Raceland in Edinburger (Karting)

[Lazydonkey]

Just back from a work night out at the outdoor track in raceland - what a brilliant night and a great circuit

http://www.raceland.co.uk/

Highly recommended

SE visit ?

[gorrie]

Yep, a good circuit. I race there outdoors every month in the Open Super Grand Prix (while the kids are doing their qualy sessions indoors).
Last Sunday of each month

Weather has made it 'interesting' in Jan & Feb

[kenny]

SE used to have an annual winter/Christmas karting event there.

[Lazydonkey]

AH im a moron then - anyway there must be some weegies who havent been

[cstrachan]

Raceland is good but you need to try the new(ish) one at the motor sports centre in Lochgelly Fife. It has to be the most relaxed Kart track I have ever been at and I sure had the most brusies ever after racing there

As a bouns it was really cheap too.

[mwmackenzie]

been round there a few times, great fun track!

[DJ]

Just back from a work night out at the outdoor track in raceland - what a brilliant night and a great circuit

I was there the night after you - Wednesday - but on the indoor circuit. First time I have done the indoor one for about 4 years and would say it was OK. Outdoor one is so much better. Extreme's indoor one in Falkirk is better than Raceland's indoor one IMHO.

Only one of the 26 of us to get black flagged for "aggreassive driving"

[DDtB]

I've been a few times... great venue

[gorrie]

DJ... what lap times were you managing indoors, out of interest?
The Raceland indoor track is OK, but I find it punishes the fatties. I only average about 20.5-20.7 secs indoors... but my 9yr old son is now doing those laptimes regularly, and his fastest lap (20.32) beats mine handsdown. My other son (8yr old) only had his first race in April, he still looks really scrappy as expected.. yet he's managed a 21.9 somehow ??!!??

Can't wait until they are old enough to go outdoors at the same time as me.... & see what they've got then

[andyc]

At what age can kids start karting?

[philthy]

Can't wait until they are old enough to go outdoors at the same time as me.... & see what they've got then

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFq8rBe79L0

[gorrie]

lol'd at that Phil.

Andy.. 8yrs old is the earliest they will take them at Raceland. Some other kart places are 10yrs old... I heard that somewhere else was allowing 7yrs, but only for practice... so worth phoning around. Knockhill usually do a 'Karting for £5' over the summer for kids.. so worth keeping an eye out.

A bit far from you, but for anyone else... At Raceland, they have to do a 3hr competency/training session (usually they run that 1 Thursday night per month). Then as long as the marshalls are happy with them, they are then able to book in for Practice sessions, qualy/race as they want.

There's normally upwards of 20 drivers for a Cadet race day... 24 is about average these days, which they try and split in to 4 groups (depending on participants). Their lap time in qualy determines which group they will be in for raceday. The top guys in group A are doing lap times in the high 19->20 secs ... and the guys at the back in Group D maybe doing 22-25 secs. 3 secs variance in that last group is a massive difference when you are talking about these short laps (so possibly getting lapped twice in a 10 lap race). So, if it's a kid that's never previously done it, I'd recommend a few practice sessions before jumping straight in to qualy/race day.

For example, Drew, my youngest, turned 8 in February... so I had him in for the Feb competency. I then booked 2 practice Sundays to see how he faired & set him a goal lap time of anything beginning with a 24.* before I would let him attempt a qualy/race. He managed it no worries, but it focused him.

Both my lads love it... and much cheaper for me than having to get their own kart & doing the proper Scottish kart stuff.
Andy.

[andyc]

That sounds really good or the kids. My wee Jamie is 7 next month so looks like next year beore I can get him in a kart. Thanks for the info. I wonder what the deal is with our local kart place in Abereen...... maybe call them over the summer hols

[jen]

Its rubbish Andy, just ask Alan. Its quite small, and its really, really expensive too. Cost us a few quid short of £100 and we were only in the karts for about half an hour at the most!

Jen

[gorrie]

Was that for 2 people Jen ? If so, that is a shocking price.
For £50... you can do an outdoor Adult Super GP at Raceland... (works out at only £25 if you join for an annual membership).