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Arrive and drive with team
 When you first start you will probably want to have a day’s driving experience with an ARKS Kart School, or the local team or trader at a circuit. This is a good way to start as you are not spending money buying a kart, and you’ll get lots of advice about the different classes. You may even continue to hire a kart through to your first races while you gain experience. Later on, when you are ready to enter one of the big championships, it might again be worthwhile joining an experienced race team, as they will have the best settings for all the circuits, the expertise to get the best out of you and your kart, and the resources to help if your kart is damaged or breaks down. There are various levels of help, depending on how much you pay:
- You own your own kart and engines but the team provide space in their awning, and maybe supply you with a mechanic for the weekend. You still do some of the work yourself, maybe taking the kart home to clean and prepare it for the next race.
- The team supplies everything except your personal racewear, obviously the most expensive option unless you are good enough to be in a factory supported team and maybe being paid to race.
Setting up a kart and engine may initially seem like a black art, but a lot is common-sense and is quickly learned through experience and reading appropriate articles and books along with some basic mechanical skills.
Buying your own kart
 It often makes sense to buy a kart from the local kart shop, who will be able to give you help and advice when you race at your local circuit. Look around the club and see which kart models are popular and winning. If you buy new then the history of the outfit is clear from the start, but you will have to buy wet weather tyres and wheels, a trolley and so on. Sometimes buying used equipment, these essentials are included. If you can, take an experienced mechanic along to check over used equipment. There will always be some scoring underneath a chassis, as it rides the kerbs, but not too much. Look for cracks, or repairs in the chassis, where a purchase might be inappropriate. Check the kart is straight by measuring each side from the axle mounting points, and also diagonally. These dimensions should not vary more than a very few mm. Look at the chassis number, there will be a year code to see if the age agrees with the vendor’s description. Does the seat fit, or will you have to buy a new one.
 If the engine is from one of the sealed classes, there must be a log book showing the service history. Check the seal and engine numbers against those in the log book. It’s quite common to ask to take an engine partially apart to look inside, without breaking any seals of course. Ask for receipts for recent rebuild work, remembering that a full rebuild can cost several hundred pounds, so the more recent the more value the engine has. And if possible see it running, even if it means finalising the deal at the race track. If you can, get a written assurance, with a money-back promise, that the engine complies fully with the regulations and at the earliest opportunity ask a scrutineer to check it over if you are in any doubt.
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