What is Kart Racing?

 Kart racing is one of the fastest growing and most economical forms of Motorsports and also happens to be a very family oriented and extremely fun activity.  At the South Sask Kart Club (SSKC) home track known as Merit Three Flags Motorsports Park, your will see moms and dads, brother and sisters working together on the family driver’s karts preparing for next on-track session.  That driver could be any one or more of those family members.  Karting is a great tool for learning life skills as well, including self discipline, patience, camaraderie and sportsmanship.  It also turns out that the vast majority of the worlds top race drivers got their starts in karting!!!

 These aren’t your typical amusement park Karts are they?

 The Kart that you can rent on any summer day at a local amusement park has their speed restricted to a maximum of 35kph and may be considered toys when compared to a Racing Kart. Racing Karts use specifically designed racing engines mounted on sophisticated, highly engineered and certified factory built chassis and are capable of speeds from 60kph to 170kph!  Speeds for the younger drivers are of course restricted, but even at the slower speed ranges, the wheel to wheel racing action is thrilling.

What age can I start racing?

Drivers can start racing at a club level as young as 8 years of age.  You are never too old to race either.  It isn’t unusual for drivers over the age of forty to start racing as Dad or Mom get the racing bug as well.

What are the different classes and how fast do they go?

Racing classes can vary slightly from club to club, however, all clubs structure classes based on age and ability.  The SSKC first group is for drivers aged 8-11, or Junior 1 which uses the Honda GX160 K1 four cycle motor restricted to speeds of 60-70 kph or, a spec Maxter 2-cycle TAG motor.  Starting in 2007, a national championship now exists for this age group using the Maxter TAG engine.
The next step is Junior 2 for drivers aged 12-15, who can use either a restricted Yamaha KT100, or a Junior ROK or Junior Rotax TAG motor.  A strong national series with substantial awards program is available for those who wish and can afford the higher level of competition.  The motor becomes less restricted as their ability increases.

The last group is for senior drivers over the age of 16 where you can start on either the Yamaha or a restricted 125cc TAG motor. For the advanced drivers, there are two National Pro classes with either the Rotax Max or Vortex ROK engines with top speeds of 170 kph.

Which is the best class to start racing?

It is always best too start where you can afford it on your own.  Simply the higher the level of competition, the higher the cost and commitment level.  When dealing with new drivers, always start with the lowest level available to you and work upwards.  Every driver, being a senior or junior, has to and must go through the “learning curve” of the sport. It is important to set realistic goals for yourself, as this is the main fault when coming to the sport. Everyone believes they are the best and will take the sport by storm. Maybe you will, but you still have a lot to prove to those who have been around for a lap or two.  Be patient, and having fun is always the first goal!  Typically younger drivers 8-11 in the SSKC start on the 160cc Honda.  Older kids 12-15 may start on a restricted 100cc Yamaha.  Older drivers 16+ may choose to go faster sooner by starting on a 125cc Rotax or Vortex ROK motor and go unrestricted when their ability to compete safely and under control is prove

What do I need to get started?

The first thing to get would be a kart and engine and the equipment should match your budget.  There are many good used Karts for sale in the club system yearly as members move up in class or upgrade their karts as their ability increases.  Good used equipment is usually a good place to start and is already set up for the classes that run at the SSKC.  There are many brands of chassis on the market, with the majority being from Europe but be careful, cheap is cheap, and there is always a reason why.  You can talk to any club member or Keith Miller of K&M Motorsports (591-7038).   Keith has been racing Karts, re-building engines and selling Karts and karting equipment in Regina for many, many years and is familiar with almost every kart running at the local Karting level.  If what you need is not available locally Keith can usually find it for you from other clubs or sources.  It is also important to remember once you have the kart, you will need personal safety equipment including gloves, rib vest, racing suit, helmet neck collar and an approved helmet.  Again it is advisable to talk to Keith Miller or a club member before purchasing any equipment as there are restrictions and classifications on the equipment which must pass the governing rules of Kart Racing.

 How much will this cost?

Your budget is based on what you can afford! Don’t blow your whole budget on a kart and then find out you can’t afford to race it.  Racing costs money, but how and what you spend your money on is up to you.  If you want to just look good, there are many gadgets and trinkets available to you, but they don’t necessarily make you go faster.  Spend wisely and you will find that karting is affordable and competitive on any budget.  The following is an example of a typical club member’s budget.

1. Kart package            Used                             New

        - Senior                 $2500 and up                $3500-8000 depending on class
        - Junior                  $2000 and up                $3500-8000                              

2. Race gear                 $250 and up                 $1200 and up depending on grade

       - Includes helmet, suit, gloves, and collar, which sometimes can be included with kart package!!!

3. Membership and “club” race day fees ~$800 per year. Includes insurance, licensing and racing fees

4. Maintenance: Based on senior intermediate or a Junior 1 racing program.  Pro level will be higher.

        - Senior                  $500.00 includes tires, chain and gears, gas and oil etc.
        - Junior                   $300.00 includes tires chain, gas and oil, etc.

                5. Total average start up junior, $2500 and up, senior $3500 and up

                6. Seasonal senior or junior, $1250 and up

Compare this to other sports

	Hockey Pee Wee / Bantam Tier	Gold Regina Golf Club	Karting SSKC
Membership	$1,800. per season	$1,800 per year	$415.00 per year
Initiation Fees	---	$2,500. (%500 over 5 years)	----
Day Fees	---	---	!$65.00-$7500 per race day, typical ~400.00 per yerar
Seasonal costs	$500-$1,000	$500 and up	$500 on average
Total Costs per season	$2300 and up	$2,800 and up	$1,300 average

Costs do not include start up costs for equipment!  Prices are available via the internet.                 

 Is this safe?

While there is some danger in most sports, kart racing has an impressive safety record.  Steps are taken by each member organization to help provide the safest racing environment possible.  When injuries do happen, they are usually minor bumps or bruises.  Clubs and their members in Canada are required to race only on sanctioned tracks designed to meet the high safety standards and guidelines of ASN Canada.  ASN Canada is affiliated with FIA/CIK, who is the international governing body for many forms of Motorsports including F1, WRS car racing, and karting.

A gentleman from California presented the following information to e-KMI who did the research as part of a legal presentation.  At present there are over 250,000 registered karters (ASN, IKF, WKA) in North America.

    *     U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission
    **   Natio nal Center for Injury Prevention and Control
    *** National Electronic Injury Surveillance

  Where do I find the rules?

 The SSKC is a member of ASN Canada, who is the governing sport body for Karting in Canada.  The official rulebook is available for download from ASN Canada.  There are also some specific club rules that will be explained to you when you join the club.  There are also some rules located elsewhere on the SSKC website

 What is ASN?

ASN Canada FIA is the Canadian arm of the FIA, which is the international governing body for motorsports.  ASN Canada FIA is the governing body for motorsports in Canada whose responsibilities include the Montreal Grand Prix, the Molson  Indy and Karting as well as all other forms of motorsports excluding motorcycles.

Where do I find the Club

The club homeepage has all the key contacts at the bottom of the page.  The best place the find the club is at the track on race days.  A schedule of events is posted here on the web site.  The club races at Three Flags Motorsports Park.  To find the track you simple drive 12 miles Northwest from Regina on Highway #11 to Exit “C” just before the Qu’Appelle Valley and Town of Lumsden.  Take Exit “C” from the right hand lane and turn left under the highway overpass.  The track is located on the south side of the overpass.