> From:          Dave Head <rally2xs@csi.com>
> Do I have to
> follow the National series and ProSolo series to run karts?
     No.  It's up to the individual regions.  I'm in Houston Region 
(they do karts) so I can't provide info for your area.  Find the 
contact phone # for each region and ask them about karts.
> My reasons for wanting to do this are that I hate actually modifying my car
> (big $$$, voids the warranty, makes it less suitable for other pursuits
> (lowered car sucks when doing road rally on roads with high RR crossings
> and "holy" roads)) 
     Setting up a car does not necessarily void the warranty.  Take a 
look at the modifications allowed in Solo II Stock classes and see if 
any of them void the warranty.  My installation of Konis, plug wires, 
and a performance alignment sure don't void my Miata R's warranty.  
If I installed a bigger front sway bar or aftermarket brake pads, the 
warranty would be intact.
> as well as the fact that karts are a hoot.
     Yes they are.  I rented a kart at the Ft. Worth Nat'l Tour.  I 
had a blast and I'll probably do it again next year.  But they do 
require tinkering for optimal performance.  If you melt down your 
motor, you are out four digits of $$$.  Visit a kart track or attend 
a kart club meeting and ask about real-world use and costs.  See if 
you can locate a kart renter.
> Only other problem with this scenario is that I absolutely SUCK at Solo II
> - generally finish last in class, but I think I can get better (I always
> think that... <G>)  Even if I don't, driving karts is still a hoot...
     Practice makes perfect.  I try to run two events a month.
Mike Lowe    mikelowe@phoenix.net    http://www.phoenix.net/~mikelowe
'96 Miata R (B Stock autocrosser)
'94 Miata (future turbo car)
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