Miata Mailing List: May 1998, Message #304

sponsored by

At 02:12 PM 5/4/98 +0000, you wrote:
>
>I just went into looking at DINO USA web site -
>http://www.navi3.com/dino - importer of the DINO 125 Shifter Kart. 
>They have just started a school for 125 shifter Karts at Oakland
>Valley (60 miles West of NY city).
>
>Is there anybody that has any experience with Shifter karts, because
>this look like a ton of fun.  I know that Michael Schumacher uses
>shifter karts to maintain his driving skills, when he is not in his
>Ferrari.
>
>The bang for the buck looks unbeatable, $495 for one day and $895 for
>two days. Brand new karts.  After the school they have a deal, where
>you can rent the kart for races. Compared to other racing schools that
>seems very cheap, considering that you drive till you drop.  Having
>been to Skip Barber, Bertil Roos, Bondurant and Buck Baker, I am
>looking for some serious acceleration and improving my driving skills.
>
>Does anybody know about this?
>
>JS

A recent Road & Track article (within the last year) had a 125 shifter Kart
road test and
an article about a simular school in CA. Don't know about the Dino school.

As an ex-Kart racer I can assure you will learn a TON of skill in this Kart.
They are difficult enuf without the shifter, but with it they really rock.

You will find your forearms cramp after about 15 minutes from hanging on.
It will take a day to learn to relax and get smooth, after that you might
get fast.
Everything is magnified: accelleration, braking, sliding, wieght transfer,
heating the tires, etc.

All the good open wheel racers started in Karts, I highly recommend it for
learning.

Kelly '90A Carlos Suntanna
Team Flatspot