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How to get started in KartSport |
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Whether you wish to progress a career in motorsport or enjoy the great family atmosphere at 250 plus club events each year, KartSport offers exciting and affordable motorsport for everyone to enjoy. There are KartSport classes to suit everyone from 6 years to 66 years. |
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| Buying a Kart The decision to buy a kart should not be taken lightly.
There are a great deal of things to consider and we will try and outline some of
them here. The first consideration is finding the right class for your age and/or
weight. For details of the various classes available go to the Classes page of this site. There are a number of excellent kart shops throughout the country who will be only too pleased to show you the various options of makes and models available, both new and second hand and some of these shops are listed on the Links page of this site. However some of the best advice about buying a kart can be obtained from the karters themselves and these people will always go out of their way to assist and offer advice to new people in the sport. The best way to obtain this advice is to go along to a kart meeting and talk to the people there and look at the various karts being used. Many Clubs in New Zealand have their own websites with details of their location and meeting dates and links to these sites can be found on the Links page. For Clubs without their own website you can obtain contact details from the Clubs page. Hire Karts Generally all karts used in competition in New Zealand are owned by the competitors. Some Clubs have a hire kart which can be used for a test drive but not for competition. The opportunity to hire a kart for a race meeting is limited however some kart shops may offer a "rent-a-drive" service. This enables you to rent a competition kart for a weekend together with the expertise of the kart shop staff who will take you to a practice and through a complete race day meeting at one of the affiliated Club tracks. This service is not available in all places or from all kart shops so you will need to make specific enquires to the kart shops in your area. For a list of kart shops with links to e-mail or websites see the Links page. Joining a Club Before you can race or in many cases practice on an affiliated Club track you must be a financial member of the Club. Most Clubs offer various classes of membership such as single racing, family, junior and social. Membership rates for each type vary as do rates from Club to Club so for full details you should contact the Clubs directly. Membership is usually on an annual basis and entitles you to use the Clubs facilities, receive newsletters and attend meetings etc. There are 20 affiliated Clubs in New Zealand and a full list of Clubs with contact details can be found on the Clubs page. Competition Licence A competitor must hold a KartSport New Zealand Competition Licence before taking part in any competition. There are two types of competition licence available. ONE DAY LICENCE One day licences are available only at club days at permanent sprint tracks for any driver who does not hold a current KartSport New Zealand full licence. Only 3 one day licences may be issued per person per year and are purchased directly from the promoting Club. The one day licence enables a new competitor to compete for a day at a Club without having to obtain a full KartSport New Zealand competition licence. FULL KartSport New Zealand LICENCE This is only available from the KartSport New Zealand Competition Licence Secretary on application. An applicant must complete the appropriate application form and medical declaration and become a financial member of an affiliated Club. For an applicant under 18 years of age a birth certificate is also required. The completed application forms, proof of Club membership and licence fee must be sent to the Competition Licence Secretary who will process the application and issue the licence. There is a concession rate for subsequent family members residing at the same address provided the first member pays a full licence fee. Licence application forms and full details are available from each Club and are also available for download from this site. These application forms should be completed at the time of becoming a member of the Club. There are 20 affiliated Clubs in New Zealand and a full list of Clubs with contact details can be found on the Clubs page. It is a good idea to get in some practice laps before going to your first race meeting. Most Clubs tracks are available during the week and on weekends for casual hire to Club members. Some tracks have restrictions on the hours that the track is available so contact your local club first for details. Club contact details are available on the Clubs page or by following a link directly to a Clubs website from the Links page. There may be a small charge for the use of the track and you should always have another person with you who is capable of driving a motor vehicle should any accident occur. All the required safety equipment must be worn and all rules need to be followed and the Clubs indemnity form should also be signed before practicing. If possible get an experienced karter to go along with you or ask advice from others who may be practicing as well as this will be the quickest and easiest way to learn. Race Formats There are different types of race formats used depending on the type of racing (sprint or SuperKart) and details of all formats can be found in the KartSport New Zealand rule book which can be downloaded from the Downloads page. For sprint racing there are two main points systems used, the KartSport New Zealand predetermined grid system and the CIK system. The KartSport New Zealand predetermined system has four heats plus a final. The grids for the first four heats are predetermined and drawn from a hat. Points are awarded 1 for first, 2 for second, 3 for third etc. At the end of the first four heats the points are totalled and the grids for the final are decided by lowest points to the front. After the final race points are awarded, the total points for all five races are added together and then the worst race points are dropped to provide the final points for the meeting. The winner is the competitor with the lowest points. The CIK system uses time trials to determine grids for up to three preliminary races. Points are awarded for the preliminary races and these points are used to determine grids for a pre final. The finishing position in the pre final determines the grids for the final and the winner of the final is the winner of the meeting. For SuperKart racing there are three heats and a final. The grid for the first heat is determined from time trials. The grid for heat two is determined by the finishing position in race one and the grid for heat three from the finishing position in race two. Points are awarded 1 for first, 2 for second, 3 for third etc. At the end of the first three heats the points are totalled and the grids for the final are decided by lowest points to the front. After the final race points are awarded, the total points for all four races is added together and then the worst race points are dropped to provide the final points for the meeting. The winner is the competitor with the lowest points. There are other types of race formats used however these are the main ones. First Race Day After purchasing a kart, joining a Club, obtaining a competition licence and doing some practice laps you should be ready to compete at your first race meeting. This can be a little daunting for a new karter so we will try to outline some of the more important points here. Remember, if in doubt, always ask someone from your new club as they will be more than happy to assist you. A couple of points to note first of all. Firstly it is a requirement for all new competitors to have an additional back number plate fitted with a large black cross on it. This is to let other competitors know that you are new and you should ensure that you have this fitted before you get to the track. Secondly you should be very familiar with and know exactly what each flag used at a race meeting is for. Again it is a good idea to learn this before your first meeting. The rules for all flags can be found in the KartSport New Zealand rule book that you will receive when you get your licence or you can click here for the details. You will need to pack all your gear (and kart) into a trailer or suitable vehicle for transportation to the track. Make a check list of things to take such as petrol, oil, tools, licence, race suit, helmet, wet weather gear etc so you will not forget anything. Try to get to the track early so you will have plenty of time to unload, get a pit space and set up and complete all of the preliminary formalities that need to be done before racing commences. Most race days have the same format and while the times may vary slightly from Club to Club (and you will need to check the exact times for your Club) the following is a reasonable guide to times and what needs to be done. Gates will open around 7.30am so you should plan to arrive around this time or shortly after. Unload your kart and equipment and set up a site in the pits and then park your vehicle. The kart needs to be scrutineered before you can race and you will also need to enter for the days event. Some Clubs require you to enter before scrutineering while others require you to have your kart scrutineered first. Scrutineering will be available from maybe 8.00am until 9.30am so you should have plenty of time. When you take your kart to the scrutineering area make sure that it is clean and that you also have your race gear and licence with you. The scrutineers will check your kart for legality with the rules and also for safety. If something is not correct you will be told about it and asked to go away and fix it before returning to have it rechecked. If your kart passes scrutineering it will have a sticker put on it and this sticker must remain on for the entire day. Following scrutineering (or before if required by the club) you must enter for the days racing. Entries are usually taken in the clubrooms where you will be required to pay your entry fee, advise what class you will be racing in, your kart number and sign the indemnity form. Minors under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign the indemnity form and that person must be present with the competitor for the entire day. If you are racing in a class other than the Novice class, tell the race secretary that this is your first meeting and they will arrange for you to start off the back of the grid for the whole day. Once these formalities are completed you should then ensure that the kart is prepared ready to race. The tank should be filled with petrol and oil (mixed to the correct ratio) and then 'pumped up' to ensure that it has reached the carburettor. If this is not done the engine will be hard to start or may not start at all. Do a final check of the kart to make sure everything is tight (especially the wheels) and then check the tyre pressures. Pressures will range from approximately 14 to 22 psi depending on the temperature of the day and the track conditions. Generally the hotter it is the less tyre pressure required. Check with more experienced people to get some idea of where to start and then adjust as necessary as the day progresses. It is also necessary to oil the chain with a correct type of chain oil lubricant. Finally if you are running a clutch make sure you have the correct type and amount of oil in the clutch. At this point it is a good idea to change into your racing gear and then take the kart to the scales to check the weight. All classes are controlled with a minimum weight for the kart and driver and this is checked each time you complete a race. For details of the weight required for each class see the Classes page of this site. If you do not meet the minimum weight required you will need to bolt on some additional lead to bring the weight up to what is required. At around 9.30 to 10.00am there will be a drivers briefing. You and your pit crew (and parent or guardian if under 18) must attend the drivers briefing where the steward for the day will outline important points about the days racing and tell you what he/she requires from all the drivers. If you are unsure about anything now is the time to ask !! Following drivers briefing there will be tuning runs (practice) in classes. This is an opportunity for you to go out on the track with the other competitors from your class and warm up the engine and tyres, tune the carburettor and get a feel for the track and how the kart is handling. Usually you will get two short tuning runs prior to the start of racing. Just prior to racing check the notice board where you should find the grid draws for the day. This will tell you what grid position you will start from for your first four races if the meeting is running to the standard KartSport New Zealand race format. If some other format is being used this will also be displayed on the notice board. Make sure you get yourself and your kart up to the dummy grid in plenty of time before your race is due to go out. When the race immediately prior to yours leaves the dummy grid to go out onto the track you should position your kart in the correct place on the dummy grid. Make sure all your racing gear is on, suit done up, gloves on and helmet strap securely fastened. The pit steward will advise you when it is time to start your engine or push out onto the track. On the first lap you must keep in formation behind the karts in front and the field must line up in two straight lines when approaching the starter. If the starter is happy he will wave the green flag or turn off the start lights and the race will be on !! At the end of the race after receiving the chequered flag return to the pits via the exit road where you and your kart will be weighed and then it will be time to return to your pit and prepare for the next race. Always ask people for help and advice and before long you will be a pro. GOOD LUCK and enjoy your kartsport. Copyright © KartSport New Zealand. All rights reserved.
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