Jr. Rotax Max

Drew Cleaver · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2001 7:21 pm Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

At the CART Stars race at Norman July 6-8 there was an announcment for Jr. Rotax to be a class next year. Anybody got any solid info? I'm sorta interested but don't know if I can step away from the shifter scene as it's got so many good things going. Do you think this class will be a hit? I don't want to race myself but I do like the more European format.

Thanks,
Drew Cleaver www.vmaxracing.cjb.net

Randy Dye · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2001 4:25 am Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

I heard the same thing but only general guidelines. They were proposing that the Junior class would extend to the age of 18. That's nuts. You can put a 16 year old in a much faster kart but must confine an older junior to a slower kart. Apparently that rule would bring American Max Challenge in line with current junior programs in other nations-buts it's still nuts.
Also heard that junior motors would be modified in some manner to slow them down. I have a 16 year old that needs to move up. I don't want to bear the expense of another shifter in the family but also don't want to shell-out more bucks on a new "low maintenance" motor that will be obsolete for him in another year.
I think I will sit tight for a while and see what shakes out.

Pete Van Ginkel · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2001 7:14 am Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

The Jr, class will be for 14-17 yr. olds. It will be the same engine the seniors run, minus the power valve. I think the minimum weight will be 308lbs.. Maybe Mary-Ann can confirm this. There will also be a Sr. Heavy class that I think will be around 396lbs.
Pete

Chad Stapleton · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 4403

The junior Max as run in Europe is as you suggest the same motor but with a different barrel which has no power valve. It gives about 20hp compared to the 28hp of the senior motor. And for the cost of a new barrel ($200 ?) can be "upgraded" to the senior spec.
incidentaly;- Mary-Ann has a web site;- WWW.rotax-max.co.uk which has lots of spec's details etc , and a max specific forum.

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

quote
Quote:

I think the minimum weight will be 308lbs.. Maybe Mary-Ann can confirm this.

That's the weight we have here, but it will be a disaster if it's used for 14-17 (we're 13-year of 16th). Even with us at least half of the field is significantly overweight and none of them are bloaters. It's possible to win if you're giving up 22lb but it shouldn't be necessary.

I can see some service centres not wanting to swap the barrel over but maybe I am just cynical. I hope not because our junior is quicker than our senior as it is

Don't get me started on the bloody RMC age limits. No idea what they are trying to achieve.

What tyres are they using in the CART series?

- Mary-Ann www.kartlink.net

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

ok, got to go to work so more stuff later. just a quick note to say I'm not updating that site anymore due to time etc but I am working on a bigger and better replacement when I'm at college and have more time. Oh, and we got 4th in Jr Max @ Champs of the Future against 39 others from the UK, Holland and Canada

- best finish in national racing so far

- Mary-Ann www.kartlink.net

[ July 23, 2001: Message edited by: Mary-Ann Horley ]

Jeff Post · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 16 Location: Visalia Ca.

Let's see now,my 14 year old could drive in one class till he's 17,then Ican bump him up to the 18 and over for a small sum,PLUS I don't have to have his yamaha blue-printed over 7 over again,and the motor cost's about the same as a blue-printed yamaha?and it's sealed also,with a mandatory clutch setting?????????just hope it makes it out to cen-cal

Rob Hogenmiller · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2001 7:00 pm Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

Just thought I'd put in that I have verified this with the USA RMC Director, Tom Argy Jr.

America will have a Jr. Rotax in 2002 that will make its' debut at the 2001 USA Rotax Max Finals in Las Vegas Nov 3-4. The class will be by invite only. I believe they will all have karts provided for them.

The USA Finals were moved to Vegas in case you hadn't heard. They were originally scheduled for Norway in September. One of the reasons is the SKUSA SuperNationals are the following weekend. There are others too. I'll have a report on all this in an upcoming National Kart News magazine.

and also can confirm as stated above that there will be a Heavy Rotax Max in 2002.

So in 2002 there will be.

Jr Rotax Max
Rotax Max (Not Sure Of Official Name)
Heavy Rotax Max (Not Sure Of Official Name)

They had considered a spec 125 shifter but decided that it would be a loss of focus, I was told.

Rob Hogenmiller
rob@ nationalkarting.com
www.nationalkarting.com
www.robhogenmiller.com

Randy Dye · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2001 4:08 am Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

Jeff,
Thanks for the reality check. I may disagree with age limits, however, it looks like the Jr. Max program will be the best thing going. Even if I have to buy a new cylinder in a year it will still be less expensive than constantly rebuilding a KT. As for numbers, I believe this program will be viable and sufficient numbers will be sold to make for a good season next year. If stock is availabe and the rules for the Junior class are set-in-stone soon, I think sales will be brisk about Christmas time.

Jeff Post · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 16 Location: Visalia Ca.

Well if they are set in stone,and it looks promissing outhere,might have to wait on that new motor and hope santa puts one under my tree

Drew Cleaver · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2001 5:08 pm Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

Are they just going to select a few driver's for the finals race or what? I'd like a chance to see what it's like before I throw away my shifter stuff.

Thanks,
Drew Cleaver www.vmaxracing.cjb.net

Rick Brockman · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2001 7:06 pm Post subject: Jr. Rotax Max

So, how are the age limits determined for Jr. Rotax max?

We've run 60jr and 80jr shifter the last few years, and are continuing to look for the best "bang" for the buck in karting. The 80jr "unlimited" class as I'm sure all are aware is both insanely fast and obscenely expensive (with too many bangs...). I really don't have a major problem with this, but it keeps the fields from being very large at the local and regional level.

What's my point....my son is 13, and if the fields were large enough, we'd run the class next year. But taking away shifting and 1/3 of the power is a lot to think about.
Regular rotax max class would be a consideration, but I think they have to be 18 or something.

What's up with the age limits?

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

If you guys run on mainly twisty circuits, which seems to be what people say about the US, the junior will probably match the senior for lap times

- Mary-Ann www.kartlink.net