I would call and talk to Brad. This class is going to be fun next year. Sounds like the field is going to build up with some really good people.
Joe, You are running a little over weight just as we are. We can feel our 15 – 20 lbs in the Rotax, it is pretty obvious with the limited torque available. The 4-stroke on the other hand has gob’s of bottom and seems to be less affected by the weight. You are more than welcome to drive Romans. We have been cycling butt’s in that thing and everyone has had the same response. Wow! You’ve seen A.J. out there reeling in and passing the very fast Tag Seniors and DD2’s and running comparable times to the shifters.
As far as Joe S’s comment. Racing cost money. That is something you have to be aware of coming in. Aside from the typical racing cost: entry fee’s, test tune, crash damage, tires, fuel, transport, lodging, consumables or whatever level you accept or how deep you want to go. There are definatley cost involved. You need to research before diving in and pick your battles and race what you can handle. Although, the only cost incured on the 4-stroke this year that would not be part of the above (and those are are cost’s for any kart racing you decide to do) is add oil and about $40 dollars worth of jets. We are still learning to tune the pumper carb and have made good progress. You do not need to chase that knifes edge tuning like you do a 2 stroke. Set it and run it, no changes needed during the day.
So far so good. Time will tell if the package stays together and what the costs of running long term. We are racking up hours and we’ll see. I think Brad is on the leading edge of this thing. Look at it this way. Lets take 10-12 of the best drivers and put them on these 4 strokes and cut them loose. Same motor, same performance properties, great dependable power. And I think the racing will damn good. None of the “your motor is better at this track” or “that turn made it a Leopard track” just go duke it out. I’m really excited to see the Tag Worlds and a good field of these babies screaming into the brake zones. It sounds awesome, and will remind me of Monaco.
I have not seen a class that is as attractive for the bigger drivers than this class. It gives the drivers who can’t make weight a chance to be competitive in a class rather than just know they’ll finish somewhere in the pack and hope to find someone to race with. Screw that, get a stroker and go for the throat.
I know this is kind of dreamy but: I can see enough entry’s to have a light and heavy. Imagine a 4 stroke Masters group coming down to take the gren flag with say: Warrington, Hersh, the Latins, Some of the Southern boys, Watkins, Keesling, Jansen, Reed, Hawley, Desanti, Kravanek, Dennin, Ebersole, Jacobellis, Cooks, Vasquez, Gordon, Walls, Gutierrez (and the many I missed) This would be some of the best racing you could ask for. Same motor, same chance. It would look like some of the Mini Max races we’ve seen, running in tains waiting for an error so you can overtake. It’s only a dream now, but it could happen in the next season or two.
Am I high on the 4-stroke? You bet. It looks good, runs hard, pretty much hands off maintanence. Seems to make a chassis work great. A.J. even made the comment “I’ve never felt a chassis work like this” Just changing a Tag motor to a stroker on the same chassis. For those who know A.J. or any thing about his racing history. That is quite a statement.
Anyway, come ride Romans or Brads and see what you think.