Karting is the fastest growing motorsport in the United States. People have realized that karting is the perfect training ground for professional racers of all stripes as well as a not-so-expensive alternative to full-scale road racing and oval track racing. For adults and children eager to get behind the wheel of a kart, Karting: Everything You Need to Know provides all of the necessary information to get started in this popular, versatile motorsport.
For the novice confronted with a bewildering array of choices new or used kart, competition class, track format, engine style this book offers answers. A wealth of information, Karting will teach you the ins and outs of the sport, from choosing a class of kart to selecting safety equipment to performing maintenance and mastering techniques that will get you up to speed on the track.
Don't be left in the dust when you hit the track. Karting: Everything You Need to Know will help you take the steps to kart racing.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments | Introduction
Chapter 1 Let's Go Karting
History of karting | Basic layout of a kart | Buying a kart | Equipment
Chapter 2 Karting Formats
Karting breakdowns | Classes | Understanding the rules
Chapter 3 Engine Formats
Four-cycle 101 | Two-cycle 101 | Shifter 101 | Engine maintenance
Chapter 4 Karting Safety
Track safety | Signal flags | Driver signals | Pit safety | Safety helmets | Safety gear | Kart safety
Chapter 5 Kart Setup
How a kart chassis works | Seat dynamics 101 | Sata acquisition | Gear alignment | Tires | Maintenance
Chapter 6 Kart Tuning
Starting your kart | Kart clutch 101 | Finding the right balance | Changes and adjustments | Mounting kart tires | Performance tuning
Chapter 7 Driving Techniques
Body positioning | Driving-line components | The racing line | Reference points | Race-day setup | Racing principles | Wet weather
Glossary of karting speak | Karting charts and checklists | Index