you only make money as a racing driver if you get to the highest form of your preferred series.

SLUSHIE > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 20:50

I never had my own, but a friend's family had a couple different karts and they were tons of fun.

I remember the specific track we would go to you had to be a member, and it was free to use whenever there wasn't a race or anything. No extra cost.

I personally think people that spend that much money on a hobby for their kid is crazy. My friend never became a race car driver or anything, and I'm sure VERY few do.

Mosqvich > SLUSHIE
08/04/2013 at 21:03

With regard to the crazy factor, I really see where you're coming from, but we're pretty frugal with most things including a modest home and clothing, etc... We do travel a fair bit. We're going to go at this on a small scale. I'm concerned with him becoming a pro-driver, but I would like him to be as active as possible in an array of activities.

desertdog5051 > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 21:20

Congratulations, Dan, and to your son. What a cool way to discover what he likes. (Can't think of anything better).

My dad never did such thing with me. I had to "wing it" on my own.

Re: LowEndZen. If he is going to split hairs on that stuff, why don't we turn this into a site for the Obsessive/Compulsive. (Oops, I capitalized a non proper noun, or is that a verb.?).

Mosqvich > desertdog5051
08/04/2013 at 21:27

Thanks and LOL with regard to the Public Editor!

I hoon, therefore I am > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 21:32

This. I'm definitely going to try to get the twins into karting when they are old enough (3 is old enough, right?). They already love daddy's 'vroom vroom', especially when I let them sit in the driver's seat and pretend to drive.

I'm glad you could find something your son and you love together. It may be expensive, but the experience is priceless.

Fenderaddict2 > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 21:35

A great family activity. Kid drives and sister, mom and dad are crew. #Fastmyles.

OhSoStoked > Mosqvich
08/04/2013 at 23:25

The cost issue is what kept me from becoming seriously involved in karting. The solution I came up with was this: I went in together with two friends of mine. We split the costs equally. One guy drives, two guys pit crew. How do we decide who drives? Who ever weighs the least on a certain date. That we all agree upon many months in advance. Of course everyone drives on the practice days. So far so good. It really doesn't help you much, considering you will be footing the bill for the entire team, but it may help other adult-ish people out there who want to get into karting, but don't want to spend that kind of money on a hobby.

OhSoStoked > MPA
08/04/2013 at 23:35

Thunder Valley in Pevely,Mo. is probably your best bet. Also you might get hooked up with St.Louis Karting Association.

http://www.slka.org/

MPA > OhSoStoked
08/05/2013 at 00:16

Thanks!! I'll check into it

JustinAten > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 01:06

The karting tire situation is out of hand. I run at a track that uses Bridgestone YDS tires as spec for its local 4 cycle classes. Many drivers use the same tires for half a season, and though the grip isn't superglue the racing is first class.

ithinkibrokeit > LowEndZen
08/05/2013 at 09:20

CAPITAL LETTERS DON'T MAKE YOU ANY MORE IMPORTANT ON THE INTERNET. IN ADDITION, HIS COMMA USE IS LESS OFFENSIVE THAN THE AND YOU PLACED BEFORE THE WORD APOSTROPHE. If you can't play nice with others, than please leave the sandbox.

ithinkibrokeit > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 09:26

I just bought a 2012 CRG DD2 Rotax because racekart. The way I kept the cost down when I first started was using old parts, even tires at times, and trying to learn everything about the sport before investing a lot of money. I finished in last place for quite a few races, but as I spent more time in the seat I started advancing much more quickly than if I had spent a lot in the beginning. Don't be afraid to have your son finish last. No amount of money in the world will get him to the podium in the first few races. You are spot on with renting a kart, than buying used. Just as you mentioned, for most of us, it's about the fun, and the trophies will come as long as he is having the time of his life.

LowEndZen > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 09:27

<<< Opening mouth and inserting foot.

Mosqvich > LowEndZen
08/05/2013 at 09:33

LOL! Well, I was a little offended at the time, but that's hours ago. We all make dumb mistakes, I can't tell you how many times I go back and re-edit these things. My wife always offers to review them, but I never let her, I guess I'm embarrassed because this is just about "dumb" cars, etc...

Cheers!

Mosqvich > ithinkibrokeit
08/05/2013 at 09:37

All good advice. Thanks so much!

KartRacer > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 09:56

Karting is the amazing form of motorsports that never gets talked about. 80 MPH one inch off the ground, pulling 2+G in the corners, inches away from your competitors? Yes please. And as you mentioned, it's usually a very family friendly atmosphere.

Sure, $200 for a set of tires isn't cheap, but it's about the price of one racing slick for a car.

Find someone who is getting out of the sport and buy their equipment. Very nice, complete packages with trailer, kart, tools, and spares can be had for $5-8K depending upon condition and content. The only things you should buy new are safety equipment. If your kid likes it, you can always upgrade after a couple of years.

My advice - make the kid help with the wrenching. Not only will he learn quite a bit but if he gets serious, understanding how a kart works should make him a better driver, too.

KartRacer > ithinkibrokeit
08/05/2013 at 09:58

Used tires can actually be better for beginners, as they will more easily feel what the kart is doing. A new set of kart tires are deliciously fast, but they stick so darn well it can be difficult for a noob to provide good feedback for tuning.

ThatDudeNamedAustin > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 10:23

Yeah thats a DD2 kart, super fast, and Arrow Kart is one of the best frames to buy

ThatDudeNamedAustin > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 10:27

Awesome read, on the contrary, you really dont have to buy a new set of tires after 6 races. I race 100cc KT100 yamahas and we keep up with the shifters no problem, I always get 1 or 2 full seasons on a set of tires. go with bridgestone YKB or YKC. YKB are a tad softer, and I always get a season out of them, if you have the right tire pressure. The YKC are a medium compound, good for features with long laps. I ALWAYS get 2 seasons out of them, again with the right tire pressure.

desertdog5051 > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 10:39

Congratulations?, Dan, on making the FP. Now you will have to deal with all the comments. Sorry.

Mosqvich > desertdog5051
08/05/2013 at 10:42

LOL! It's not my first, and you're right, you get a zillion comments. It's alright, makes it more fun.

Mosqvich > ThatDudeNamedAustin
08/05/2013 at 10:44

I did see one Dad, who is an SCCA racer, carefully check air pressure on his daughter's kart and her Mom had a compressed air tank to keep them at the right setting.

Mosqvich > KartRacer
08/05/2013 at 10:45

Good advice on the wrenching.

DaveStruve > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 12:01

So the tire issue, well what I can tell you is to buy the tires off the guys that use them for one race. Because while they might not be brand new, there is almost no way they managed to use them up. I buy takeoffs from guys like that for $20 buck a set, and still get another 3-4hrs of track time out of them without any major drop-off in time, and thats on a shifter kart.

DaveStruve > ithinkibrokeit
08/05/2013 at 12:04

I run a tony kart dd2, and it is amazingly solid and reliable, the things I have managed to break where all due to user error and crashing into tire walls at 60mph. BTW I bought it used with 15hrs on the motor since new, should be good for a long while.

Mosqvich > DaveStruve
08/05/2013 at 12:05

And they would certainly do for practice sessions.

ThatDudeNamedAustin > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 12:49

yeah you usually you want 10 to 14 psi. I run 12 in the front and 11 in the rear, what that does it helps the rear end squat in the center of the turn ( or apex) and it gets me around, or ill run 13 all the way around if i have too much grip

ThatDudeNamedAustin > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 12:51

also im glad that everyone is friendly, that's legit the first rule in the sport.

Watch4BlueShells > Mosqvich
08/05/2013 at 13:44

Dan,

Thanks for the great story. You've given me inspiration to go out and call that karting class I've been putting off. I've been a little standoffish since I'm middle aged and never karted before. Its probably more about embarrassment to be surrounded by kids half my size (and weight). Nothing ventured, nothing gained (or something like that).

Watch4BlueShells > LowEndZen
08/05/2013 at 13:47

Wow. So DanMosqueda goes out and has a great life experience, takes photos and even dares to share said experience with us on the interwebs. And all LowEndTroll can comment about is the effin' grammar. Not a single comment about the karts, the photos or even relates to something similar in his life. What a wasted opportunity to give back to the community.

Mosqvich > Michael Ballaban
08/05/2013 at 13:53

I tweeted to @balaban. She didn't like it. Some whiny response like "why do you keep tweeting car stuff to me?".

Mosqvich > Watch4BlueShells
08/05/2013 at 13:53

You should definitely do it. There were as many "middle-aged" folks as kids. Seriously.