Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits. Karting is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher and more expensive ranks of motorsports. Karts vary in speed and some (Superkart) can reach speeds exceeding 160 mph (250 km/h). A Formula A kart, with a 100 cc 2 stroke engine and an overall weight including the driver of 150 kilograms, can accelerate from 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 85 mph (140 km/h). It takes a little more than 3 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph with a 125 cc shifter kart (6 gears), with a top speed of 115 mph (185 km/h) on long circuits.History
Art Ingels is generally accepted to be the father of karting. A veteran hot rodder and a race car builder at Kurtis Kraft, he built the first kart in Southern California in 1956. Karting has rapidly spread to other countries, and currently has a large following in Europe.
Components
The chassis are made of steel tube. There is no suspension therefore chassis have to be flexible enough to work as a suspension and stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn. Kart chassis are classified in the USA as 'Open', 'Caged', 'Straight' or 'Offset'. All CIK-FIA approved chassis are 'Straight' and 'Open'.
*Open karts have no roll cage.
*Caged karts have a roll cage surrounding the driver, they are mostly used on dirt tracks.
*In Straight chassis the driver sits in the center. Straight chassis are used for sprint racing.
*In Offset chassis the driver sits on the left side. Offset chassis are used for left-turn-only speedway racing.
The stiffness of the chassis enables different handling characteristics for different circumstances. Typically, for dry conditions a stiffer chassis is preferable, while in wet or other poor traction conditions, a more flexible chassis may work better. Best chassis allow for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed according to race conditions.
Braking is achieved by a disc brake mounted on the rear axle. Front disc brakes are increasingly popular; however, certain classes do not allow them. Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 to 175 lb (75 to 80 kg), complete without driver. Avanti Kart, Parolin, Tony Kart, Top Kart, Birel, CRG, Haase and Mach 1 Kart are a few well known examples of the many European manufacturers of race-quality chassis. American companies in the shifter kart market include: GT Race Karts, Trackmagic, Shockwave Karting and Margay. Australia produ
ce the Arrow brand.
*Open karts have no roll cage.
*Caged karts have a roll cage surrounding the driver, they are mostly used on dirt tracks.
*In Straight chassis the driver sits in the center. Straight chassis are used for sprint racing.
*In Offset chassis the driver sits on the left side. Offset chassis are used for left-turn-only speedway racing.
The stiffness of the chassis enables different handling characteristics for different circumstances. Typically, for dry conditions a stiffer chassis is preferable, while in wet or other poor traction conditions, a more flexible chassis may work better. Best chassis allow for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed according to race conditions.
Braking is achieved by a disc brake mounted on the rear axle. Front disc brakes are increasingly popular; however, certain classes do not allow them. Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 to 175 lb (75 to 80 kg), complete without driver. Avanti Kart, Parolin, Tony Kart, Top Kart, Birel, CRG, Haase and Mach 1 Kart are a few well known examples of the many European manufacturers of race-quality chassis. American companies in the shifter kart market include: GT Race Karts, Trackmagic, Shockwave Karting and Margay. Australia produ
ce the Arrow brand.Racing
Kart racing is generally accepted as the most economic form of motorsport available. As a free-time activity, it can be performed by almost anybody, and as a motorsport in itself, it is one of the sports regulated by FIA (under the name of CIK), permitting licensed racing for anyone from the age of 8 onward. In the USA there is not as much FIA involvement, instead many organizations regulate racing, such as the IKF (International Kart Federation), WKA (World Karting Association), IRA (International Racing Association), and KART (Karter's of America Racing Triad). I
n the UK the MSA (Motor Sports Association) regulate Karting. Some associations, such as NatSKA (National Schools Karting Association), organize race meetings throughout the country under the authority of the MSA. A variety of kart circuits permit the sport to be practiced, although only homologated tracks can have official races in Europe (see Kart circuits). Racing classes start at age 7 or 8 (5 in the US with "Kid Karts") and generally run in 3-year age groupings or weight divisions until “senior” status is reached at age 15 or 16, depending on the series.
Racing formats
n the UK the MSA (Motor Sports Association) regulate Karting. Some associations, such as NatSKA (National Schools Karting Association), organize race meetings throughout the country under the authority of the MSA. A variety of kart circuits permit the sport to be practiced, although only homologated tracks can have official races in Europe (see Kart circuits). Racing classes start at age 7 or 8 (5 in the US with "Kid Karts") and generally run in 3-year age groupings or weight divisions until “senior” status is reached at age 15 or 16, depending on the series.Sprint racing takes place on dedicated kart circuits resembling small road courses, with left and right turns. Tracks go from
1/4 mile (400 m) to over 1 mile (1,600 meters) in length.
The sprint format is a series of short-duration races, normally for a small number of laps, that qualify for a final, with a variety of point scoring calculations to determine the event's overall winner. Typical duration does not normally exceed 15 minutes. Here, speed and successful passing is of the most importance. It normally occurs in the format of three qualifying heats and a final race for trophy positions. The FIA championships, including the Karting World Championship, take place in this format.Endurance races last for an extended period, from 30 minutes up to 24 hours or more, for one or more drivers. In general, consistency, reliability, and pit strategy is of greater importance than all out speed. Called "Enduro" racing in the USA, most WKA & IKF sanctioned events typically last 30 minutes (Sprint Enduro) or 45 minutes (Laydown Enduro) and are run continuous without pit stops. Enduro events are held on full-size road racing circuits that are usually between 1.5 & 4 miles in length. As well as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race for automobiles there is also a 24 hours event for karts which takes place at the kart circuit Alain Prost at Le Mans, France. This race has taken place since 1986 and its winners list include Sébastien Bourdais (in 1996), four times Champ Car champion and soon to be Formula 1 driver with To
ro Rosso.
1/4 mile (400 m) to over 1 mile (1,600 meters) in length.The sprint format is a series of short-duration races, normally for a small number of laps, that qualify for a final, with a variety of point scoring calculations to determine the event's overall winner. Typical duration does not normally exceed 15 minutes. Here, speed and successful passing is of the most importance. It normally occurs in the format of three qualifying heats and a final race for trophy positions. The FIA championships, including the Karting World Championship, take place in this format.Endurance races last for an extended period, from 30 minutes up to 24 hours or more, for one or more drivers. In general, consistency, reliability, and pit strategy is of greater importance than all out speed. Called "Enduro" racing in the USA, most WKA & IKF sanctioned events typically last 30 minutes (Sprint Enduro) or 45 minutes (Laydown Enduro) and are run continuous without pit stops. Enduro events are held on full-size road racing circuits that are usually between 1.5 & 4 miles in length. As well as the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race for automobiles there is also a 24 hours event for karts which takes place at the kart circuit Alain Prost at Le Mans, France. This race has taken place since 1986 and its winners list include Sébastien Bourdais (in 1996), four times Champ Car champion and soon to be Formula 1 driver with To
ro Rosso.Speedway
Speedway racing takes place on asphalt or clay oval tracks which are normally between 1/6 mile and 1/4 mile long. Tracks primarily consist of two straight and four left-turn corners, few tracks are symmetric and often the shape parallels that of an egg or a tri-oval.
'Offset' kart chassis have been developed for precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval tracks.
Speedway kart races range in length from 4 laps for a trophy dash, to 20 laps for a main event. The two chief racing formats used in dirt speedway karting are heat races and timed laps qualification :
The International Kart Federation (IKF) runs a racing format of two 10 laps heats followed by a 20 laps final. Finishing positions in the two heat races are used to calculate the starting position in the feature race.
The World Karting Association (WKA) uses time qualifying. Karts equipped with transponders are sent out onto the track in groups of 5 or less to try to achieve the fastest lap time. Positions for the 20 laps feature event are determined by qualifying time.
'Offset' kart chassis have been developed for precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval tracks.
Speedway kart races range in length from 4 laps for a trophy dash, to 20 laps for a main event. The two chief racing formats used in dirt speedway karting are heat races and timed laps qualification :
The International Kart Federation (IKF) runs a racing format of two 10 laps heats followed by a 20 laps final. Finishing positions in the two heat races are used to calculate the starting position in the feature race.
The World Karting Association (WKA) uses time qualifying. Karts equipped with transponders are sent out onto the track in groups of 5 or less to try to achieve the fastest lap time. Positions for the 20 laps feature event are determined by qualifying time.
