Karting in Pittsburgh - How to Start Karting as a Beginner

It is that time of year when interest in the new karting season is high among racers, and inquiries from the new-to-karting crowd are coming in now more than ever! Whether it’s the Rolex 24, winter leagues at Three Rivers Karting, the INDYCAR season opener, F1 pre-season testing, the Daytona 500 or even seeing karts at the Pitt Race / Pro Kart Concepts (PKC) display at the Pittsburgh auto show, people are excited and ready for the weather to change and to learn more about how to get into and start karting.

Step 1: Joining the Karting Community

One of the most common questions that we get from people is “Where do I start?” Fortunately for new racers and families, we have a very welcoming club community that offers many ways for you to dip your toes in the water.

To start, we have a very active Facebook group for our club, called “Pitt Race Club Karters”, where seasoned and new karters alike are encouraged to join the group and ask questions. Everyone in the community is very active and helpful, particularly with new potential racers.

The next step is to visit the Pitt Race karting page on Pitt Race’s website. Here you will find information on the Intro to Kart Racing Academy, the Kart Racing Experience, and the Pitt Race Karting Series, PRKS for short. Along with these events, you will also find race schedules, registration links, rulebooks, and much more.

Step 2: The Kart Racing Experience

The “The Kart Racing Experience” is a great program for new racers to get beginner instruction, introductory information, and even get the chance to get on track in practices and mock races in Pitt Race’s fleet of karts! The event is currently scheduled for April 19th and will take place at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex (Pitt Race) which is located at 201 Penndale Road, Wampum, PA 16157, and will be hosted by Pitt Race staff with additional help from PKC instructors.

Step 3: Getting on Track - Arrive and Drive Opportunities

Once you have joined the Facebook group and have done more research into the season and the Intro to Kart Racing Academy, it is now time to decide the best option for you to get involved, this is where Pro Kart Concepts comes in. With a combined 50 years of karting, plus the experience of helping several hundred new racers and families take their first step to entering the sport, we are your go to source for information.

Not only does PKC prioritize helping local racers by sharing information regarding schedules, the best safety equipment to start with, instruction for new and experienced racers, kart set-up and engine tips, and must-have supplies, we also offer numerous avenues to get seat time and give racers the opportunity to rent karts or buy karts.

Most people who come to us would like some taste of the speed before committing to the investment for getting started, PKC’s 1 Hour Instructional Arrive & Drive program is the perfect program to do just that. This program consists of PKC providing all of the necessary safety equipment, a race-prepped kart, and an instructor for a full hour of track time. In addition to on track time, the time between these sessions allows racers and parents one on one time with their instructor to ask questions, something just as valuable as the seat time itself!

PKC also offers race day Arrive & Drive programs in properly prepared race karts. In addition, new for the 2025 season, we are also offering a Full Season Arrive & Drive package that includes a race-ready kart for all 10 races, plus an additional 10 practice sessions. This is a great alternative for someone wanting to get into the sport that doesn’t have the necessary time or space to have, and take care of, their own kart.

Throughout the season, whether you own your own kart or use a PKC Arrive & Drive kart, we offer Coaching & Instruction programs in addition to trackside parts dealing and services at Pitt Race so you’ll never be without someone to lean on as you learn the sport.

For more information on the above programs or with any questions relating to karting at Pitt Race, please reach out on our website’s contact page or email us at dans@prokartconcepts.com.