LO206 Class in NJ

[Mike Morrone]

Would anyone be interested in running a LO206 class at Etown or NJMP? I think it would be beneficial for turnout to have full body and CIK karts run together. Also would be nice to have a lenient tire rule so the oval guys can run what they have on a road course track. What do you think? Looks like some competitive, close, and cost effective racing.

[Walt Gifford]

I’m in but only if it includes clone motors. I have 2 clones and no where to run them so I won’t spend money on a LO206 unless I see at least 15 guys out there. A couple years ago there were about 5 oval guys from Wall that came to E’town with clones but they went back to Wall. Guess they didn’t like turning right lol. There use to be a clone club down at NJMP basically run for the kids but they didn’t get any kind of discount on track fees and I haven’t seen them around lately. I have a gold cup kart and a couple of clone motors but I’m a couple years late to the game apparently. I’ll be out with it on practice days at njmp and in the open (run what ya brung) class at E’town. Keep in touch.

Gif

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

[Brad Nyman]

I hope the class happens as this is what the northeast needs right now. A cheap entry class with good racing and easy maintenance to get new people involved. Clubs are hurting with class entries dwindling and people leaving the sport due to high cost. I’m all for it and hope it works. As for including clones, it could work at first but eventually they should be fazed out as the Lo206 has steady rules and the ability to not blueprint them and to keep it simple for newbies. Using clones opens up the world of blueprinted clones for way too much money and little returns. Just run the class on a hard tire rule and open chassis and bodywork and it could take off. Would be great to see a class of 15+ racing at a time at club level again.

Brad

Force.One motorsports
Gear up F-series racer

[Walt Gifford]

Dumb question, who can reseal a LO206?

Gif

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

[Brian Mead]

Walt- if you go to Bob’s four cycle forums/engine/briggs ohv you’ll find quite  a bit of information on 206’s. The owners of faster motorsports and Carlson’s post frequently and are big supporters (yes, they sell them too).  I think only Briggs can reseal them, but from reading the forum they appear to last forever and a day. Hope so ’cause I got one.

 

 

[Rick Brown]

We run world formula in N.H. and have at least 15 karts every race. It’s a great class and seems to keep growing. Can’t beat the Briggs motors reliable and inexpensive.

[Mike Morrone]

Brad Nyman wrote:

I hope the class happens as this is what the northeast needs right now. A cheap entry class with good racing and easy maintenance to get new people involved. Clubs are hurting with class entries dwindling and people leaving the sport due to high cost. I’m all for it and hope it works. As for including clones, it could work at first but eventually they should be fazed out as the Lo206 has steady rules and the ability to not blueprint them and to keep it simple for newbies. Using clones opens up the world of blueprinted clones for way too much money and little returns. Just run the class on a hard tire rule and open chassis and bodywork and it could take off. Would be great to see a class of 15+ racing at a time at club level again.

Brad

When you say ‘hard tire rule’, could you give an example of a hard tire?

[Brad Nyman]

When I say hard tire rule i was referring to running harder tires like MG reds and Bridgestone YLC and similar tires. It is just an idea to keep costs down and those tires are readily available in the region.

Force.One motorsports
Gear up F-series racer

[Mike Morrone]

Oh for sure!

[John Matthews]

Walt Gifford wrote:

Dumb question, who can reseal a LO206? Gif

Hi Walt,

Not a dumb question at all.

The short answer is NOBODY!!!!

This is what makes LO206 such a great deal, nobody gets to monkey with the inside of the engine and then have their “guy” certify it as good.

When you do wear one out you have a couple of choices:

1. Build it into a “stock animal”, or any other animal class you like except LO206.

2. Buy a new short block and install your head, ignition, carb, etc.

3. Sell it to one of us engine builders, most will give a decent price on a sealed motor.

If you have any questions on them feel free to drop me a line, I’m not on that other forum any longer but I still love the LO206.

http://evkc.org/2701.html

Cheers,

John

 

[Troy V Smith]

Just an FYI – we recently got the official LO206 class up and running at NOLA.  NOLA has been a strong primary supporter for the Rotax and Shifter series, but…

This last weekend in only the third race of our season – 28 LO206’s took the green flag – all of which made it out of turn one!   I’ve been in karting, shifters mostly for quite a while now, but the 206 class was the most fun and closest racing I have had in a long, long time!

Anyone promoting and supporting this class is ahead of the game!  Great karting venue!

We may not be the fastest on the track...but we're having the most fun!
https://www.facebook.com/wearekarters

[Walt Gifford]

Mike Morrone wrote:

Would anyone be interested in running a LO206 class at Etown or NJMP? I think it would be beneficial for turnout to have full body and CIK karts run together. Also would be nice to have a lenient tire rule so the oval guys can run what they have on a road course track. What do you think? Looks like some competitive, close, and cost effective racing.

Mike, will you be running an LO206 and where?

Gif

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

[John Matthews]

Walt Gifford wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>John Matthews wrote:</div>
http://evkc.org/2701.html

You realize the Yamaha you took off that kart in the link is the same one in my SA Yamaha thread. I guess LO206 means local option 206cc, a sealed animal short block with a mild cam? I did some reading and it seems the LO206 is slightly faster than a box stock project 196cc clone. Probably what you’d have to do is run one in the RWYB unlimited class at E’Town and hope people see what fun it is and want to build a second kart. If you get 5 guys they’ll make a new class for you. Gif

 

Hi Gif.

Great to see that old Yami have a new life!!!! Are they running stock appearing piston ports on a sprint track near you or is it just for fun? I can remember when we had open  and SA at most races, it was a blast wondering what the builders would come up with for the next race….

As far as running the LO206 I’ve found many clubs are happy to run them with the clones. Yes they are a little faster but it’s pretty easy to score the groups separately and more racers on track = more fun ;)

I think as time goes along you’ll see more clone programs switching to LO206 because it really offers what the original intention of BSP was, just take it out of the box and run it. I wish there were more folks like us out there who were willing to take the time to build engines up but for many folks it seems like just having the time to get out to the track is about all they can muster.

Cheers,

John

[David Cole]

Troy V Smith wrote:

Just an FYI – we recently got the official LO206 class up and running at NOLA. NOLA has been a strong primary supporter for the Rotax and Shifter series, but… This last weekend in only the third race of our season – 28 LO206′s took the green flag – all of which made it out of turn one! I’ve been in karting, shifters mostly for quite a while now, but the 206 class was the most fun and closest racing I have had in a long, long time! Anyone promoting and supporting this class is ahead of the game! Great karting venue!

Troy,

Do you have any links to photos, videos or results of that?

Walt, Don’t forget, the LO206 has a rev limiter unlike the Clone. So, gearing adjustments is key on finding the right combination to get maximum speed, and keeps the engine safe from running RPMs well-beyond what the engine was designed for.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Walt Gifford]

Well the rev limiter tops out at 6K which is pretty much where you want to run a stock clone or LO206 anyway. The clone has a slight edge on a long straight but the LO206 pulls harder everywhere else so, keep the clone behind you one time on the straight and you’ll be gone. Don’t fear the clone.

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

[Scottie Melancon]

Here’s a link to the Final

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fjn3MJXtqU

Mylaps Link

http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/990947

 

 

[David Cole]

Scottie Melancon wrote:

Here’s a link to the Final http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fjn3MJXtqU Mylaps Link http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/990947

Awesome! Glad to see aero bodywork versus CIK bodywork. Are you guys using a spec tire?

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Troy V Smith]

Yes, it’s true – we were offered ice cream in the drivers meeting if everyone made it through turn one!

Yes, we are running a spec tire – MG Reds.  The only other options we are running outside of the LO206 Briggs rule set is a mandated MaxTorque clutch and NGK plug – otherwise, Briggs rule set is followed.

I would expect to see 35+ karts to take the green flag in April!  We have long time shifter drivers jumping into 206’s!

We may not be the fastest on the track...but we're having the most fun!
https://www.facebook.com/wearekarters

[Walt Gifford]

Mike, question still stands. Are you fielding a 206 kart and where?

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

[Arie Ouimet]

It would be great to see an entry level class grow in the Northeast program. I have not driven an LO206 but I have driven a world formula and it would be a blast with 20 guys out there. I’m not sure on the speed difference between the two but as far as cost goes nothing beats it. Sure you may be able to get into a Yamaha for similar cost, but you’ll be stuck trying to tune it right while a world formula will be making laps and laps and laps. I’m all for it.

 

One issue I could see arising, is drumming up new customers. If I owned a kart, rotax or Leopard, I would not want to drive a slower kart, there would be no fun factor for me, personally. It would be in the hands of the local kart shops to market these things, at every age range, find a way to get people in the kart for a test drive and it’ll sell itself.

 

Two thumbs up!

 

Arie

[Charles Kaneb]

Arie,

I raced a World Formula a week after racing an ICC, both for Mike Camarra. The WF was still fun, especially trying to keep up with the Yamahas and Jr Tags. The key is to run the slower stuff on a tight track setup unless you’ve got a big pack.

Cone chicanes help if you don’t want to try to run different configurations for different classes.

-Charles

[Walt Gifford]

John Matthews wrote:

http://evkc.org/2701.html

You realize the Yamaha you took off that kart in the link is the same one in my SA Yamaha thread.

I guess LO206 means local option 206cc, a sealed animal short block with a mild cam? I did some reading and it seems the LO206 is slightly faster than a box stock project 196cc clone.

Probably what you’d have to do is run one in the RWYB unlimited class at E’Town and hope people see what fun it is and want to build a second kart. If you get 5 guys they’ll make a new class for you.

Gif

FAA certified jet engine and aircraft technician,
Nicholson Speedway class champion 2001,
Yamaha KT100 Service Center,
41 years karting experience

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