THE perfect Newbie/Econo class

Chuck McCue · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 2944

What do you think would be a good newbie/Econo class? I'll go first , and Rick Crist please chime in!

Stock Honda- No not the gearbox version, here is my Idea. Take the current World Formula chassis which just about every manufacturer makes (or made) and install a Honda GX200 motor with 2:1 gear reduction, 428 chain, leave motor bone stock as the come on pressure washers, compressors, etc. Leave the tank on the motor and run 89 octane pump gas. Hard tires like MG Red, BS YDS or Dunlop SL1, your choice. This kart could be built for under $2600. and would be durable and almost bulletproof. .........your thoughts?
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Chuck McCue

Michael Moshenek · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject:

Sounds exactly like our rental karts! Laughing

John Denman · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 12:56 pm Post subject:

Add a quality China made chassis like a knock off like a Birel or Intrepid and it would sell for $1500. Then it would sell.
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John Denman
Producer for RTMP
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Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

that was kinda my thinkin on the "add one class to stars" scenario.

take the rental karts and have a barber type series that traveled. You could rent out a kart at the stars races. to me it would help people know they could come out and participate if they wanted. it could help in advertising races for spectators.

austin had a huge field of rental karts until they let the rules get out of hand. those guys do mod their karts and to me it takes away. the fields are still large, but they could be larger IMO.

dont the eros have the dual motor rental kart type race series with hondas? Pro kart?

i think that is what stars needs IMO and yes i think your idea is the ****. not necessarily for me personally, but i think karting needs this.

before Tom Argy died i had brought a "barber dodge" type idea series that he could rent out rides using these type karts. at that time PMT and stars of tomorrow formats. but Tom is gone now and I couldnt parlay any way of doing my own series and approaching stars to let me "buy" the rights to have the class at their races.

i know you just wanted an entry level class. but IMO if you advertised on the various media and one guy in the family was going to enter his whole family would come out sort of like most spectators we have now.

if the local tracks had this class then yes you could buy a kart for around the numbers your talking.

You would still need to tune the kart but it would be limited. if those come in fuel injection----no more jetting either?

no wrap around bumpers though and you have to remove the kill switch so drivers like Rodney Berryhill dont reach over and kill your motor while you are driving. On the national circuit i think no one racing in a stars class could enter the 4/ class.

just my opinion

Rick Blood · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

You don't need a top notch, rape the Americans, chassis for a newby or that motor.
There needs to be a price cap and 15 or 16 hundred bucks is probably about right. Add gas and go.
I wouldn't have a problem with a single chassis. It would help keep the costs down for the manufacturer and leave a decent margin for the dealers.
The only option should be the color of the plastic and the size of the seat.
All motors should be factory sealed.
This should be about driving and fun and not about motor builders and tuners.
I'd buy one this afternoon if I could be sure that there would be at least 10 guys to race with.

Each track should be required to build a gallows in the tech area for any one caught messing with the rules. Zero tolerance. Short of an unceremonious hanging, their kart should be flattened in the closest auto crusher.
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Rick Blood
www.flowdata.net

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

i agree with rick on the chassis. I do like to see all the flavors of chassis.

maybe make a limit on suggested retail for the chassis and then only plastic and seat are changeable. so what ever chassis manuf wanted to--- could have one.

if you did the pricing right there are probably already chassis out there that fit the bill.

Mitch Wright · Joined: 04 Sep 2001 Posts: 437

Chuck,

We have that program here at Miller Motorsports Park. We run the Honda GX200 engine package in 3 classes Jr 1, Jr II and Senior 4/ all 3 are extremely competitive and often provide the best racing of the day.
We seal the engine and carb, remove the governor, spec clutch, Spec Pipe and MG red tires.
We don't allow engine rebuilds when the power falls off (at least 3 seasons with a lot of test days) replace the engine.

This program is very successful has been in place for 6+years and has proven to be a cost effective package for the racer.

Chuck McCue · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 2944

The reason I was thinking the World formula Chassis is that all the top manufacturers have them, and the WF chassis is spec in dimensions. A Tony WF is "dimensionally the same" as a CRG WF and so on.

Mitch,
If you ran the stock exhaust and carb along with 89 octane Gasoline I don't think there would be much performance gain in tweaking the inside. Also with the OEM 2:1 gear reduction clutch there would be no need for a spec clutch. The 2:1 gear reduction clutch is bulletproof, not to mention the 428 chain.
Another rule would be once you win a championship time to sell the kart and move up, no cherrypickers.

Rick,
Crushing karts!? I'd say 50 lashes with a wet fuel hose for cheaters!
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Chuck McCue

Chuck McCue · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 2944

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

i drove a WF and it is too slow. but the honda has some punch.

dont the Wf chassis only have 2 rear axle bearings?

not plugging a chassis, but the CRG rental and the Birel Rental are sturdy. made to run like a machine and offer some good speed.

Chuck McCue · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 2944

Actually a WF is faster. We are not looking for fast but competition on a budget. Full fledged rental karts are heavy, But I have to say the Birel is one of the better rental units I've driven.

WF karts have 3 bearings on a 30mm axle.

WF motor package $1000

Honda GX200- $500 with gear reduction clutch.
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Chuck McCue

Rick Blood · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject:

I wasn't clear in my reply because I was taking a poke at the yurpeans.

I meant $1500 to $1600 for the entire package.
A "newby" doesn't have an old chassis laying around and he also doesn't know that almost all chassis are capable of winning. The chassis of the month club should be shut down and the only way you will do this is with a single chassis.
The sooner a driver learns that it's him that makes him fast the better off he will be.
The whole idea is to set the hook and make him a life long karter.
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Rick Blood
www.flowdata.net

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

i all fairness i drove the WF a few years back. maybe they are faster now.

the speed is important because you need that punch and in the US some drivers are big. i think that is why tag is so appealing.

ease is important if that were not the case, the kt100 would take over karting---again.

cant we do a kt1oo class with an axle clutch almost cheaper? i know there is a pull start for the kt100 i saw it in Malaysia. they use kt100 for the rental karts.

it needs to be a class that is a direct off shoot of the indoor stuff IMO . it would be easier to get karters from the indoor stuff.

Trevor Hilliar · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:14 am Post subject:

We have been running the stock honda GX200 formula for close to 8 years. We run a chassis similar to a WF, with CIK bodywork and hard Maxxis HG3 tires. Some run the 2:1, some run the $35 Max Torque clutch. Costs about $25/hour to run one. Check them out on the COVER of the July National Karting News or Jul 29 on HGTV at 5 est.
Trev

Chuck McCue · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 2944