New "Run What Ya Brung" Florida Series

[Brian Wilson]

New “Run What Ya Brung” Florida series. This class is designed for karts with “125 shifter like” performance, with a fun, laid back, low cost approach. This class is not designed to be the latest, greatest see how much you can spend class with a win at all cost attitude. This class is meant to be fun…if you race purely for the competitiveness and have a winning at all cost attitude, there are other classes for you. This is about camaraderie while reconnecting with old friends, meeting new friends and having some friendly competition in a casual race atmosphere.

The purpose of this class is not to fragment current classes, it is designed for karts or people that would not otherwise participate in a currently offered class.

Engines: Any 125 two stroke shifter engine (Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM or any other mass produced moto engine, stock or modified), 250 four stroke moto engines, ICC, DD2, Aixro, Vampire and Biland.

No 250 two strokes or 450 four strokes

Fuel will be open
Tires will be open
Weight will be open

There will be no engine tech

There will be tech for chassis and driver safety gear. Proper one piece kart driving suit will be required.

There will be strict and I mean strict rules for driving….no contact and no aggressive or defensive driving. This is your warning and you will be black flagged on the first offense. If you can’t race/drive clean, then race in the other classes offered.

You can drive in multiple classes if you’d like, but the kart you run in this class cannot be run in any other class that day.

Minimum age of 30

There will be no trophies offered on a per race basis (unless the track offers it). A gift certificate will be awarded to the series champion. You will drop your lowest points for the series, wether it’s due to mechanical, DNS, DNF or just did not attend.

The practice/race cost will be whatever that particular track charges for the day according to their published fee schedule. 100% of the race fee goes to the track.

This class is designed for a number of people with different situations. Maybe you enjoy running track days without all the stress, cost or time commitment associated with spec competition classes. Maybe you used to race competitively, but now you just enjoy the sport of karting. Maybe you used to race competitively, but have turned your time, attention and dollars to providing you child with the best equipment so they can be competitive, but you would still like to compete in a casual atmosphere. Maybe you don’t have the money or desire to have a spec kart, but enjoy karting and friendly competition. Maybe you have a kart that is just sitting in the garage collecting dust because there isn’t currently a class for it. No matter what the reason is, bring your kart out and have fun.

Please feel free to comment if you have something positive to add or see a need in changing one of the rules. If there is an engine left out that you feel should be included, please mention it and we’ll see about adding it.

If you plan on attending any or all of the events, please make that known so we can have a rough idea of numbers.

The race dates are as follows:
Ocala Gran Prix, September 21
Homestead Karting, October 5
PBIR Karting, November 24

Dates for Jacksonville (103rd St) and most likely Anderson Race Park will be added to the 2013 schedule, but not as part of the “official” 2013 series.

[James McMahon]

Throw in KF motors for good measure. They are on par with a stock moto in the right hands. Not many of them out there, but still probably more than Kawi’s.

Open fuel includes Methanol?

[Brian Wilson]

Are KF’s a shifter motor? Not trying to be ignorant, I really don’t know…..I listed the motors I’m aware of.

Open fuel includes methanol.

[marc-andre hubert]

and all these are scored the same.. and the respective tracks will run this seperatly I guess since it does not fit anywhere correct.

[Thomas Barth]

KF’s are single speed clutch TaG engines. As Jim says should be competitive in the right hands.

[Brian Wilson]

Yes, the class will be scored the same and they will be run separately, unless there are not enough karts, then they will be gridded behind the shifters and scored separately.

[Brian Wilson]

Are there any KF’s out there in the right hands that you know of?

[Brian Degulis]

I think KF is what the European’s call TAG but I’m not sure. I think what Tom is saying is that a 125CC TAG like Rotax, Parilla, PRD etc in the right hands can compete with a shifter. The problem I see is the combination of a good shifter in the right hands and a not so good TAG in less experienced hands will create a big speed diffrential. I think we should be cautious. We want limited rules but if it gets to crazy the hosting tracks won’t like it.

 

Brian

 

Brian

[Brian Wilson]

I agree and that’s why I was asking if the KF was a shifter. It should only be gear box engines or rotaries.

[marc-andre hubert]

so we can run this bring whatever you got class or stick with spec class on raceday

[Brian Wilson]

If you have a stock moto and want to adhere to their spec class rules, you can run in stock moto. If you want to run your stock moto in this class, you’re more than welcome to. But you can’t run the same kart in both classes on the same day.

[marc-andre hubert]

ok

[chad garofalo]

Marc-Andre thanks for your initiative  to start this and also thanks Brian for continuing. This is great for guys like me. I have a mod moto and purchased a second chassis with a KT100 just so I can race as there is no place for my current shifter set up. It has been over a year that my shifter has seen the track and honestly time, lack of unlimited budget and other interests keep me from FKCS, FWT etc. For me the camaraderie at the track is half the fun along with the racing.  I am in the Tampa area and it might be difficult to get to some tracks but will make the effort due to this format. The hardest part for me is that the Fall and Winter are my busy seasons for work. If there are no Hurricanes ill be there, if one makes land fall I might not be around. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

[chad garofalo]

As stated I am in the Tampa area and would love to know how many shifters there are that do not race due to the same reasons as me (mod moto, lack of unlimited budget, race for fun and camaraderie, just want to run/practice without structured format etc..) I always wanted to get a list and say lets all show up at track ? on date ? and have fun even if it for a test/tune/fun day. Can we get a list of Tampa shifters together? Post up and send a PM with your email (and phone number if you want). Ill compile a list and send it to each responder. For me “local” tracks are: Anderson, Orlando, Ocala, Ft Myers?, Tri City.

[James McMahon]

Why does it only have to be gearbox and wankels? My 2c is start with it open and see who comes.

KF is like a Rotax Max on steroids. Single gear, 219 chain. KF2 makes about 32-34 peak HP.  Times are usually on par with a Stock Moto. I figured since you have the Aixro and so on in the list, you might as well throw in KF as well thats all. I like the idea of the class. Would be cool to see all the different types of karts duke it out.

[Frank Rapisarda]

Does anyone know if this class will be run later in the year like around x-mass? NJ guy coming down for x-mass with a mod moto and would like to race some place in FL.

[Brian Wilson]

James, although I respect your opinion, I respectfully disagree. For one reason or another, the size of shifter classes have dwindled and at some tracks are no longer offered. There are alot of shifters out there that don’t race or those that do that would prefer to run with larger field. When I got into shifters, there was no spec stock moto class…it was just shifters. Then ICC came along and really screwed the class (in my opinion) and fragmented the class into spec stock moto, mod moto and ICC. Eventually non spec stock moto and mod moto were left with no place to race. With dwindling numbers, shifters had the choice of jumping to TaG or not having anyone to race against. This class is being put together to bring those people out and give them a place to have fun with some friendly competition. Why is Aixro on the list? You may call it a selfish reason, but Brian D and myself both have one and we’ll show up.

 

[Brian Degulis]

Maybe a little selfish but the Aixro is much closer to shifter performance than TAG. Aixro and TAG isn’t a competition. Be patient if this takes off like I think it will someone will do the same format with TAG.

 

Brian is right. Anderson Race Park Welcomes shifters on track days but they’re concerned about the noise with 10 or more on the track in a racing format. They like the idea and would love to host but they just can’t.

I’m going to a Banquet for Tri City Kart Club on Sunday. They have some awards for 2 of my kids. I know they would welcome this. As mentioned earlier the track isn’t the greatest. I think it’s workable but it’s up to Brian since he’s taken charge. Let me know if you want me to persue it?

 

Brian

[Bob Baldwin]

Brian W: who was the group , Org. , that brought the ICC’s over to the USA ? I can’t remember.

[Brian Wilson]

There will be a slight change up in the dates. I just got off the phone with the management at PBIR and a private group has leased out the entire facility for November 24th and they are changing the race date. He said he will email it to me this evening and I will pass it along as soon as possible.

[Brian Wilson]

Question for participants on race dates. PBIR had to change the November 24th race date and we have a couple of options and I would like input to see what you would prefer. The only other date available for PBIR in November is the 30th, which is the same weekend as Thanksgiving, which may be an issue for those traveling or hosting company during the Holiday. The other dates are either going to be October 13th or December 15th. The other option is to move the Homestead date from October 5th to November 2nd and have PBIR on October 13th, which would put one race a month with a few weeks between races. I’m flexible, just want to try and accommodate everyone.

Here are the choices.

Calendar 1                                                                          Calendar 2

Ocala September 21st                                                   Ocala September 21st

Homestead October 5th                                               PBIR October 13th

PBIR November 30th                                                    Homestead November 2nd

Or we could put another date for Ocala in November and have PBIR in December and have a 4 race series.

Any thoughts or comments?

[Brian Degulis]

I like calender 2 more and I won’t mind doing Ocala Twice. just based on distance to travel.

Brian

[Brian Wilson]

It has been brought to my attention by the tracks that they have one minor rule change/addition….a FULL REAR BUMPER must be used. Doesn’t matter if it’s plastic or metal, but it must provide full coverage.

[chad garofalo]

Just wondering what the status is on the race next Saturday Is it still on? If so, how bout a head count.

[Brian Wilson]

The race is still on and I will be there……..

[Brian Degulis]

It was originaly posted as a night race but according to the OGP website it’s been changed to a day race. I’m planing to be there.

Brian

[Kurt Mathewson]

September 28th race at PBIR will be a night race (guaranteed to be over by 11pm) Practice available Friday night. Registration opens at 2pm, practice starts at 5:00pm.

Shifters will have 2 classes, Open and Masters. Open includes Stock Moto at 395lbs and ICC/Mod Moto at 405lbs. Masters weights are 405lbs for Stock Moto and 415lbs for ICC/Mod Moto. Masters should be 30 or older or driver over 200lbs.
Also, open tires brand. MG yellows will be available for purchase but not required. VP98 fuel will be available for shifters and 93 for Rotax.

Right now it looks like 15+ shifters committed. Let’s try to get over 20!

[Brian Wilson]

The first race at OGP this weekend has become a day race versus the originally scheduled night race. Gates will open @ 7 am

[Chris Bany]

Did any “Run What Ya Brung” karts show?

[Brian Degulis]

I agree this new and improved forum is dying a slow death and it’s a shame. Lack of participation leads to more of the same because after a while you don’t bother checking in any more.

Brian

[Chris Bany]

Just my opinion here:  I find it hard to believe this forum is/was the cause of no one showing up for the “run what ya brung” class.

Why not sell the relic engines, and join the 21st century – Stock Moto. All else seems like a lost cause ..again, just my opinion.

[Rob Kozakowski]

Nothing against the Stock Moto, but I found it funny when you said “sell the relic engines” – I thought you were talking about the Honda’s!

It’s just interesting how one person’s vision of joining the 21st century means using an engine from the 20th century.

[marc-andre hubert]

21st century shifter kart racing is stock moto, lap what you want, if you want to race stock moto or KZ is what you need.

[Brian Wilson]

I went to the races, but couldn’t take my Aixro. According to the tracking info I have, my engine is still sitting in customs in NY where it has been for almost a month now.  As far as others karts, Brian D emailed me that a family member was having health issues and he was going to be out of state for the weekend and unable to attend. There was a grid of 13 or 14 shifters….if all were stock Honda, I don’t know. I do know there were no ICC’s.  Since my motor hasn’t cleared customs yet and still needs to be shipped from NY, doesn’t look like I’ll be making Homestead either.

I believe the lack of participation may also have to do with the lack of traffic on this new forum version. On the old forum, you couldn’t go 10 minutes without a new post being made in the shifter section, now you can go a day or more. Don’t know if it’s fewer members in general or just fewer active posters.

[Chris Bany]

Rob, I totally see the irony in using a engine originally built in the 90’s.  It is what it is :-/  Stock moto is what is popular and finally gaining momentum in FL.

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