HPB Voices Reloaded

By Dr Veronica Tay

2006 World Champion Davide Fore demonstrates the KF1

Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheeler motor sport with simple, small four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits.

Karts vary in speed and some (known as Superkarts) can reach speeds exceeding 250 km/h. A Formula A kart, with a 100 cc 2 stroke engine and an overall weight including the driver of 150 kg, can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in under 4.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 140 km/h. It takes a little more than 3 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h with a 125 cc shifter kart (6 gears), with a top speed of 185 km/h on long circuits.
Many people think that go kart is boring and for kids to go around small tracks.  There are actually a group of go-kart enthusiasts who actually go to professional go-kart tracks overseas to race. The go-kart scene in Singapore only started to take off 5-6 years ago, but with the closing of the Karting Club at circuit Kallang, things have toned down. Currently, the only go-kart track available at Jurong's Kart World has closed down recently. Another one is being built in Jurong. In Singapore, there are no professional go-kart tracks. Luckily for go-kart enthusiasts, there are several professional go-kart tracks available in the region. In Malaysia, there are tracks in Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Sepang, Sunway and Shah-Alam. Thailand has karting tracks located at Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Rayong, Nakhorm Ratchasima and Pattaya. If you are adventurous, you can go as far as Indonesia or even Australia, which have professional Go-kart tournaments.

Go-Karting is more of a niche motor sport in Singapore, with most people racing around rented car parks instead of going to Jurong’s Kart World. The go-kart group in Singapore consists of a good mix of locals and foreign expatriates, and it is mainly a male dominated sport. Easy to pick up, this is one sport that lets the whole family have a great time racing against each other. It is however not cheap. It cost $28 for a 10 minute spin. Most enthusiasts own their own karts. A second hand kart may cost about $4,000 and a new, top of the line kart about $18,000.

‘Essentials’ for Go-Karters
The standard equipment to drive a kart includes a full face helmet, a driving suit, driving shoes and a pair of driving gloves. Other costs to consider would be the club membership, oil and fuel costs, tyres, track costs, kart storage and transportation.

In full gear fire proof suit and full face helmet and gloves

My husband took up go-karting 4 years ago and he owns 2 karts. My sons and I join in a couple of times a year. I go because I get to spend time with them and yes, I get to drive around the track before the dare-devils get to race pass me. He is a member of the Singapore Karting Club. Because the track in Jurong is less than satisfactory, we drive in rented carparks with the club! I must say I enjoy myself every time I go karting, I get to feel like race driver a few times a year!

Raring to go!

Speeding round a corner trying to feel the G-force

Beat you to it!

My 15 minutes worth!

My son, James in a ‘fun kart’ for beginners.