How to Get Started in a Wisconsin Kart Racing League
The most direct way to get started in a Wisconsin kart racing league is to take a beginner class and then join a club series. At Road America in Elkhart Lake, that means the Road America Karting Club, which has organized competitive, family-friendly kart racing for more than 25 years. The club races at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex on select weeknight and weekend dates from May to September, with classes for drivers from age 5 through adults. New drivers who don’t own a kart can race in the Weeknight Series through Arrive and Drive after completing the Road America Kart Racing School.
Why start with a club league
Karting is often described as the most popular way into motorsports, and a club is the easiest way to race regularly. Road America calls its karting program a safe, affordable and extremely challenging sport. A club gives you what a casual track day doesn’t: organized classes so you race drivers in comparable karts, a published rule book, technical inspection, points standings across a season, and a community of racers and families who show up week after week.
Two series, two race-day formats
The Road America Karting Club runs two series, so you can race on weeknights, weekends or both.
Weeknight Series (Tuesday nights). Gates open at 2:30 p.m., practice starts at 4 p.m., and racing begins at 6 p.m. Arrive and Drive rentals are available for this series.
Weekend Series (Saturdays). Races run as either a day or a night program:
| Weekend format | Gate opens | Practice | Racing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 8 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | 12:15 p.m. |
| Night | Noon | 1:30 p.m. | 4:15 p.m. |
In 2026 the club ran a non-points opening race in each series, then points races through the summer, including a Saturday night race in June. Results are posted online, and the club publishes points standings for both series. The 2026 season wrapped up with an awards banquet recognizing the top finishers.
Find your class
Competition classes cover drivers from age 5 through adults, so siblings, parents and kids can all race at the same event in classes suited to their age and kart. Before you buy or rent anything, read two documents posted on the Karting Club page:
- The class structure, which lists every class and who is eligible
- The official RAKC rule book, along with the Briggs 206 rule set the club follows
They tell you which class you belong in and what your kart and engine must comply with, which saves expensive mistakes.
Getting a kart: rent first or buy?
Rent with Arrive and Drive. Through Arrive and Drive, powered by Franklin Motorsports, drivers 8 and older can rent a race-ready Briggs & Stratton 206 racing kart for any Weeknight Series race. Each entry includes the kart, safety equipment if you need it, and your race entry fee. In 2026, Franklin Motorsports listed Arrive and Drive at $495. Spots are capped at ten drivers per race, and registration closes two weeks before the event. It is geared toward drivers with previous karting experience: you must have attended the Road America Kart Racing School or be pre-approved by Franklin Motorsports.
Buy your own. If you decide to race for the season, owning a kart lets you race the Weekend Series as well as Tuesday nights, since Arrive and Drive covers only the Weeknight Series. Choose a kart and engine that fit your class and the rule book before you buy. Road America lists Franklin Motorsports and other karting businesses among the club’s sponsors and partners, and they are a good place to ask questions.
Your first race, step by step
- Try it. If you’ve never driven a racing kart, the Karting Experience gives drivers 14 and older a practice, qualifying and race session, with each session lasting about 10 minutes.
- Take the class. The Road America Kart Racing School is a half-day class for beginners 8 and older that covers safe practices, driving lines and braking, and qualifies you for Arrive and Drive. It cost $495 in 2026.
- Read the rules. Review the class structure, the rule book and the race-day formats above.
- Get on the grid. Book an Arrive and Drive kart, or prepare your own kart and complete the club’s pre-tech form.
- Register for a race. Race registration links for both series are posted on the Karting Club page.
- Arrive early. Give yourself time to unload, pass tech and get comfortable before practice.
More than a weekly race
The club also gives committed drivers something to work toward. The Level Up Driver Championship, presented by Level Up Racing School, is a season-long program that rewards commitment, consistency, racecraft, sportsmanship and driver development. At the end of the season, one eligible Road America Karting Club driver earns a fully funded seat at Level Up Racing School at Road America, a scholarship package valued at more than $6,000.
The club also keeps a Road America Karting Club Hall of Fame, so a first season at the Motorplex can be the start of a long racing story.
Start your season
The Road America Karting Club season runs from May to September, and preparation starts before that. Visit the Road America Karting Club page for the schedule, rule book, class structure and registration, and book your Kart Racing School class early so you are ready for your first race.