What happened to 80's?

[Ted Hamilton]

Seems like 80’s are a perfect “transition” or beginner shifter class — not as “abusive” on the body as 125’s, still pretty quick, and easiest to throw on a typical 2-cycle sprint chassis with few other changes…

Just curious why they died off, or were never as popular with the adult segment…  They gotta’ be at least as fun as KT’s! :)  (FWIW, my first kart experience was a Formula Super A  Parilla TT36 on a bare-bones Swiss Hutless Corsa…so I’m a bit biased in my karting perspective….)

I have an 80 here in NC now, so if anyone wants to come play at GoPro, VIR, CMP, RA, etc., I’d love the chance to meet some of y’all and get a class together.  I also have a KT-100 I can swap on and a 100cc DAP, so there’s options.

Any input appreciated.  Thanks!

~Ted

PS – Here’s the kart just done tonight:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10100669537548229

www.facebook.com/hamiltonhelmets/
2014 Praga Dragon / IAME KA-100

[Greg Lindahl]

I very much agree with you, Ted.

Here in Northern California we still have a few active modified CR80 sprint and a road racing karts.  High maintenance.

I think the issue with this class is modification.  Now that the stock Honda CR125 class is popular, a stock Honda CR80 class seems a natural.

I have a modified CR 80 on a sprint kart and a stock CR80 on a laydown road racer.  I road race both karts.  The stock engine is low maintenance. Only the stock reeds are a high frequency item (~2 hours of road racing).  The modified engine gets a new piston every 1-2 hours.  The stock engine gets a piston every 3-4 hours.  I have never had a piston failure, for good reason.  When the modified engine loses any expensive parts, it will be parked and I’ll stay with the stock CR80 laydown only.

Stock CR80; Fun, fast (enough) and low(er) cost!

[Charles Skowron]

Greg Lindahl wrote:

….I think the issue with this class is modification.  Now that the stock Honda CR125 class is popular, a stock Honda CR80 class seems a natural…..

 

Many years ago on the old forum, when the Stock Honda 125 was gaining momentum, I proposed that very idea, supporting it with many of the reasons I mentioned above.

The late, great Rick Blood replied that it would be a great concept. But there was one issue about the CR80 that wouldn’t make the idea as straightforward as the Stock 125.

He was involved with his local SKUSA Mission region where they had a cadet-age shifter class that used stock Honda 80s.

What was discovered was that there was enough of a discrepancy between various CR80 cylinders where parts picking became an issue in the class.

If I recall correctly, he stated that they worked with Woltjer Engines on the issue and their solution was: instead of completely stock cylinders in the class, they allowed a 1/2 inch port (or maybe it was a quarter inch), and nothing more, to the cylinders to resolve the parts selecting issue, which apparently seemed to work.

Besides that, I still don’t see why a Stock 80/85 cc class wouldn’t work either. Well, one thing is I don’t know is if Honda sells spare 80cc engines alone, or a “Kit” for a cr80/85 like they do with the cr125. The other concern would be a similar one with the CR125s: Will Honda keep making the parts for them?

Funny thing about that is, unlike the 125s where I think only Yamaha still makes a 125cc 2-stroke, 3 of the “Big 4” Japanese manufacturers currently sell 2-cycle 80/85cc motocross bikes.

And the only one of the four that does not?……. Honda.

—————————————-

C. Skowron

 

 

 

 

 

[Ted Hamilton]

I’m looking forward to firing mine up this week and driving next weekend… though my rock hard used tires will leave something to be desired.  Time to apply some dirt kart magic to ’em….

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2014 Praga Dragon / IAME KA-100

[Charles Skowron]

Why did the 80/85 shifters die off? Part of it might be when shifters took off nationally. Before that there were Senior-class 80s on the regional and club level all over. But when shifters hit the national level, it eventually morphed into: Senior class race 125s, Juniors race 80. That perception seemed to trickle down to local level afterwards.

But probably the biggest reason for their disappearance? TaG. It offered about the same power as an 80, but in a ready-made package specifically for karting. The club racers that would have raced an 80 shifter gravitated over to TaGs, eventually the 80cc Juniors at the national level did as well, until most of the 80s were gone, except for a few diehard areas like NorCal, and MSOKC in Ohio.

And I’ll never understand why they fell out of favor either. Let’s face it, many of us would have a much better time racing an 80 shifter than getting overwhelmed in a breakneck 125. And they’re a much more appropriate vehicle for a newbie driver looking for a shifter kart experience and are dead set on that only. Everyone I’ve read discuss it mention how the 80 engines’ smaller size is a better fit for a kart. Best reason of all, their lower HP levels and subsequent top speeds mean that a front-brake chassis isn’t required, whereas in a 125 it’s mandatory.

It doesn’t take a genius to know that the lower entry costs from a rear-brake only chassis would make the class a lot more appealing to some.

But alas, it’s karting.

———————

C. Skowron

[Greg Lindahl]

We can still purchase brand new Honda CR80’s as kits or parts.

I now recall something about the manufacturing tolerance issues.  A restricted input would be fine as long as it was a large as possible.

There’s even a rumor of a bolt-on electric start being developed…

[Jason r ewers]

<p>The 80cc is making a resurgence in the Midwest. We are getting upto 20 entries at some of our races. I know of a handful of more people putting packages together for this season so we should have north of 25 entries </p>

[john Dillon]

Jason what track or tracks do you race at?

[john Dillon]

I love 80’s. I was one of the ones involved in getting that class started at MSOKC in central ohio. Its still a strong class there today. That was 18 years ago. In those 18 years Ive raced 80’s 125’s and currently a 250. 80 shifters are still my favorite. They are bullet proof just about, much cheaper to maintain, and doesnt hurt you quite as bad as a 125.  I know a lot of folks feel the 80 is for jr class and so many want that manly 125, but I contend the 80 shifter is not a lot slower especially on a small track.

My feelings are the 80 shifter would make a great senior class, 35 and older senior class. Face it guys, as we age our bodies arent as forgiving, let the young guns play in the 125’s.

This year my step daughter will be racing in the l206 class. Id love to bring my 80 along as we visit some of the midwest tracks. Lets bring the 80 class back.

[Dave Holstein]

I race in the RedLine oil karting championship at Sonoma raceway in the 80 Masters class.

Totaly a blast!

[Ted Hamilton]

Some of y’all need to move to NC….:)  Or I need to buy a couple more $500 chassis and $600 engines and make a class!  LOL

www.facebook.com/hamiltonhelmets/
2014 Praga Dragon / IAME KA-100

[Dave Holstein]

Or move to California where the 80 class all started.    Lol, jk of course.

we all need to do what we can to boost this class because like a lot of you realize this class is grossly underrated.

I started in this two seasons ago with zip experience in any form of competitive driving. Was a little rough at first, but I would never think of running any other class/engine package.

 

 

 

[Greg Lindahl]

Gents.

Is the resurgence with stock engines?

[Dave Holstein]

My group still runs fully modded, in fact it’s practically an open class, just a few things we need to hold, bore, stroke, head volume, carb.

[David McDowell]

I heard in the rumor mill that John at Fast-tech was working on a stock 80 cylinder head and piston package to bring the class back together, since from what I heard the whole 80 class was killed by the programmable ignition and heavy modifications.

So maybe he was going to source the cylinders and pistons and only sell similar units so that the class would be even.

[Patrick Haney]

I believe John was offering a top end rebuild kit including cylinder, head, piston etc for $350. Basically his cost, to get the stock program started.  There was some productive discussion amongst the 80 class drivers at Monterey Bay Karters in Marina Ca.  But is sort of lost steam with no one taking him up on his offer.

For club racing it is a no brainier.  Less frequent rebuilds, piston failures and run on 92 octane.  I would like to see a JR stock 80cc shifter class started (12-15) for those who what an introduction to shifters without leaping to S5 or the high cost of competing in TaG Jr.

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