UNTIL recently karting was not only the domain of speed-loving thrillseekers but also limited to those with money to burn and time on their hands.

Now thanks to newer, cheaper stock models the sport is becoming more accessible to those who have lives and families.

Bermuda Karting Association now has a thriving tag class where racers using machines from 125cc, two-strokes to 250cc, four-stroke all have an equal chance of winning.

And the competition has been intense this season says Bermuda Karting Association president Kareem Johnson.

"That's the joy of it. At any given point any of those motors can be up front, that is why that class is so effective. You can't do anything to the motors, they are all stock and that's why it is so competitive. There's no throwing lots and lots of money at it and basically you win the race." There are now ten racers in the class at mid-point in the season.

"It's a significant increase. The class started three years ago with about two karts. Last year we grew to five, now we are at ten karts.

"The sport is definitely on the up. Anyone from the whole class has the potential to win any given race."

Finance is a factor in the growth of that class.

"It's more manageable to run on the average family income." Tag class machines cost about $10,000 tops for a new machine, compared to $15,000 for the elite class.

"It's still not cheap but there are second-hand class karts around. You can get a motor for $4,000 and get a second-hand chassis from $1,000."

Much shorter rebuilds are needed in the tag class and they are needed far less frequently than in the elite class.

"In the shifter class you are rebuilding every three to four races at the top end ¿ some motors as much as every 20 gallons of fuel.

"It takes quite a bit of money and know-how to be competitive." Johnson himself has switched to the tag class but some are slow to follow.

"It's where I would recommend people to start but with Bermudians unfortunately everyone wants to be in the biggest, fastest thing going ¿ whether or not they know how to drive it or fix it. Often they end up getting frustrated because it is a very steep learning curve in the shifter class." There's little difference in the speeds of the classes ¿ shifters do 80 mph, tags do 70 mph.

Racing has been tight at the top all season in the shifter class ¿ Brandon Franks was untouchable at the start of the season but then hit mechanical problems.

The class is led now lead by Shannon Caisey while David Barbosa leads the tag class followed by Johnson himself.

Asked what he loves about the sport Johnson said: "It is more affordable than powerboat racing and a little bit safer than bike racing." The big danger is if a racer flips by riding on to the wheels of the driver in front of him.

"We are striving to make things a little safer. One of my karts has a full rear bumper which we are testing this year which will eliminate the danger of driving over someone's rear wheels. If this test works it may be where we go next season. If people get injured we lose them. We want to people to be racing as much as they want." The club is now trying to get a junior programme with 14 kids from Whitney helping with flagging. The plan is to get some machines for others to try without parents having to lash out vast sums on something their children don't preserve with.

The next race is next Sunday at Southside, starting at noon.