American karters run well at Monaco Cup!

Paul Harraka · Joined: 28 Aug 2001 Posts: 1345

Tony Coello,
If you really want an economical class you should get them to bring back the U.S. 820 class, ( A.K.A. the Paulie Harraka Benefit class ). For $642.00 American money you get the Motor, Clutch, Pipe, Header, and Carb. EVERYTHING you need to race. And U.S. Motor Power will even LEND it to a racer for 2 races to see if they like it. Plus they give a away motor and other awards to the Points Champ and The Grand National Champ and prizes all the way to 10th place in both. They are the only company that does that and it is the only 2 cycle American made motor. Yet WKA does away with the class. Go figure that brilliant move out.

Jeff Braun · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 205 Location: Ovalo, TX

quote:
Originally posted by Chad Stapleton:

Jeff, JICA, as the premier "world" junior class, is one of the most expensive classes of junior sprint racing, mainly due to the need to have the latest, & "on the limit " motors to be competitive.
A similar but far more practical/economical class for juniors will be the Junior Rotax Max.

Chad:
I agree totaly with what Tony Coello said. There are many less expensive classes to run for a Jr. driver than JICA, but as you say JICA is the "premier" world Jr. class, and in the US the top Jr. class is 80cc shifter. Now I don't pretend to know everything about karting, but I have run the 80cc shifter for 2 seasons and paid all the bills. Now I went to Italy and Monaco for 3 weeks and paid to run my son in JICA at the top level with great factory support and factory mechanics, everything. It cost LESS to do the JICA races than the 80cc SKUSA races (travel excluded) and my son says that the JICA kart is WAY more fun to drive and race than the 80 shifter. I am just trying to figure out why the USA does not have the primer Jr. class like the rest of the world, and instead has a more expensive specialty class that is only run in the US and does nothing to help the drivers prepare for the kind of karting done in the rest of the world. Just asking why?

Paul Montopoli

I can't agree more with what Jeff Braun has said about why 80cc shifter v. JICA in the USA? Why? We all know or heard about Constructor's Cup (JICA and Formula A) and its failure. But, was that failure driven by engine package or was there some other organizational/systematic reason? (not a rhetorical question, I don't know the answer)

I ran a full season of ICA this year at the national level in Germany and the engine costs were not too expensive. A top end was around $150 and a bottom end about $250-300. I paid more to have my Yamaha done when I lived in the States.

The problem with the shifter class is, that as Jeff and his son experienced, it puts the Americans at a huge disadvantage if they decide to try to race international. You say, how many North Americans are going to go across the pond to race? Not many, but lets give them a fighting chance.

Maybe NAKA and CART will decide to do something with JICA, etc...? If they want to develop North American drivers then they should definitely have some type of scholarship program for Junior and young Senior drivers where they ship a select few off to Europe for a summer to get international experience.

Chris Wehrheim

I just couldn't help but say anything. Jeff is tottaly right. Also the Jica karts are a ball to drive. Just as fast as an 80, but it takes real driver skill to be fast in that class. Compared to an 80 where you could have tons of engine and kill people that are catching you in the infield.
Jeff and everyone: Hope too see you all at the IKF 2 cycle grands. The Adkins crew is coming so it should be fun. I also have a feeling there will be a surprise appearence by an "old Scool" racer by the name of "The California Flash."

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

To run JICA at a top level is going to cost a large amount of cash. It will be somewhere around US$18,000 to US$25,000 for the year,but that includes travel and everything.

I would imagine shifter karts would not be as expensive,maybe I am totally wrong with that assumption.

Thanks
Ray

Mary-Ann Horley

Ray, as a guide to run in Europe in JICA you'd have to change dollars for pounds in those figures, don't know if any theoretical North American Junior championship would cost the same. However I've been told by the odd 80 driver that they are spending that amount at regional level. So to sum up, JICA is likely to be a shock to the system for Yamaha drivers, but a pleasant surprise for 80's

ps. engine costs were similar, it was testing and tyres that cost the money

[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: Maryann Horley ]

Jeff Braun · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 205 Location: Ovalo, TX

quote:
Originally posted by Gary Woltjer:
Hey Jeff, Sounds like you did very well!! Those Pics are very cool looking, for a go kart race, usually tracks are in the boonies!!
Very Big accomplishment, Congrats to all of TRACC5,and the Pecorari's; See you guys at the track!
-Gary

Gary:
Thanks for your kind words. We have had a blast here and still have one more race in Parma this weekend. I can tell you it was strange NOT running a Woltjer engine (something we have not done in 4 years).
See you guys in Vegas in a few weeks.

Jeff
[ October 18, 2001: Message edited by: Gary Woltjer ]

Jeff Braun · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 205 Location: Ovalo, TX

quote:
Originally posted by Maryann Horley:
but please consider the financial implications better than we did!

The very reason I am asking why we run 80cc shifter at big $ and have no place to run JICA at less $ - the financial implications! Thanks for your views.

Jeff Braun

Jeff Braun · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 205 Location: Ovalo, TX

quote:
Originally posted by Ray Kristie:
To run JICA at a top level is going to cost a large amount of cash. It will be somewhere around US$18,000 to US$25,000 for the year,but that includes travel and everything.

I would imagine shifter karts would not be as expensive,maybe I am totally wrong with that assumption.

Thanks
Ray

Ray:
I have personaly paid to run JICA at a top international level and 80cc shifter at the top US level, and I can say for sure that JICA is cheeper - no question, I have the bills to prove it. The JICA rules also do not change every 6 month like the 80 shifter rules have.

Jeff Braun

Paul Harraka · Joined: 28 Aug 2001 Posts: 1345

I just heard that Colin Braun SAT ON THE POLE at Parma Italy race. That is AWESOME. First time an American ever sat on the pole!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Gemma · Joined: 03 Aug 2001 Posts: 70

Hi Jeff,

I have tried to email you several times,but they are always returned.

Regards Ray

Jeff Braun · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 205 Location: Ovalo, TX

quote:
Originally posted by Ray Kristie:
Hi Jeff,

I have tried to email you several times,but they are always returned.

Regards Ray

Ray:
I just got home from Italy, and did have some problems with my email while in Monaco and Italy. Feel free to email me at jvbraun@att.net

Jeff Braun