I started karting in the late 60's. Like everything else, costs have skyrocketed to absurd levels. You can race a competitive sedan race car in NASA for much less than top level karting costs. I bought a front running Acura Integra for $5k. Spec tires last a whole season. And entry fees were comparable to karting events. Much better value than karting. $4K to $5K for a brand new "roller' kart chassis is just ridiculous. Back in the day the average American family could afford karting. For many other reasons besides the ridiculous costs of karting, that is no longer the case.
The cost of top level karting hasn’t changed in the 30 years I’ve been around. It costs everything you’ve got. So, do the best you can with what you’ve got and you’ll pickup skills and experiences that are irreplaceable.
What's laughable is the term..."Worth it". Let's be honest MAYBE 1 out of 1,000 kids will progress to the car ranks at any real level. Most people runout of money or desire long before this point. Obviously there's value in the time spent with the kids during their karting years, I'm a true believer that karting turns out better adults, but to think that these kids will have a career in racing is wishful thinking. When a season in Indy Lights is over $3M not many can pay these prices. To spend somewhere just around $8k+ per weekend means that only the wealthiest of parents can afford to keep their kids in karting more than a few years. ALL major racing series, from F1 on down have made moves to try to cap the spending as much as possible. Karting is all about vacuuming up as many dollars as possible...because of the short shelf life of the racers. Obviously for some parents, who want to learn the craft and can afford the additional time off work, truck, trailer, tents, spare parts, additional travel expenses, PLUS all the expenses you discussed, they can possibly save a few dollars of the expensive team/tent fees, but we truly are pricing people out of the sport.
Karting is expensive at the national level. (Max Taylor #733 Dad here). However this is the highest level in the Americas. And the Experience of it cannot be matched.
Man that's quite a bit more expensive than in the UK and you guys really burn through sets of tyres! Why do you get charged for passes!? Thats nuts you get wrist band here as part of entry.
Why do all race weekends across the world, use 3 days of competition. Having thousands of heat races to determine the final starting spots. A 1 race day format. Shorter race distance. Qualifying 1 heat and finals. Just My thoughts.
skip a season, buy an NA spec miata ( roughly 10k for a reasonable one ) just under 7k if you get the cheapest one, have more fun, learn more, and become a better driver
Should have these "Professionals" run in a totally different race \ organization. If people feel like that level is the "highest" and it's ok.. then it shouldn't be part of getting people into the sport. ( imo ) We don't have NFL \ NCAA \ Highschool all play the same day, field , everything the same except the ball they play with. Keep Karts as a hobby \ fun \ affordable thing to do. Too bad the equipment manufactures (chassis \ engine) seem to control everything and want absurd amounts of money for their products. I'm sorry but OTK profit margins I can imagine are into 600% ? or more. The chassis I see minus the rims and tires, not really worth 1000$ , but some how 5-6k is the norm. Engines , well we know 2 stroke Honda \ Yamaha \ Kawasaki \ Suzuki \ KTM \ Huski all have been around for a long time and would cost less. Could use 125cc , 250cc and\or 4 strokes. But again, the equipment manufactures run the sport and want more and more profit margins. In the end, people will go other places. This is coming from my self just looked at get into the sport. Nope. Still interested but as a government worker, I'm not rich enough for this sport.
They do run in a totally different race/association though. The majority of drivers are running their local track or perhaps a regional touring series. The likes of the pro tour etc is
Thank you so much for answering our question my daughter is through the roof seeing Ryan answer the question
I started karting in the late 60's. Like everything else, costs have skyrocketed to absurd levels.
You can race a competitive sedan race car in NASA for much less than top level karting costs. I bought a front running Acura Integra for $5k. Spec tires last a whole season. And entry fees were comparable to karting events. Much better value than karting.
$4K to $5K for a brand new "roller' kart chassis is just ridiculous. Back in the day the average American family could afford karting. For many other reasons besides the ridiculous costs of karting, that is no longer the case.
The cost of top level karting hasn’t changed in the 30 years I’ve been around.
It costs everything you’ve got.
So, do the best you can with what you’ve got and you’ll pickup skills and experiences that are irreplaceable.
What's laughable is the term..."Worth it". Let's be honest MAYBE 1 out of 1,000 kids will progress to the car ranks at any real level. Most people runout of money or desire long before this point. Obviously there's value in the time spent with the kids during their karting years, I'm a true believer that karting turns out better adults, but to think that these kids will have a career in racing is wishful thinking. When a season in Indy Lights is over $3M not many can pay these prices. To spend somewhere just around $8k+ per weekend means that only the wealthiest of parents can afford to keep their kids in karting more than a few years. ALL major racing series, from F1 on down have made moves to try to cap the spending as much as possible. Karting is all about vacuuming up as many dollars as possible...because of the short shelf life of the racers. Obviously for some parents, who want to learn the craft and can afford the additional time off work, truck, trailer, tents, spare parts, additional travel expenses, PLUS all the expenses you discussed, they can possibly save a few dollars of the expensive team/tent fees, but we truly are pricing people out of the sport.
Most of the careers in karting are vacuuming up this excessive expense.
Raises the question why not go get car experience for a much better price
Karting is expensive at the national level. (Max Taylor #733 Dad here). However this is the highest level in the Americas. And the Experience of it cannot be matched.
Man that's quite a bit more expensive than in the UK and you guys really burn through sets of tyres! Why do you get charged for passes!? Thats nuts you get wrist band here as part of entry.
Why do all race weekends across the world, use 3 days of competition.
Having thousands of heat races to determine the final starting spots.
A 1 race day format. Shorter race distance. Qualifying 1 heat and finals.
Just My thoughts.
Everything... it cost everything.... and requires you give even more
skip a season, buy an NA spec miata ( roughly 10k for a reasonable one ) just under 7k if you get the cheapest one, have more fun, learn more, and become a better driver
Should have these "Professionals" run in a totally different race \ organization.
If people feel like that level is the "highest" and it's ok.. then it shouldn't be part of getting people into the sport. ( imo )
We don't have NFL \ NCAA \ Highschool all play the same day, field , everything the same except the ball they play with.
Keep Karts as a hobby \ fun \ affordable thing to do. Too bad the equipment manufactures (chassis \ engine) seem to control everything and want absurd amounts of money for their products.
I'm sorry but OTK profit margins I can imagine are into 600% ? or more. The chassis I see minus the rims and tires, not really worth 1000$ , but some how 5-6k is the norm.
Engines , well we know 2 stroke Honda \ Yamaha \ Kawasaki \ Suzuki \ KTM \ Huski all have been around for a long time and would cost less. Could use 125cc , 250cc and\or 4 strokes.
But again, the equipment manufactures run the sport and want more and more profit margins. In the end, people will go other places.
This is coming from my self just looked at get into the sport. Nope. Still interested but as a government worker, I'm not rich enough for this sport.
Yup. I’m not into the expense of a two stroke kart, but there’s not much support for the 206 class.
They do run in a totally different race/association though. The majority of drivers are running their local track or perhaps a regional touring series. The likes of the pro tour etc is