Karting is a sport that originated in the US in the 1950's. At first just a fun project by one man, karting has evolved into a worldwide motorsport. Karting is a sport that can be enjoyed by both genders and all age groups, from about 6 years old all the way to above 80. For most just a hobby others take karting as a serious step into becoming a professional car driver. The sheer thrill of driving a few centimetres off the ground at speeds well over 100kph, it is an experience not to be missed.

There is no suspension, no differential, no seatbelts. The only thing a driver has to worry about is the steering and the pedals. Despite the simplicity, karts are extensively tunable, with unbelievable amounts of setup possibilities which is why it is the best way to learn car racing. The simplicity of the karts is what keeps the costs down in comparison to car racing.

There is a difference between race karts and rental karts. Rental karts or "fun karts" have low-powered engines, they have hard tires for longetivity, and with the extra safety features, they weigh a lot more. Race karts are optimized to the maximum, with high grip tyres and high performance engines they provide the ultimate experience. To be able to compete at the top levels of karting requires the same physical and mental fitness as any other sport.

The initial investment depends on what kind of a kart and if you buy new or used. An engine+chassis package will cost anywhere from RM5,000 to well over RM20,000. If you decide to take care of the kart yourself (which is a good idea as it teaches you a lot), you will be set back a little bit more by the required tools. If you don't you will be set back by mechanic fees. You will also need to decide if you take the kart home with you (you will need a trailer or car to transport the kart), or if you leave it at a kart shop. Over the season you will incur more expenses for spare parts, tyres (RM300-RM600 a set), fuel, etc. In addition to this you will need a club membership (~RM100), as well as an AAM membership (RM250+) including the mandatory medical checkup.

There are two types of engines in karting: four stroke and two stroke. At the moment the only option for race karts in Malaysia are the two-stroke engines, with four-stroke being used in fun karts. In Malaysia there are several different classes with 2-stroke engines. There are direct drive kart engines, which means the engine is connected directly to the axle(with sprockets), and the kart has to be pushed in order to be started (and will stall when if the kart stops). Clutch Karts need to be started with an external starter, a pull start, or an on-board starter.

In Malaysia the main type of karting is Sprint Karting. This means that the purpose-built tracks are roughly 1km in length, and resemble larger road tracks such as formula 1 tracks in their layout. Race events consist of qualifying, qualifying heats, as well as a pre-final and a final. There are different classes for different age groups and different engine configurations. For 8-12 Year olds there is the Cadet Class, which uses 85cc engines. Then there are Junior categories, which are generally for 12-18. One such category is the Rotax Junior category, with a restricted 125cc engine with an on-board starter and centrifugal clutch. Then the senior classes. Depending on the class the starting age is either 13, 16, or 18. These include the 125cc Rotax Max Challenge, Formula 125, and Formula 100, of ICA classes. Go to "What to Race?" for some help in deciding what category is for you.