Talking around the pits and hearing everyone’s ways to save money, whether on buying kart parts, or what fuel they use, or even what site they buy certain items from. Or things they pre-fab out of cheaper materials.
Interested to hear if anyone has any hacks that save them a little or a lot of money over the long run.
For example I built my rolling kart stand out of a $90 stationary stand by adding $30 harbor freight heavy duty castors.
I also use 100LL fuel for practice. Saves me about $15-30 per session.
Not buying five sets of tires and a new chassis every weekend and pitting in my EZ-up and not a $10k a weekend “team” tent.
Sleep in the car\trailer. Not really a hack though.
Pull tires from the trash bin then use it as a kart stand.
My top 3:
Used tires - today’s gumball tires don’t have to be new to be fast. At our home track, some used tires are actually faster than new as it frees you up a bit. Teams at our track sell used sets with 2-3 sessions on them for $25-$50
No trailer - We regularly travel with 2 karts and pit out of the bed of the truck. Saves on initial price, gas mileage, insurance, etc.
Rebuild your own heads - if you’re doing 206 racing, the only thing that needs refreshed on your engine is the head. Watch YouTube videos, read forums, etc to learn to lap your own valves.
Those 3 things alone save me thousands every year.
My buddy was at a track practicing today, he literally pulled mounted front tires out of the trash. Rims were in perfect shape.
My money saving hack was sending my kid away with his grandparents for a weekend, and just going to the track to watch instead of entering.
I want to learn to rebuild the top end on my KA so bad. I just don’t know of any tutorials available and that could be an expensive mistake.
Maybe not a hack but I will look for generic tools and parts online (eBay, Amazon and Aliexpress). Hardware especially can be found for less than the karting sellers. I use Amsoil Dominator oil which you can buy directly from Amsoil with a membership for about $5 less per container. Most of the karting supply places also include shipping when you spend more than $200, so I make a list and only order when I have a total over $200. I also do a lot of cross shopping, its surprising how different prices can be for the same items.
That’s one of the most annoying parts about karting. All these resellers have pretty large differences in prices for the same items
Wut? 
It would be amusing if they aren’t some crap aluminum rims but are MXC or the like. Money saving hack, but inverted.
Used tires from the European championship .
Mondokart as main supplier of parts .
Study the manuals and do all the wrenching on my own .
Buying old karts and rebuild it to new contition .
They looked to be magnesium CRG front rims. He was going to try to trade them with a dealer for something that would fit his OTK.
It looks to be fairly simple reading through the overhaul manual.
I don’t know much about kart engines, but keep in mind that it 100LL has lead, don’t know if it affects performance or if it’s dangerous for the engine though.
I do all the work by myself which means I don’t have to pay a team to do it, whether it be installing the motor or welding the chassis (also helps you learn more about your kart which makes you a better driver).
Since I never bothered to buy a kart stand I stack tires and plop the kart onto them, and then I roll the kart to the staging area.
I use my pickup truck to transport it (don’t have to pay for storage at the track). I buy 87 pump gas and bring it with me to the track.
You can save some money on gear, I got the zamp fs-9, opted for Walmart shoes as me driving shoes, and the rest was race quip.
Used tires from a trash/parts bing are great. You can also find hardware replacements at a hardware store.
I don’t run the recommend oil in my 206 (though I probably should) and I grease my clutch bearings with red n tacky, 6 dollar tube will outlast the engine.
I believe that’s all I have for now, I’ll edit it if more comes to mind.
Leaded fuel was the primary fuel in race engines until like 2007. I think it was bad for catalytic converters though.
I need to read through it and see what I need. If anyone ever does theirs on this forum, please post a video lol
Toy hauler has been my best investment yet. No hotel bills, no tent fees, nice home cooked meal, can bring the dogs so not sitter fees, and a shower in between sessions if needed.
Big upfront investment, but has already paid for itself in 4 events.
Big national race I’ll run under a tent for the extra support, otherwise regional and below doing my own wrenching.
Big tip to save money is stay out of the tire barriers and crashes 
Unfortunately leaded fuel is still very prevalent in US karting. Especially with two strokes. Not ideal when the events have a lot of developing brains walking around and racing.
I think in the early 90’s, leaded fuels were dropped in European karting?