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I am interested seeing an affordable shifter class added to the CSC. Curious to how many others would drive this class??
Dan,
What is an affordable shifter class? explain.
that’s whay I got out of the shifters-too expensive to be competitive.
http://www.ekartingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=27321&highlight=
That is a post I started on e-karting news about the stock 125 class, a lot of interesting posts.
We’ve done the Pro 125 class for 2 years, and it is very expensive and maintenance intensive……….. Even G1 has gone high budget with people putting down serious money for high horsepower motors. This is an “arms race” that you have to engage in to your limit (whatever that is) in order to be competitive.
I think a stock moto based 125 class would have a great deal of appeal to karters wanting to move up, or teams on a budget. It would re focus the emphasis on driver skill and tuning – where it should be at this level of motorsports in my opinion.
The devil is always in the details, however. First you have to define (and clearly document the tech rules of what constitutes “stock.”
Here’s an example:
CR 125 or YZ 125 motors only. Eliminate any grey areas — no grinding on the motor at all — period. Stock ignition (obviously — PI wouldn’t be of value anyway). Stock or stock profile aftermarket piston (for reliability). 38mm or smaller carb – no blueprinting allowed. (38’s because there are a surplus of them readily available). Single fuel pump — no pump-around systems allowed. Bottom end — all stock no fancy bearings. Stock clutch — all the way through. Stock reed cage and reed assembly. No straightening or machining of the intake manifold. Spec pipe and silencer.
If you could get people to agree to the motor, then the real challenge comes — weight and tires. I think that 385lbs is a “doable” weight for all but about 5% of the potential drivers. Tires….use a fairly hard compound like MG reds or something else that might last a couple of races.
Finally, don’t treat the class as only a novice, “hobby” or “older racer” class, make it open to anyone.
Are there problems with this kind of reasoning?….Absolutely. If the “Hot Shoes” decide to run in the class, novices will get lapped. Heavier guys will not like the weights. Tires will sure to be an issue, because some chassis work better with different brands. Finally, the supply of existing moto engines just got severly devalued because they are all illegal.
What’s good about it is that it would make for extremely reliable motors and make it more affordable to a broader spectrum of racers. I think they would be a little quicker than the fastest TAGs.
The answer to your question……”would we run the class” ….. maybe if the rules makers let us. 8)
Yea, good points Wayne. It would be nice to move up, to a class thats good for a team with a Budget.
I’d be in but i’d like to see a weight closer to 395, tuna and chicken are getting old (as I eat my salad with only lemon wedges…)
8)
Would it make sense instead of adding a class if there is enough interest to make the 125 Novice a stock engine class, spec pipe, OE ingnition and spec tires.
Just a thought.
Again If you have the interest, make it simple. Please don’t just add another class.
I’ve taken a run at this in previous forum topics, so thanks Dan for bringing it up again.
For the record, I only want to run a shifter if we have a stock class. I don’t have the time or $ for the extra maintainance required by a modified motor. A co-worker with a shifter (who also hasn’t raced yet) feels the same, as I’d bet many newcomers do.
I like Wayne’s suggestions. I’d have one problem, though; without a straight manifold, my air filter would interfere with the seat strut. And I’m sure this would be worse with a spec air box.
I asked several people about a stock moto class yesterday at Steamboat, and every response was positive.
I was talking today with a guy in CA who runs in the stock moto class. They let theirs open to any driver, not just novice. Their rules are basically the rules as posted on SKUSA’s web site. It is a rapidly growing class.
But one thing I have wondered as we are in this situation. Where does a good driver go if they can’t play in the top class? We can’t afford to play in the Pro 125 class but both boys could clearly run there competitivly. If they want to run shifters, could they play in a stock or spec class? We could afford that. Is it Pro or nothing?
I have had some guys tell me we shouldn’t be in the Tag class, it’s a novice class. Where should we be? If you reach a certain skill level but can’t afford the level where others with your skill level are playing, are you supposed to quit?
I for one am personally offended that TaG is a novice class. Tell that to Jack Warrington and others…
What your boys have shown is that there is room for improvement…
turn the S2 class into a Stock 125 expert class!
If I could move my modified engine, then a stock class would be right up my alley!
Anyone want a fast YZ engine package?I for one am personally offended that TaG is a novice class. Tell that to Jack Warrington and others…
Took the words out of my mouth.
Doug – You know my opinion of Tag class. For those of you that don’t it is pretty simple. Tag is NOT for novice or rookie racing. It will soon be considered a top class with all of the support from racers it is receiving throughout the country. It will continue to grow and should eventually dominate the karting world, period. Why does everyone think that just because you push and pull a shifter lever you are a better driver? You just have more experience with that kind of racing . Tag motors are 125cc motors with roughly 50-75% of the horsepower of Pro 125’s. They cost 75% less per year to race and you must become a great driver to be competitive. You don’t have to work on them throughout the race weekend and you actually can enjoy the weekend. Right Jack, Rich, Doug and all of the other shifter drivers/teams that are now racing tag? Tag is becoming the largest class in karting throughout the country, why would you want to run a shifter? Just my opinion, but it’s a damn good one. The only class this year in Stars that rewarded the winner with an automatic 3 day test weekend in Europe was Easykart (tag). Easykart also paid $10,000 to win the series. My brother’s team still has a shot at the $10,000 and if they win they basically paid for the chassis/motor/tires and entry fees for the year. That wouldn’t even pay for the damn motor and rebuilds on a shifter kart.
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