The simplest yet the purest 4-wheeled machine you can sit in and drive.
Also unmatched driving feeling.
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“…some sub-niches of karting might have less than complimentary things to say other sub-niches…but nonetheless can still help each other by supporting the tracks and the manufacturers which all sub-niches share and depend upon.”
Just to point out that the conversation about rental karting demonstrates the above perfectly. 
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Ok fair enough… but it doesn’t help me understand as a rental guy what your reason for feeling that your racing is somehow different is.
I hear that you feel rental stuff isn’t racing, but I don’t hear how your racing lo206, WF, Tilly or the like is racing, relatively.
Is it the invulnerability with wrap around?
(Fyi since internet is weird, I’m not being argumentative just to be argumentative, I’m just genuinely curious)
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As long as you don’t think I am being argumentative, I think we are good. 
I try to be overly polite cause I know these types of disagreements always get out of hand on internet forums (but only very rarely on KP)!
Reasonable question. A few of the differences that makes owner karting “karting” are:
- No luck of the draw on what kart I get determining if I can win a race or not. I have seen multiple of your race recaps that included kart B was much worse than kart C or we would have done better if kart B was better, etc. To me, not having control over that aspect makes it not karting.
So does that mean an arrive and drive series where the karts are actually equal IS karting? I guess by my own rational, then yes?
-
The wrap around bodywork is a big one for me, as well. There is too much feeling of “bumper cars”. I think “karts” are open wheel vehicles. Not to say there isn’t tons of good racing in other types of vehicles without open wheels (bandoleros, legends cars, etc). It is just not “karting”.
-
Inability to “tune” the kart. I think a huge part of karting is tuning. Whether you pay someone to do it or you do it yourself, being able to change gear ratios, change the way the kart handles, etc. is an important part of “karting”. Maybe this is the same as #1? I dont know…
Extremely valid. In fact, we were discussing this last night. In the abscence of a formalized thing like Sodi World Series which managed parity and weight, rental racing is very affected by kart draw. In the TKC group, a significant percentage of the drivers are capable of a win with the right kart. Skill is not enough to compensate for getting a shit kart.
Point two is less of a thing for me. It changes the nature of things and makes it unlike open wheel in that we can and do lean on each other in ways that would cause wheel to wheel contact in open wheelers. That’s just a “difference” to me which must be managed.
Point 3 is also interesting but maybe speaks more to one’s personal preferences and history. I, for example, prefer to tent with a qualified mechanic like Jerry or just arrive and drive and play kart roulette. I don’t want to wrench since it doesn’t interest me, personally.
Rental racing can be bullshit baby racing but it can also be good. It really depends on the skill of participants and how organized series is.
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I would say something like an Ignite Arrive and Drive is the happy medium here. A kart with a mechanic. You show up and drive. You race other Ignite karts… I just with they weren’t so darn expensive!
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I really tried but got screwed. It does seem that lo racing is the happy medium between 2-stroke spend and rental drama. My ignite was broken and the kid I gave it to was able to fix it up. As suspected there were broken welds.
I’m sure the 2 stroke guys would not agree, but i think 206 racing is full-on owner karting. I’m saying there is a step between 206 racing and rental racing where the Margay Ignite fits. I know your experience with it was negative, but there is a huge following based out of St Louis where all they race is Ignites against each other in Arrive and Drive fashion (although you can bring an ignite you own).
Is this really your spend? For that kind of money, you could do a full season arrive and drive (15ish events) with any big name team in our area.
It is a catalyst for developing a closer bond with my son. If he learns some simple mechanics along the way, that would be okay, too. He suffered the bitter taste of defeat. Wow, that was yucky for sure, but he also had a great time on the podium. Good life lessons. He has learned to drive, too, but what can a 9-year-old do with that? Not much. But we did it together. Yeah, that’s what karting is to us.
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Derek, I invite the young guys, so I get hotel and race etc. so yeah that why I have a “team”. It’s a joke team but it’s also not. My primary spend is enduros. Theoretically I’m talking because last couple years I haven’t been able to do much.
It sorta evolved that it made more sense to me to round up a gang to race with and as life changed (Andre went pro and Elias went to college) I figured that it was more valuable to me to do some races with the same guys than a ton of solo races for a lot less money. Just more fun, long run.
Also I’m mid 50s now. These guys will still be my friends when I’m 80 and pissing myself and they will hopefully drive me home when I forget where I live. 
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You might find the seat time per dollar is better with endurance too…
I think you hit the key statement. Do what allows you to have fun!
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Hey @E13 & @AndreLafond, word to the wise…
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If you’re in a live axle tiny motorized 4 wheel race machine with no suspension, you’re karting.
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I’m in the speed junkie category.
Competition is low in the list compared to the adrenaline rush of speed and G’s. I’ve always been that way, even in skiing preferring going straight down green runs in a tuck. How fast can I go, and then how fast can I stop? If we would have had a toboggan run, I would have been all over that.
Beyond high down force race cars and military jets, what else can you drive that let’s you pull so many Gs, especially at such a low cost?
This is why our now LO206 only local kart club holds zero interest for me.
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Should I get one of those nets too so he doesn’t stick his head up front?
Honestly though our drive up to AMP was a blast, i really enjoyed it. Who knew three guys with ADHD (or similar) being trapped in a car together for 14 hours would work out so well
I’ve really enjoyed our endeavors, it’s been a great mix of relaxing and competitive. I feel like I’ve learned more about racecraft than I’d expect with rentals as well.
All in all, great times. Thank you @Bimodal_Rocket and @AndreLafond. Let’s get some wins this year
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You m#####f##### I am gonna punt you so hard you gonna be in florida
that made me lol alot 
Wins we shall have. It’s our moment, Scum. I feel it.
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A lot of people when I told them I worked in karting (if they weren’t racing people) would say “oh, like at [insert local indoor karting facility here]”
And I’d say, “no….not really 
”
Then they would usually persist, or inquire about what makes them different. I eventually got tired of explaining all the differences to people that didn’t really care or couldn’t follow, so I eventually just said that indoor karts are go karts but are distant distant cousins of karting, and left it at that.
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What differentiates the spec ignite series from the regular lo206 series in your mind that makes it more of an intermediate thing? Limited talent pool of field? (Unlikely given popularity)… limited engine tolerances? Tuning?
Just curious. I got a few sessions in and did some wrenching on the ignite and it seemed tune-able.