UK Karting scene
Discussion
HI
I thought I would see if there were many here that were active in the UK competitive scene?
My lad races in TKM Extreme and Senior X30
Are their other drivers on PH? I am sure there are.
What I find so interesting is the cycles that the sport goes through. At present Rotax is everywhere, but IAME appears to be fighting back. The new engine for 2025 looks great
Sadly TKM looks to be dying a death on the national and club circuits, although the retro action appears strong.
Anyone going to Kartmasters?
I thought I would see if there were many here that were active in the UK competitive scene?
My lad races in TKM Extreme and Senior X30
Are their other drivers on PH? I am sure there are.
What I find so interesting is the cycles that the sport goes through. At present Rotax is everywhere, but IAME appears to be fighting back. The new engine for 2025 looks great
Sadly TKM looks to be dying a death on the national and club circuits, although the retro action appears strong.
Anyone going to Kartmasters?
usn90 said:
KZ2 and senior rotax.
TKM has been dying for years, the late 2000’s it had similar grids as rotax, infact I haven’t seen a grid at an MSUK meeting for quite some time I don’t think.
Rotax for me is the best class, especially since the new engine came in few years ago
Kimbolton this weekend has 25 TKM extreme, it typically gets good grids, but agree its dying out fast. That said in the National Kart cup they get grids of 20 plus for each round.TKM has been dying for years, the late 2000’s it had similar grids as rotax, infact I haven’t seen a grid at an MSUK meeting for quite some time I don’t think.
Rotax for me is the best class, especially since the new engine came in few years ago
We actually Moved from Junior max, did 3 years with Rotax and grew to hate the unevenness of the engines, carbs and exhausts.
However it was a reliable set up and as you say the grids are huge
We still have our MS chassis and a Senor max Motor, but think we will stay X30, they have bigger grids at the likes of PFI than senior max at present due to the worlds coming over.
Next year I hope to give the lad a taste of KZ too
Could use a bit of advice as we try to move forward from Honda Cadets.
We need to choose between the Honda r200, junior rotax or junior pro karts.
Is anyone running junior rotax in a dads and lads scenario? Wondering just how much faff it is and whether it’s viable without team support.
I’m leaning towards building our season round junior prokart at Teeside and the UK karting championship.
Thoughts and experience very welcome!
We need to choose between the Honda r200, junior rotax or junior pro karts.
Is anyone running junior rotax in a dads and lads scenario? Wondering just how much faff it is and whether it’s viable without team support.
I’m leaning towards building our season round junior prokart at Teeside and the UK karting championship.
Thoughts and experience very welcome!
My son and I are lad and Dad in junior rotax, it is entirely feasible to run competively as long as you both put in the hard work to understand how to set them up. We run otk chassis as they are the best supported if you need spares trackside. It will be a big step up from Honda in grip, power, physicality and cost
DarrenO'D' said:
My son and I are lad and Dad in junior rotax, it is entirely feasible to run competively as long as you both put in the hard work to understand how to set them up. We run otk chassis as they are the best supported if you need spares trackside. It will be a big step up from Honda in grip, power, physicality and cost
Yup, completely agree.You’ll have no issue running a Rotax with just you and your son, also, as Darren said, it will be a completely different drive(in a good way).
When I was a kid, I started in TKM, I wasn’t the best but I held my own(would peak at taking 2nd). When Honda twins/Prokarts were on track at the same time, I just saw them as obstacles like a cone on the track. Initially, I thought they just attracted slow drivers, but I remember trying one and just being amazed at how slow they were, it wasn’t the lack of straight line speed that got me, it was the cornering, they were cumbersome on entry and the lower revving nature had them bogging down on the exit.
On the TKM vs Rotax discussion, when I started as a wee lad (early-mid 00’s), it was very TKM heavy, Rotax was only just starting to break through. I progressed out of karting but if I’d of stayed for another championship I’d of gone to Rotax, which wasn’t because I necessarily found them better, I was just loving the fact that you could start them with the push of a button
Nothing positive to add as my kids stopped racing karts in Cadet / Juniors many years ago.........I will say I saw the pressure of many dad's, & mum's, egos put on kids to succeed over the 10 yrs or so we were racing...........so all I would advise is try to let them enjoy it and don't put the "weight" of winning and trying to be the next F1 superstar on their shoulders.
Can certainly agree with the above, the level that some parents take it to makes it incredibly unpleasant for the children involved, I wonder what happens to the children when they leave karting and if it leaves a long lasting feeling of “not having made it”. I sincerely hope my son takes a sense of enjoyment from it, some really good friends and an realisation live is tough you need to be brave and get on with it!
Interesting, seems a strong bias to the Rotax. For the dads and lads racers would anyone be happy to share their budget? If you haven’t added up then don’t let me make you though!
It’s just the kart running costs and sets of tyres you’re getting through really. We’ll stay camped in the kart trailer and self mechaniced
It’s just the kart running costs and sets of tyres you’re getting through really. We’ll stay camped in the kart trailer and self mechaniced
Interesting, seems a strong bias to the Rotax. For the dads and lads racers would anyone be happy to share their budget? If you haven’t added up then don’t let me make you though!
It’s just the kart running costs and sets of tyres you’re getting through really. We’ll stay camped in the kart trailer and self mechaniced
It’s just the kart running costs and sets of tyres you’re getting through really. We’ll stay camped in the kart trailer and self mechaniced
Its very true that budgets have got out of hand. Did anyone go to the worlds at PFI?
We tested on saturday and there are still mounds of barely used Maxis tyres.
We did Minimax and Junior Rotax, plus a little bit of senior Max.
Lots of positives and Rotax is very much plug and play to some extent. However the fine tuning of Jetting, needle position, airscrew and gearing for the ambient, was always a very fine art to get the best from your package.
Same with the IAME, however we are training the driver to adjust the carb now.
Its very splintered the UK kart scene too, with lots and lots of different championships which can be very confusing I find
We tested on saturday and there are still mounds of barely used Maxis tyres.
We did Minimax and Junior Rotax, plus a little bit of senior Max.
Lots of positives and Rotax is very much plug and play to some extent. However the fine tuning of Jetting, needle position, airscrew and gearing for the ambient, was always a very fine art to get the best from your package.
Same with the IAME, however we are training the driver to adjust the carb now.
Its very splintered the UK kart scene too, with lots and lots of different championships which can be very confusing I find
couple of months ago i went to the Camberley Kart club to have a watch and look at the new gearbox kart as thinking of getting back into karting and i was shocked at the amount of screaming mums on the hillside screaming at the the Bambinos who would not be able to hear a thing with helmet and engine noise. Not sure of the age of the babies but come on parents, enjoy the race and let them do their thing.
Also with you all waving your arms and screaming it will put them off what they need to concentrate on - the track.
ps great club at Camberley with 90% very friendly racers and enterage
Also with you all waving your arms and screaming it will put them off what they need to concentrate on - the track.
ps great club at Camberley with 90% very friendly racers and enterage
Alwayzsidewayz2 said:
Camberley on our list of tracks to visit.
Raced Forrest edge for the first time this year, but sadly not got across yet to that track.
Bambino is a very different class. With the electric Bambino and cadet karts, you can hear both drivers and parents shouting!!
Forrest Edge brings back memories......I raced 250 gearbox Karts there very many years ago and looks like they still hold races for them.Raced Forrest edge for the first time this year, but sadly not got across yet to that track.
Bambino is a very different class. With the electric Bambino and cadet karts, you can hear both drivers and parents shouting!!
We are regulars at camberley and forest, the next practice day at camberley is on the 12th October. We are sure to be there, my son is number 71 junior rotax, feel free to come and chat to us, and have a look at the kart. On track action starts at 1000 and goes through till around 1630.
Budget is really hard to pin down, as to a certain extent, is governed by how deep you want to reach into your pocket, or are prepared to let others try and reach into it for you.
Budget is really hard to pin down, as to a certain extent, is governed by how deep you want to reach into your pocket, or are prepared to let others try and reach into it for you.
We are regulars at camberley and forest, the next practice day at camberley is on the 12th October. We are sure to be there, my son is number 71 junior rotax, feel free to come and chat to us, and have a look at the kart. On track action starts at 1000 and goes through till around 1630.
Budget is really hard to pin down, as to a certain extent, is governed by how deep you want to reach into your pocket, or are prepared to let others try and reach into it for you.
Budget is really hard to pin down, as to a certain extent, is governed by how deep you want to reach into your pocket, or are prepared to let others try and reach into it for you.
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