Tim Penton Racing
Kart classes
Please see below for a introduction into the classes you can compete in in the UK
Rotax
At the moment this is the biggest class in the UK and you will find big grids at most circuits you visit.
Categories
Mini Max
- Is for 11 to 16 year olds
- A restricted version of the Rotax Junior 125cc engine is used.
- Driver and kart must weigh 135kg
- Tyres are Vega SL8 and wet Vega W2'JA'
Junior Max
- Is for 13 to 17 year olds
- A de-tuned version of the senior 125cc engine is used.
- Driver and kart must weigh 148kg
- Tyres are Vega SL8 and wet Vega W2'JA'
Senior Max
- Is for 16 years and upwards
- The engine is a powerful 125cc two-stroke, with an on-board electric self-starter.
- Driver and kart must weight 162kg
- Tyres are Vega SL6 and wet Vega W2'JA'
Senior Max 177
- Is for 16 years and upwards
- The engine is a powerful 125cc two-stroke, with an on-board electric self-starter.
- Weight limit is 177kg and the driver must weight 85kg or above.
- Tyres are Vega SL6 and wet Vega W2'JA'
If you would like to find out more about this class please visit JAG. If you would like to find out more about International Rotax please visit Rotax Max challenge or kart rotax.
TKM
A class that has been running since the 80s and is made to give competitors cheap (within reason) racing.One of the biggest classes in the UK which only recently has been overtaken by Rotax. This runs on harder tyres and restricted chassis which makes it ideal for the novice driver and the national racer.
Categories
Junior TKM
- Is for 11 to 16 year olds
- Varies restrictors and weight limits are used to level the playing field to allow drivers to grow from being 11 years of age through to 16 and still be competitive.
- No tuning or chassis modifications are allowed.
- Driver and kart must weigh 128kg, 136kg, 142kg. Is now a restricted class with heavear drivers allowed bigger restrictors.
- Uses Maxxis long life tyres wet F TKM
TKM Extreme
- Can enter this in the year of your 16th birthday
- Restricted to 100cc British TKM BT82 piston port engine, optional clutch and approved British made karts (although this may be changing for 2010).
- No tuning or chassis modifications are allowed.
- Driver and kart must weigh 148kg
- Uses Maxxis SLC long life tyres wet F TKM
If you would like to find out more about this class please visit Tal-Ko website.
KF
The pinicle of direct drive karting. These classes dont tend to run at most clubs and have the largest grids at national and international level.
Categories
KF3
- Is for 13 to 17 year olds
- 125cc reed valve engine with centrifugal clutch and various tuning restrictions.
- Bridgestone tyres
- Driver and kart must weigh 145kg
- Tyres Bridgestone YGB 'JAG', wets YEJ
- Internationally and many of our drivers will also compete in European and World events.
KF2
- Is for 16 years and upwards
- internationally homologated (registered and approved) chassis
- 125cc reed valve TAG engines maximum rpm 15000.
- Driver and kart must weigh 160kg
- Tyres Bridgestone YGB 'MSA', wets YEJ
- Internationally and many of our drivers will also compete in European and World events.
KF1
- Is for 16 years and upwards
- using 125cc reed valve TAG engines with a bigger carburettor, max rpm 16,000.
- Bridgestone tyres
- Driver and kart must weigh 160kg
- Tyres Dunlop 'DDM', wets KT10
- Internationally and many of our drivers will also compete in European and World events.
If you would like to find out more about this class please visit here.
Cadet
caters for kids aged 8 to 12 and the racing is amazing with the whole grid running nose to tail for most of the races.
Categories
Comer cadet
- 8 to 13 year olds
- Small chassis that use a 60cc W.60 Comer sealed engine.
- Dunlop SL3 'RAC' tyres
- Kart and driver must weigh 97kg
- Stars hold the cadet British championship with another Super One championship which is fearsly competitive
WTP cadet
- 8 to 13 year olds
- Small chassis that use a 60cc 2-stroke with the latest B5 engine having an electric push-button start.
- Dunlop SL3 'RAC' tyres
- Kart and driver must weigh 93kg B1 or 103 B5
- Stars hold the cadet British championship with another Super One championship which is fearsly competitive
Honda cadet
- 8 to 13 year olds
- Small chassis that use a 160cc un-sealed Honda 4-stroke GX160 engine.
- Dunlop SL3 'RAC' tyres
- Kart and driver must weigh 100kg
- Super one championship is help and runs alongside TKM
To find out more about Comer cadet please click here
To find out more about WTP cadet please click here
Easy kart
One of the newest classes in the UK and quickly growing. This is a economy class that all drivers must be on the same chassis and engine make.
Categories
Easykart cadet
- 8 to 13 year olds
- Chassis Birel L 28-X
- 60cc EasyKart engine.
Easykart Junior
- Is for 13 to 17 year olds
- Chassis Birel R30 C-Y
- 100cc EasyKart engine
Easykart Senior
- 8 to 13 year olds
- Chassis Birel R30 C-Y
- 125cc EasyKart engine
If you would like to find out more about this class please visit here.
If you would like to find more information about karting classes and how to get into karting you should visit the ABkC
Starting karting
This section is to help you know where to go if you have only just considered karting as a sport or if you are getting started and need a little direction.
Karting is a brilliant sport that involves the whole family. To get a feel for karting there are many indoor circuits across the UK where you can arive and drive to see if this is for you.
Once you have decided to take up karting, the first steps would be to visit your local circuits. To see some of the circuits that may be close to you please click here. Once at the circuit ask as many questions as possible. Generally people will be very pleased to answer any questions you may have, and will love spending time talking to you about karting (unless they are busy changing a bent axle and are out in the next heat, then it might be an idea to go and find someone who looks slightly less panicked).
To get the best information its probably recommended to go on a practice day which are normally Saturdays when everything is a little more relaxed.
Also if you have any other questions I would recoommend seeting up an account on these websites www.karting.co.uk or www.karting1.co.uk and using thier furoms.
When choosing a class to drive in, you should see what tracks are around you and which classes are well supported, so that you dont have to travel miles to race anyone.
Once you have an idea of what class you would like to drive it would be a good idea to get a driver training day. Not only will you learn more about the class you want to join, will also learn the fundamentals in setting your kart and important driving techniques that may take you years to learn if you go alone. There are a number of teams that cater for this. A few highly rated companies are listed below.
If you are new to Karting you should not go out and buy brand new. You can pick up some brilliant second hand retirement sales that will provide you with a lot more than you would get if you were to buy new. Such as spare tyres and rims, Tools specific to karting such as tyre changing equipment, on board lap timming like Alpharno's or Microns.
Not only that but in your first few years you are going to get into a fare few shunts as you learn, and you are better off bending something a little older than a brand new piece of kit.
Also as you learn you will get quicker and quicker and will not see the benefits of having a new frame untill the frame is old and out of date.
There are many types of frames about. which can make it difficult to choose from. UK frames on the market are Gillard, Wright and Octane, which are very good fames and tend to be a little cheaper than thier Italian counter parts Such as the Tonykarts, CRG's, and Birels.
Its difficult asking people which frame you should choose as people will generaly answer with the frame they are running at that particular moment. The best advise I could give is look at the track you are racing, and see which frame is being used most in the class you are considering joining. Also check out the trackside shops to see what frames they support, so you will never get caught out trying to find a replacment part that no one has track side. Also if you are considering running with a team or are having you engines re-built by a particular team it might be worth looking into the frames they use as they will be able to give you a lot more advise and support.
To get your MSA licence you will have to take an ARKS test. This consists of of a written exam which gives you multiple choice questions on such areas such as flags and safety procedures. You will also have a practical test where the ARKS instructors will view your driving. To see if you drive safely and within around 10% of an average lap for that articular circuit on that day.
Before you take you test you will have to buy your MSA Kart Training pack which includes a licence application form, DVD, Kart race year book, MSA competitors year book. You can buy this online at www.msauk.org.
Once you have your pack and you think you are competent enough to take your test you can now book it. Below is a list of companys that you can book your ARKS test with.
Once you have passed you arks you will be ready for racing. For the first 6 races you will be starting at the back of the grid wearing black number plates with white letters, and will have to prove youself to the clark of the course that you can drive safely so you can pick up the signatures you need to gain your full racing licence.
After collecting your your 6 signatures you will then be able to to apply for your full national B liecense that allows you to mix with the rest of the field. To race at national championship level you will have to apply for a national A licence.