Conference terri::cars_uk

>>Karting is considered to be one of the cheapest motorsports

what's it cost then?


...art

    I'm interested in getting into this sport.  How much does it cost to
    buy/run the various types of Karts, etc.?
    
    What is the Blue Book?
    
    Where are circuits/clubs/shops local to the Thames Valley?
    
    Is there a magazine dedicated to the sport?
    
    
    Regards
    
    Steven_who_drives_one_already_(_a_pug_Gti_1.9l_actually_)_!!!.

	Well make sure you have a friend available if you want to go
	Karting, he/she will have to push start the bl**dy thing !
	
	A friend of mine had Kart and I got caught out when he asked me
	come along and "watch the fun". Now some karts have a kind of
	detachable handle which makes life a little easier when push
	starting these beasts, he didn't possess one. So time for
	practice and I end up bent over double pushing this Kart along
	which promptly starts and said driver roars ( well rattles ) off
	across the paddock with me doing a very elegant nose dive into the
	tarmac.

	Actually is was quite fun, if not a little sore on the nose !

	Gordon
	

Quite a few deccies go on half-day karting courses, which are about �55 I think.
The place (in Chiswick, I believe) provide karts, helmets, etc, and teach you
how to do it, walking the course and discussing racing lines and all sorts of
things to impress your mates with in the pub afterwards.  Or so I'm told.

Scott

    
>>               or has everybody else got more sense than to drive
>>    at 100 mph 2" above the ground.
    
    
      Yes! - we drive round at 100 mph a whole 4" off the ground! 

-3

I was that deccie that set up that trip to Chiswick. I have also aranged trips
down to Brands Hatch racing (and in fact I am going again on Moday to do some
times laps in a Formula First).

It was great fun, but I would love to go to meeting where the real beasts run.

The Karts used in chiswick although they use 'racing' chasis, used four stoke 
engines.  I suppose they do this so that you dont miss the turn and plough
straight through a wall. 

Where do you do the racing?

What sort of licence do you need to race and how do you get one?

What is a realistic cost of a basic kart and say four meetings?

As you may have of guessed I am kind of keen!!

Steve

	Anyone who races around at 100mph+, 2 inches from the ground
	using the balls of their feet as bumpers deserves my admiration.

	If they're sane that is!.
	
	-John

    
    Used to race 250cc karts for some years. Good, relaxing, stuff.
    
    They were quicker round Brands short circuit than F3 then - don't
    know now. 10 years ago a good 250 was doing better than 140mph -
    probably not a lot faster in terminal velocity now (155??) although 
    they have more power -- wind resistance overcomes all. 
    
    Dropped out when the weekly con-rod job started running into mega-
    numbers unable to be gently hidden under the cover of incoming
    expenses. Found that wife & karting have mutual antipathy when real
    costs become known ..........
    
    250's were peaky. You tended to need 11,500 to make it go, but go
    to 12 or miss a cog & there was a sudden rise in noise followed
    by distressing silence. Still miss it, & meet every Tuesday with
    a group of old timers (4 of us) who include 3 ex British 250 Class
    champions. Guess which of the 4 wasn't in this league!
                                                                 
    Was on the committee at Blackbushe for yonks (Camberley Kart Club).
    Circuit still very active. Practice every Sunday, except for the
    1 in 4 which is a full race meeting.
    
    Karting has become very popular - to the extend that you can no
    longer blast round all day 'til all your limbs ache. Practice is
    in 15-20 min sessions, with splits between g'box classes & the rest.
    
    Amazing thing is that you will have all your incidents in the first
    couple of months. You'll think you are like Fittipaldi re-incarnated,
    but you'll probably be as slow as hell & a fright to all those around
    you -- especially if you take their corner when they are batting
    on a bit.
    
    We all had to learn, & we all got frustrated later when we were
    pushed off by some newcomer who didn't have a clue about keeping
    off the line. Best advice is to be gracious, & go up & apologize if
    you've just ruined some poor chaps chance at his private glory in
    the Champs or whatever. Chances are he'll be so amazed he'll forget
    to flatten you, & will instead give lots of useful advice on how
    to go quicker.                              
    
    The exception to the above is the absolutely boorish behaviour of
    some dads when their little darling is the problem/offended. As
    in too many sports, there is a class of participant who seems to
    have to use their offspring to achieve sporting heights the father
    (or mother) could never achieve. Definitely a group whose company
    I did not seek. Most of our complaints referred to the committee
    were about this mob, so I have a very specific axe to grind.
    
    Buy Karting (available in Smith's monthly), go to Blackbushe or
    wherever, & enjoy. You'll soon be on the grid, & you won't regret
    a minute of it.                                             
    
    
    Colin

    Lost of questions, lots of answers.
    
    Blackbush is the only track listed in this area and Camberly is the only
    club. As for magazines there is Karting and Kart and superKart but by
    for the better is Karting and is available in any newsagents ( provided
    they keep it ). I'll put together a better reply that answers all the
    questions , but at the moment I tight for time.
    
    
    Garry

    I drove (not raced) 100cc karts when I was 14-18. Great fun, I had
    friends who actually raced in various championships. Every now and
    then I find myself on a race track. Only problem is : I have grown
    fat and heavy so 1) I have trouble sitting comfortably 2) they all
    pass me at acceleration ....
                            

Lots questionsand hopfully load'sa answers


Cost:

	Karting is cheap but not that cheap. The classes limit the cost 
        but as with all racing the higher up the ladder the cost gets 
	higher and in anycase gearbox karts are very expensive. A new
	100 National complete will cost about #2000. 100 National is
	the highest class in non gearbox you can race without written
	authority from the RACMSA. The highest non gearbox class is
	100 national super which is basically works teams and mega bucks 
	cost and only listed drivers can race in this class.

	There are many 2nd hand Kart for sale through magazines like 
	Karting Magazine and Kart and SuperKart. Its possible to get
	a secondhand one for as little as #200, but as with all things 
	you get what you pay for. #200 will buy a chassis that is 
	probably stoneage and an engine that is running out of breath.
	There are very few cheap karts the are worth the money. As a 
	very rough guide #600 ish is a very rock bottom price for a
	secondhand one that is going to be even close to raceable.
	

Blue Book:


	The Blue book is the RACMSA rules and regulations book that 
	covers all forms of motorsport that the MSA has control over.
	Karting has its own section covering all technical details.
	By default you get a copy with a competition license else
	it can be purchased from the RACMSA for #13.50. A restricted
	Kart license is #10  , save 3.50.


Club/Shop/Circuit:

	Off the top of my head the only club I know of in the Thames Valley
	is Camberly who race at Blackbush Airfield. I can look others up in
	the blue book. Shops /outlets advertise in both the magazines 
	mentioned already, Karting Magazine is the better of the 2. 
	Be warned that all the prices are quoted ex-vat. Most circuits
	have a shop and from my experience are only too willing to help,
	they also sell 2nd hand Karts and are if more expensive a better bet
	if you want to race as they generally only sell new'ish karts rather
	that one that's been kept in the garage for years and probably 
	wouldn't pass scrutineering.




Starting:

	No clutch, direct drive,push start. When my engine is in tiptop
	condition ,provided that there is petrol in the carb, it will start
	with a 2 or 3 foot push. You can get nice little pushers to make 
	life easy,but I can cope with the short push. If it won't start
	its bl**dy knakering.


	I think that covers it.


	No, it doesn't cover it there's more replies.


Licenses:

	A straight forward Kart license from the RACMSA, you can only get a
	restricted license to start and it required a medical. All you need 
	to do is phone the RACMSA and ask for an application. The number
	is 0753-681736.



Plus:

	Once you have got a Kart and joined a club etc,etc and you want to 
	go racing the next expence is incurred. For racing round on practice
	days at a circuit you need a crash helmet but the rest of the saftey
	is up to you. If you don't mind often the track owners don't as they
	have no resposibility for what you do. But when you go racing you 
	need a RAC approved Helmet, race suit ( Leathers, or a Homolagated
	race overall ) boots, and gloves. The blue book suggests that all
	drivers in all classes wear some form of fire retardant clothing
	, I'm not 100% sure that that is really nessesary for Karting but
	when you have a 1-2 Gallon fuel tank between your legs and a red
	hot engine to your right, the last thing I want is to have an 
	shunt ,the tank burst and fuel going on a hot engine, I have no 
	ambition to be a human torch. I wear fire retardant clothing, and 
	the cost of racewear varies considerably from supplier to supplier
	and brand names. You can expect to pay over #100 for a set of 
	kit.



	I hope that covers most of the ground rules.



	Garry
	
    

    
    Some more facts.
    
    150 competitors at Blackbushe on Sunday. Need to be there by 0700hrs
    to get a place in the pits. Racing doesn't start till 1000hrs, so
    plenty of time for a fry-up.
    
    Race entry now #15. Even practice is #10. Decent, competitive 125
    National can be bought for #3k new. Running costs around #40 per
    event. Engine reliability has improved, as has tyre wear. Stickies
    now banned for most classes - saves lotsa money.
    
    The gang of 4 seriously considering mooting a veterans class. All
    have put on weight, so will almost certainly stick to 250 National.
    BTW, if you go to Blackbushe this veterans group expect to circulate
    around 22.3 (them), 22.4 (me). (Always had this social need to give
    everyone else warm vibes by them not being last - I think the technical
    name is cowardice)). The fastest plots at BB nowadays are the top 125 
    class - quicker than the 250 Nationals.
    
    Re -1. You won't get on to the circuit without decent scrutineering
    at Blackbushe. I suspect (hope) this is still true on practice days.
    It certainly used to be, 'cos I was a scrutineer if I wasn't racing.
    
    Rissington is the only other semi-local short circuit for serious
    racing. Camberley have ownership of a piece of ground (several acres)
    close to Heathrow that is destined to be a new circuit.
    
    If u decide to go 250 international on long circuits, you can expect
    to be in 5 figures a year if you seriously want to win the
    championship.
    
    Colin 

    Yet more facts.
    
    
    The cost of taking up Karting can be reduced by starting of in one of
    the lower classes.  I run a 100cc Britain class Go-Kart which would
    cost approximately 1200 pounds to buy brand new.  The reason for the
    price differential between this and the 100cc National class is that
    Britain class karts are not allowed any alloy fittings (except wheel
    rims).  
    
    The slicks on a Britain class kart must be a specific brand and type, 
    and should last a normal seasons racing.  The engines are identical to 
    those used on the National class except for the fuel restrictor on the
    carb,  and so the performance isnt too much below.
    
    I would recommend any who havent tried karting yet to do so.  I tried
    it once and was so impressed that I bought the Go-Kart !!!
    
    (sorry Mr. Kiam)
    
    
    Shaun 

    For those intrested here's a list of the races that are on during May
    that are local'ish to Basingstoke/Reading, there's none that fit before
    the end of the month.
    
    Date		Club 			Location
    
    
    6 May    		Bromgrove KC		RAF Little Risslington
    
    13 May		Clay Pigeon KC		Clay Pigeon, Dorest
    
    27 May		Camberly KC		Blackbushe
    
    
    Seems that Camberly have a race meeting on the 3rd Sunday of each
    month, Clay pigeon the 2nd Sunday and for those who don't mind using
    the London orbital car park not far from the Enfield turn off at	
    Hoddeston , Hoddeston KC have a race meeting  at Rye House the 1st Sunday.
    For a Real treat , I can't claim to have been to one but, I'm lead to
    believe that schoolboy meetings are quite something to watch. They tend
    to be saturdays. The next 1 I know about is at Rye House on the 12th
    May.
    
    
    Garry
    
    
    
    
    

    So can you just turn up at Blackbushe to watch?  Do you have to pay?
    
    Steven

    I have never been to Blackbushe , I have however been to other circuits
    as a spectator and they are just like any other race meeting, the same
    would apply to practice. The last meeting I went to not too long ago
    cost the staggering cost of #1.50 plus I think they charged for
    parking. Perhaps Colin could confirm what happens at Blackbushe.
    
    
    Garry 

    
    BB used to be 50p. Probably around #2 now on race days, 50p practice.
    Excellent viewing facilities, can see whole circuit very well.
                      
    Colin
    

    If any one is intrested this weekend there is a meeting at Rye House on
    sunday. If anybody wants directions etc give me a call.  
    
    DTN 833 - 3834.
    
    
    Garry

    If anybody went over to Rye house last sunday I think they will agree,
    If they watched the same races as me, it was good stuff. For those who
    need to know about the new construction regs, ie reg 1.11.1 from the
    1st of may you need an additional end bell on the silencer and a
    homologated air box on the carb. A pain in the behind, I can't get the
    air box on without hacking about the side pods  ,so its off to
    Dartford Karting tomorrow to get some nice plastic pods to replace the
    fibreglass ones on the Kart at the moment. 
    
    After a few months of fiddling about , last saturday I tried these new
    National tyres, Cheng Shin ( or nippon slip-ons ). Previously I had had
    Vega tyres ( lovely, stick like you know what to a blanket ) but these
    nippon slip-ons, it was like driving in the rain. Sliding all over the
    shop, power sliding through bends that previously with Vega's I could
    go storming round with no trouble. Out of 10 , I'll go as far as to say
    yes they fit the bill as tyre's, the sure look like tyres, but they
    forgot to put the grip in when they made them. The old addage applies
    in this case, "cheap and cheerfull", I'll mark then a as high a 2. 1
    for getting the shape right and another 1 for getting the colour right.
    
    
    
    Garry

    I retract my last point having been to Dartford today, The situation
    with these nippon slip ons look worst that I thought. Talking to the
    man in the shop his opinion on these tyres was not as high as mine.
    He was saying that they are finding it difficult to find tyres that
    are perfectly round, and the general feeling that the tyres are not as
    good as one might expect. I hope that someone at the rac sees the light
    with these tyres and gives us some real tyres for next year ,
    preferably before then. Or has someone taken a back hander at the
    Racmsa.
    
    
    Garry
    

    My cousin races a 250 National - he just started this season. He's
    got an Anderson Mirage chassis - which allows you to adjust the
    steering geometry - and a Cagiva engine. He bought this set-up about
    third hand - but it had hardly been used (Cagiva engines are new
    for this year I think, so it can't have been around long). The whole
    set up cost around 3,000 pounds I think. Running costs depend a
    lot on whether you bring the kart back in one piece, but I think
    he budgets about 50 quid a meeting.              
    
    His home club is Clay Pigeon, and he's also been to Dunkeswell and
    Shenington, and is hoping to get to Rissington some time.
    
    I get the exciting job of being push starter/mechanic/dogsbody, but
    it's good fun - I can recommend it as a day out.
                                        
    Paul.

    I have been racing in 100cc Britain class for slightly over 2 years now, 
although a serious lack of time has meant that I have only competed six times,
but you cant beat it. I am racing in the restricted class, which is the class
that all newcomers to the sport have to start in, unless they are young enough
to have to go into cadets (8-12 yrs old). I am using a chassis that cost around
450 quid with engine, which surprisingly is still going well despite the fact
that my brother has been racing solidly for those 2 yrs, initially with said
engine. 
    Having competed regularly, my brother has a new chassis, and a few new 
engines, so I am going to be hard pressed to keep up with him !!!! At least
he isnt in restricted anymore, so I will have a slight chance to get used to
Karting again before 'meeting' him !!!

     Alan
    ~~~~~~

    For anyone intrested there is a meeting at Silverstone this coming
    weekend 4/5 August. The meeting is for all classes of gearbox karts,
    125 through to Formula E. Saturday is absolutly free to get in but
    saturday is mostly practice. Sunday is all but free. Sundays entrance 
    fee is �2 for adult and children free. There is a twist to that, any
    adult who turns up with 2 empty Coca Cola ( you know, things go better
    with coke) will be given free entry??????? The event is sponsered by
    coca cola so I guess they are planning on making a clean sweep on scrap
    ali. I shall be going but not racing, not my class and in any case the
    cuts,bruises and friction burns left by a very heavy shunt last weekend
    would prevent it. 
    
    
    	Garry

  Seeing that reporting on the weekends racing seems to be the thing to do, I 
have decided to risk the humiliation !!!!!

  I too am chasing signatures, trying to upgrade my licence, so am currently
running in Senior Britain Restricted kart races, although I do have 3
signatures on last years licence, but only one on this years (from this 
weekend).

  The meeting was the special trophy meeting at Blackbushe, the Ray Mortara
memorial meeting. 

  

  The day started at 5.30am and I soon realised that it is not good to be
up that early when you were working on the karts till around 2am !!! But the
entries were in, and it was the big meeting, so we finished loading some
of the tools around my brothers kart in one car, then as Mum and Dad wizzed
off to try and secure a place in the pits, my brother and I loaded my kart
and the remaining tools into my car. It was just as well we did it that way,
as we were very close to the back of the pits, but at least we were on the
same level as the track, indeed some people had to park up the top, which is 
about 15-20 feet above the track, and up a slope of around 40 degrees !!!

  The first practice didn't last too long, the engine mounts hadn't been done
up tightly enough, and so the chain came off halfway round the first lap, the
second practice was too soon after the first for me to get the kart sorted, so
I had to go and beg the marshalls to let me have a short practice after the
others had gone. They told me to get my kart on the dummy grid immediately,
whic left no time for me to check the tyre pressures as my brother had grabbed
the set I had been using and I had to use a set which hadn't been checked.
The engine felt to be pulling fine, with no nasty sounds, the back end was 
trying very hard to overtake the front, but I put this down to cold tyres as
the fronts were at the sharper turns trying to meet the scenery directly in 
front, and I was only given 3 laps !!! But on further investigation, I found
that I had 14psi on one side and 20psi the other. I set this to 30psi before
the first heat.

  Heat 1: 14th on the grid out of 20, so fairly well back, but could have
been worse. The procession laps saw a number of these novice drivers try too
hard to warm the back tryes with the throttle, and thus when eventually we
got the green light, I was 8th. I was slowly working my way up, when in an
over zealous attempt to get the power on early out of the chicane, I 
overcooked it, and ended up facing the wrong way. And of course being direct
drive, no clutch, gearbox or any other such item, the engine stopped. OK, jump
out, lift the back of the kart, start running, drop it and keep pushing, easy
really, and I was off again, slowly gaining the odd place before getting it 
wrong again round the back of the course and having to push start it again !!!
Never did sus out where I finished, but I enjoyed it.

  Heat 2: Thats better, loosened off the rear bumper, which helped the back 
tyres grip no end. 7th on the grid, but the driver in front of me oiled up
leaving the pits, so I started 5th. Had a good start, up to third after the
first lap, but only to lose 2 places a few laps later as the engine wasn't 
pulling as well out of the corners, even though I was quicker into and through
them than anyone else around me. This was diagnosed as being due to having a
too high gearing, still that fifth place put me 7th on the groid for the final.

  Final: To solve the pulling 'problem' we had added an extra tooth at the back
and it all looked good, tyres correctly pressurised, engine mounts tight etc,
so I was confident, with six trphies available, and starting seventh. But, I 
wasn't counting on the fuel cap coming lose. A big problem as it sits between
your legs, so I was getting a faceful of fuel everytime I went over a bump.
I was not too happy with this arrangement, so I pulled off, and sat it out.

   Anyway despite the problems, I enjoyed it, and got another signature. My
brother had a moderate day, and finished in 7th place, just outside the 
trophies, but as the lounge is already full of his trophies, I think he was 
more disapointed than the rest of the family about that !!!!!!


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    
    Well done to get your signature. Please keep adding your race reports,
    it's comforting to know that other people have the same 'fun' in order
    to get the vehicle on the starting grid! 
    
    We've done 7 races now, and each time something manages to cause last
    minute hitches, and/or gets left at home in the garage! Yes, I know I
    should be writing a checklist - but I'm too busy sorting out the last
    minute problems.......... (Last weekend it was the Mobil 1, so we got
    some at a service station on the way, and now have the free gift of 6
    mugs with pictures of racing cars... :-)  )

  Yep, it would only be half the fun if we didn't have to sort out all of these
things that should have been sorted out (mumble)hours/days/weeks ago 

	 Alan
	~~~~~~

 P.S. After all that typing, I am glad that someone has the time to read it all

 

    
    A million years ago, I used to be on the Blackbushe committee when Roy
    Mortara was still with us.
    
    Raced 250's. Sunday was always practice/race followed by blow-up. Mondays 
    I went to Cove Tech where, courtesy of silly-money evening classes, I got
    out the welding kit, lathes, mill etc & made good Sundays' havoc.
    Rarely serious, usually cracks in chassis etc.
    
    Happy days -- all seems a bit amateur now, but it was great fun. A gang
    of us who used to be Blackbushe regulars keep threatening to form a
    vintage section. We include most of the old committee, so we could
    probably twist some arms. Real problem is remaking a new seat to fit my
    now-more-ample derriere......
    
    

	I'm looking for an introductory � day or so (for my wife).

      The place at Chiswick is now 'unobtainable', so I guess they've
      gone. Any other recommendations ?

      Thanks, Peter

    There's the Three Sister Course in Wigan.
    
    Address etc. can be found if required.
    
    Regards
    
    Shaun.
    

  Re -.1

  If you want an indoor circuit, then Trak1 in Uxbridge will probably be worth
a call, but if outdoors on a real Kart circuit is more what you are looking for,
then Deavinsons at Rye House in Hoddesdon have some 'fun' Karts that they 
hire out. Don't know whether either of them do 1/2 day courses, but could be
worth a try.

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

P.S. I am racing at Clay Pigeon near Yeovil this weekend, so I will endevour 
to cobble together a report next week.

re .31
for -.1 read -.2

thats what comes of taking so long to type it in (and remember place names !!!)

	 Alan
	~~~~~~

    Alan, How did you get on at Clay last weekend ?
    
    I was there as mechanic/push-starter/dogsbody for my cousin who
    races a 250 National. We had a reasonable day - spun out in the
    second heat due to over-exuberance, and got taken out in the final
    by a bit of contact driving ! Oh well, at least there was no damage
    and we live to fight another day...
    
    Paul.

Haven't had a chance to do the write up of a weekend of disaster, not much of it
due to mechanical, but just general bad luck, and lack of knowledge of the 
course on my part.

 The write up will follow soon(ish) I promise.

	 Alan
	~~~~~~

P.S. despite all of that I enjoyed it. 

    The latest RACMSA bulletin it appears that rumours about cadet
    engines are true. Several competitors have been reprimanded for using
    illegal engines ( Komet s.60) and also suppliers have been reprimanded.
    Notables are Bruno Ferrari and CSK , supplying tuned version on this
    engine. Nothing much on the technical front. However the last section
    in the kart technical suggests that there is more happening on the 
    noise front. 
    
    
    	Garry

    I wish they would get the noise issue for karts sorted out. At the
    moment each circuit seems to have different policies on testing
    ranging from not at all, through testing finalists only to random
    testing in heats. Also each circuit seems to have a different gadget
    for doing the test. 
    We were tested once at Shenington and were okay, and then tested last
    meeting at Clay and it went off the scale !!!
        
    Paul.
    

    It all seemed simple to me, 86 db at x feet. I too wish they would sort
    it all out . I started off with the kid air box which I found to be a
    pain to use but done the job. But it cost me a new set of side pods,
    nobody in their right mind hacks the hell out of fibre glass just to
    make the box fit.
    
    Garry

 I didn't actually get tested at Clay, but my brother was, and the meter read
99 dB, which with a limit of 104 is Very good, especially seeing that we were
running a titan air 'box'

 For those who don't know, the way that it is tested at Clay is that the back
is held off the ground, the driver is asked to keep the engine at a set speed,
which depends on the engine type, and the measurement is taken from a point 
500mm back at an angle of 45 degrees to the kart, measured from the end of the 
exhaust.

 I don;t know if this is still true, but Camberley do a moving noise test, then
give you a card which says that your kart was under the limit, and only check 
the card at scrutineering, although they may check noise at other times, but
I don't know, never having done well enough !!!! A big bug in this method is,
that there is no way of knowing what has been done, I for one am using a 
different chassis, and sometimes even, a different type of engine than used 
for the noise test.

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

P.S. Car problems have stopped me putting in a race report as I said I would !!

Well, a great days racing was had by my brother and I on Sunday. 

 My brother was borrowing a brand new TKM (the most favoured engine this year)
and put it to good use in the first heat with a nice win, whereas my first 
heat saw me getting from 14th on te grid up to third, only to get it wrong 
coming into a fastish right hander by the pits, and ending up on the inside,
so I quickly rejoin, and gett it wrong in the same place on the next (final)
lap. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it going again, so received a DNF
(Did Not Finish) for that heat. But it gave me confidence, as I was definitely 
up there with the quickest of them.

 The second heat didn't go too well for my brother, as he was taken off trying
when the guy on the inside of him span, and took my brother with him. My 
second heat saw me 5th on the grid, but I was soon in frontof the lady infornt
of me, and felt a gentle nudge from behind round the first corner, which
apparently sent her off! But despite that, I could still count 4 karts infront,
with the front two pulling away. I managed to pull up into fourth place fairly
easily, then had a very ragged driver ahead, so I dropped back slightly to 
plan my attack, only to be passed onthe outside at the end of the straight,
not too annoyed by this,but gently simmering, I push a little too hard, and 
drop back slightly, but only a few yard, which was just aas well, as they took
each other off at the next corner, and I was through into third. I was now
in pursuit of the leaders, and slowly gained, until the penultimate lap, when
I really closed, and was challenging for second, unfortunately, I really 
messed up out of the chicane (the final bend !!!!!) and had to restart the 
kart to finish around tenth.

 My final was before my brother's, and I was 12th on the grid, not too good
considering that I had been third near the end in both my heats !!! But not
too bad considering what had happened. In the interval between heats and
final, we had compensated for the rear axle having moved 2mm to the right, and
repositioned my seat more centrally, which between them gave it a much better
handling around right handers, with no real loss roind lefts. My start was 
fairly good, I picked up a couple of places, and kept on gaining slowly, but 
while challenging for what I now assume must have been 4th, I was overtaken
under a yellow flag, and had to postpone the attack. I was seriously thinking
about pushing the guy off, but didn't, I managed to get past the guy who I had
been challenging before this,and started my attack on the guy infront, but
wasn't able to manage it before the end. My (probably biased) opinion is that
I could have had him had I not been passed by number 10 under the yellow !!!

 My brother's final saw him starting from 8th, but as with all of our races,
being consecutive I didn't see much of it, although I saw him gaining second 
at he end of the straight, coming through on the inside as the other guy went
wide, and seriously challenging the leasder on the final lap, but not having 
enough time to get past. Maybe another lap would have seen him win, or maybe
it would have seen him lose second ?? Who knows. But a fourth for me, and a 
second for Stu is a pretty good result.

 The other result from this is that I now have my 6 signitures needed to 
upgrade my licence, and be put in with the quick boys. The question is will
Dad be able to cope with 2 of us ion the same race (ie same class, therefore
we will be out at the same time !!!!) Anyone want to volunteer to come down
and help push ?!?!?!?


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Well, we had a bad day yesterday at the karting circuit at RAF Little
    Rissington. My cousin's 250 National kart was resplendant in full
    bodywork (the first time we'd run the nose-cone this season) and
    a brand new exhaust, but that didn't help us much !
    
    Practice was okay, although brief - four laps is not much to check
    out a rebuilt kart and get to know the circuit. 
    
    The first heat we were 23rd on the grid out of 25, and somewhat to 
    our dismay the 250 Internationals (6 of them) were spread randomly 
    through the grid, making for some interesting racing ! As my cousin
    was still getting to grips with the circuit he did reasonably well
    in the face of some stiff competition to come in 11th of the Nationals.
    
    The second heat we changed the gearing for, dropping a couple of
    teeth on the front sprocket in an attempt to match the gear-changes
    to the circuit a bit better. Unfortunately our potential advantage
    of a starting position 2nd on the grid was lost when a coil lead
    came undone on only the second lap, and by the time we'd found out
    what it was there was no point restarting.
    
    Due to only finishing one of the heats, we had a fairly poor grid
    for the final - 19th, although we moved up a few places when the
    officials decided at the last minute to put all the Internationals
    at the back and start them on a delayed second green light. However
    our luck ran out on the last lap...we were running in about 11th
    place when suddenly we lost compression ! On a brief examination
    back in the pits, the chief suspect would appear to be the big end,
    but until we get a chance to strip the motor down we won't know
    for sure.
    
    The other bad news of the day was that the clerk of the course was
    injured when a kart spun off the track and went into him...he was
    taken off to hospital, but apparently had no broken bones.
    
    Paul.
                              

 Well, having not managed to get a report in on December's race,a nd not 
competing in Novemeber's due to spectating for the RAC, I will now start to 
describe what it was like yesterday, and to an extent in December too, as 
it was wet for both races.


 1st practice : Well, the Kart started easily, but the brake was a little 
snatchy, probably due to the fact that it had a liberal coating of surface
rust on the disc. This lead to me deciding that I needed a little more
pressure on the pedal due to the fact that I wasnt stopping as well as I had
hoped, unfortunately, this lead to the  brake locking, thus locking the back
wheels, and sending me around backwards,and looking at how raggedly they were 
as they were braking at the end of the straight, I decided against trying
to get it started. Of course the grip wasnt helped by the fact that the only
"wet" tryes that I had were worn to the point of being virtually slicks.

 Between practises : Having weighed the kart after the first practise and found
it to be officially under weight despite the extra lead wrapped around the 
back of the seat, we were just about to put another 2.3Kg of lead on when they
announced that there had been problems with the scales and that they recommended
that people rechecked their weights after second practise, so we decided that 
this would be a good idea. 

 2nd practise : Well, I didnt lock-up going into the first corner, but it wasnt
pulling very smoothly, in fact it wasnt pulling at all until all of a sudden it
would kick the back around sharply, which meant that the kart got heavier due
to the grass cutting. This problem was tracked down to a badly adjusted slow
running jet, which meant that it wasnt picking up cleanly until the main jet
took over suddenly!!!!

 Between practise & heat : Rewieghed the kart, and found that I was in fact 
somewhere around the weight limit, possible slightly low, so some sheet lead
was taped in the bottom of the seat.

 1st heat : Not a bad start, I was able to get around the first corner without
being knocked off, but wasn't able to get it right round the long right hander 
before the chicane, and twice ended up facing the wrong way. Still, managed
to get it started again without problems. And at least I finished, albeit a
fair way down the order. Not helped either by the fact theat I had the standard
visor on, not a whirly visor, so I was unable to see a significant distance
in front of me as it was steamed up on the inside from the pushing, and cover
in water on the outside.

 Between heats : Just removed a bit of the mud, checked tyre pressures etc,

 2nd heat : It was a bit slow picking up out of the pits, and I was unable to 
get to my grid poistion, so I started slightly further down the order from 
where I should have, but then again, I am fairlyt sure I would have been right
in the midel of the first corner pile-up, as it was though, I was nicey going
through the gap, waiting for the nudge from behind, and indeed it came, not 
drastic though, as I was still going in the direction I wanted to, 
unfortuinately there was a startled 'yelp' from the engine and no forward 
propulsion as the chain had snapped, so I had to sit it out.

 Pre-final prep : All the standard checks + of course the use of a new chain!!!

 Final : A strange trick of fate, I was 21st on the grid, and my brother was
13th, what is so unusual about that, well, my race number is 21, and my broters
is 13 !!!!! It did not look like it would be a good race when halfway down the 
straight, just after leaving the dummy grid, it started to misfire, was half
expecting it to oil up during the rolling-up laps, but it didnt. I was 
gradually getting quicker, but not enough, close to the end I was caughgt by the
front men, the first guy had no problems getting past, but the second guy caused
a biyt of aggro, as coming round teh right hander just infornt of the pit
entrance, I went wide as there was more grip out there, and he went down the 
inside, unfortunately, some poor guy was trying to start his kart on the 
outside, so with nowhere to go, I ended up spinnig, and hitting the kart of
the poor guy who was trying to push it, luckily he had been watching out, and 
was out of the way before I hit. I was not surprised that my kart didnt want
to pick-up when I tried starting it, due to the misfire, but later found that
the brake had been binding, which did cause my dad to think theat I had 
seized it for a while. So a DNF in the final. Oh well.


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Alan,
    
    When's the next one at Blackbushe ???
    
    Mark
    

    Think its the 3rd weekend of each month , Have fixture list will check.
    
    Garry

 It is generally the 4th weekend, so I recon iot is the 24th. Hm, maybe I had 
better start cleaning the Kart, get all the sand off of it !!!!

 		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Ah well, maybe next month (anyone need a novice pusher ?)
    
    Can anyone advise on a good, honest Kart dealer in Hants/Berks ???
    
    Good/bad experiences ??
    
    Thanks - Mark

 We always go to Bruno Ferrari, although that is in Middlesex, I will let you
know the address when I find it out (I know how to get there, but no idea were
it is !!!!!) We have had no complaints.

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Re .46
    
    We get all our karting stuff from Southern Kart Services, who I
    can highly recommend. It's run by James Ponting - last year's national
    champion in the 250cc national class. It's near Andover, and although
    I can't give you an address I might be able to find out a telephone
    number or give directions if you want.
                                     
    He's only a dealer for certain makes, so it depends what you're
    looking for...
    
    Paul.
    

    OK, so Bruno Ferrari sounds good for 100cc and Southern for 250cc
    
    Any pro's and con's, 100cc vs. 250cc, apart from obvious costs ???
    any view on 210 and 125 ???
    
    Mark

 Yep, Bruno is mainly a 100cc and Cadets person, never noticed anything nasty
like a gearbox Kart down there !!!! Not all of the Kart tracks will allow a
gearbox kart to race, or even to practice, although then again, 100cc are not
able to race on long circuits, eg. silverstone, etc. 

 It is basically what do you want out of it, gearbox are quicker, and you can 
get away with spinning it most of the time, although once it is warmed it is
fairly easy to restart a 100, but 100s are cheaper, and probably just as much
fun, as well as being closer racing and having more entrants ( this is taken
from my experience at Blackbushe.) 

 One thing I would say is that having to push start a kart (almost) every time
that you spin it leads to a quicker learning process about how not to spin it,
or what the limits are. Then again, I could be almost biased !!!!!

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Some more pros and cons....
    
    
    	Depending at whereabouts in 100cc you mean , 100cc starts at
    britain and goes to super. The Higher up the table you go the 
    bigger the prices get . Realisticly 100 national is the highest 
    you can go and that , if racing seriously , will not be cheap.
    
    Now gearbox , apart from the obvious higher cost of the chassis
    and the engine and gearbox from my observations seems to generally 
    be cheaper.  For example , when I was at the british Kart GP at
    silverstone last year , a Tillet upholster nongearbox seat was about
    �90 where as a full long circuit gearbox seat was something like �50.
    Most of the fibre glass stuff for gearbox seems to be much cheaper than
    nongearbox. 
    
    I have seriously considered swapping to gearbox on the basis that it 
    you don't rev the nuts off the engine like in non gearbox, it will 
    last longer. Also the tyre choice in gearbox is better ie: if you want
    to pay for the best you can have it ,not like in 100 national where
    even if you can afford better you must use sub standard tyres.
    
    
    If you don't already read KARTING MAGAZINE , it is a source of much
    information. Personally I don't think much of KART AND SUPERKART.
    
    
    
    
    Garry
    

 90 pounds for a Tillet, someone was on to a nice earner there, Bruno sells 
them for about 55 !!!! I actually use a non-upholsetered set which is about 30.

 From what I have learnt, a well set up 100 will last for a long time with the
minimum of maintenance, but just missing a gear, or losing the chain on gearbox
can be the end of the bore on a gearbox kart. The problem is, it may take a 
while for you to work out how to set the carb etc, but then again, our first
engine is only one size over legal now, and we got it second hand in a fairly 
poor state about 4 years ago, and both my brother and I were using it, sometimes
even at the same race meeting !!!!!


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Yeh well that was an example. I agree with the carb , That is probably 
    the single most part that can be the cause the biggest costs. If that
    chappie is set too weak them you better hope the bank balance is
    healthy. As for the seat I also use a plain old fibre glass seat as a
    base. Upholstered seats are nice and you are less likly to slide around
    in it ,but I see no other real benefit. Now this is probably going to
    give away my super seat but, has anybody notice the padding folk put on
    their seats????  Thats fine but the real problem is that you need the
    seat to be a good comfortable fit. Simple , what you need is a seat
    that is internally the same shape as you. The way I have done that is
    using  polyurathane foam. Its a 2 person job, 
    
    	1) lay a very large poly bag in the seat , large enough that when
    you sit in it , it still covers the seat, opening at the top.
    
    	2) You could do this bit on your own but I found it best with a
    helping hand. Get some polyurathane foam mixed up in a bucket , sit in
    the seat ,lean forward and get the gunge slopped in the bag. As the 
    foam expands nessle into the bag as sit tight in the position you want
    to drive in. It gets a bit hot, after a while it starts to cool off ,
    it time to get out. 
    
    Its worth leaving the bag in the seat for about an hour just to got
    solid.  After that  the seat mould can be take out , the bag removed,
    the mould trimmed and then what ever you want to do with the mould.
    
    I covered the back in tank tape to prevent that getting damaged and
    covered the seat bit in terry toweling type material. Its really
    comfortable, give you better feel and is hell of a lot cheaper than an
    upholstered seat. A 1 Kilo pack of foam costs about �18 ans will do
    approximatly 3-4 seat mold, it depends on how much foam you use per
    seat.
    
    
    
    
    	Garry

    
    This is how we made my seat for the 23 - and it does get quite warm!
    
    But I can now reach the pedals properly - from a very comfortable seat. 

    
    Seen at an autojumble 2 weeks ago --
    
    
    A Zip with 250cc Yamaha twin engine. Small fairings, set of spare brand 
    new Goodyears. Tatty, but complete. Would have needed a month's work of
    enjoyable evenings to get operational.
    
    Took me back to my early middle-age, when I raced similar things. What
    fun -- although 250 National was a lot cheaper.
    
    The price was �150 ono ......................!!
    
    
    Colin 
    
    

    It's get into shape time , I have been asked to drive in a pro kart race
    or 2. Provided that the team entries get accepted I will probably 
    be racing 2 pro kart races this year, both 24 heure du (where ever).
    
    The first race is at Rye house in may, 24 hours 18/19 may , probably
    treat that as a training run . The team is 10 drivers , the drivers
    with more experiance are out to win but I think it is going to be a bit
    hit and miss. Very few members of the team will have driven more than
    the lenght of a race ,so Keeping going might be a problem.
    
    The second race is yet to be decided because of the location and the
    cost. The second is at Le Mans on the Circuit Alain Prost ( the Kart
    circuit) . That is the race I really want to do.  
    
    So its time to save for new kit. I need loads of stuff, new overalls,
    spare gloves, wet overalls the list is endless.
    
    
    
    Garry
    
    
    

Re .49 - 100cc vs. 250cc, or Non-gearbox vs. Gearbox.
    
    Gearbox are bigger/heavier and hence require more space to transport
    to and from races, and also more help to lug around !
    Gearbox have 'proper' green-light starts, rather than rolling starts.
    Gearbox karts (when they've got full bodywork on) look nicer !
    Gearbox karts tend to have more things to set up/fiddle around with.
    This means that when you first start there are a lot of things
    that you need to get right to be competitive, but on the other hand
    there are more things you can tweak to get that advantage over the
    competition. As a result gearbox racing can be more variable...
    
    As already mentioned, only some circuits allow gearbox karts, so
    you might find you have to travel a fair way. (Our nearest circuits
    are about 1.5 hours drive). If you want to drive long circuits then
    you'll need a gearbox kart.
    
    Regarding 210 and 125 karts...210's don't seem to be as popular
    as other classes... 125 Open class are as quick as the 250's around
    the short and twisty circuits...and quite popular.
    
    Paul.
    
    P.S. There might be a few of us at Clay this Sunday for a practice.

    On the subject of circuits that will allow practice for gearbox, I 
    know that the nearest track to me is dartford or is it tilbry and after
    that I think blackbush do but that is getting on the long way to go
    side. Does anyone know what track ther are up in east anglia that allow
    gearbox. I hear that snetterton had  a circuit but that's it. The
    reason I ask is that a freind is intrested in gearbox and lives up that
    way. I though of maybe Kimbolton But I didn't know if they allow
    gearbox. 
    
    
    To go back to the gearbox/no gearbox saga, 210 is less popular and if
    what I read it may be a non class is some folk get thier way. At the
    british grand prix I noticed that 125 open raced with 210 and there
    seemed to be more 125's than 210.
    
    
    
    Garry

    Kimbolton allow gearbox karts - at least they did last year. We're
    planning on racing there a few times this year so I hope they haven't
    changed their minds !
    
    Paul.
    
    RE: 210's - they sound horrible as well !

    As mentioned a few back I am  racing in the British round of
    British/European ProKart Endurance championship, Le Mans as yet is not
    decided. The race is next weekend at Rye House and Entry for spectators
    is FREE!!!!!!! There will be collection boxes for cancer research
    littered around, the idea being that people donate. The race starts at 
    11 am with a full 35 kart grid.
    
    Yesterday was practice day at Buckmore Park along with setting time for
    the grid position. Notables like Steve Brogan are in teams .The untimed
    practice was a bit hectic with may drivers on the track of very
    differing experiance. Timed practice was fast an furious, Less than a
    second covers that 1st 15 positions on the grid. The times were in many 
    cases were only tenths of a second apart. I opted not to set the grid
    position although I set the fasted time in untimed practice for our
    team. We qualified 13 on the grid ( hopfully luck 13 ) but were
    suffering problems with a rear tyre. I guess we could have got a bit
    higher up the grid but I don't think it really matters too much. We
    wanted to qualify in the to half of the grid to ensure not getting
    stuck in the traffic too early on. At the end of the day with many
    teams trying to setup and sort things out at buckmore park they will
    find it very different at Rye House, For a start the track gives more
    grip.
    
    
    Friday we trot off down to the track to set up the pit etc. The good
    news for us is that we seem to scooped some sponsorship from Honda and
    Texaco, so the cost should be a little lighter.
    
    

 One thing that my brother has found with the tyres in the 100cc Britain class,
is that the difference between tyres that have done one meeting, and tyres that
are new is almost .3 seconds a lap, which considering that lap times were around
30seconds a lap is quite a significant amount. 
 This combined with the fact that in the super one championship that he has
qualified for, the tyres can only be bought from specific dealers, menas that
tyres are costing 90quid a round !!!! Just as well he is effectively sponsored.


 

		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Our tyre problems were not so much grip but air. We had a rear wheel
    loosing preasure, making it handle kind of wired. I suspect it was a
    leaky split rim . The tyre did seem a tad on the hard compound side,
    but bearing in mind the time that race is over , changing tyres
    frequently could work out v. expensive, they were Bridgestone YDS's.
    I can't say I have come across that tyre before.
    
    
    On the subject of tyre inconsistancy , some time ago I spoke at lenght
    to the chap in Dartford Kart about tyres, He didn't have too many kind
    words about Cheng Shin tyres. He said that you would be luck to find 2
    the same size let alone the same grip charactristics. At the time I had
    been using Vega and bridgetone and found then to have superb and
    reasonably hard waring. I hav'nt tried goodyear or dunlop ( too darn
    expensive ) but I would hope that they are more consistant. I suspect
    that as with most things, if you pay peanuts you don't get the best.
    I object to that when it comes to race tyres, I don't see why you
    should be made to use substandard or low grade tyres if you can afford
    or just simple want to use a differnt tyre.
    
    
    
    Must do some work....
    
    
    
    Garry

    I'll totally shattered. Our effort for endurance honours at least
    finished at the chequred flag if only near the tailed end.
    
    In the first driver session we had moved from our middle position in
    the grid to 6th. By the end of 2 hours we were up to 4th and it was
    looking good. As the slower drivers wen out we slipped down the order
    and settled about 12-14th. We were going steady until about 2 am when 
    brain fade set in. I was trying to grab some sleep at the time ,but I'm
    lead to understand that one of the novice drivers ( bit of a hot head)
    went for a non gap , badly damaging both track rod and the steering
    wheel. This cost about 1/2 hour or more in the pits changing all the
    broken bits. It started to go down hill from there . We slipped down
    the order rapidly after that , mainly due to the length of the stop.
    After about a hour back on the track we had engine problems that turned
    out to be a fuel feed problem but that was after a carb change and a
    plug cap change. After all the time we lost due to damage etc the kart
    seemed to get 2nd wind , we fueled up and put a new set of rubber on
    with about 6 hours to go. The kart was handling like a dream and going 
    really well, shame it was too late. After some fast and consistant
    driver stints we started to take laps back off ever one , if nothing
    else it picked the spirits of the team up. I drove a 40 or so minute
    stint , it was like being on autopilot. It was what might be a describe
    as a charge. I was passing people with staggering reglarity and with
    great ease, it didn't seem possible to put a wheel wrong. I came off
    the track wringing wet and exhausted, it had been a very enjoyable
    stint to drive but very hard work.
    
    I would rather not talk about the result , but for those of us in the
    team who worked hard to keep things going and trying to make up for the
    mistakes of others , a large number of lessons were learned, and the
    drive choice will be very different if we go to Le Mans.
    
    Over all I really enjoyed the event and was pleased that all the effort
    I put in to getting race fit was worth it . I'm shattered today but ,
    don't have any real aches and pains . Just bruises on the inside of the
    knee's and the hands a bit sore.
    
    
    
    Garry
    

    I thought i,d add a reply to this conference as i have just entered the
    world of Karting.
    I recently sold a jetski and the guy asked me if i was interested in
    karting as he had one for sale. To cut a long story short i allowed him
    #400 for his kart against my ski, and that was it , i had a new Sunday
    toy.
    Not having a clue what i had bought i promptly took the kart to a local
    karting shop (K&C Karts near Gillingham, Kent) to  find out what i had
    just let myself in for.
    The kart is a 100cc national, it has a 1987 Zip Sprint frame, Parilla
    engine, tuned carb and a set of odd s**tty tyres. Apart from that he 
    said it was a good buy.(relief (if it goes)).
    First oppurtunity (the following saturday) my friends and i set off for
    Buckmore Park to try out the beast.
    It took a bit of starting but it did go in the end so i set off around
    the track. I have driven a kart before some years ago as a friend of
    mine had one, also many times while holidaying in Spain i,ve done the
    macho thing and gone to the local kart track (like you do ).
    Anyway none of that quite seemed to match the buzz of driving a REAL
    and fast kart around a track. I,m hooked already, i loved it , i think
    i,ve just become an adrenalin junkie (if thats how you spell it ), i
    cant get enough of it. All my friends that had a go agreed, WHAT A
    BUZZ. Now theyre all talking about getting one.
    Anyway all in all it was a good day out, the kart was fast, there were 
    only a few that took me on the straight, but i think i need to have a
    few sandwhiches taken out of my picnic to keep up with them on the
    bends. I discovered   that these tyres were crap, with the tail
    sliding on nearly every bend, it became quite intersting at times and
    certainly looked good allbeit a slower way of taking a bend, if you
    could keep it from spinning completely. Then at the end of the day i
    was going out for one last go and the exhaust cracked, making the kart
    to loud, so off to the trailer we went.
    I was talking to the guy at K&C Karts who said that most of my sliding
    problems were due to the tyres, so i bought a set of second hand (used
    twice) Cheng Things for #25. I know from previous comments that you dont
    think much of them but he reckoned they would be a big improvement over 
    what i had already got. He also said that the sliding could be due to
    the set-up of the kart..?. Now im confused, it looks to me that there
    is nothing to adjust apart from tracking on these things so how do you
    set up a kart (First Question).
    So i,ll fit these tyres and probably try again next saturday and see
    what difference this makes.
    (Second Question) What tyre pressures should i have ?.
    someone told f-14 r-16 somebody else said f-16 r-26. any info on this
    and what difference they make ?.
    
    That'll do for now, anything you can  tell a newcomer to the world of 
    maniacs would be greatly appreciated.
    
                      Nick.
    
    

    Hi Nick and welcome to Karting !
    
    There is a lot to take into consideration when setting up a Kart, for
    example, tyre pressures (as you already know), front and rear
    wheelbase, tracking (ie toe in and toe out) chassis flexability (by
    adjusting the front and rear 'bumper' bars), gearing, exhaust length...
    
    A lot of it is just by practising and adjusting each in turn, and see
    what difference it makes, but most of it will differ from track to
    track.  From experience though, Karters who know the circuit well will
    give you a few hints regarding tyre pressures and gearing (as long as
    your competing against him or her !).
    
    It may seem quite daunting (it still does to me :^), but it is *great*
    fun !
    
    Keep us posted how you get on.
    
    Shaun

�    the track. I have driven a kart before some years ago as a friend of
�    mine had one, also many times while holidaying in Spain i,ve done the
�    macho thing and gone to the local kart track (like you do ).
    
    I too, have had a couple of goes over here (@ Clay Pigeon) and
    a number of times abroad (like you do), as well as going around
    Brands Hatch in some karts fitted with 250cc four-stroke Honda
    engines and also an evening with Playscape in Docklands.
    
    It's all good fun, even on the slow versions, but I would
    like to say thanks to Shaun for the times at Clay Pigeon,
    they were great !!! (twas his Kart on those occasions).
    
    For what seems to be a fairly simple device, there appear to be
    a heck of a lot of variables that can be tuned for different
    responses on different circuits.  I was surprised at just how
    sticky the tyres (slicks) got once warmed up.  I guess that the
    tyre pressures will have much more of a difference on handling
    than you would imagine, so you probably could have got better
    responses from the tyres you had.
    
    Best thing to do is to ask someone else at the circuit for advice,
    then try out what they say.  If it feels wrong, change back...
    
    Much as I enjoyed the experience, I don't have enough free time to
    take it up - too many other interests - so I won't be buying one.
    
    The other thing being that I am probably too old and too heavy to
    do well in an out-and-out race (I may also have developed a bit
    too much 'healthy respect' - or fear - to try just hard enough,
    but I like to think not)...
    
    J.R.

    re .64
    
    When my cousin still had his kart we started off taking other people's
    advice on tyre pressure settings, and were usually running about 18/20.
    However my cousin doesn't weigh much (we were usually bang on the
    minimum weight) and we soon discovered that we could put the pressures
    down to 12/15 and get much better results. The disadvantage is the
    increase in wear, but then when we first started we could never work
    out why the tyres lasted so long ! We struck a balance when the tyres
    were lasting about 4 or 5 meetings. 
    You'll also find that the track of the rear tyres affects your sliding
    quite considerably, but the optimum setting will depend on the type of
    circuit. (I've seen some karts running assymmetric spacing on the rear
    tyres, but I don't know if this helps...).
    
    Anyway, have fun,
    Paul.

    Well a quiet topic I must admit, but a question for any karters out
    there :-
    
    Can you recommend any decent indoor karting place in the
    Reading/Basingstoke area? The ones which have the boringly slow karts
    and accomodate 30 fat businessmen for a night of loonatic racing?!
    
    Obviously any with rip-roaring PROPER karts would be preferable.
    
    Dan
    P.S. While in Spain karting, I saw these stonking geared karts with
    hydraulic disc brakes on each wheel and little vented discs! Amazing -
    do they race these things over here? It was bloomin' quick....
    

    
    More clues required re Spanish karts. I raced 250cc karts for several
    years conforming to your description, but I suspect that's not what you
    mean ....
    
    Colin

    Oh, hold on, maybe a misunderstanding. They probably have these karts
    in the UK, yes. I've just never really seen them over here.
    
    They were your basic chassis with side fairings between the wheels,
    chubby lever on the steering column for a sequential-type motorcycle
    style gearbox, hydraulic brakes, discs on each front wheel, single big
    disc on back axle, engine to rear/right (a big blighter!), fuel between
    your legs.
    
    Are these the 250 class, then? I take it they don't have a clutch of
    sorts? What engine/g'box do they use - one made for karting, or is it
    torn off some sort of motorbike?
    
    Dan$interested.

    IMHO I'd suggest you take up Class 1 Karting - if you want to do proper
    motor racing. Class 4 (gearbox) is OK, but it is not as close as Class
    1 (fixed drive, 100cc engine) and costs alot more to be competitive.
    Grids tend to be smaller for that reason.
    
    The Class 4 Karts you saw in Spain sound like 125cc. Actually if I had
    to start Karting again (must stop taking those Ecstasy pills) I'd
    choose 125cc. The racing is closer and more professional. Some of these
    gearbox classes lokked more like Vintage races and the drivers were
    pretty old too!
    
    Rupert

    Oh I haven't the cash or time to start racing professionaly, at the
    moment I'm looking for a place to take a bunch of us (20 or so) karting
    for an evening.
    
    No-ones suggested anywhere yet though. Supposedly there's one in
    Reading, one near Basingstoke, and one really good one over by Croydon
    somewhere!
    
    Hmmm...
    Dan

    Dan,
    
    I've not been but I've heard that there a good one in Winkfield (near
    Bracknell). The old Billy Smart place? It's good because it has a
    tarmac surface - not the usual smooth concrete. So it's much more like
    racing proper Karts. Track is good etc etc. Don't know if it's still
    going.
    
    Rupert

    
    There's a karting place at Greenham Common. Try calling Jo Brazier (833
    3924) who's organising a karting outing for the CSC SSC. 
    
    Steve.
    

    Apparently the ice rink at Bracknell does Ice karting. They have
    regular karts but with studded tyres for gripping the ice.

	Haven't the Reading Sports and Social Club organised some Karting
Evenings such as that which you are proposing?

	I would give them a ring, they may have the information anyway.

				Malcolm.

Has anyone ever competed/spectated at the Silverstone 24 hour Kart Race, - or
any other kart endurance event?

Our neighbour is looking for volunteers to drive/support a team for this year's
race (5/6th August) - and without really knowing that much about it we've
agreed!  

(We dodn't have the luxury of getting all the info first - we're on holiday as
from tomorrow for two weeks,and had to say yes or no last night! )

Anyone know what we've let ourselves in for?  :-) :-) 


Elaine  

Mind blowing boredom - I would think!

Rupert 8*)

We did it! - we managed to complete the 24 hours!  And at one stage we were even
running ahead of one of the Williams and one of the Benetton teams! 

The promotional literature gave us the impression that this was very much an
'amateur' event - (otherwise I doubt we would have even entered!) so it was a
bit of a surpise to see the Williams F1 transporter parked in the paddock, but
by then it was too late!  All teams were issued with their karts on Friday, 
and the racing actually started at 1.30 on Saturday afternoon. 

We were running well until about 11.30pm when our kart was involved in an
incident and was badly bent! - we lost about an hour of racing, but still
managed to finish 65 out of 75 karts - not a bad result, I think for a bunch of
people who had no experience of this at all!

If I fall asleep under my desk today - I don't want waking up! :-)

    Your "incident" didn't involve Benetton did it?  Or Schumaker?
    
    Well done.
    
    Andrew