Looking to Race Karts - Am I Too Tall to be Competitive?

[SquidBonez]

I've been doing some research about getting into kart racing recently when I thought of something troubling. Am I too big to race karts?

I'm about 6'1", 200 pounds. Weight wise I can make most senior classes and run well below weight in heavy classes (plus I'm losing weight with a diet anyway), so I'm less concerned about my weight than I am about my height. I can always lose weight but I can't lose height (short of cutting a section of my legs off).

I know there are some drivers out there much taller than I am, but I'm concerned about aerodynamics. I know Tillett and Beasley sell seats for taller drivers that are more reclined, but is being tall a disadvantage? I don't plan on running Supernats or anything, just club-level stuff. Any successful tall guys who race on this forum?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I think it would have to be an incredibly competitive class for your own body' aero drag to cost a win.

What do you anticipate top speeds to be?

 

[SquidBonez]

Top speeds would depend on the track and gearing, but I'm looking at TaG and they can get up to the 80s usually.

 

[anderkart]

I'm 6'-6"/235lbs, I raced karts and won several heats & main events at my track. You probably will always be at a disadvantage against shorter/lighter drivers, but something else that would realy help you is having a kart with an extended front porch.

It's basically just an extended front bumper that locates the pedals further forward, It can help transfer more of your leg-weight to the front; it can also help weight transfer issues by allowing the seat to be located further forward without your knees being bent way up high where the g-force of cornering will tend to sway your legs side to side upsetting your (side to side) weight transfer.

Just in case you've never seen one, here's what an extended front porch looks like:

 

[SquidBonez]

Thanks for the response anderkart. Good to know even bigger guys still can be competitive. I'm confident I'll make close to minimum weight, maybe a little over/under, so that was my main concern. As for my height if you're 6'6" and winning races then with a little practice I can too. At the end of the day the biggest factor is driver skill.

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

I’m 6’ / 205 and race dirt tracks. It hasn’t been a problem at all.

 

[SquidBonez]

Hey Flyinhillbilly, what class is that? Also I did that governor mod you made a thread about a while ago on my Dingo, the thing rips now!

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

Open modified, basically no rules, just the way I like it, lol.
I wish I could take credit for the governor mod, but I was just trying out what someone else said and it worked pretty well for me, glad it did for you too.

 

[Hellion]

I’m 6’ / 205 and race dirt tracks. It hasn’t been a problem at all.

That kart makes you look like a shrimp!


jk...

 

[Flyinhillbilly]

That kart makes you look like a shrimp!


jk...

It has a lot of body, I like it because the aerodynamics are there.
I’m not huge, but not a shrimp by any means, lol.

 

[Bmr4Karts]

I'm 6'-6"/235lbs, I raced karts and won several heats & main events at my track. You probably will always be at a disadvantage against shorter/lighter drivers, but something else that would realy help you is having a kart with an extended front porch.

It's basically just an extended front bumper that locates the pedals further forward, It can help transfer more of your leg-weight to the front; it can also help weight transfer issues by allowing the seat to be located further forward without your knees being bent way up high where the g-force of cornering will tend to sway your legs side to side upsetting your (side to side) weight transfer.

Just in case you've never seen one, here's what an extended front porch looks like:

What kind of kart is that? Sprint? I'm looking for one with seat dead in the middle.

 

[JTSpeedDemon]

Just about all modern race karts have the seat off to the left to offset the engine.
Some vintage racing karts have the engine right behind a centered seat.

 

[anderkart]

What kind of kart is that? Sprint? I'm looking for one with seat dead in the middle.

Yep, its a Sprint kart. Their seats are typically located just slightly to the left side.

The seats on Oval racekarts are typically located way over to the left side.