Anybody into Shiter, Cadet, or Kit Karts? I have 3, 5, & 7 year boys.

My 7-year old is very interested in being part of the "pit crew". I love him to death, but he is just not as hand-eye coordinated yet. He'd rather help fix things, play with tools, and 'helped' in his way when I restored my FL350r. Don't get me wrong, he can ride bikes and a Crazy Kart but I can tell you, he's not ready. He is not in to fast cars, bikes, or karts. He's not even into Video games. The kids got heart though.

My 5-year old has been driving Razor Crazy Karts for about 4 months. He asks about using it every day - even in the rain, and has progressed amazingly with them. He is now faster than me on my Crazy Kart XL. We draw tracks in the caldesac with chalk and cones and he is really fast. He's been wanting anything 'cart' related for Christmas - like Mario Kart, or any toys to do with karting. I showed him some pictures and videos of Kid Kart races and he already thinks he's going to be a racecar driver when he grows up.

My 3-year old is highly coordinated. Sometimes he steals one of the smaller Crazy Karts but he is too small and we have to pull him off. He's been riding a balance bike side he was 2. I'm sure he'll grow into it. He LOVES riding between my legs on the Crazy Kart XL.



Kid Kart class racing is for 5-7 year olds. Seems most use a Comer 50 2-stroke Engine. Prices start (used) at about $1200 and can go upwards of maybe $5000.

Theres a local private club in my area who owns an outdoor kart track. They allow Kid through Shifter karts.

Kid Karts go maybe ~30mph.
Shifter Karts can go 100+ mph.

Wife says absolutely no dirt-bikes (DANG!) but seems I've got her almost convinced on the shifter kart idea.


Thank you

That crazy kart xl looks like a lot of fun.

Pics ??

Here is the kid kart I’m likely buying this Saturday. It’s ready for custom graphics Uses a 50cc 2-stroke air cooled Engine, called a Comer C50.. The kart unit itself is a Birel B25 Kid Kart.

Looks like a runner, I think dad needs one next.

That's way cool for any kid.
In the late 70's my dad and I raced the same car -- Datsun 510.
After I sold my formula car in 2001, I went to check out the go-cart scene. It could get real expensive or stay reasonably priced based on what you wanted. Gave up on the idea because I didn't want to travel anymore across the border. Also no racing opportunity here on the west coast of Canada now that Westwood raceway got shut down.
I just see a great father/son's opportunity there.

There are two tracks which I've found in my area both allow Kid Karts. One is Atlanta MotorSport Park, which is sort of new. They rent, train, or bring your own. Its a huge track so they let anything run even the 110+mph shifters.

The other is a private club place called GSKA - Georgia Sprint Karting Assn. Most of the folks run a Briggs LO206 Engine variant once they turn about 8 years old. The track is much smaller but seems like a wonderful little club. The Briggs LO206 4-stroke Engine for the bigger karts seems to have loads of speed and power options.

Im finding some of the Kart classes and Engine packages in a 'sealed' form - meaning competitive advantages are potentially minimized for actual races. Ling of like Legend cars. The LO206 Engine is sealed.

As for me, well, I would absolutely love to get my own kart of course. I'll have to see how things go; see if the family gets involved. Safety things, and seat time experience of the kid<s>.


Hey, when the kids get old enough we'll maybe ride Ody and Pilot together.

Also and if this does actually happen, I may try and contact the race team where I got my FL350r - remembering how much 'cool' stuff they had in there from indoor tracks to loads of turn-key karts and parts. I remember asking them and they didn't have any Kid Karts there though.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18074#p174290

In my opinion from an ex race car driver perspective is that I feel you will get far more value for money racing the carts than you will running an oddy or pilot. It's also safer in my opinion. The reason I say safer is because when you are riding in the bush or on the dunes there is no way to really control the kids and if they go crazy and tear across an unknown dune or logging road they could drive over the edge of a dune with a big drop or run into a tree in the bush. Trust me on some of this. As for value for money I say this because the kids will be right next to you wrenching on the machine while they have a hotdog n pop while bulshtn with dad. Quality time.

Edit: Also safer because in a racing environment there are a lot of safety/sportsmanship rules.
Edit again LOL: Spending time with the kids at this age in something that they have a great interest in will prevent them from being weed smokin gangbangers when they get older. You lock them into your sphere of influence.
Edit again: They can win trophies and that motivates the kid.
Of coarse there are draw backs like entry fees so you would have to do a proper cost analysis. The oddys only cost fuel and tires but then again so do the carts. At the end of the day I think carts.

Just my opinion

One other draw back I didn't mention yesterday.
You may have noticed that kids out grow their clothes real fast. That is gona happen fast in the carts. In a couple of years you will be buying another cart for them. This can be neutralized a bit by telling the kids right from the get go that everyone gets a hand me down cart from their brother -- period !!
That means the oldest kid gets a newer cart every couple or three years.

Yep indeed. The seat position and pedal positions can be adjusted. The seat can be padded thick or thin.

Update. I received the above pictured kart a few days back. It looks pristine! No issues whatsoever. Engine passed pressure test and for such a little thing; its got quite a load of compression with the pull start. The Engine pushed 160psi. Not sure what they should be, but shoot its like a weedwacker 50cc motor (( Internal Combustion Engine ? ))... made in Italy. Mix is Caster based, 20:1 on 87 non-ethanol octane (Class restriction).

It ripped to life with one pull easily. Sounds nasty on the kart stand. Easily I can tell this is a little beast of an Engine; not anything like a 50cc Honda dirtbike.... Maybe closer to something like a KX50 2-stroke I'd guesstimate.

There is one issue, and that is the sizing. While its designed for 5-7 year olds, my little guy is about 5" shorter than a 'normal' 5 year old. He is short and cute. They make something call a "Foot Box", which lifts and moves the foot controls up to about 5 inches closer to the driver, without interfering with steering components and little feet. The box also provides accurate throttle and break adjustments as well as a throttle limiter for maiden voyages.

I'm sure he'll be going 30-40 by the summer, but currently the wife has only approved him to go 10mph. We'll see. I'll at least need to get it fast enough to not burn the clutch out. At least she is on-board with him kart racing.

tha would be a ton of fun. a friend of mine had a paved figure 8 track on there farm and had a few of these carts good times

Update. Project Kid Kart was approved by the wife!

Kid Kart delivered to Kid on Christmas morning! Fresh graphics wrap, Name and Number!

Even my 1year old had to give it a sit down test.

If all goes well, this cart could last us for about 6 seasons (years) of Comer 50 class Kid Kart racing! Also this would mean bigger class Karts in the family as time goes by

Baahahahaahhahahahahahaha --- what an awesome Christmas gift for a kid. Those little guys are lucky. That's something they will remember the rest of their life I bet.

First time out, he did great! A little fitment problems with his safety gear here and there but nothing a little buying can’t fix. In the end he ran the kart well and had a blast! We had the whole track to ourselves for almost 2 whole hours. He’s 42” tall, 5 years old almost 6. Throttle stoped st 1/2. Speed probably 15-20mph.

GoPro on helmet

Baahahahahahhahhahahahahahhaahahhahahhahahahaha That's fkn awesome.
Those kids got it made. Nice to see stories like this once in a while.
You never see this positive stuff on fake news tv now a days.

Kart racing is badass! I kinda got out of that and started a new hobby of just cruising the neighborhood after i built a few of these

Love it! The wagon is super cool.

Sorry for the late post but, little man did his first race a few months ago. 2nd and 3rd race we couldn't make it, 4th race was postponed. He's up for a double-header race June 2nd (4th and 5th race same day). We've been to several practice sessions together and he is making progress with his controls. I'd say he has maybe about 6 hours of seat time total between practices, races, and qualifiers. The best part is, he thinks he is a professional race-car driver already!

His first race had 5 total entries, but he was out-classed running his 50cc 2-stroke against 206cc 4-strokes. Though he was 75lb lighter the bigger karts still have the advantage I think. His cart is definitely smaller out there, but Still in all, he placed 3rd in the race over-all, and got a first place trophy for winning the Comer 50cc class! Even though he was the only 50cc'er, a win is a win! 2nd and 3rd placers must have had a few years of experience and more cash spent on goodies but for now we're just having LOADS of FUN!

Best part is, he has TONS of areas for improvement out there. Lots more speed, timing, braking, cornering, etc. I'd think he might get a few 2nd place finishes over-all if he gets bumped again. If any other Comer 50cc karts show on race day its going to be exciting!

that's pretty awesome. nascar in the future

Job well done dad and way to go little man!

That’s awesome, tried to watch the videos but won’t play, not quite sure why. So cool to see, starting at the right time, great family time, one cool kid - hope they all grow until it! (Nomination for awesome dad!)