TAG Road Racing Chassis requirements?

Scot Kight

What would you look for in a TAG chassis if it is going to be primarily used in road racing? I understand there is a requirement for front brakes, or at least a dual MC system with 2 rear brakes. What about the rest? Axel size, types of adjustments, shifter chassis vs 125cc regular chassis etc.

Brands and prices you would pay used and new would be very appreciated.

Scot

tim finley · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 7:59 pm Post subject:

Scot,

a good shifter chassis works for me. I insist on duel braking for saftey. A good 30/32 shifter chassis with duel brakes will work very well for long track racing.

Cost used should be in the 3500 - 4500 range. Remember these have front brakes.

new will run you about 5500 - 6500 depending on the chassis and if you get an electronics package.

Good luck with your search.
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Bill Wharton · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:03 pm Post subject:

Scot,
Go with 125 cc chassis since it was designed and tested utilizing front brakes. On the RR circuits the fronts will allow the advantage of the additional front tire contact patches being used to slow you verses dual brakes on the rear which give no addvantage, only redundancy. If you are going to have to push the brake pedal and work two MC's, you may as well have increased stopping power.

All of the major builders 125 karts will allow you to have success based on proper setup. Find someone who you can count on being around to support you and answer questions based on the racing you will.

The 50MM stuff is the latest stuff from the builders and is the direction most are heading. Lighter total weight, stronger design, larger bearings.

Most of the top drivers run newer stuff so having more current equipment which is closer to what they will be running can allow you to more accurately apply their advice to your setup. It will also incorporate the latest chassis designs which reflect testing with the most current tires.

Tim is in the ball park regarding pricing.

We currently have both new and used packages available.
New 125 chassis 2003, complete new Leopard package 4,700
New 125 chassis 2000, complete new Leopard package 4,300
Used chassis (excellent), complete new Leopard package 4,300

All you need is gear, chain, pipe mount, tires, guage.
We will be running all the WKA National RR events and various Mid West series events.

bill@kartechracing.com

Mitch Gillick · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:23 pm Post subject:

whartonb in IA,

I am not saying that a 125-shifter chassis would be good or bad, for a TaG class... I am just pointing out the fact that you have to recognize that not all road racing venues allow front brakes on a TaG kart.

Bill Wharton · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 7:22 am Post subject:

Scot,
As Mitch says, check your series rules you plan to run and verify what is allowed.

Jim Russell, Jr. · Advertiser Joined: 03 Oct 2001 Posts: 1535

I currently use a 4 rail 32mm 125cc chassis with 50mm axle. I have tested 30/32 3 and 4 rail karts w/ 40 and 50mm axles. I have also run both front/ rear and rear only combinations. Tuning the chassis will make the most difference.

With the current WKA NRRS rules I would go with a 125 chassis as it already comes with front brakes that you will need.

Jim jr.
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Russell Karting
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Jim Edwards · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:35 pm Post subject:

I have heard that IKF is going to make front brakes an option for the TAG class in Roadracing.
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Jim Edwards

John Kuntze · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 7:47 pm Post subject:

SCK allows front brakes in the TAG and Rotax classes
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John Kuntze
ekart99@aol.com

Mitch Gillick · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:15 pm Post subject:

I'm not trying to turn this into a "for" or "against" front brakes... But, if IKF wants to allow front brakes in the TAG class, I personally feel that IKF should put it on the list of things to do for the 2005 season.

I am not aware of anyone road racing a TAG kart with NCK, that is not also sprint racing using the same kart (Rotax Max is a different matter). If front brakes are allowed for TAG karts in road racing and not for sprint racing, I just don't know who will run in the IKF TAG class, at NCK events.

On the other hand, if front brakes are allowed in sprint racing, everyone will already have front brakes and it is no longer an issue in regards to road racing.

Note: I would expect the rules for the NCK West Coast TAG local option class to reflect whatever is going on in sprint racing, so as to attract the cross over entries.

John Kuntze · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 8:30 am Post subject:

Last year the classes were local option and because of that we used roadrace sprint rules which says basically dual braking systems are optional. I know of a couple of people who put them on not because they were going to go faster but to have the comfort level that if the rear brake failed they can still have some brakes.

Why are front brakes allowed on a 100cc sprinter which is the same as run on the sprint tracks and nobody has a problem with it but are against it on a 125cc sprinter if someone has a good answer I would like to hear it.
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John Kuntze
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Mitch Gillick · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 9:30 am Post subject:

Are there areas of the country that are seeing growth, in the Yamaha 100cc classes, in sprint racing? Good or bad, I think that most everyone has accepted the fact that in sprint racing, the 100cc Yamaha class is dying. And, because of this, no one is trying to align the rules between sprint and road racing, to get cross over entries.

On the other hand, the popularity of the TAG sprint class in growing rapidly... And, it just makes sense that the less changes that a racer has to make, in order to compete in both sprint and road racing, the more cross over entries that you are likely get.

I'm not arguing against front brakes on TAG karts... I'm arguing to keep the sprint racing and road racing rules in sync.

tim finley · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 10:05 pm Post subject:

Front brakes have been allowed on 100cc karts in long track racing for at least 19 years. I raced kt100 with sck in the mid 80's and front brakes were allowed then and are allowed now.

This is not about aligning sprinting with roadracing. Comparing Sprinting with long track racing is like comparing apples and oranges. Sprinting acheives 65-75 mph with a tag kart on most tracks, roadracing acheives 85 to almost 100 mph (draft). Having a duel brake system is a strong saftey issue at these speeds.

If you want to long track race come out and race with or without front brakes, but front brakes should always be allowed in long track racing. Personally, I would be more comfortable knowing that the person behind me on the track has two braking systems in case one should fail and I get used as a back stop.

Mitchgillick,

I agree that I think the tag karts are fast enough to warrent front brakes on a sprint track. But, this is not a popular view at this time, so , will not happen anytime soon.
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Mitch Gillick · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 11:17 pm Post subject:

If your road race club isn't dependent upon sprint crossovers, it will undoubtedly look at things differently than a club that is dependent upon sprint crossovers. Every club has to do what it has to do, to be successful in it's own market area... That's why there are local option classes that are designed around the needs and desires of it's club members.

Just don't be surprised that when trying to make one or two competitors comfortable, by allowing front brakes, you end up emptying the class of all but those one or two comfortable racers.

What's ironic is, you expend a lot of time and energy tweaking rules, to try and make everyone happy with a particular national class. Then, after all of this time and effort, you end up with 5 entries in the national class and 20 entries in a local option class, the differences being front brakes, tires and possibly ignition... But, everyone has the toughest time figuring out why there are so few entries in the national class.

With all of the road race classes that allow front brakes, why is it so difficult to tell someone that wants to run front brakes, to enter a class that allows front brakes?

tim finley · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject:

Well , lets see, 90% of the folks that race long track out of AZ have front brakes. Mostly because long track racing has always allowed front brakes for saftey (in every class). I have yet to hear a good argument to support an opposing view. Saving money is not a good argument when saftey is involved.

When we go to the sprint track, we disconnect them. It is very easy, take off the rod that connects to the duel master cyclinders and connect it directly to the rear master cyclinder. Walla, your legal. The best option would be to make front brakes optional in sprint racing but, againl, I repeat myself when I say this is not a popular opinion.
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