We all know and love Mickey, right?

He's on and on about this Kart racing, or a Formula Vee, maybe a Lunar Module ... Maybe a 914 to hill-climb with.
So, here's the pitch. He needs us to help him help himself. He's got a dang restaurant to run, a loving family to feed and a garage to build if he keeps this trend up. I'd LOVE for us to help ole' Mick focus a little.
Pound for pound, what's the most fun a fella can have for less than ... I dunno ... say $3,500? Old, used project stuff counts if it's already running.
If you have 10 minutes to kill and you think you thought you maybe saw something cool out there, howsabout posting a link. That way, restaurant-man can have a menu of sorts to help him narrow the field?
'Sides, maybe it'll be fun to see what we can come up with!
Anybody?

http://cgi.ebay.com/QUARTER-MIDGET-RACE-CAR_W0QQitemZ150117443457QQihZ005QQcategoryZ40152QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Pound for pound there is no more fun that an 80 or 125 CC shifter cart. And if you break it, toss it in the back of the pickup (they even fit in larger station wagons) and fix it when you get the chance.

Cheap and unbelievably fun! Not that I condone what this guy did...(might still do it, but I wouldn't condone it!)

http://videos.streetfire.net/Player.aspx?fileid=535CF318-94D8-4B27-8CDA-8CCD24F05158&p=0
angela

KartVader.....he's NUTZ. He's here in Quebec City and the cops are still looking for this guy!!!

Go kart hands down. I had so much fun with mine,it was unreal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-0ASiwDfPc

I had no idea....

Wow. You're seeing this, right Mick?

Cory,
You crack me up! I didn't think you were serious when you said you were going to start a thread!?
I'm 99.9% sure I'm going to get a kart and go racing! I'm having a hell of a time trying to figure out which kind of kart I'll be allowed to race being a Novice. I can't seem to get through to anyone via email at the racing club that I'll be joining eventually. I did hear from one of the board members and all he said was to not get a shifter kart because they are too much too soon, so to speak. And that I wouldn't be able to participate in the Novice class in a shifter kart. Other than that I can't seem to get any info, maybe they're all out racing? My hopes are to get a kart asap and then head to Summit Point Raceway and get my kart racing license. I'll probably auto x it as well for awhile. Like Angela said, if it breaks just throw it in the back of the truck and go home. It's a minimal investment for what looks to be a hell of a lot of fun.
I went to an auto x last weekend. It was fun to watch all the cars running but there was one kart and one F500 running, when I saw that kart hit the track I said "Oh my GOD! I'm in Love!" Man, that guy just flew! The more research I did on karting the more I fell in love. Any insight anyone can offer would be great! I'm pretty sure I'll start out with a TAG (touch and go) kart. They have a ton of options as far as engines, exhausts, gearing, etc... so I'm a little lost there. Lambros, maybe you can she some light on this for me? Thanks Cory, I think?

Oh, and by the way, Kartvader is a GOD!

Mickey
Try to contact your local SCCA and ask if you can SOLO your go kart.It will be awesome to compete against cars. As far as I know you don't need a license to do that(SOLO racinng).
My go kart was a BIESSE with KT100 and 28hp. It was a GREAT ride!! And yes,try to stay away from shifters (at this point). Also try the link below.

http://www.tsracing.com/newkarter/getstarted.htm

Check out this place just outside Portland

http://www.patsacres.com/

I've been intending to check it out since I heard about it last year, but I haven't made it over there yet.

That's what our track in Medford looks like, Rich. I got permission to drive the spyder out there under certain controlled circumstances. It is generally forbidden by the SCCA to race w/o a rollbar. But I'm not really interested in the race, just the practice, so I've made an equitable arrangement for that with another group not associated with SCCA.

I'm going to work on my driving skills - got me a MISSION!!!

angela

Racing a kart is KILLER, driving it on the street is the most trilling thing that you can do without taking to the air! I traded my kart (sans motor and trans) last year for a FUEL SAFE aluminum fuel, some slicks, drilled rotors, a set of rims, and a few more vitals that I needed at the time.

Not really a very good trade, but my ass was getting to big and my weight too high to really enjoy that bad boy any longer.

Lambros,
I already got the OK from my SCCA Section to run a kart. As a matter of fact, the guy who I spoke with is the one that runs the F500 (little open wheeler with a 500cc snowmobile eng) he actually offered me to take it for a spin at the next event! Obviously I'll be taking him up on that offer. I have my eye on two karts right now. I spoke with both sellers and they have been very helpful with info. The two I'm looking at are a CRG with a Rotax 125 in it and the other is a Birel with a Yamaha KT100 in it. Being that I still haven't heard from karting folks I'm on the fence. I think the CRG is a faster kart than the Yamaha but from what I can gather in the handbook from the karting club I can run in more classes with the Yamaha? If that's correct than it'll have to be the Yamaha, seat time is seat time no matter what you're driving. Anyone out there that has karting experience (TC, Lambros, etc...) if you can shed some light on the most popular classes running I would appreciate it. Thanks, Mickey

Mickey
Check the link below
http://gokart.freeservers.com/PAGE4.htm

This will not be very helpful to Mickey, no doubt, but all this kart business recalls for me the brief time I spent in a kart years ago. I still recall this as a thrill beyond any had before or since sitting higher up in an actual car. Probably never got going all that fast, but who would know? The sensation of speed and being hooked to the road is like nothing else. So now, careful reader, scene-jump to just last week end, and nothing more dramatic than a trip to the dry cleaners. Yawn . . . but wait a sec, what is that over there? Two nearly new Lotus Elises and and Ford GT! Holy Hot Wheels, Batman! What are these guys up to? Apparently, they were waiting in vain for another bunch of folks in Ferraris, hoping for a little caravan through the MD countryside -- it was a supremely nice day. They gave up on waiting for the Italian stallions, and headed out on their own, but not before I oogled the Lotuses. These cars very much reminded me of that kart, lo those many yaers ago. They are little more than over grown go karts, IMHO. So small, so light, and SOOOO low to the ground. Anal sphincter runs less than 6" from the MacAdam. I do not know the specs, but they can't weigh more than 1500 lbs, run about 200 HP and the guy claimed that, much like a go-kart, "It will corner at any speed." Anyway, Mickey: if you are looking for the sheer thrill of driving, a kart will deliver.