Just stopping in...

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by bsmith

My wife's cousin took their son all over the midwest racing karts from when he was like 4 years old, up to running those little mini sprint cars.
The money was nuts.
To listen to them at the time, he was on the fast track to nascar.

Ironically, a legit sprint car driver was their babysitter when they were little.

One day he woke up and told his parents he wanted to play school sports with his friends, and gave up racing entirely.

So far the kid enjoys it more than team sports. In addition to the karting, we have a schedule that includes baseball, soccer, basketball... and a 3 year old coming into all of that soon.

Whatever he picks, we'll stick with.

Originally Posted by IB4TL

That's awesome!

I miss karting. The real fun comes when he gets into shifter karts.

Carbon fiber rib protectors are worth ever cent.

All of the <12 year old classes require the chest/rib protectors and some require CMR, kid specific rated, helmets. That Stilo helmet only weighs ~2.5lbs. (It's also super cheap ) Safety is number 1. He's taken a couple of big hits already but the gear has always done its job.

Originally Posted by GTOguy

I have 3 GM cars, and they've been very reliable. The Pontiacs have been getting me from A to B for over 40 years. The little red Chevy I've had for the past 8. It's amazing how well simple technology and good materials work over the long haul.

There is definitely something to be said about simple and good. Those look better too.

Originally Posted by simpleman68

Man do I understand you...
After multiple GM warranty claims being denied, I'm done. Aside from the '67 GTO restomod in the garage.

Also bought a nice German sedan to play with but will not go back to GM in the foreseeable future.
Scott

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

I gave them up a long time ago. We did get the conversion van only because I did not like the Dodge being Front wheel drive and the Ford only with a 3.5 turbo. Wanted the V-8 in case we wanted to tow. I don't trust GM and go out of my way to find something else. Looked at the Hummer but just no trust in GM.
Had the Trackhawk and it was probably the best vehicle I've had in a very long time. The Explorer has been okay so far. Build quality on this one hasn't been all too bad. I've hear horror stories so it probably will be a matter of time before I experience the Blue Oval.

I was looking at new cars, mainly for warranty reasons. After much shopping and debate with the wife, this one came down to a CT5V (AWD, not Blackwing) and an Audi S6. I liked the Audi way better. I liked the price of the CT5 way better. With the anger of the Escalade warranty crap in my mind I was leaning Audi out of principle. When a great price came along on a gently used one with an "Audi certified" 100k mile warranty... game over.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by bsmith

My wife's parents were a secondary sponsor on his car.
That wasn't cheap.

Solid point. Who wants their name on a kart?

Joking slightly aside, we will be all over the place this season. Florida, Charlotte, Indy, Mid Ohio, a few local tracks and who knows how many more.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by aerovette

Add to that the fact that you don't see parents and kids on corners with signs raising money for cart races like they do for baseball and football.

I was sponsored and racing on a team my last few years in Italy. Made it a significantly less burden on my parents. Made a shit ton of $$$ from racing, too, and as a teenager you think you're filthy rich with that much money.

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

I was looking at new cars, mainly for warranty reasons. After much shopping and debate with the wife, this one came down to a CT5V (AWD, not Blackwing) and an Audi S6. I liked the Audi way better. I liked the price of the CT5 way better. With the anger of the Escalade warranty crap in my mind I was leaning Audi out of principle. When a great price came along on a gently used one with an "Audi certified" 100k mile warranty... game over.

I chose an E63 AMG S for the same reason. Excellent deal on a 1 owner car with 20k miles that was only 5 years old.
2.5 yrs later and maintenance hasn't been as bad as I'd have thought though work is pricey on them.

All worth it because it is multitudes more fun to drive than US offerings and it's still worth what I paid for it.
Scott

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by simpleman68

I chose an E63 AMG S for the same reason. Excellent deal on a 1 owner car with 20k miles that was only 5 years old.
2.5 yrs later and maintenance hasn't been as bad as I'd have thought though work is pricey on them.

All worth it because it is multitudes more fun to drive than US offerings and it's still worth what I paid for it.
Scott

Nice choice. The Merc was the other on the podium. If the right deal and the right car would have come along on one, I would likely be in it instead of the Audi.

Unless something new comes along, the next ride is going to be a fight between the AMG S63 wagon and the RS6 Avant. I decided I need another wagon

They were juuuuuust out of the budget on this go-round.


I will say that anger with GM's dumbassery aside, the Caddy Supercruise was pretty cool.

[Stangkiller]

So Jealous my 5yo is a pro at his powerwheels i really would like to see him try out a go kart. Glad y'all are enjoying it!

[simpleman68]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Nice choice. The Merc was the other on the podium. If the right deal and the right car would have come along on one, I would likely be in it instead of the Audi.

Unless something new comes along, the next ride is going to be a fight between the AMG S63 wagon and the RS6 Avant. I decided I need another wagon

They were juuuuuust out of the budget on this go-round.

The wagons are in big demand. The wagon version of the E63 (used) is going for 20% higher cost than the sedans.

Another Dad from our little league has the RS6 and has really enjoyed. He keeps joking about a street race one of these days.
Scott

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by simpleman68

The wagons are in big demand. The wagon version of the E63 (used) is going for 20% higher cost than the sedans.

Another Dad from our little league has the RS6 and has really enjoyed. He keeps joking about a street race one of these days.
Scott

There was a new RS6 at the Audi dealership... gorgeous. It was sold before it was listed to 1 of the dozen people on the "call me when you get one" list. Those prices are crazy. The Mercedes is just as bad, if not worse.

But damn they're cool.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Stangkiller

So Jealous my 5yo is a pro at his powerwheels i really would like to see him try out a go kart. Glad y'all are enjoying it!

Man, it's a blast. There are so many tracks popping up these days. Lots of club level racing that is pretty affordable. The big dollars come with the "National" level stuff. You should look into it! It's about as rewarding as it gets seeing the kid out there. My daughter is already saying she wants to race too when she turns 5.

It's crazy to think that by the time he was 6 years old he's already raced at Daytona and Charlotte motor speedway, stood on podiums, raced in a national series (finished 2nd in World Karting points as 1 of the youngest out there). He raced the Daytona infield kart track last season and at the end of this year will be racing the full Daytona road course (24 hour configuration). I'm in my 40s and have never had that chance.

Without a doubt, the best moment of my very unimpressive "racing" career was the first time I got to get in a kart and be on track with my kid.

Of course he dive bomb passed me in T2 on the out lap.

[Wathen1955]

I miss my younger days (mid 70's) when I had my kart. Also miss having my hair LOL.

Talking about GM/Chevy cars, why do they always leak oil? Every single one that I had would always leak. Did they ever make a vehicle that did not leak oil? I currently own a 2016 Subaru Outback, and my wife has a 2013 Honda CRV. They do not leak oil or any other kind of fluid. Very reliable so far, especially the Honda which has 103,000 miles on the clock.

[carlton_fritz]

[bsmith]

Originally Posted by Wathen1955

I miss my younger days (mid 70's) when I had my kart. Also miss having my hair LOL.

Talking about GM/Chevy cars, why do they always leak oil? Every single one that I had would always leak. Did they ever make a vehicle that did not leak oil? I currently own a 2016 Subaru Outback, and my wife has a 2013 Honda CRV. They do not leak oil or any other kind of fluid. Very reliable so far, especially the Honda which has 103,000 miles on the clock.

We had a Crosstrek and Outback for the wife's last two cars...one recall between the two over 7-8 years.
Bought a GMC Terrain in Nov 2020 and it is going in Friday for them to inspect the rear axle for a leak, I found a drop on the garage floor.
When it gets fixed, they are also going to fix the engine oil leak.
It just hit 20k miles.
They told us about the oil leak at probably closer to 10k miles.

[Tikiman]

Originally Posted by Wathen1955

I miss my younger days (mid 70's) when I had my kart. Also miss having my hair LOL.

Talking about GM/Chevy cars, why do they always leak oil? Every single one that I had would always leak. Did they ever make a vehicle that did not leak oil? I currently own a 2016 Subaru Outback, and my wife has a 2013 Honda CRV. They do not leak oil or any other kind of fluid. Very reliable so far, especially the Honda which has 103,000 miles on the clock.

I own a 2006 GMC Sierra with the LBZ Duramax. It has 204,000 on it and doesn't leak a drop.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Solid point. Who wants their name on a kart?

Joking slightly aside, we will be all over the place this season. Florida, Charlotte, Indy, Mid Ohio, a few local tracks and who knows how many more.

If you come to FL, stop by Jacksonville. The U.S.' largest kart-only track is here with a 1K' straight, banked, and flat turns. No fees to use the track, either, unless it's race day.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

If you come to FL, stop by Jacksonville. The U.S.' largest kart-only track is here with a 1K' straight, banked, and flat turns. No fees to use the track, either, unless it's race day.

We somehow keep missing the Jacksonville races. The CKNA Winter Nationals were just down there. The kid was still technically too young to run the cadet class (his birthday is this week). Unfortunately we couldn't make the "Kid Kart Shootout" at the end of last year either with another race conflict. We'll definitely get there at some point.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

We somehow keep missing the Jacksonville races. The CKNA Winter Nationals were just down there. The kid was still technically too young to run the cadet class (his birthday is this week). Unfortunately we couldn't make the "Kid Kart Shootout" at the end of last year either with another race conflict. We'll definitely get there at some point.

If you do make it out, I'd be glad to walk the track with both of you and show you some tricks for faster laps and best/easiest places for passing.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

I own a 2006 GMC Sierra with the LBZ Duramax. It has 204,000 on it and doesn't leak a drop.

The oil pan was left loose on my '15 Denali LML. No, I'm not making that up. Every oil pan bolt, finger tight. Once that was fixed, knock on wood, it hasn't leaked. It did go through 2 EGR systems until I got pissed off and deleted everything... not for power or performance... but because the shit kept breaking at $1500 each time. Bonus points in that since it was an emissions system, it needed a dealer to clear the resulting codes and take it out of 35mph limp mode. The 08 Yukon leaked like a sieve out of the rear main starting at about 150k miles. To give some credit, the Escalade doesn't "leak" any oil... it just burns it and eats lifters. My '12 V-Wagon leaked out of both valve covers and a cooler line fitting. The '14 V-wagon leaked around the transmission pan seal and had a $$$$$ mag ride control unit fail about 200 miles out of warranty.

I have owned 24 GM vehicles in my life. I used to run them to a gazillion miles with confidence. Now, I'm afraid to own them out of warranty.

[RedLS1GTO]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

If you do make it out, I'd be glad to walk the track with both of you and show you some tricks for faster laps and best/easiest places for passing.

Most definitely.

[mrvette]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

I have 3 GM cars, and they've been very reliable. The Pontiacs have been getting me from A to B for over 40 years. The little red Chevy I've had for the past 8. It's amazing how well simple technology and good materials work over the long haul. Attachment 77075

Attachment 77076

Here I not happy with my '89 355 SBC in my '72 aluminum heads/etc.....

but it runs fine with a carb on it,

[Olustee bus]

Just curious. has anyone found a shit that has been given yet? Hell, I don't know of the first one. Anyone?