Blink,
I understand the commercial quality of Honda engines, I was using them in a commercial karting operation ten years before IMI was opened. I also have used the boxstock Comer K 80, sealed in our Junior program over the past four years and have noticed that the only difference in competiton has been the parents ability to tune the carburetor and the drivers experience and level of talent. The Comer K80 retails for $795.00, with the clutch included and if reasonably maintained will last a full season without rebuilding or even doing a top end. Blueprinting them adds an additional $700.00 to 1,000.00 to bring them to WKA/IKF national standards. Neither the WKA or IKF tech manuals requires that the engines be blueprinted to compete at any level. Blueprinting doesn’t make an 8 to 11 year old racer a better driver.
The move to Honda’s in the Junior program would just serve to further isolate Colorado karters from national competiton unless you plan to go to Canada. When in Rome do as the Romans……..fortunately or unfortunately Honda engines are not in competition in the United States. The Comer K 80 is the overwhelming choice in national competition.
Mike, we are trying to have a civil discussion about karting issues. Nothing in my nearly 30 years of karting experience has anything to do with crack use. You can be a benevolent dictator when you are the only one in power and have the only widget……once again we NOW have five kart tracks, an in state racing series and a Grand Prix committee and lots of confusion. The dictator doesn’t own or have power over all of the states karting industry…..the Hulman, George, France families or Bernie E. have nothing to do with Colorado karting.
Once again it appears that the vast majority of the Junior I families and others are asking for a one engine class, with written rules, simplicity and clarity. There are going to be a few caught in the minority but bite the bullet now and the class will grow and thrive statewide. As you said ” You can please some……..but you can’t please all” The racers will benefit and so will the businesses that support them.