Don
One of the best posts I’ve seen on this subject.
Just one thing I’d like to point out. The Rotax is a world formula. The rules for it are universal in every country. As a person moves up and the kid grows older, you keep the same engine package. You get to keep all your spares.
As a Dad who started with Briggs flatheads at IMI and moved up through dozens (it seems like) of different formulas, every time we moved up a class, I gave the guy who bought my old stuff a $1,000+ worth of “useless” (to me) spares. If Rotax had been available, I would have gone that route.
Rotax Max is the 3rd largest sanctioning body in the country, behind IKF and WKA. At the rate Rotax is growing, next year it will be the second largest. There are over 5,000 engines in the country. If you’re so inclined, you can take your MinMax or any other Rotax to a real national championship. Potentially, you can take it to a World Championship. Not one of the other available alternatives offer such choices or opportunities.
One last thing, Rotax comes with a warrenty.