TaG vs ICA (not horsepower)

[Rick Schmidt]

Not going to argue with an ME. But we have been racing a while and they lock. There is very kittle pad wear. It is extemely hard to get a perfect plug chop. If the motor locks, so does the rear end.

The rpm range and properties is a little different. Driving wise, not much difference. Cost wise, huge difference.

It is still a momentum class as is Tag. It teaches smooth driving.

Cody also has a point. There is a time to pitch, toss, go deep, me meant it etc…

But go to a big race and watch Rainey from Swedetech standing in the most important corners shooting speeds with his radar gun. (a good one to boot) Thats how important corner speed is. That is typically achieved by smooth consistent lines.

[Garrick Mitchell]

Rick, that’s fair. I’m not trying to say the clutch NEVER locks fully, but from an engineering standpoint it makes a big difference to have a part of the drivetrain that CAN slip. Having just said that, I suppose one could argue even direct drive has the tire-pavement interface for slippage. D’oh. I’ll sop there. 8)

Charles, when the motor blew, did anything outside of the engine need replacing (besides, maybe, the rear tires and your shorts 😳 )?

[Rick Schmidt]

Garrick,

I think the Mother of all short changes for Charles, was Greeley. Hell mine even needed changing!

Yea, I think it’s pretty positive. The drivers who tend to lock the brakes a lot (like a lot of Ica drivers do) tend to break off the clutch pedestals quite frequent.

All I nkow about tire-pavement interface is… there is a 100% of hte tires abillity to grip. Use it how you want, but there’s only 100%.

Later, Rick

[cgordon]

Garrick,

My Rotax just needed a rebuild with new bearings, connecting rod, and piston. No external damage to the engine or anything else. I was lucky that pieces didn’t flail around internally and cause more serious damage. I don’t know what caused the failure but there was a batch of defective Rotax parts a few years ago and I suspect some of those might have been in my engine.

Rick,
Fortunately my flight time at Greeley was too short for me to get too scared, and besides, it was difficult enough just for me to figure out where I was. :loony: The racing accidents I’ve had have always been less scary than the near misses because the accidents always happen quickly and are done. One of worst ones was when another car spun in front of my FV in Turn 9 at Riverside at about 120 mph. I don’t know how I missed him, but it was a matter of inches. It took me a few laps to calm down after that one. :bow

Charles

[Rick Schmidt]

Even a slight bobble in turn 9 was enough to get a load in the britch’s Should have tried it in a Superkart, wide open down the entire dragstrip (including all the shut down area), just waiting, waiting, waiting, then all of a sudden turn left off of the dragstrip, kart stops to drift, then your go flat out into the rt sweeping banker. What a rush!!!

The esses at Riverside are still one of my favorite complexes in racing. Wow that makes me feel old though.

I should post some old photo’s. I’ll bet Brad and some others have some good ones. I’d like to see some of Superior and Longmont sprint tracks.

[Mike Jansen]

@Rick Schmidt wrote:

The esses at Riverside are still one of my favorite complexes in racing. Wow that makes me feel old though.

That place has been closed for HOW LONG? You probably were a member of Howdy Doodey’s Peanut club too eh? 8)

Man, you really are old. I thought you were more my age… 8)

I’m bringing prunes to the next race for ya. That and a walker. 8)

Would you like tennis balls on the support legs that don’t have wheels? They you can shuffle along.

BTW… I’ll look into getting you some velcro tennis shoes too. 8)

[Author]

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