What to Expect from Your First Kart Racing Class
Your first kart racing class at Road America is a half-day session built for beginners. At the Road America Kart Racing School, powered by Franklin Motorsports, drivers 8 and older are fitted into a Franklin-prepared racing kart with a Briggs & Stratton LO206 engine, walk the track with coaches, work through skill exercises, then build up to lead-follow sessions with debriefs in small groups. In 2026, the class cost $495, and a helmet and jacket were provided.
Who the class is for
The Kart Racing School is aimed at beginners. It suits drivers who have mastered indoor rental tracks and want something faster, young drivers who want to try racing, and adults looking for a more serious start than recreational karting.
Requirements for 2026 classes:
- Age: 8 and older. Youth, junior and adult drivers can take part.
- Height: at least 52 inches. Drivers under 52 inches need approval.
- Weight: up to 215 pounds.
- Minors: a parent or guardian must be present for the whole class if the driver is under 18.
Kart Racing School or Karting Experience?
Road America offers two ways to try karting at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex, and they are built for different goals.
| Kart Racing School | Karting Experience | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Learn racing fundamentals with coaching | Try karting with a short practice, qualifying and race |
| Minimum age | 8 | 14 (parent or guardian present if under 18) |
| Format | Half-day class with exercises, lead-follows and debriefs | Three sessions of about 10 minutes each |
| Kart | Franklin-prepared racing kart fitted to the driver | Provided karts reaching speeds up to 40 mph |
| 2026 price | $495 | $100 |
| Leads to | Arrive and Drive racing in the Road America Karting Club | The Kart Racing School |
If you want to find out whether you enjoy karting, the Karting Experience is a low-cost taste. If you already know you want to race, start with the school.
Before you arrive
You register through Franklin Motorsports. When you sign up, you provide the driver’s age, height and weight. Franklin uses those measurements to select the kart and set up the seat for the driver before the class, which is why a few rules follow from it:
- Registration closes two weeks before each class to allow time for kart preparation.
- Cancellations or reschedules within two weeks of the class are refunded less a $150 kart preparation fee.
- An equipment rental agreement is emailed after you register. Return it before the class or bring it on the day.
- Classes run rain or shine.
- Space is limited to 10 drivers per day.
Road America provides a helmet and jacket. You are welcome to bring your own approved safety equipment instead. Registration also asks for a T-shirt size.
In 2026, classes ran on Tuesday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex.
How the class runs
The class follows a clear progression, so no one is thrown onto the track cold.
1. Kart fitting. Your session begins in a group of seven to ten drivers. Each driver has a final fitting in their kart, building on the setup Franklin prepared from the measurements you submitted.
2. Track walk and coaching overview. Before driving, the group walks the Motorplex and gets a coaching overview of the track and the session ahead.
3. Skill exercises. Drivers complete several exercises to get familiar with the kart and their own limits. Braking exercises are a core part of the curriculum, alongside safe practices on track.
4. Lead-follows and debriefs. On-track sessions begin with lead-follows, where a coach sets the line and drivers follow, then debrief discussions after each session.
5. Small-group coaching. Based on early performance, drivers split into two groups of four to six for the rest of the session. The mix of track time and post-session analysis helps each driver refine their lines and strategy, the foundation for competitive racing.
What new drivers usually take away
The goal of a first class is not winning a race. It is learning to drive a racing kart well: braking in a straight line before the corner, choosing a line that carries speed through the turn, and driving consistently lap after lap. These are the same fundamentals drivers use in every form of road racing, which is why karting is such a common starting point for racers of all ages.
After your first class: where to race
The Kart Racing School opens the door to the Road America Karting Club, which has organized competitive, family-friendly kart racing for more than 25 years. The club races on select weeknight and weekend dates from May to September, with classes for drivers from age 5 through adults.
You do not need to buy a kart to start. Through Arrive and Drive, Franklin Motorsports rents a race-ready Briggs & Stratton 206 kart for Road America Karting Club Weeknight Series races. Each entry includes the kart, safety equipment if needed and your race entry fee, with spots limited to ten drivers per race. Arrive and Drive requires having attended the Road America Kart Racing School or pre-approval from Franklin Motorsports, so the school is your ticket in.
Reserve your seat
With only ten spots per class and registration closing two weeks ahead, it pays to book early. Visit the Road America Kart Racing School page to check dates and register.