I got the opportunity to participate in two events of the Coupe de Montréal championship with KDM Racing, a team representing Australian manufacturer Arrow in the Honda Light class (for us lightweights).
For a fixed price, I got an Arrow AX9 chassis with a race engine, a spare engine (just in case), a set of slick tires, gas, oil, spark plugs and other parts, the Friday practice heats and all races on Saturday. Everything’s included – except the worries.
After each heat, you describe the kart’s handling and the tuner makes the appropriate changes, just like the pros! The tuner can also act as coach and help you shave off those precious tenths of a second. This is crucial.
Obviously, the consequences of flying off the track or ramming a competitor must be accepted, and paid for, by the driver. But by being careful you can finish a race without incident. Not easy, but not impossible.
In Honda Light I found myself in the middle of a demented pack of drivers under 20 that are aggressive, determined, super quick and very talented. It’s a jungle, but it’s the only way to improve!
A race kart is capable of generating sensations similar to those of a very fast open-wheel car, such as an Atlantic. With karts capable of generating over 2.5 g in a corner (a number verified by the acquisition of computerized data), driving one is as thrilling as any sports car, be it Porsche, Ferrari or Corvette. It will blow your mind, I guarantee it.
Even ex-Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve (whom I raced against back in 1986 at SH Karting!) says any good motorsports training includes karting.
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For a fixed price, I got an Arrow AX9 chassis with a race engine, a spare engine (just in case), a set of slick tires, gas, oil, spark plugs and other parts, the Friday practice heats and all races on Saturday. Everything’s included – except the worries.
After each heat, you describe the kart’s handling and the tuner makes the appropriate changes, just like the pros! The tuner can also act as coach and help you shave off those precious tenths of a second. This is crucial.
Obviously, the consequences of flying off the track or ramming a competitor must be accepted, and paid for, by the driver. But by being careful you can finish a race without incident. Not easy, but not impossible.
 |
In Honda Light I found myself in the middle of a demented pack of drivers under 20 that are aggressive, determined, super quick and very talented. It’s a jungle, but it’s the only way to improve!
A race kart is capable of generating sensations similar to those of a very fast open-wheel car, such as an Atlantic. With karts capable of generating over 2.5 g in a corner (a number verified by the acquisition of computerized data), driving one is as thrilling as any sports car, be it Porsche, Ferrari or Corvette. It will blow your mind, I guarantee it.
Even ex-Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve (whom I raced against back in 1986 at SH Karting!) says any good motorsports training includes karting.