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Hi Tim,
I’m one to ‘fess up. I’ll be running a Tag 4 stroke next year. I ran a Biland Tag Masters kart last year, my first year, and I’m totally sold on four strokes. It is absolutely the way to go for beginners. We’re all hoping the class size will grow next year. They ran all this year and I know a lot of people, including my co-worker, are buying brand new 4 stroke set-ups for next year. I hope you join us!! Talk to Brad, he is very friendly and helpful. Good luck!!
Dave
do you have time for a phone call if so email the number at [email protected]
I would like to talk to you about the 4 stroke.Tim
Tim,
I’ve been out of town for a couple of weeks so I haven’t had a chance to add my two cents worth. Over the last 50 plus races we have run WF, Rotax, Tag and Tag 4 Cycle. By far, the most enjoyable and the most “bang for the buck” has been the Tag 4 Cycle. In addition to other classes, this year we ran a Vampire engine and found it to be the easiest to set-up, race and maintain of all the engine packages we have ever used. It definitely provides the biggest ear-to-ear grin factor.
Apparently, others have felt the same thing. This class has taken off like nothing I have seen. The four cycle class just started this year and there were over ten entries at the last IMI CLUB race. At the Tag World Finals they had so many entries they split the class into light and heavy. Compare that to other engine packages that have been around for years and provide only a few entries. I think the four cycle classes will be among the largest classes in Colorado next year.
Despite having the most horsepower, the Vampire engine has been easier on the 219 chain than anything we have ever run. I don’t know if it is the lower overall RPM, larger front gear or smoother power delivery but we get great wear out of the 219 chain with the four stroke. We have raced the senior Vampire engine four times and have had multiple practice days and we are on only our second chain. I replaced the first one only because we had so much more time on it than I have ever got out of the 219 chain. I put on a new chain for the Tag World Finals but I’m not sure I needed to.
As for the clutch, the Vampire uses a multi-plate clutch much like a motorcycle. It is far more heavy duty than the fly weight type clutches we have had on our two stroke Tag engines.
The only down side I see to the four strokes is that other than the Tag World Finals or International racing there is not a national series where you can race them YET. In Colorado you can race them at the club or regional (CSC) level.
With all that said, we will likely race the national Stars program next year so we will have to revert back to a slower, higher maintenance two stroke engine package. Furthermore, we may also race a car next year. If so, we won’t be able to race our four stroke and may offer our three month old, Tag World Finals Championship winning Intrepid Explorer Pro/Vampire kart for sale.
If you haven’t done so already, go to IMI and talk to Brad. He has over 25 years of karting experience and will give you straight talk on four strokes or any other karting subjest.
Whatever you decide to do – have fun at it!
Larry and everyone else
Thanks for everything and Im sure now that Im joining a good group of racers. The information supplied by everyone will be put to good use and dont think for a moment that I wont over in your pits looking over your shoulder or asking questions. I have found one questions leads to about 5 -10 others, Im a sponge sometimes.Tim
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