Karting?

scottIN

Don't start in shifters. I see more people quit trying to start out in a shifter than in all other classes combined. IMHO, you shoudln't even be able to drive a shifter unless you've mastered a single speed. Some people make it, most give up. Check out my post in the sports section (karting 101), and for a good forum (really the only forum) ekartingnews.com.

bigdog1250

Yea I saw that site, I'll do some deeper reading on it when I get home today. Does the shifting really make it that much more difficult? I'd like it to be as close to real driving as possible. I've driven stick my entire life including dirt bikes and ATVs.

It does sound smart to get used to a single speed first, but I'd prefer to purchase one kart that I can stick with for a long time.

I appreciate the advice!

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TreeSemdyZee

I was gonna say, "Ask scottIN", but as usual, I'm late.

scottIN

The deal with a shifter is that you're busy all the time. I think at my track a stock moto does about 40 shifts a lap - and a good lap is 1:02. So that averages out to almost a shift a second. Like I said...you're busy. Here's a good comparison: take the fastest guy in a TaG (single speed, 26 hp) and thrown him in a shifter class (6 speed, 43 hp) and he'll finish mid pack. A shifter will blow by me like I'm sitting still on a straight, but I'll be all over them in a turn.

Also what happens is that you don't learn to drive smooth in a shifter becasue you have enough power to save your butt. It's even true in a TaG. The top guys start out in the slower classes, learn to drive, and then move to faster classes.

Here's a video from NCMP on board a shifter. You get an idea of how much is going on.

Joe Ruch Tag Worlds Final Stock Moto - YouTube

Now...all that said. If you just want something to mess around on, a lot of guys buy shifters starting out and have a lot of fun, but I think every shifter pilot I know that races started out in a lower class. (And you do get the advantage of being called a 'pilot' instead of a 'driver')

Rusty

Nice video. You catch the one turn where he down shifts 4 times before he entered. 6th down to 2nd in a heart beat. The sound on that video reminds me of when I used to race a Yammie TZ250 in AMA. Still remember the smell of bean oil in the air. LOL

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