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After gruesome testing sessions with different configurations, IMI has decided to use a Honda 50cc four-stroke for the supplied engine class for kids. We have found a combination of clutch and engine to provide the most consistent performance very similar to the Comer 50. If you are planning on running the class this is what we are providing: engine, mount plate, throttle cable, chain, sprocket and fuel. All for the regular $45 entry fee at the IMI club races, $65 CSC races. There are a number of different engine mount configurations for different karts. Please make arraignments with IMI to have an engine mount fitted to your kart this week for no charge. Bring your kart down minus engine and throttle cable. We are also going to measure the rear tire diameters for your wheels to determine what MAX OD we will use for the class.
Brad,
Could you please describe your definition of “gruesome”? Can you tell us how many motors were in this “gruesome” test? I’d rather make an arrangement than an arraignment if that’s all right with you.
Thanks,
JayBrad,
Thats great news but how do you purpose for us on the other side of the hill (western slope) get set up for this new engine etc.?
It was gruesome sitting in a kid kart testing for weeks. Those on the western slope can just send me a list of the chassis types and we will make your engine mounts with the same offset as a Comer.
Brad,
Its great that you found a motor to use for the IMI Club races.
I’m a little surprised to read that you think it is OK for the CSC races.
I was at the meeting and on the phone calls when you offered Comer 50 motors for the racers.
How can we expect the whole group of kids karts to use a motor no one has to practice with, or even comes on the kart in the first place?
Have you called every one of the kid kart dads to see if this even is acceptable?
Just wondering,
JimJim
Many of the kids in this group who have shown interest in this class have driven our kart with the engine. I am more concerned about control of the class. I believe this engine and clutch combination is a better choice. The fuel tech for a four-stroke is easy. I also think that some would have a slight advantage with past experience with the Comer. I am providing the complete drive train for their kart for no extra cost to them, how much better of a deal can you get? We are also running the high dollar Comer 50 class with open gear and muffler for those who want to stick with the blueprinted engines. We ran an A and B group last year at the same time on the track. The Honda engine package performs very similar to the Comer. The quality is much greater for both the engine and the clutch. It is much less expensive and the parts are available at any Honda dealer at a good price. The Honda engines are available for testing on non-race days for $10 a day at any CSC track. The real test will be in the next few weeks on race day in competition. If there needs to be adjustments with gears, etc. it can be made before the first CSC race.
The sad thing about this is that is my son at a huge disadvantage. We are now on the western slope and has been so excited for racing season to start but has no chance to practice with this other motor.
Is Blink the one who makes all the decisions about the kid karts?
I will be sending 2 engines up to Stacey next week that will be available. Tell me what chassis you have and I will be sure to have the right mount.
The Kid Kart class has been changed back to a Comer 50. The class will be subject to tech inspections, just as every other CSC class. You can expect the rules to be tightened up from last year. The rules will be out soon.
Remember the purpose of this class is for the kids to learn and have fun!
Thank You,
Angie MacEwenLike Mike, I also wonder what happened? This was a generous offer that sounded too good to be true. I hope if wasn’t due to criticism and bickering. It seems like everytime someone in this sport tries to do a good thing they end up getting attacked instead of praised. I was watching this post because I have another son I was thinking about getting started in karting. This would have lowered the barriers of entry significantly. Anyway, thanks Brad for all the gruesome testing and preliminary work you did. Keep the faith.
I don’t think we need to go through the whole story.
The Honda motor will be used at IMI this year, and everyone will have a chance to see how they run. (we.. my family.. will be getting a couple and taking them to the other tracks to try out as well).
Let’s just go forward, and start this year off fresh with no black cloud over this class. We want the kids to be excited and having fun at the races, where they are learning lessons on and off the track. Don’t even think about cheating – in this class or any other. Remember that the kids that have been around the track a year or more are going to be significantly faster than the brand new racer. Everyone can help by showing all of the kids examples of good sportsmanship!
Thanks,
AngieAngie,
But I have an Inquiring mind and want to know… 8)
BTW, I’ve got the skinny on the Jessica and Nick rumours that are going around. I just got the new People magazine from Mikaela.
Mike, you want the truth, you can?t handle the truth.
The whole point of the Spec Kid Kart class is learning to drive and have fun, not about going to national races. It does not matter what engine it is as long as the performance is similar and they are as close to the same between engines as possible. To get parity with the Comer 2-stroke you cannot run them out of the box, they are not like a sealed Rotax, and you must basically blueprint each engine. This means complete disassembly and checking each and every part, matching port heights and compression, alignment of the crank, etc. Even then there is not much you can do about different port timing and compression between cylinders and alignment of the block. The Honda engine does not have ports, all of the parts are quality die cast, and it is built with more precision. They are very consistent out of the box. It is also a four-stroke that does not require oil in the fuel, another variable that makes fuel tech more difficult. What you have with the Comer class now requires anyone wanting to be competitive to have their engine blueprinted at an extra expense. There still will be the difference between parts that engine builders will cherry pick to build the best one which makes it even more expensive and more disparity. Having the spec class was a way to eliminate the engine out of the equation. Now a few people want to make the engine an issue again. This has turned into a political situation with parents as the lobbyist and the track owners the politicians. All I have tried to do in selecting the Honda was to make it as fair as possible, reduce the cost of racing for everyone involved and help grow the sport by eliminating the fighting and cheating accusations which have dominated the class for the last few years. I have been doing my research on which engine to use on my own because I knew it would become a pissing match if I told anyone. I guess the track owners voted on it today with what I consider 2 votes for the Comer and 1 for the Honda. JB with all of the outside pressure could not commit one-way or the other so the Honda lost. If you want the same old brain damage we have had in the past with this class just keep everything the same as it has been. Tech will not mean anything anyway as a good blueprinted engine will pass and the beginner with the engine out of the box will also. Which one do you think would have an advantage? What is it going to take to get at least one beginner class where parents, personalities, money and politics are not involved?
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