In some forms of motorsport, the cost of equipment and the car itself can be prohibitive for some drivers to commit to. The world of karting, however, is entirely different; you can feel like Michael Schumacher for the day for a fraction of the budget!
However, we fully appreciate that even this form of motorsport can be perplexing, given the overwhelming range of karting classes open to drivers. Also, you may not currently understand which kit you need or where to obtain this karting equipment.
Here at Nicky Grist Motorsports, we are a one-stop shop for the best motorsport products, regardless of which motorsport event you're competing in. Our super-friendly and knowledgeable team are also on hand to make sure you are suited and booted, ready for your voyage into karting.
What are the different types of karting events?
Rental karts
Rental karts or “go-kart” experience centres offer a great place to initially get a flavour of whether karting is for you.
You can get a sense of whether this form of motorsport floats your boat, without having to fork out for your own kit.
Most rental kart companies will offer you an induction and help you get dressed and fitted into the appropriate safety equipment required on the day. Rental karts are therefore perfect for your more casual or beginner racers, as well as offering a minimal outlay of money.
However, what you often find is that karting can become addictive; it can start to become something you really enjoy and want to pursue further.
It's at this point that the more committed drivers often come to suppliers like us to buy their own kit, and most invest in their own karting helmet and a karting race suit, karting suits and gloves.
At this point most are fed up of wearing worn out equipment that has been worn by hundreds of people before them. Let’s be fair: most rental karting companies won't be able to thoroughly clean their rental equipment after each use, helmets you cannot clean and race suits can be drenched in the previous occupant's sweat! Can you imagine!
This is why so many regular karting centre members start researching the best equipment they can buy. This means that if you regularly rent a kart, you may wish to own the karting wear outright.
It's at this stage that you may take pride in starting to accumulate your own equipment, such as Stilo karting helmet. If you would like to spend a bit more to be even be more comfortable during your laps, do consider purchasing a carbon Stilo karting helmet, which is lighter and significantly improves driver comfort and dramatically reduces fatigue.
Bambino Karts
Bambino Karting is perfect for younger drivers who want to start to improve their karting skills.
A bambino kart is a low-speed kart; it's also designed to travel much slower than the more powerful karts used by older drivers.
A kart for a child typically has a 50cc 2-stroke engine. Granted, this engine is not going to break any land speed records; however, that is the whole point. The engine and bambino kart are designed for much lower acceleration rates. This allows the driver to improve their cornering, handling and racing lines as they progress through the laps.
Most Bambino race karts will be fitted with the ultra-reliable Honda engines, which provide ample acceleration for this event, yet can be “governed down” or restricted to offer less power.
As the driver becomes more competent and gains confidence, the centre may gradually give the engine a little more power, resulting in slightly improved acceleration during practice laps.
At what age can someone start competing at Bambino Karting events?
Bambino karts are designed for young drivers aged 6 to 8 years of age. This depends on the competition's regulations, so do check with the individual race organisers.
There are various Bambino race championships dotted throughout the country.
Young karters at this age require a dedicated junior karting helmet to compete, this to a specific CMR safety standard for youngsters 15 and under. We can help you source high-quality karting helmets, gloves, race suits, and footwear ready for your Bambino karting competition.
Parents, when you buy this standard of helmet for your little one, it is always best to get the lightest one as possible. A young neck does not have the strength in their neck muscles so a really light helmet is a major benefit, and if they do tap the tyre barriers the G-force levels are reduced.
What is Cadet Kart Racing?
The next group up from Bambino Racing is “Cadet Kart Racing”. This type of kart racing is for younger drivers racing in relatively low-power karts. The power displacement of this class of karts is again 50cc, usually powered by Honda engines for their ease of maintenance and powerful, ultra-reliable engine reputation.
Some cadet kart racers will undoubtedly be the next generation of F1 drivers, as this is an entry-level motorsport event that often serves as a springboard to other motorsport competitions later in life.
This is where Bambino and Cadet kart racing allow young drivers to learn the basics of vehicle control, staying on the best racing line, and managing acceleration.
What age group is cadet kart racing suitable for?
Cadet kart racing is suited to drivers aged 8 to 12. You should check the tournament you wish to enter to confirm the competition's age range. As cadet kart racing is for drivers who typically compete with smaller race karts fitted with smaller engines, this form of karting is again suitable for younger riders.
Junior and Senior karting
Older drivers may wish to compete in this class. It's also normal for riders from Bambino and Cadet kart racing to progress and want to compete in this category of karting as they get older.
The engines in this class of kart racing are becoming more powerful at this stage, with a range of manufacturers producing 60cc to 100cc engines.
This type of power displacement doesn't sound much; that’s when your typical car you drive back and forth to work often has a 2000cc engine or more. However, we have to remember the weight-to-power ratio here: a kart is exceptionally light, so even when fitted with these modest-displacement engines, the acceleration can seem extremely rapid to the driver.
Mental and physical endurance
It's when we take this step up in engine power that the driver will start to feel the effects of cornering and acceleration on the body. On the day, you will be subjected to large cornering forces, as well as rapid acceleration and deceleration. This is where purchasing the proper safety equipment is paramount.
You need the confidence to feel safe, but you also have to factor in driver comfort.
You will often be driving a large number of laps, and the g-force, the smell of petrol, and the movement of your body as you control and move in the kart will place significant strain on your body.
Everything from your karting gloves to your helmet should be as comfortable as possible, but more importantly all be fitted correctly as you have to consider that a correctly fitted helmet is required when you do have an accident.
As mentioned earlier, do not just purchase a karting helmet without considering the lightest option, a carbon fibre helmet can make a substantial difference between comfort and exhaustion from wearing what might otherwise be an uncomfortable, heavy helmet.
There are different types of carbon, so always ask for the weight as there will be some much lighter than others
There are many local, national, and international competitions. It's at this level that the competition can become vast.
Shifter (gearbox) kart class
Shifter karts, or “gearbox karts”, are where things start to get very serious. These are generally very high-performance machines that can achieve astonishingly fast acceleration speeds and dramatically increased cornering performance.
The value of these shifter karts can vary widely; however, there are many more drivers in this class.
Gearbox karts typically have 125cc to 250cc engines and often feature a sequential gearbox.
This means that because the kart is geared, there’s another dimension of precision driving that’s required and even greater concentration levels are needed.
Super Karts
Super karts are in a league quite literally of their own, with engine displacement exceeding 250cc. This class of karting is not for the faint-hearted, plus, there’s a much larger emphasis on cognitive ability, as you have to think very fast.
In split-second decisions, you have to consider proximity to other racers, race lines, and acceleration speeds that can feel as though you are actually driving a hyper car.
How can we help?
Here at Nicky Grist Motorsport, we supply some of the world’s finest quality karting equipment.
Our equipment ranges from handcrafted Stilo kart helmets made in Italy to race gloves that, well, fit like a glove! And they have developed the lightest helmets for karting for all age brackets and for all levels.
When it comes to purchasing premium-quality karting equipment and safety clothing, many kart riders in the U.K and abroad turn to us.
Whether you require a composite or a fully carbon-fibre junior kart helmet, we can supply it to you. The Stilo CMR range only consists of carbon helmets and are the lightest available, and with an entry level version it is a lot kinder on your pocket.
Quite often, you will need help and advice before making this purchase; therefore, do call our helpline so we can walk you through the process.
Stilo, are known around the world for producing high-quality handcrafted helmets, and this is what we can supply to you.
Catering for all budgets, we have everything from helmets suitable for occasional and lighter use to those kart helmets built for serious competitors and use in competitive karting competitions.
The adult karting standard is Snell K2025 currently and if higher standards are required in the future the number will reflect the year it was introduced, and adult helmets are improved every 5 years.
A small stone can fly into a visor during a race, causing a chip or fracture in the plastic. It's essential to purchase a quality visor; we stock a range of Stilo karting visors as replacement or to upgrade your current helmet visor.
These made to the FIA standard of 3mm thick, and the CMR helmets have doubled glazed version. There are a plethora of colours and tints available to suit the racing conditions.
Karting Gloves
Alpinestars produces high-quality karting gloves, and we stock a wide range for all hand sizes.
Karting race suits do not need to be flame-resistant but have to be resilient to tearing and ripping, comfort is important and a lot of kart drivers want to look stylish.
Our karting suits satisfy all of these criteria and are to the required safety standards required.
Karting boots can sometimes be a piece of safety equipment that is overlooked; however, they should not be. You need a light, thin sole so you can feather the accelerator with the exact amount of pressure. Colour options and styles are available to suit all tastes and we stock a wide range of karting boots.
Karting rib protectors are another essential piece of safety equipment that all drivers will need.
With no suspension and racing on bumpy circuits the rib cage gets a battering against the kart seats. This is where the rib protectors save the body from the battering of this effect.
Racing in higher level championships you will require an FIA 8870 standard item, this variant offers more protection with additional frontal protection.
Do you require further help and assistance?
If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly team.
We can help with any questions you have regarding the safety equipment you will need. Therefore, if you have a question, for example, about which size safety helmet you need, then we can help over the phone.
