The Thrill of Karting: Why It’s Such a Great Sport for Teens
Are you looking for a thrilling, adrenaline-pumping way to spend your free time? If so, karting may be the perfect activity for you. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced driver, karting can provide loads of fun and excitement, as well as the opportunity to improve your driving ability.
Let’s take a look at why karting is such an awesome sport!
It’s Affordable
Karting is an affordable hobby compared to other racing sports. You don’t need to buy expensive equipment or vehicles—all you need is a kart and some safety gear. You can rent karts at most tracks, and they are available in different classes depending on your experience level. If you want to buy your own kart, they can range from £3,000-£5,000. Additionally, most tracks only charge around £40-£60 per race day. With these great prices in mind, it’s easy to see why karting is such a great option for those on a budget!
It’s Easy to Learn
Karting is relatively simple and straightforward compared to other forms of motorsport. The rules are easy to understand, and there isn’t much technical knowledge required—all you have to do is get in the driver’s seat and go! Plus, there are lots of resources available online that can give you tips on technique and setup that will help make sure you’re getting the most out of your racing experience.
It Teaches Useful Skills
Karting can teach valuable skills like judgment and decision-making under pressure. It also helps improve hand-eye coordination and reaction times – things that can be useful in everyday life too! Plus, it’s an excellent way for teens to develop their driving skills before getting behind the wheel of a car. All these reasons make karting one of the best ways for teens to have fun while learning important life skills at the same time!
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you’re looking for an exciting new hobby that won’t break the bank or require complex technical knowledge then look no further than karting! Not only is it incredibly affordable but it also helps develop essential driving skills as well as teaching important judgmental decisions under pressure – all while having fun with friends! So what are you waiting for? Get out there and get racing!
Buying a used kart
It is also possible to look at lower cost options by purchasing a second hand kart and engine. Depending on the condition and how well they have been looked its possible to come across a great deal. The prices vary massively so its difficult to put a figure on it so check out our guide on buying a new kart. (INSERT LINK TO OTHER BLOG BUYING A KART GUIDE)
The ongoing costs of karting
Once you have your kart what are the other on going costs.
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- Track fees / race entry (£40/£60-£100/£180) – these are unavoidable costs and slightly vary track to track. Test days usually cost around £40-£60 where as full race weekends are anywhere from £100-£200.
- Tyres (£120-£180) – depending on your class and tyre type the costs slightly vary, for test days there isn’t much of a need to use new tyres however for important race days its recommended to have a new set of tyres as there is a performance advantage. Some championships also restrict the amount of new tyres allowed which is a good way to reduce costs. It is also possible to source good used tyres which can be used for testing.
- Consumables/fuel (£25) – maintenance of your kart is important as such it is good to have a range of sprays, lubricants and oils. Chain Lube, Brake Cleaner, Carb Cleaner, Multi Lube these can last for a few months but initially you will be looking at a cost around £25.
- Spare Parts (N/A) – you have to remember karting is a form of motorsport and parts do wear and mechanical failures happen. Unfortunately you will also end up with crash damage. Common parts which are worth stocking, a range of chains and sprockets, spare spark plugs, track rods. Then common crash damage parts, a pair of stub axles, a steering column, rear axle.
- Fuel & Travel (N/A) – Karting is a national sport and if you take part in a national championship it can take you to all ends of the country. Your kart also uses fuel budget £15-30 worth of fuel for a weekends karting. But it is also worth considering the fuel for your van / car, hotel/camping costs, food etc.
Team fees
Depending on your knowledge, background and circumstances you maybe be considering joining a kart team. There are many positives to joining a team however it does increase costs. The team can help with kart preparation and servicing, kart storage and transport, mechanical support and owning space on a weekend.
There is also the added benefit of being able to work as part of a team to find the best setup for a kart, work with your team mates, have all the support, infrastructure and backing on a race weekend on the team which can also help reduce for initial start up costs as you wont need to buy certain bits of kit. You can see a more about this here (INSERT LINK TO Should I race with a team?)
