- This topic has 59 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 8 months ago by
.
- Posts
Hey everyone, I have been getting prepared and now, I am ready to get into Karting.
I am currently looking at a TaG kart and I am making the decision between 4 stroke and 2 stroke. Here is a little bit about me.
I am 6ft1 185lbs. My initial plan is to drive for recreation and practice for a while, maybe the next year, maybe more. I am looking to keep the maintnance to a minimum simply for time constraints. After a year or so I will probably start doing a bit of racing. Currently I live about 10 minutes from IMI, so I will probably spend plenty of time there.
So I am looking for suggestions, information, anything you can give me. What should I be looking for? What recommendations do you have for me?
Thanks in advance!
Hey man, I am just starting and just joined the forum as well.
Do what I did, use the search function and type in something like “new karter” or “newbie” and you’ll see alot of people have asked the same thing, and the past posts are very informative.
As far as 2 stroke and 4 stroke, 4 stroke is more reliable but more expensive. 2 stroke require a little more maintenance but more people run them.
As far as racing goes, there are club races that take place between IMI and The Track at Centennial. If you are close to IMI, The Track at Centennial should be roughly an hour from you. Those are basically recreational races. You’ll hear alot about a series called Rmax, which is considered to me at a more national level, and if you want to run in that series you must run a Rotax motor. As far as the club races go, you can use any brand motor. But I believe the 2-stroke and 4-strokes run separate classes.
If you are close to IMI, there is a race going on there this weekend. Everyone will tell you to go down there and talk to ppl and ask questions. As I said I just started and everyone here has been extremely helpful.
Thats the little that I know so far, hope it helps. I’m sure some other members will chime in shortly :cheers:
Vampire / Imi home track. Strong, low maintenance package that looks good and, did I mention it”s strong? Look at http://www.mylaps.com/ and decide for yourself.
Thanks, I appreciate that. One of my problems currently is that I am working weekends which takes away from my ability to get out to the races to chat with folks. That is one of the reasons for this thread.
I have been searching plenty and found plenty of info, I am just looking for anything anyone has to add.
Thanks!
Of course, so much depends on a lot of variables. But if you are looking at 4-stroke. It is going to be a much bigger class next year. I think it would have been a big class this year but the Rotax Grands being in our back yard have altered some of our local series and turn outs. It would be more initial expense but there will be engine packages available a the end of the season for the price of a new Tag package and it will run for another 3-5 years without much more than preventative and oil changes. A lot of racers have talked to us about going to a 4-stroke next year, they see comparable times to some of the shifters and want to come have fun next year.
If 4-stroke is a little steep. You have a lot of choices as has been mentioned before. Tag offers a lot. Go to a race. Go to the next race. Go to the Rotax Grands. Go to the Tag Worlds at Imi in early October. This is a once in a lifetime chance to get up close an personal with some of the best examples of the kind of racing / karts you looking at. There is no one clear cut “better engine” with all the different venues you have to run. Leopard and Rotax are the most common motors. The Biland has had favorable performance this year and is a 4-stroke / long life engine that sounds great. We put 72 hrs on our Motori last year and Roman Clinched with one race left. Thats 72 hours without even re ringing! That’s 2-3 years for the average racer. Actually, we’ve run all the above mentioned come to think of it.
There are some great tracks here and they are quite different. A great man once said “it is more about chassis and driver than engine” Then went out and bought a different motor to suit the different circuits. Just pick the best all around in your eyes. Even if you’re just thinking about finding a kart to go and play around on, plan on what class you would end up in on the off chance that you decided to race. You will get faster if you get laps and more than likely you will engage in small battles, even out testing, you’ll find someone close in performance and the thrill of competition will get you involved in organized racing. So plan ahead.
Check out the different chassis, see how they perform on the track. Visit with representatives of these chassis. See who you enjoy talking to, even if your not going to be a team driver or whatever. Sometimes purchasing a brand will get you a lot of support after the sale, sometimes less support. You need to deal with people who you like and are comfortable to be around. Some shop / teams kinda chose their customers too for the right fit. See how they support the customer and dive in.
You’re looking at a good time of the year for sure. Some racers are upgrading equipment for Championship runs and you can get clean used machines relatively cheap. There have been some racers who have changed colors a little before silly season was supposed to start, and are dumping race-able equipment. Cheap.
Most of all, talk to others. Find out if they will help you with tuning. It is soooo much easier to drive a well set up machine. Even if you’re new and running tires until you can see thru them. A well set up machine is fun and will teach you to drive smooth and develop the proper technique and good habits.
We are not racing this weekend. But I’m probably going to got out and kick some tires and see some friends. If either of you want to walk around and get some info that is unbiased. I’d take you around and give you a primer, answer what I can. Some one did the same for Roman and I. p.m. me.
Anyway you slice it, it is fun. Beats doing any kind of drug. Beats hanging in bars. It is a clean adrenaline rush that is hard to beat and when you come down from it, you are around really good people. Whats not to like about that. If you’re around long enough, you can see future superstars forming and may even be one yourself. It’s fun to follow some of these young racers who ran / run karts out there competing in other race series and doing well. Some very unassuming drivers can rip your head off when the visor flips down, that is one of the most entertaining things for me to observe. Walk around the pits and observe some of the fastest drivers and how they behave after a good hard race.
I know how hungry you are for information when trying to learn about it. I’ve been around it for a while and still feel that way to a degree. Search this forum and http://www.ekartingnews.com/. Look in “Tag” “Rotax” “General discussion” If you search Noobie Question, you’ll get a lot of entry level answers. Just remember to weigh some of the comments, just because it’s on the internet does not make it true. use your discretion. They have a “Getting Started” (or something like that) tab. You may be past that, but some info may be useful.
Later, Rick
I live in Erie, only about 10 minutes from IMI also. I’ve been racing in TaG Master and Rotax Master for about 4 years. If you want to come by and talk about karting, give me a call. I’d be glad to help you out.
Charles
303-661-9024
I’m selling my whole TaG package.
ItalKart Supersonic chassis w/ sealed Rotax motor.
I have EVERYTHING to go racing. I can send you a complete list if interested.
There is no such thing as no maintenance in karting. No matter what setup you go with you’ll be throwing money at it. Some less then others but every set up requires money-period. jRick, do you know if Brad is going to offer the 4 stroke package that he did this year, or any other great deals out there for an end of year closeout on a 4 stroke package? I like the Rotax but I?m thinking about trading her off for a 4 stroke. What do you think?
Yeah, I know that I won’t have a complete no maintenance setup and I would be disappointed if I didn’t get to get my hands dirty at least a little bit. But I don’t want to get into a situation where I am wrenching more than I am driving!
Rick and Charles, Thanks for the offer. I will definitely contact you guys. I have the bug and I am on my way. My garage is clean, I bought a helmet and a hitch. I have a trailer on the way and I am just looking for a Kart to fill in that space in my garage.
Joe, if you want to send over what you have, I would be interested in checking it out. I have my eye on a specific Kart right now, but…you never know… if yours is a better deal, or a better Kart, then I can be swayed.
Thanks,
JoshI would call and talk to Brad. This class is going to be fun next year. Sounds like the field is going to build up with some really good people.
Joe, You are running a little over weight just as we are. We can feel our 15 – 20 lbs in the Rotax, it is pretty obvious with the limited torque available. The 4-stroke on the other hand has gob’s of bottom and seems to be less affected by the weight. You are more than welcome to drive Romans. We have been cycling butt’s in that thing and everyone has had the same response. Wow! You’ve seen A.J. out there reeling in and passing the very fast Tag Seniors and DD2’s and running comparable times to the shifters.
As far as Joe S’s comment. Racing cost money. That is something you have to be aware of coming in. Aside from the typical racing cost: entry fee’s, test tune, crash damage, tires, fuel, transport, lodging, consumables or whatever level you accept or how deep you want to go. There are definatley cost involved. You need to research before diving in and pick your battles and race what you can handle. Although, the only cost incured on the 4-stroke this year that would not be part of the above (and those are are cost’s for any kart racing you decide to do) is add oil and about $40 dollars worth of jets. We are still learning to tune the pumper carb and have made good progress. You do not need to chase that knifes edge tuning like you do a 2 stroke. Set it and run it, no changes needed during the day.
So far so good. Time will tell if the package stays together and what the costs of running long term. We are racking up hours and we’ll see. I think Brad is on the leading edge of this thing. Look at it this way. Lets take 10-12 of the best drivers and put them on these 4 strokes and cut them loose. Same motor, same performance properties, great dependable power. And I think the racing will damn good. None of the “your motor is better at this track” or “that turn made it a Leopard track” just go duke it out. I’m really excited to see the Tag Worlds and a good field of these babies screaming into the brake zones. It sounds awesome, and will remind me of Monaco.
I have not seen a class that is as attractive for the bigger drivers than this class. It gives the drivers who can’t make weight a chance to be competitive in a class rather than just know they’ll finish somewhere in the pack and hope to find someone to race with. Screw that, get a stroker and go for the throat.
I know this is kind of dreamy but: I can see enough entry’s to have a light and heavy. Imagine a 4 stroke Masters group coming down to take the gren flag with say: Warrington, Hersh, the Latins, Some of the Southern boys, Watkins, Keesling, Jansen, Reed, Hawley, Desanti, Kravanek, Dennin, Ebersole, Jacobellis, Cooks, Vasquez, Gordon, Walls, Gutierrez (and the many I missed) This would be some of the best racing you could ask for. Same motor, same chance. It would look like some of the Mini Max races we’ve seen, running in tains waiting for an error so you can overtake. It’s only a dream now, but it could happen in the next season or two.
Am I high on the 4-stroke? You bet. It looks good, runs hard, pretty much hands off maintanence. Seems to make a chassis work great. A.J. even made the comment “I’ve never felt a chassis work like this” Just changing a Tag motor to a stroker on the same chassis. For those who know A.J. or any thing about his racing history. That is quite a statement.
Anyway, come ride Romans or Brads and see what you think.
Thanks Rick, I’ll check it out. The Rotax has been great and the tuning hasn’t been much of a problem, but your exactly right torque is a problem with it, gear it high and hope it don?t blow.
Yea Joe,
It’s frustrating to be as fast or faster than someone your running with, then have them put 2-3 kart lengths on you pulling out of a corner. It has taught Roman to carry good corner speed though. Lol
Come Ride Romans kart, You’ll see!
Rick
For a little less money, a guy can get a DD2 package and go faster still. Both the 4 cycle Tag and the DD2 use a front brake chassis so that cost is the same. The DD2 engine is roughly $500 less than the retail on the 4 cycles. At a track like IMI, the DD2 will be just about as quick as a stock Moto shifter.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.