Karting V. Tracking a bike

[GearHd6]

The tires are way cheaper on karts. And you can rotate the outside two tires to the inside so has to keep the costs down.

Not on oval karts you can't. You run 8" wide right sides and anywhere from 5.5-6" wide left sides. To run up front in the racing I did you need new right sides for every race weekend.

[Garrett]

I'd wanna take left and right turns

[Tunertype]

What about legends or dwarf car racing. I think those have full cages and run 600cc SS engines. Cars cost around 5-10k used. They've racer at nhms on the road course.

[e30addict]

What about legends or dwarf car racing. I think those have full cages and run 600cc SS engines. Cars cost around 5-10k used. They've racer at nhms on the road course.

They're like NASCAR though; adverse to rain.

[breakdirt916]

hey - in case nobody else made this comment, tracking a car must be more expensive than tracking a bike! oh, and I have no experience in tracking either...or a kart...

wait, what was the original question about?

[nhbubba]

I think those have full cages and run 600cc SS engines.

Yamaha 1200 or 1250cc motorcycle engines I believe.

[MaRce1o]

I believe they are FJR1200 motors

[carsick]

I believe they are FJR1200 motors

Legend cars use an FJ1200 without the "R". I have one that hasn't been cannibalized. They also use crate motors that Yamaha still sells new, they are sealed XJR1250 (bikes only sold in the rest of the world).

[nhbubba]

Pure curiosity, what does 'sealed' mean in that context?

[carsick]

Sealed means the motors are affixed with "seals" that indicate if they have been disassembled to modify them. It's an attempt to level the playing field so that driving skill and chassis setup can prevail over mega dollars and HP. Many sanctioning bodies (other than Legend) specify the engine builder that the whole class or series has to use, so they're all modified exactly the same. I'm no expert here, I've only seen it from the pit crew side in circle track and know a Legend owner/driver/tuner/guru/coach. It's a topic on par with oil/tires/guns/religion if you bring it up with someone who is being beaten by dollars in a class that allows modifications, or a suspiciously fast sealed motor. I can tell you there are a lot more fistfights in car pits than with bikes!

[nhbubba]

I can tell you there are a lot more fistfights in car pits than with bikes!

That really doesn't sound like very much fun.

[Kurlon]

Used to be two options that were legal for a Legend car:

Unsealed 1200 motor - Had compression test limits, and they like to test you hot right as you come off the track when you'll read highest. You had to use OEM parts, but you could squeeze the compression up a bit by 'truing' the cylinder and head, tighter cylinder to piston clearances, etc. Basically a blueprinted motor.

Sealed 1250 motor - Tighter tech requirements, at one time only a few shops were authorized to unseal, rebuild and seal a motor, lower compression test limits.

Now I believe they are all sealed 1250 motors and you HAVE to go through Legends Cars itself for motor service and rebuilds. They dumped all the authorized third party shops.

[MaRce1o]

Legend cars use an FJ1200 without the "R". I have one that hasn't been cannibalized. They also use crate motors that Yamaha still sells new, they are sealed XJR1250 (bikes only sold in the rest of the world).

Thats it lol

[number9]

Just out of interest, does anyone here race karts?

[GearHd6]

I used to, been years though. I raced oval, I'm not sure what's available near you.

[MaRce1o]

Long time ago lol

[breakdirt916]

Breakdirt916 is hilarious!!

[TheIglu]

Long time ago lol

Are you from a place that prohibits smiling in photos?

[cdovego]

Gary from CMP shifted from bikes to karts, says it's much cheaper. Same monster but less consumables.

[MaRce1o]

Are you from a place that prohibits smiling in photos?

You can't see my face lol. But I remember we were all miserable that day because it was cold and rainy

[MaRce1o]

Here ya go lol

[db79]

Raced them a long time ago at Whip City, Poughkeepsie and Shelton. We also ran mini sprints at Whip City.

[Garrett]

Holy thread revival batman!

For what its worth, I did buy a race kart. But because I'm not very smart, I bought one powered by alcohol but have no idea where to get the fuel so in my shed it sits. Shrug

[GearHd6]

You bought it to ride around your house? It's actually methanol. Tracks sell it. Where I raced you HAD to race with track fuel. Your entry fee paid for daily fuel. You rolled up into the grid with an empty tank, a track official would verify the tank was dry, then you'd fill with their fuel. After the race, you pumped out the fuel, which you got to keep so by the end of the year you had a surplus of fuel.

[MaRce1o]

Holy thread revival batman!

For what its worth, I did buy a race kart. But because I'm not very smart, I bought one powered by alcohol but have no idea where to get the fuel so in my shed it sits. Shrug

Idk where you are but theres a gas station in canton ma that sells ethanol roght at the pump