| If you plan on giving kart racing a big run this | | | | division pretty easily. As long, of course as you |
| next season, its time to get going and get your | | | | have a decent kart for the kid to drive. Would |
| ducks lined up and ready to go. Many of the | | | | probably be good also if the driver had a lot of |
| Florida, south Alabama and Georgia Tracks open | | | | experience with a street type two seater kart, |
| in mid to late January . So what all will you need? | | | | as well as riding lawnmowers and such. I know |
| Well it really depends on where your are? Where | | | | my kids were riding and driving 4 wheel lawn |
| did you end the past season? Maybe you are just | | | | mowers when 5 to 7 years of age, and had |
| going to start this coming 2009 and it will be your | | | | pretty good control etc. Girls and boys, |
| first season. | | | | By having the previous driver/coach as I |
| If so that will be ok, you are going to need a nice | | | | mentioned above, he should have a lot of |
| kart, equipped with tires and wheels. The kart will | | | | experience in racecar setup . This is something |
| need adjustable front spindles, also a good | | | | you will need in the beginning. A lot of people do |
| fiberglass seat that fits you pretty tightly. This will | | | | not think so and they go at it haphazardly and |
| help with lessening the bumps and bouncing as | | | | wonder why their kid cannot drive and win. When |
| well as a little banging. | | | | in many cases it is actually not the kids fault. |
| A good quality helmet is required, call the track | | | | Do not expect him to run up front and win unless |
| where you will be competing. They should be able | | | | he has the help and equipment to do so. However |
| to tell you exactly what is required. Also you will | | | | it is very important and if you let someone guide |
| need a good neck brace along with a fireproof | | | | you differently, he is hoping to beat your kart. |
| jacket and gloves. | | | | The first thing of utmost importance is the front |
| The topic and substance of this article is for small | | | | end setup. |
| dirt oval tracks. Once you get to where you are | | | | If its wrong makes no difference how good your |
| winning and finishing in the top two or three on a | | | | kid can drive he will probably not make it to the |
| regular basis, you will be nearing a point of moving | | | | front very often. If its right and the kid gets good |
| up from the purple plate novice division into the | | | | coaching on race strategy he/she can be running |
| blue plate division. | | | | up front in short order. No 1, is car setup, no 2, is |
| Some move up before they are doing well in the | | | | avoiding the wrecks, pileups and spinouts. If your |
| novice division. If this is my young son or | | | | kid can do those two things, believe me when I |
| daughter driving, I would not let him/her move up | | | | say he can be in the top two or three in a field of |
| until maybe forced up by the age limits in the | | | | 16 to 25 karts or more very easily. |
| rules. The most help you could hope to have | | | | With a mediocre kart many times by just |
| when starting off would be to have a coach or | | | | avoiding the calamity on the track and in the |
| helper with a few years experience in oval | | | | purple division there is plenty. If your kid can drive |
| modified or dirt midgets, maybe late models, just | | | | decently with a properly setup kart he will finish |
| whatever, will make no difference as long as he | | | | up front a lot more times than not. The trophy is |
| was a fairly regular winner when he was | | | | what makes the kid go around, at least in the |
| competing. At least someone who won 4 or 5 | | | | beginning, The trophy keeps them coming back, |
| times each season, the more the better. | | | | so do your kid a favor, give him something |
| By having someone helping with this kind of | | | | decent to use in his kart racing adventures, as |
| experience your kid can become king of the | | | | well as a lot of good coaching. |