Hubert

Anir:
First off, I think it's brilliant to begin teaching your children the basics so early on. Hats off.
Myself, I started karting (in Germany) at age 5 , and did so until age 8 ; stopped once my family moved from Germany to Manhatten. I actually "drove" at age 2 -- sitting on my mothers lap, and steering the car.
Anyway, your 6year old should be find, and even at 4 the younger one will be okay in a 50cc kart. Lots of my peers were very petite kids, and did fine even in the faster carts
Good luck.
Regards,
Hubert

JimBob Jumpback

now yall be lisnen ta ol JimmyRobert ol bubba doc,

yall be gittin a riydin lawn mowerer fer wun o doz kidz. fer da udder, git em a pickem up truk ta karry shine.

yall put dem lil wuns ta werk now an yall kin reetired soon.

Yur Fren
JimBob

Anir

JimBob,

Now, look what you done done. You done scared off dem nice folks dat be tryin to help me wit der anser (man, it hurts to type like that!).

Hubert,

Thanks for the vote of confidence, and for sharing your personal experience. Kids are sponges and can learn just about anything better than an adult. For example, I speak only one language (Texan), and my 6-year-old son is learning French, Spanish, and Japanese. It's comforting to know that you're already dumber than your kid before he hits 1st grade.

nile13

Anir, my son is 6, just like yours. Looking at his motor skills and at other kids doing carting at local autocrosses, I think it's time.
In my case, unfortunately, it has to wait for a year or two as I have no place to work on or store a cart, nor a way to tow it (although in theory I could install a hitch on CSP Miata and use it as a tow vehicle). I suggest you visit a local SCCA autocross with both kid and talk to parents of carting kids there, you'll get a much better feel for the scene.
BTW, my kid is available for adoption along with me, so...

motion

Hey OldGuy... something like this? They only head out for special occasions.

jason952

get a golf cart. we had them when I was a kid and they are great in a neightborhood, safe, high visibility, pretty slow, they probably are able to be governed, can't remember. yamahas are very durable, club cars the best. when I got older, I would see the other kids still running them and I would yet at them not to drive with both feet...can't do that with a kart.

they are usually street legal within 1-2 miles of your home as well. used ones are pretty plentiful.

the worse danger is falling off the back seat (where the club used to go).

Anir

Jason,

Good idea, and we could use a golf cart since we just bought 10-acres on which to build our final home in a couple of years. However, I'm pretty sure that my munchkins could not reach the pedals. Their feet would not even reach the floor.



Anyone know of something that's relatively safe (i.e. slow), built out of metal with rubber tires, gasoline powered, and true-to-form (i.e. operated via a steering wheel, brake pedal, and gas pedal). We saw a Hot Wheels kart at Sam's for $500, but passed on it because the gas and brake levers are mounted on the steering wheel.

Still trying to be a cool pop.

Greg Fishman

Hate to sound crazy on this, but why not build a go cart with your kids. Find a cheap Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine and an old go cart or maybe a kit. If you need help finding an engine let me know. My uncle in Winchester has a small engine and lawn mower repair shop. He has even built a couple go carts for his older nephews.

swftiii

Anir,

Wish I had the answer for you, but when you find it out please let me know. My wife wants to do this for our little girl (not quite born yet) a little later.

I agree with you guys about the dirt bike. I got my first one when I was 9 or so and kept on motorcrossing/trail riding until I was about 15. It was a blast and makes the transition to street driving and a stick shift easy.

Good luck Anir.

-Skip

Anir

Greg,

I might take you up on this, but was hoping that there was something I could buy that's already done. Also, I still worry about it being too fast. Maybe, I could fit some sort of restrictor on it.

Greg Fishman

I will probably see my uncle this week. I think Lowe's and even Ace Hardware had some go carts. Also check the newspaper classifieds. A restrictor is easy, You can do it at the gas pedal with a block of wood or similar and you can limit it at the engine as well.

JPhillips-998

I have a '74 Carrera. I never used the brakes, don't know why Joshua or Emilie would have to?

Anir

Jeff,

Your '74 might be better suited for teaching them how to wrench!

DJF1

Well its not a 993 but what can you do:


http://shop.mobileation.com/s.nl/c.A...it.A/id.825/.f