FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do You Offer Lessons?
We don’t offer lessons up front. Renters get either an orientation video or an in person orientation for groups/private parties. People who like go karting enough to buy their own equipment learn through seat time. We do offer training for driving and tuning but not until our beginners have reached a certain level of proficiency via their track time. If you start too early with the coaching it isn’t retained.
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How about Beginner Events?
Practice, Practice, Practice. That is where you’ll find our beginners until they are ready for their first race day. Those practice days are Wednesday through Friday each week in season (April through October). When the new go karter is ready to become a ‘go kart racer’ they will pick a Sunday race day for their debut.
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What Kind of Kart do You Start Beginners on?
After burning up a lot of rubber on one of our rent to race karts it’s time to get your own equipment. We call our beginner’s class ‘Box Stock Honda’ which is contested on a pretty basic go kart. Most start with used equipment because it is plentiful and priced right. Our on site kart shop ‘The Pit Stop’ has a huge selection of both new and used go karts for sale. You can also find used equipment on Craig’s list or from go karters you may know. Regardless of where you find your go kart we can help you to customize/individualize the kart with all the right equipment and set up expertise. And when you’re ready we can provide the on track training.
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Age Restrictions? Do You have Programs for Kids and Adults?
To rent drivers need to be 56” tall minimum to satisfy state of WI regs. To race your own go kart you will be placed by age. 5 through 7 years is our Kid Kart class. 7 through 11 is Jr. Box Stock 1 Honda. 12 through 15 is Jr. Box Stock Honda 2. 16 years and older is Sr. Box Stock Honda. We also have a 35 and older and a 50 and older class called Honda Masters. There are other classes intended for racers who are no longer beginners.
WHICH SERVICE DO YOU NEED?
LEARNING TO DRIVE AND RACE A GO KART IS A VERY FUN PROCESS!
Remember when you were trying to learn to ride a bicycle? Or how to stay on top of your skate board? Or how to ice skate? At first you thought you’d never figure this out, and at the same time wondered how some made it look so easy. But you came out the other end quite proficient at your chosen new hobby. What did it take? Time in the form of practice.
We have all you need to join our great sport of go karting. We have rental karts that you can use to try karting (don’t worry you won’t fall off like you did your bike, skate board or ice skates). And when the bug has fully infected you we have a go kart pro shop on site to get you equipped and ready for your new hobby.
Check out our Blog or FAQ section below designed for those considering go karting. Lots of info for you to consider and get you heading in the right direction. Glad you’ve discovered us!
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ALL GO KARTING STARTS LOCALLY
You’re on the ‘World Wide Web’ and you’ve found our blog about becoming a go kart racer. If our track and race program isn’t within easy driving distance of your home this information is only general. Somewhat representative of how you start go kart racing.
You need to hone your search to your local and find out how they do go karting in your neck of the woods. We hope you enjoy our content, but please, don’t start buying equipment that we have recommended.
You need to find the track you will race at as your first priority. Then find out how they do go karting and what their rules and customs are. We may get to meet some day at a regional or national level karting event, but until you’re an experienced go karter all go kart racing is local.
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HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN GO KARTING, ONE STEP AT A TIME.
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
So you're ready to start racing? Here is what you need to do to get into racing Go Karts. Find your 'Home Track' The closer to the house the more seat time you'll get. You only need one track your first season. Save the regional series until you know what you're...
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MAN, I’VE GOT LOTS OF QUESTIONS. WILL YOU GUYS AT THE TRACK ANSWER THEM?
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
If you are surfing the web and have found our site and this information, we would invite you to the track for a race day. This is the best way to get you acclimated to our program and our sport. If you are too far away from Sugar River Raceway (SRR) to become a...
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WHAT IS GO-KARTING; A BRIEF HISTORY
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
Go-karting, most simply put, is the least expensive form of motor sports that exists. Go-karting got its start in 1956 in California. It was a huge hit. It started into the first phase of its life, the fad stage. Everybody had a go-kart (or at least it seemed like...
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GO KARTINGS FUTURE
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
Let's gaze into the crystal ball regarding go-kartings future. Go-karting follows the fortunes and travails of professional motorsports. One could also observe that go-karting also follows the economic ups and downs. For certain racing will continue in many formats...
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WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE, THESE ‘GO-KARTERS’
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
Who go-karts? If you're five years old or older and in good health you can become a go-karter. There is no upper limit, as each year we seem to see older and older drivers compete. So far 70 years old is our oldest feature winner! Drivers range from 40 to over 200...
SUGAR RIVER RACEWAY’S RACING PROGRAM
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
At SRR we do a form of go-karting called 'sprint racing'. Sprint racing is typically on a paved road course and the races are short in length or duration (6 to 15 lap races are the norm). Go-karts made for sprint racers have a wheelbase that is in the 32" range for...
WHAT IS BOX STOCK HONDA RACING?
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
Box Stock racing means beginners and Honda. SRR runs a locally developed class called Box Stock Honda (The Honda engine got its start in our box stock program in 2006 and takes over from the Briggs Raptor engine in 2007). We ask that all of our new go-karters start in...
HOW MUCH DOES BOX STOCK HONDA GO-KARTING COST?
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
A common question we hear: "If I start at the beginning of a season, how much will I need to budget to race all year?" We'll try to get you in a range. Whether you start with new or used equipment will impact the amount you spend. SRR sells a lot of used go-karts in...
THE SAFETY GEAR YOU’LL NEED
by Marshall Fairman | FAQs, Learning to Race
You will need the following: Current Snell Foundation minimun M2010 or SA2010 (other ratings by SFI, Snell K for karting, and Snell Childs Racing also are allowed) rated full face helmet. Cost range $129 to $600 Skid resistant (not fire resistant/retarding) driving...