Karting 101

A beginners guide....

Karting………What is it?

Karting is often referred to as "The best kept secret in motorsports", and that description remains true today. Karting is exploding in popularity both in the U.S. and around the world, and it represents one of the best forms of amateur racing to become involved in.

Karting is arguably the most action and fun-per-dollar available in competitive motorsports today. The options available range from low-horsepower entry level, and junior (child) karts, all the way to water-cooled, 6-speed, lightning fast Superkarts. All race karts are purpose-built racing machines significantly different from the "fun-karts" commonly seen in backyards.

There are numerous types of karts and kart racing, with various clubs specializing in different forms. The United States Kart Grand Prix (USKGP) specializes in a form of karting generally referred to as “Road Racing” or "enduro". Enduro racing differs from other forms of karting in the size/length of tracks raced on, the length (in minutes) of each race event, as well as in the design of the karts themselves.

In enduro racing, most race events are a minimum of 20 minutes in length, while many classes hold races as long as 45 minutes non-stop. By comparison, many "sprint" style races held by various other clubs are limited to short events of 15 minutes or less. Enduro events (including those held by USKGP) take place on full-size auto racing tracks usually ranging in length from 1.0 to more than 2.5 miles. Again, by comparison, many smaller sprint tracks are only between 0.3 - 0.9 miles in length.

Typical "Sprint” Kart:

A typical enduro race weekend will usually feature classes for a huge array of different kart and engine types. The two most basic categories are commonly referred to as "Sprint" (sit-up), and "Enduro" (laydown) type karts. The obvious difference is the overall length of the kart, and the position of the driver in the kart. In a "sprint" kart, the driver sits in an upright or slightly reclined position with some degree of bend in the knees. An "enduro" style kart, however, is generally longer to accommodate the driver lying nearly flat on his/her back with only the head inclined for visibility.

Typical "Enduro" Kart:

Aerodynamics plays an important role in enduro karting with the high speeds that can be achieved on the large tracks. Speeds achieved in enduro karing can range from 50 mph in some of the low-horsepower classes to nearly 150 mph at the highest levels of advanced karting. It is not unexpected for some types of entry-level enduro karts to achieve over 100 mph during a race. Viewing photos of the various types of race karts in this brochure will help show the distinct differences between classes, and the importance of the aerodynamic body panels.

In an effort to make racing affordable for everyone by dividing costs among many participants, most enduro clubs host classes for both enduro and sprint style karts. Beyond these two basic categorizations, there are dozens of different classes based on engine type and size, overall weight, fuel type, etc. USKGP has several classes open to new comers just learning to race, and as your skills progress there are numerous other classes to experiment with.

USKGP is always looking for new members to join our fun, and we are very open to helping new-comers work past the list of questions on any new karters mind. If you are still reading, you must be interested in learning more about karting. The best plan is to read through the other information available on this brochure to familiarize yourself with the specifics of enduro karting and to ask lots and lots of questions.

We recommend you register for websites such as: www.Ekartingnews.com., and/or www.USKGP.com

Please contact any of us for additional information, or feel free to visit and come watch a race weekend!

We look forward to seeing you at the track soon!