Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Introduction to Karting: Part 1]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/introduction-to-karting-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/introduction-to-karting-part-1/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/introduction-to-karting-part-1/#commentsFiled under: ,

Autoblog goes karting part I: introduction
Introduction to Karting: Part 1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Michael Schumacher. Ayrton Senna. Jeff Gordon. Alex Zanardi. Danica Patrick. All great drivers and all learned their trade in buzzy little racing karts with no suspension, no downforce, minimal protection, and arguably more grins per dollar than any other motorsport in existence. The underpowered machines at the local putt-putt course give karting a bad reputation; a 2.5 horsepower motor in a 300-pound chassis rolling on ten-year-old tires is a $7.50 distraction for kids. But move up to a machine that can do 0-60 MPH in under four seconds, hit 125 MPH on the straight, pull 3 g on the skidpad, and do so for well under $10,000 -- that's serious.

Karting is the safest, cheapest and, arguably, best avenue into motorsports for those with the desire to compete, yet lacking the financial means to get into a top-tier series. Sadly, it's also a dizzying sea of classes, chassis, engines, tires, tracks, rules, and affiliations, some of which are tightly controlled by global organizing bodies. So finding the right way in and getting the most for your money can be tough. That's where we come in.

Autoblog is going karting, jumping in as rookies and making some rookie mistakes so you won't have to. We'll tell you where to start, how much you'll need to budget, where you can save some bucks, and where you should just take a deep breath and hand over the credit card. This is the first in a series, an introduction to the sport that will give you the basics of where to start looking. In subsequent pieces we'll cover driving lessons, go kart shopping, talk setup, and finally go racing. So, without further ado, let's get rolling.


Gallery: Famous karters

Michael SchumacherJeff GordonDanica PatrickAyrton SennaAlex Zanardi

Continue reading Introduction to Karting: Part 1

Introduction to Karting: Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex zanardiAlexZanardiautoblog goes kartingAutoblogGoesKartingayrton sennaAyrtonSennadanica patrickDanicaPatrickfeaturedintroductiontokartingjeff gordonJeffGordonkartkart racingkartingKartRacingmichael schumacherMichaelSchumacheroval kartOvalKartshifter kartShifterKartsprint kartingSprintKartingsuperkartMon, 05 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Comically overpowered Honda CBR 900RR go kart gets all drifty]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/video-comically-overpowered-honda-cbr-900rr-go-kart-gets-all-dr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/video-comically-overpowered-honda-cbr-900rr-go-kart-gets-all-dr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/video-comically-overpowered-honda-cbr-900rr-go-kart-gets-all-dr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Honda CBR 900RR-powered go kart - Click above to watch the video after the break

Go karts, when properly built and set up, can be some of the most exhilarating rides on four wheels and, in many cases, just about the fastest way to get around smaller race tracks. There's also something oddly enjoyable about piloting a fire-breather with your hindquarters mere inches from the tarmac.

That said, the petrolhead in us says, "If go karts are good, more power ought to make them even better." Sound familiar to you? If so, you'll definitely want to click past the jump to watch a video of a certain Honda CBR 900RR-powered go kart fishtailing its way all over a number of inappropriate settings. Suffice it to say that 'oversteer' would be an understatement of epic proportions. Looks like fun, but a helmet and a living will would probably be very sound investments. Thanks for the tip, Robin and The Auto Insider!

[Source: VideoSift]

Continue reading VIDEO: Comically overpowered Honda CBR 900RR go kart gets all drifty

VIDEO: Comically overpowered Honda CBR 900RR go kart gets all drifty originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>go kartGoKarthonda cbrhonda cbr 900 rrhonda cbr 900rrhonda cbr go karthonda cbr900rrhonda-powered go kartHonda-poweredGoKartHondaCbrHondaCbr900rrHondaCbrGoKartmotorcycle go kartmotorcycle-powered go kartMotorcycle-poweredGoKartMotorcycleGoKartshifter kartShifterKartFri, 28 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Hayabusa-powered go kart redefines the term overpowered]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/hayabusa-powered-go-kart-redefines-the-term-overpowered/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/hayabusa-powered-go-kart-redefines-the-term-overpowered/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/10/hayabusa-powered-go-kart-redefines-the-term-overpowered/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Anybody who's ever strapped themselves into a shifter-kart can attest to the fact that they are one of the most exhilarating rides available, and their capabilities are much higher than first expected. That being the case, when swapping the 125cc engine from the go kart with a 1300cc engine from a Suzuki Hayabusa, the resulting machine is nothing if not overpowered. A small blip of the throttle induces massive tire spin and power-slides are available at a moment's notice, possibly less. To handle the power-infusion, the frame was suitably strengthened and elongated with plenty of square-section tubing. We're not so sure that we'd have built this machine in the first place, but now that it's done, we really wish we could get a chance in the drivers seat. Follow along after the break for a video of the machine in action.

[Source: Kart Hayabusa via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Hayabusa-powered go kart redefines the term overpowered

Hayabusa-powered go kart redefines the term overpowered originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>go kartgo-kartGoKarthayabusahayabusa karthayabusa-kartHayabusaKartshifter kartshifter-kartShifterKartsuzuki hayabusaSuzukiHayabusaMon, 10 Mar 2008 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: jet-powered shifter kart]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-jet-powered-shifter-kart/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-jet-powered-shifter-kart/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/30/ebay-find-of-the-day-jet-powered-shifter-kart/#commentsFiled under:



What is it with slapping jet engines on all forms of four-wheeled machina? The latest is this one-of-a-kind shifter kit with a jet engine built by "Turbo" Tim Arfons, according to Winding Road, who is the son of Bonneville Salt Flats legend Art Arfons. The kart features a JFS100 turbine that was commandeered from its previous life as a starter for the main engine of an A-7 Corsair fighter plane. The jet engine can spin to a lofty 72,000 rpm and run on either jet fuel, diesel or kerosene - whatever's handy. As far as the seller knows, the kart can at least reach 100 mph if not more. The asking price for the Jet Kart is $9,000 O.B.O., and so far only two offers have been made for the kart and its rolling carrier.

[Source: eBay via Winding Road]

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: jet-powered shifter kart

eBay Find of the Day: jet-powered shifter kart originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Jul 2006 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Art ArfonsArtArfonsJet KartJetKartshifter kartShifterKartTim ArfonsTimArfonsSun, 30 Jul 2006 09:02:00 EST