JoeyJoJoeJrShabadoo

I'll pick your brain at Laguna - what car are you bringing?

JoeyJoJoeJrShabadoo

your last line has me thinking - maybe I'll try karting for a while, and depending on how that goes I can made a better decision. If I love it - I'll get into a Miata or other, if I don't like it, well, I'll stick to HPDEs

JoeyJoJoeJrShabadoo

I think it would be a great experience to build a car from scratch. Of course this would be expensive and I would undoubtably screw up something. I do, however, have connections to some *excellent* cars for sale....

A lot of it will depend on my living situation 6 months from now - I need a garage!

JoeyJoJoeJrShabadoo

I haven't done any real research yet, just banging ideas around in my head. Is there a good arrive-and-drive karting series? How much would I be looking at for the initial outlay for 80/125/250cc kart?

s4wood

However, some pretty significant plans are being made for the Audi and will come to fruition soon. :-)

eMKay (BFLO)

I plan on welding in plates to the limit of the rules, I may be cheap, but I'm not stupid :}

R1ce

Initial cost depends on if you buy a pre-set up kart or buy a new chasis and engine. Best bet would be to buy something that is already running. I'm not totally sure on the 80cc and 125cc costs, but you could get an 80cc setup for around 3-5k, and a 125cc setup anywhere from 5-7k (approximate, I know the competitive guys spend a lot on their engines).

The two types of 250cc are the twin cylinders and single cylinders. The twins are generally much faster and not any less reliable. I've seen top notch setups going for around 7-10k used.

Check out IKFkarting.com, I think they list all the regions and series. Ekartingnews.com is also a good resource. I'm sure you could also see what series is around your area and ask some of the locals about it.

Good luck.

J4SON

Decided on getting the kart. For me, the main thing was looking at my local series. Here in CO the karting scene is huge and we have 2 very large series that are run each year. You could literally run a race every weekend during the season, and at only a fraction of the cost of running a spec miata race. Plus you get a ton more seat time in a kart...the local tracks here do an annual pass for $200-300...feeling bored in the afternoon, just hit the track for several hours. That would not be possible with a full race car.

squidix9

Not that many local shops I'd trust. The better shops like Vito Antonicelli's or Maynard Troyer's in Rochester, will cost you.

John/TSR

I didn't think they'd touch anything that didn't have a wing on the roof, a driveshaft between your legs and a big push-bar on the back. They certainly know what they're doing.

There are a bunch of guys in WNY/CNY who can stick together a cage that I'd trust. I even heard that some of the old-timers like Dave Goodnight are still at it.