This forum regularly publishes a new karters guide.
In brief: don't spend any money or make any decisions until you have been to a track, made a contact with several people who can give you a view on different classes of kart. But expect to buy a secondhand kart to start on, a novice on a new kart is often wasting his money and the kart's life, get a new kart when you have learned to drive it.
Have clear idea on what sort of budget you can afford. There is no point in starting karting unless you are prepared to spend in excess of £6000 in your first year.
That's £3500 for your equipment and licences and £2500 on track days and racing. (Obviously you can spend more, a lot more, some people will argue you can do it for less)
You can expect to spend an average £200 to 250 for each racing weekend. Some days will be less, and other days more, hence average. (Race Entry and practice will cost around £70 to 80 alone).
There is no such thing as an ideal class. The three main senior non-gearbox karts (rotax / TKM /Formula Blue) all have advantages and disadvantages and are all, subjectively and for a novice, going at the same speed...unmanageably quick. There is no difference in the width of smile they produce
Your kart should be chosen as a result of where you want to race, the type of racing (all at one club nearby or prepared to travel frequently) and the sort of support and grids that you can expect.
If you are a complete novice, then it is as well to make friends at the track first with someone in your class who will help you with getting through your early races.
30 and 15 stone is not a problem....there are some much older drivers and much heavier drivers.
You have a couple of offers to help you with information at a track. Use them if you can.
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