GETTING STARTED

Where do I begin?

When looking to get into karting, there are a few different options to choose from and you need to decide which one best suits you or your child:

Do you want to compete in race weekends/club events or are you just looking to practice?
What age group are you in and what class will suit you best?

There are many different classes offered by Karting Australia, however not all are offered at each Club. The below information will be centred specifically on racing at Cooloola Coast Kart Club, so you are able to make an informed decision. Click on the tabs below to view the information and help you decide what might suit you best.

Both types of license require a club membership. A competition license allows you to race at Karting Australia sanctioned events throughout Australia, while a practice license (also known as a recreational or E grade license) allows you full access to the track for practice, as well as the ability to compete at one club day per calendar year so that you can experience what racing is all about.

If you decide to only hold a practice license, you are still required to comply with all rules for a class appropriate to your age group and license grade.

There are several different levels of competition:

Club Days – CCKC’s club days are held on the 4th Sunday of most months (February-November). There is also the opportunity to compete at other Karting Australia affiliated Clubs throughout Queensland (or other States) on the other weekends of each month.
State Titles/Championships – held in each State at differing times of the year as a single event or a multi round series
National Championships – The Australian Kart Championship (AKC) and the Rotax Pro Tour are the two main national championships run in Australia. Both are multi round series and held in various Australian States throughout the year.

Our club days form CCKC’s Club Championship, with championship trophies awarded at the end of each racing year.

Classes are broken up by different age, weight, and engine types. There are many different classes offered by Karting Australia, however the following are the main ones we run at CCKC.

Cadets 6-13 years

At CCKC, we run the following Cadet classes:

Cadet 4SS
Cadet 9 and 9P
Cadet 12 and 12P

Cadet 4SS

Open to drivers from the date of their 6th birthday until the date of their 13th birthday. Between the ages 6-7 years, a driver is only allowed to hold a practice license. On their 7th birthday the child can apply for a competition license. Cadet 4SS all use the Torini Clubmaxx 210 engine with a restrictor on the carby. This is a great entry level class. Engines are cheap and low maintenance and can be attached to most kart frames with a few minor alterations.

Cadet 9/9P

Open to drivers from the date of their 6th birthday until the date of their 10th birthday. Between the age of 6-7 years, a driver is only allowed to hold a practice license. On their 7th birthday, a child can apply for a competition license.

Cadet 12/12P

Open to drivers from the year of their 9th birthday until the date of their 13th birthday.

Our Cadet 9P and 12P classes compete over less laps and have a lower nomination fee per race. This is to encourage them while they are still learning how to drive a kart. All Cadet 9P and 12P karters receive a participation medallion at the end of their race day. Cadet 9 and 12 all use the Vortex Mini ROK engine but for Cadet 9 a restrictor plate is fitted to the exhaust to lower the power of the engine.

Please note that the older Comer SW80 (Cadet 9) and Yamaha KT100J (Cadet 9 & 12) engines are both still eligible to be used at club days. Although no longer very competitive with the Mini ROK, they can be a good choice for social karters or families looking for a cheaper engine for their Cadet to practice with before making the step up to racing and purchasing the Mini ROK. Cadet karts generally come in two sizes, 900mm and 950mm long. The size of the kart you need will come down to the height of each child. Please discuss with your local kart shop which kart would be more suitable for your child.

Juniors 12-16 years

At CCKC, we run the following Junior classes:

4SS Junior
KA3 Junior Light and Heavy

4SS Junior

Open to drivers from the year of their 12th birthday to the date of their 16th birthday. 4SS Juniors all use the Torini Clubmaxx 210 engine. Minimum weight kart and driver 130kg. This is a great entry level class. Engines are cheap and low maintenance and can be attached to most kart frames.

KA3 Junior

Open to drivers from the year of their 12th birthday to the date of their 16th birthday, this class is split into two different weight divisions, Light and Heavy. Total weight is the combined weight of the kart and the driver at the end of a race. KA3 Junior uses the IAME KA100 engine with a restrictor plate fitted to the exhaust to lower the power of the engine.

KA3 Junior Light – Minimum weight 132kg (kart and driver).

KA3 Junior Heavy – Minimum weight 150kg (kart and driver). For this weight division the kart (excluding driver) must weight no more than 97kg. For drivers that are below the minimum weight for KA3 Junior Light (or close to the weight for KA3 Junior Heavy), you are able to attach lead ballast to the kart to meet the required weight.

Seniors – 15 years and over

At CCKC we run the following Senior classes:

4SS Senior Light, Medium and Heavy
4SS Supermaxx Light, Medium, and Heavy
KA3 Senior
TaG 125 Restricted Light, Medium and Heavy

4SS Senior and Supermaxx

Open to all Senior drivers, 15 years and over, this class use a 4-stroke engine and is a great entry level class. CCKC has a great community of 4 stroke seniors. The engines are cheap and low maintenance and can be attached to most kart frames.

4SS Senior and Supermaxx is split into three weight divisions, Light, Medium, and Heavy. With a factory sealed engine that cannot be modified or blueprinted and does not require regular rebuilds like the 2 stroke engines, ongoing costs are kept low. There are various different chassis to choose from and we would recommend discussing your needs with a kart shop prior to purchase so that you choose one most suitable for you.

KA3 Senior

Open to drivers 15 year of age and over, at CCKC we run at Championship weight - minimum 160kg kart and driver. Engine is an IAME KA100.

TaG 125 Restricted

Open to drivers 15 years of age and over, this class is split into three different weight divisions, Light, Medium, and Heavy. Your weight is the combined weight of kart and driver at the end of a race. For drivers that are below the minimum weight or close to a higher weight, you can attach lead ballast to the kart to meet the required weight. There are numerous engines available to be used for this class, but the most popular at CCKC is the IAME X30 and the Rotax 125 Max.

All go karts, whether being used for practice or competition must meet the technical regulations set out in the Karting Australia Manual at all times when on track. We have a link to the most current AKA Manual on our homepage which details all the technical information you need to adhere to.

Kart shops will have a variety of different kart brands available and many of these you will be able to research online before going into the store. If you would prefer to buy second hand, please ensure the kart you are purchasing meets the technical regulations set out by Karting Australia. There are numerous Facebook Buy and Sell group for go karts and accessories and many of these karts have been used at other KA sanctioned events so generally should meet the technical requirements however this is your responsibility to check.

If you require further information, please contact the club and we would be happy to assist.

The following list are mandatory pieces of safety equipment that are required to be worn when karting:

Helmet: A full face must be worn. Helmets must comply with one of several standards listed in the Karting Australia Rulebook.
Suit: A one piece driving suit with full length arm and leg protection must be worn. It is recommended that the suit be made of an abrasion resistant material and be compliant with CIK-FIA 2013-1.
Gloves: Must cover the wrist, be abrasion resistant and be full finger.
Shoes: Must be securely fastened, provide cover and protection to the ankles and be abrasion resistant.
Rib Protector (Cadet & Junior only)

The following items are optional however recommended:

Neck Brace
Rib Protector for Seniors
Balaclava

All membership and licensing is completed through Karting Australia’s Karting Online Member Portal (KOMP). Please click on our Membership and Licensing tab for more information including cost.

When you join Cooloola Coast Kart Club, you will receive a welcome email with further information about the club, facilities, and practice rules. It is important to note that for all personal practice sessions, drivers must always be accompanied by an adult who has completed the Karting Australia Level Five ‘Karting Activity Controller’ course. For a child, this would normally be the parent or guardian. You are unable to practice without having an adult with you who holds this officials license. Further information can be found under the Practice and Track hire tab.

Occasionally the track will be closed for working bees and other private hires/events. This information will be shared via our Facebook and Instagram pages as well as on our website.

Once you become a member, you’ll need to do some practice sessions before you’re ready for your first race meeting.

When you are comfortable that you’re setting lap times somewhere around the average race pace for our track, you will need to complete an Observed Driving Session (ODS) before you’re able to enter a race meeting. This can be completed on the practice day before a race meet, or at another time organised between you and the club. Please contact us when you are ready to complete your ODS.

Cadets must log 8 hours of practice with a parent/guardian who is the holder of a participant’s licence, or anyone over the age of 18 who holds a race licence or a recognised driver trainer before being eligible to complete the ODS. The person supervising the New Cadet Driver’s Practice sessions must complete the details of the practice undertaken on the New Cadet Driver Practice Log form https://www.karting.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/New-Cadet-Driver-Practice-Log.pdf which must be provided to the Official who conducts the Driver’s ODS before they are permitted to undertake the ODS.

At the ODS we will go through the basics of how a race meeting runs, the officials and what their roles are and some basic rules. We will also take you on a track walk to point out things like the start grid and formation line and run through some of the procedures. You’ll be tested on your knowledge of all the different flags. These can be found in the Karting Australia Manual.

Once the theory section is completed, you’ll head out on track to be observed during a practice session. The official undertaking your ODS will be watching things like your race lines and lap times to make sure we believe you’re ready to safely start racing.

You will also need to purchase a transponder for your kart. The transponder is linked to our timing system and measures your lap times and position in the race (this is separate to the lap times your data logger records if you have one). CCKC do not have spare transponders available for hire. Transponders are available new from MyLaps, or they can be found second hand on various karting Facebook pages. Transponders can be non-subscription or subscription based. If you purchase a subscription-based transponder you must setup your account and activate your subscription prior to your first race meeting or the transponder will not work. Follow the instructions that will come with the transponder to do this.