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50 or 40mm axel???
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Chris Reinhardt



Joined: 29 Aug 2002
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Location: United States, New York, Ossining

PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chris Livengood wrote:

If my driving career had not gone abruptly to cars


So why are you in here?

CR
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Chris Livengood



Joined: 24 Jul 2001
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Location: United States, Pennsylvania, Da Burgh

PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I still own two chassis, roughly 7 motors, and was at the kart track last week.

Why are you in here?
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Chris Reinhardt



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PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I currently have 1 superkart, 1 crg 125, 1 prototype 125, and about 4 motors and growing.... Was at the track 2 weeks ago, be there in another week or two testing my new chassis....

I like to listen to what people want, people receive as what's good or not, what they would like the manufacturers to offer...

"If my driving career had not gone abruptly to cars" Sounded like you got out of karts, I guess that's not the case?

So what's your beef with Tony Kart wheels?

CR
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Stewart Willis



Joined: 24 Oct 2008
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chris Livengood wrote:
As for the wheels being better, i'd love to see some real honest to god testing done to prove this. Back to back tests simply aren't good enough. It should be a double blind test under which the test variables are closely controlled..


Is this the method you use to make axle changes or camber/caster adjustments? Its unreasonable.

I have both MXC and MXP wheels.. We use both for different situations. MXC is not always faster... It all depends on the conditions at the track..

In a hot, high rubber situation, the MXC is usually substantially faster for us.. (by the way, I bought my MXC used.) they are very this... But, super stiff due to the forging process....
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Chris Livengood



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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Obviously I don't use that method for standard changes. Instead you use the method to identify scientific understanding of what a change does.

I give up.
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Ryon Beachner
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Chris Livengood wrote:
Ryon Beachner wrote:
Chris Livengood wrote:
My favorite debate is the wheel debate.

I wonder what the profit margin is on a set of OTK wheels? It so large that you have to have those wheels to win.


Chris Livengood wrote:
Conveniently the advice from your local shop also says that with those non OTK wheels (and the 120% markup that goes with them) you'll never get the kart to work. Funny how this business model also worked for 50mm axles.

The last time I checked out my cousins sprint car (850hp and 1150lbs) the axle in it was smaller in diameter than the one in my go kart.


It's the same margin that every other part on the kart carries. Implying that we as dealers are somehow gouging our customers for charging the retail price for an item is not only insulting, but unreasonable. Just as in any business, the more expensive the retail price is, the more expensive it is for us to have it on the shelf. So it isn't as if we don't feel it when prices increase.

As for your 120% markup comment, I'll tell you this, for all the products any given dealer may sell their profit margins are between 15% and 40% at the most.

MXC Wheels are expensive. However they are not at all mandatory to make a Tony Kart work. Are they slightly better than the stock wheel? Yes. So for those who choose to leave nothing on the table, it's a popular option. However for someone just racing at their local club, they would likely be better served spending the money on tires and fuel for practice.

We as dealers don't do this because it's a gold mine, we do it because we have a passion for the sport, and sharing it with others. If the margins were really as high as you believe we would have a whole lot more shops, with a whole lot more inventory, because I'll tell you right now that we don't make up the low margins with huge volume.

Also, to those who blame the manufacturers for the price of karting; I would love to go race Formula One, however it's all Ferrari's fault I can't. The price of Karting is due to the fact it's competitive, and people who feel they can buy an advantage, will. This is illustrated by the fact that the price to just go the track and drive, and have a good time with some friends, is drastically different than competing.


I was inferring that the local shops get sold the line of B.S. about the OTK wheel and they pass that on to customer. OTK is really the one who benefits. As for the wheels being better, i'd love to see some real honest to god testing done to prove this. Back to back tests simply aren't good enough. It should be a double blind test under which the test variables are closely controlled. Until this happens and one wheel is proven to be magically better than another I am of the opinion that as long as they are round and hold air (ignoring a few minor preferences here and there) all wheels are created equally, with price being the most important factor.

If my driving career had not gone abruptly to cars I was preparing to perform the science, write the paper describing the methods and results, and have that paper published to a karting magazine for peer review. If my schedule changes any time in the near future I may just find the time to do it.


Oh, that's much better. Instead you're implying that those of us who run shops and teams are naive, believe anything were told, and don't do any testing of our own. I see.

Typically whenever the manufacturer advises us, they have done quite a bit of testing, come to a conclusion, and share what they learned in order to allow us to be on the same page, and ensure our customers are up to speed and satisfied with the products.

Stewart has just explained the conditions in which the MXC excels. It is not a magic bullet, as the MXP excels in colder or lower grip conditions.

We have all of the necessary information to use the different wheels effectively, drawn from the experience of the factory, and compounded by the tests of our own. However if you would like to purchase a Tony Kart, as well as a set of MXC wheels to perform this test, I have both Shifter and Non Shifter chassis in stock awaiting your phone call.
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