When to begin karting

My boys are 5 and 4. Both are asking about racing. How soon before I put them in a Kart?

When the local indoor track will let them. They'll find out quickly whether they want to do it without having a whole bunch of equipment in the garage. If the indoor track has a very high age requirement, get a Kid Kart when they can hang out in the pits with the other kid kart drivers all day and still want to race.

Kid karts start at 5. Some tracks allow 4 year olds to drive, but not to race. Now is the time. Find a track that rents karts to get them some initial seat time before investing in your own kart.

IF they like it and want to do it more, come back and I can lead you into the wonderful (and potentially expensive) aspect of karting. 8 years of it with my son who started at a late 6.5 year old.

-Rob

My son is starting this summer with organized karting at age 7. 7 was the earliest he could go locally, until this year it was lowered to age 6. He is so damn excited, I don't think he'll be able to contain himself between now and the first race.

I did it with my twins at age 5. I think it might vary depending on the kid, but in my case it wasn't too soon.

BTW, my boys are 21 now, are both excellent driver's and autocrossers, and neither has had an accident or ticket of any kind... and they both drive and prefer stick shifted high performance cars. Make sure you follow through with progressively more challenging karting, and get them into Formula Jr. autocrossing as well, as its much different than any other kind of karting. It can be fun and a learning experience in one. Then when they are of age, send them to a real driving school that will not only teach them the skills, but teach them the responsibility of driving. I really think cultivating good drivers starts around the age of your kids.

SPK (Summit Point Kart) is reopening in the GIANT warehouse space across from Martin State Airport at the end of 43 at 150. This will be occurring in July. Jens has made sure that they've had kids schools before. That would be the easy button.

Do you want to do karts or Quarter Midgets?

Check with your local assn, somewhere between 6 & 8.

Start them early, it teaches them sportsmanship, responsibility, teamwork, and commitment.

And make sure their performance at school and home is tied into racing privledges.

Dont let them grow up to be spoiled pricks like some of the douches we see on TV.

Thanks for all the advice guys!