As anyone who has ever done it will tell you, karting is great fun. Sliding round a track centimetres from the surface is guaranteed to get the adrenaline flowing. It's also a great opportunity to get that old competitive instinct going (within reason, of course).

There are two main types of racing that the club organises - Grand Prix and Endurance.

Grand Prix

Grand Prix is an individual event where up to twenty drivers get to slug it out on the track. After a few practise laps each driver competes in 4-6 heats starting from each place on the grid (there being 4-6 karters in each race). There are then one or two semi-finals that are a bit longer (about 10 laps) before the fastest 6 karters compete in a 15 lap final for a place on the podium and a taste of the champagne (or "sparkling effect" wine as is more common in these parts).

Endurance

Endurance racing is similar in format to Le Mans only slightly shorter. Teams of 4-5 drivers share a kart over a 2 or 3-hour race to see which team completes the most laps. Good strategy is imperative as driver changes and fuel stops must be made, and black flags avoided. Endurance races have the advantage that you tend to get a lot more time on the track.

Ice Karting

New to Bristol (or even the country...) a few years ago was karting on ice! Held at the Bristol Ice Rink this provided a novel opportunity to test ones karting skills. There seem to be two approaches - the smooth tiptoe method or the all out, bag fulls of opposite lock variety - both equally as satisfying on a quick lap. As this was a new venture for the Ice Rink the organisation of the endurance event was not up to much but if another event is planned the club will take care of lap timing/counting etc. and it should be a superb afternoon.

Great Value

Karting is an inexpensive activity as well, the above costing £20-£30 per person including all kit, fuel and the obligatory safety equipment. The club occasionally subsidises meetings as well.

On top of all this, if you're really keen, there's the chance to take part in some inter-university action in the British University Karting Championship (for more details click here).