Zoom. Zoom.

By Jeremy Schwartz

What flies 100 mph just inches off the ground, wails like a banshee, and can make jelly out of a grown man’s knees?

Uh-huh. Go karts. And anyone who visits the recently opened Sumas International Motorsports Academy (SIMA) in Sumas has the chance to find out why.

SIMA, which held its grand opening on July 31, is one of North America’s largest go-kart racing tracks, SIMA owner Claudio Valiante said. Both beginners and racing veterans can take advantage of the three-quarter mile track to gain experience and skills at throwing a 200-pound collection of metal, rubber and excitement around its corners and straight-aways.

Kart racing is usually just for fun and thrills, but it can lead to a career in professional racecar driving, Valiante said. Many Formula 1 drivers got their start in kart racing and continue to race karts to keep their driving skills razor sharp.

For those who want to experience the thrill of driving a racing kart, the facility rents Category A karts with a top speed of 40 mph.

A 15-minute session in a Cat A costs $35. A half an hour of driving can be had for $60. SIMA provides the helmet and race wear.

Want more speed? Rent a faster Cat B kart for $125 per half-hour session and $225 for one hour. However, before renting one of these rockets at least two hours of track time in a Cat A kart is required. Cat B karts can achieve speeds up to 80 mph.

The speed can be ramped up even more in a Cat C kart but, again, you need at least two hours’ experience in a Cat B kart. These carts cost $150 for a half-hour session and $250 for a full hour. These karts have shifters requiring more skill and providing greater challenges. Top speed in these monsters is around 100 mph.

Want the thrills but don’t want to drive? Take a four-lap spin with a professional kart-racing driver in a specially designed two-seater kart. This experience will cost $50. No charge for the sweaty palms and the pounding pulse.

Caught the bug and want to pursue kart racing as a hobby? SIMA has the karts, the advice and tools to help in this area, too.

Racing karts in general are relatively simple racing machines with no suspension, no roll bars and no seatbelt systems. The cost of frames and engines start at $1,500 each and go up from there.

Kart engines come in two types: two-stroke and four-stroke. Four stroke engines are generally quieter, more powerful and more environmentally friendly. Most kart-racing engines are still two stroke.

Racing karts also come in shifter and non-shifter versions. Shifter karts, such as the Cat C karts available for rent, comprise the faster category of racing karts. Shifters allow the drivers to manually change gears, allowing for greater control of speed. Non-shifter karts do not offer a gear box that can be changed manually.

SIMA offers driving schools suited for the beginner up to the advanced level racer. Full-day classes include instruction on accelerating, braking, and the best line to get around the track. Prices range from $550 to $595 for adults and $295 to $495 for those under 16.

SIMA is also the home of Italian Motors USA (IMUSA), a racing kart parts retailer that began in Vancouver, B.C. IMUSA sells everything a burgeoning kart driver needs to get started in the world of kart racing.
For more information on kart rentals, the driving school, and event schedules, visit www.simaracing.com.