TAG Cadet Introduction

In the 1950’s, someone took a sparse metal frame, added four wheels, brakes, simple seat and a steering wheel and for the fun of it, added a lawnmower engine to give it power. Kart racing was born! After millions of miles of racing worldwide, driven by hundreds of thousands of drivers of all ages, kart racing continues to grow in popularity especially for children. Karts have become very popular and continue to grow in the sporting industry.

Kart racing today is a sophisticated, yet affordable form of motor sports. The tracks that drivers race on are similar in layout to a sports car type road course. The tracks range from ¼ mile to just over 7/10 mile in length.

TAG Cadet Introduction

With close to 10 horsepower, these TAG Cadet Karts can reach speeds in excess of 70mph. This speed may not sound fast to an adult but to a 8-11 year old child that is very fast.

TAG Cadet karts use a 60 CC motor that is manufactured by IAME to produce the same horsepower. Limited modifications can be made to these stock engines but strict monitoring prevents power advantages. These small, fast karts have incredible cornering capabilities. They can pull over 2 G’s through the corners. Kart racing is such an incredible way for the young driver to learn the proper techniques of car control. In TAG Cadet, it is the driver and not an illegal engine that makes the difference. It is no wonder that at least 90% of all professional drivers started their careers in a kart.

Cost of Racing

Hannah and Jakob now race in the same class during the 2009 season. The name of the class is TAG Cadet. Touch and Go (TAG) cadets involve a 60 cc Gazelle two stroke engine that produces 9.5 horsepower and speeds up to 70 mph.

The expense involved to run at this level can be high. Each kart can cost $2500 to $3500 a year to operate.

• Routine maintenance parts such as pistons, tires, spark plugs, gaskets, sprockets, and brake pads represent about a quarter of this cost.
• Engine replacement and competitive parts consume the rest.
• Costs such as entry fees for regional and national races can add an additional $3,000 to $5,000 a year. 
• There are also considerable travel expenses involved.  

The expenses can stretch a family’s discretional budget to it limits. But to step up in a class can become a financial burden. Hannah will be moving up to the Mini Max class for the 2010 season. This will require purchasing a new kart and Rotax engine. the cost for this new race kart will be in excess of $6500. To help offset the additional costs Sponsorships are offered. HurriCane is dedicated to providing Hannah and Jakob the best possible chance to realize their dreams of becoming professional racing drivers.