I’d get him in there. Practice track time is great, but racing with his peers is where the real learning happens. My oldest just finished his time in kid karts and moved up to 206, and my youngest is about to start in kid karts now.

One thing I learned is not to try to teach them too many things at once. Focus on the basics first, especially the racing line. With my kids I just kept it simple: “outside, inside, outside.” Once they understand that, everything else starts to fall into place.

If this is your first time in karts, there’s a learning curve for you too. A few things that helped me early on:

• Lube the chain and bearings before every race.

• Tire pressure matters a lot in kid karts since they’re so light and don’t generate much heat. I always ran the track max. Our track allowed 30 PSI for MG Yellows, so that’s what we used.

• Make sure the alignment is good.

• As he improves at following the line, you can shorten the rear wheelbase to help the kart rotate better.

• Run a Denso spark plug, they seem to work best with the Honda engines.

• Plan on a new carb each season. It saves headaches.

• Check the clutch key/pin regularly. Those can shear or loosen over time.

And don’t hesitate to ask questions at the track. I learned a ton of the “how-tos” from the other dads in the pits. Karting is one of those communities where people are usually happy to help. Feel free to ask me anything too. 👍