New Cadet Karter - Stuff needed!
Discussion
Well, done everything you shouldn't. Bought a kart from ebay which I plan to collect this weekend for my 9yr old son as his 1st kart. Spoke to the seller and he seems genuine enough and the kart, if as described sounds like a good starter - not the newest, but then not the most expensive either.
I have bought a Honda Cadet with a GX160 5.5hp engine - and apart from a couple of sets of wheels and tyres, thats about it! I thought this would be a good start point to make sure he really wants to do it.
The plan is to let him run practice sessions at Camberley kart club for a while until he is comfortable enough to take his ARKS - he's already done the Thruxton cadet course so hopefully won't be too much of a learning curve - then look at starting to race.
I now need all the "stuff" to go with the kart - trolley, helmet, boots, braces, etc etc - so if anyone has anything they are looking to sell, please let me know, I'm in Basingstoke, so the closer and cheaper the better!
I have bought a Honda Cadet with a GX160 5.5hp engine - and apart from a couple of sets of wheels and tyres, thats about it! I thought this would be a good start point to make sure he really wants to do it.
The plan is to let him run practice sessions at Camberley kart club for a while until he is comfortable enough to take his ARKS - he's already done the Thruxton cadet course so hopefully won't be too much of a learning curve - then look at starting to race.
I now need all the "stuff" to go with the kart - trolley, helmet, boots, braces, etc etc - so if anyone has anything they are looking to sell, please let me know, I'm in Basingstoke, so the closer and cheaper the better!
i'm sure you are aware of the dangers of buying second hand safety gear. unless you know the origins of the helmet and how it has been treated, i wouldnt buy one. overalls probably arent too much of an issue, likewise boots nad gloves. try www.karting.co.uk/mp for some stuff but helemet wise, be careful looking secondhand.
i bought a kart off ebay, after a rebuild and a few new bits and pieces it was fine. what cost me a fortune were things like the stand, the trolley, the bead breaker for the tyres, tyres....
i bought a kart off ebay, after a rebuild and a few new bits and pieces it was fine. what cost me a fortune were things like the stand, the trolley, the bead breaker for the tyres, tyres....
Thanks Pablo - sorry, wasn't meant to add the helmet bit - will get a new one for him - as you say can't be too careful - its the rest of the gubbings I'm thinking about - trolley, sprockets, spare engine parts etc etc
Anyone with any advice for the Honda Cadet as a new starter, It would be most appreciated
Anyone with any advice for the Honda Cadet as a new starter, It would be most appreciated
Matt,
Advice (I started karting at just under that age):
Don't chequebook race, especially at the start. Id there is 2-3 tenths in a new clutch, then there's probably a second in better setup, and better driving. no 9 year old is going to win against 12 year olds doing it since they were 8. It is common to see dads making excuses for why their son isn't as fast as the next mans son (who hs been doing it longer), and chasing the dream with kit - give him time, and he'll be competitive!
Learn chassis setup early doors. One key skill for your youngun to learn is feedback so you can set the chassis. Concentrating on turn in, and overall grip is a good start, then more sutle aspects of handling from there (inc. under / oversteer). Once he can gve feedback, yu can set the kart up. In time, he'll be making his own calls (as in "dad, can I have 2 pounds in the back end, think that will sort it) etc - this is crucial long term, and great fun to boot.
Document everything. You can never have enough references as to what you did last time to solve handling. 5mm each side on front or rear track can be huge, and 1 PSI can make a massive diffreence as well. My later karts had front ride height adjustment as well, no idea if yours will have. If you can buddy up to a friendly fellow dad, you wil often get really good, honest advice, until the day you beat them. After that, expect nothing but missinformation =)
And overall, have fun. By the time I was 10, I was doing my own engines (except head bolts, wasn't strong enough, lol), making my own calls on chassis, and enjoying every minute of it. There is pressure (we did Super 1 that year), but it's dead rewarding when it goes well. It's also really sole destroying when it goes badly, but by keeping the focus on friendly competition and enjoyment, you'll have a ball.
Best of luck
G
Advice (I started karting at just under that age):
Don't chequebook race, especially at the start. Id there is 2-3 tenths in a new clutch, then there's probably a second in better setup, and better driving. no 9 year old is going to win against 12 year olds doing it since they were 8. It is common to see dads making excuses for why their son isn't as fast as the next mans son (who hs been doing it longer), and chasing the dream with kit - give him time, and he'll be competitive!
Learn chassis setup early doors. One key skill for your youngun to learn is feedback so you can set the chassis. Concentrating on turn in, and overall grip is a good start, then more sutle aspects of handling from there (inc. under / oversteer). Once he can gve feedback, yu can set the kart up. In time, he'll be making his own calls (as in "dad, can I have 2 pounds in the back end, think that will sort it) etc - this is crucial long term, and great fun to boot.
Document everything. You can never have enough references as to what you did last time to solve handling. 5mm each side on front or rear track can be huge, and 1 PSI can make a massive diffreence as well. My later karts had front ride height adjustment as well, no idea if yours will have. If you can buddy up to a friendly fellow dad, you wil often get really good, honest advice, until the day you beat them. After that, expect nothing but missinformation =)
And overall, have fun. By the time I was 10, I was doing my own engines (except head bolts, wasn't strong enough, lol), making my own calls on chassis, and enjoying every minute of it. There is pressure (we did Super 1 that year), but it's dead rewarding when it goes well. It's also really sole destroying when it goes badly, but by keeping the focus on friendly competition and enjoyment, you'll have a ball.
Best of luck
G
Hi Graham - thanks for that - some great advice.
The plan is to start off small and see where we go, That was one reason to get a cheaper kart from the start and see if its really something he wants to do and has the talent to progress with - seen a few that go out and buy a few grands worth of kit only for litle johnny to decide he doesn't want to do it after his 1st spin. Hopefully the cadet course has got those worries out of him, next thing is to give him half throttle rather than scaring him stupid out of the blocks!
I might try the wife's trick of putting stuff in the back of the garage then pulling out later with the "What that?, had it ages....." - seems to work with shoes & clothes - why not karts!
The plan is to start off small and see where we go, That was one reason to get a cheaper kart from the start and see if its really something he wants to do and has the talent to progress with - seen a few that go out and buy a few grands worth of kit only for litle johnny to decide he doesn't want to do it after his 1st spin. Hopefully the cadet course has got those worries out of him, next thing is to give him half throttle rather than scaring him stupid out of the blocks!
I might try the wife's trick of putting stuff in the back of the garage then pulling out later with the "What that?, had it ages....." - seems to work with shoes & clothes - why not karts!
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