Some Chassis Humor

Erik Frank · Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2001 7:08 pm Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Rick,

Thanks for posting the MFG summary! I'm copying/pasting it into my database for future reference. It could be very handy one day for trying to match up parts and part numbers at the local kart shop. As well as when it comes time to shop for a new kart.

Maybe Ekarting news could resurrect a Documents section (or tech info depository?) for this type of stuff??

-erik

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

quote:
Originally posted by Erik Frank:

Gee Oscar, thanks for the vote of confidence!

I didn't get to see what happened but I was just joking and hoping you would buy a new CRG from us.

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

quote:
Originally posted by Gary Robinson:
Hey Oscar, finishing second by 0.005 sec is getting whipped up on? Ouch!

Won't happen anymore, you've shamed us into full onslaught mode. Rebels will rule again!!!

S&S

You know, I never said who he beat or whipped up on or by how much. You let the cat out of the bag.

PS Anytime an old guy beats a kid that is a whipping.

Oscar Aguilera · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1614

quote:
Originally posted by Gary Osterholt:

D.A.M. Racing, is the racing division of CRG. I was able to get two D.A.M. drivers chassis after 1996 North American Championship. All I can say is what a chassis. You could feel every change and put the kart anywhere and be fast.

Needless to say, I ended up trashing one of the karts. Purchased a bare frame. The new frame was pretty much worthless.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

PS. I'm not saying CRG are bad karts. I had alot of success with them.

Gary when you purchased the karts they were Purple and Herons. But what alot of people didn't notice about Herons is there are 3 chassis types within that model and year. Unless you purchased the same model you would of course would have noticed a difference. I don't believe the worthless part.

CRG makes: Renspeed, Red Baron, and GP. I didn't think anyone knew about Red Baron Karts here in the states.

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

quote:
Originally posted by Oscar Aguilera:

Gary when you purchased the karts they were Purple and Herons. But what alot of people didn't notice about Herons is there are 3 chassis types within that model and year. Unless you purchased the same model you would of course would have noticed a difference. I don't believe the worthless part.

CRG makes: Renspeed, Red Baron, and GP. I didn't think anyone knew about Red Baron Karts here in the states.

Oscar,

Yes the CRG were purple, but were not the Heron model. At the 1996 NAKC, CRG bought off the model called IRIS. I believe this was right before SSC started to import the CRG line. The IRIS model is very similar to the KALIFORNIA model. The replacement frame was a yellow KALIFORNIA, purchased through SSC. As for the worthless part, I mean it was very very hard to set up correctly.

As for the Red Baron chassis line. I believe at first Red Baron was made by CRG. But was later made by DreamKart. The reason I say this, is because the Red Baron snake logo is on all the DreamKart stickers I have. Red Baron is no longer being made. As DreamKart decide to only market the BRM line. Red Baron was imported in Canada by Genesis Racing Products. Genesis now imports the BRM line.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

quote:
Originally posted by Alex Gappmayer:
Regarding the BRM chassis line: As far as I know also the BRM (Dreamkart)frames are built by CRG.

Alex

Alex,

I could be wrong, but I think DreamKart makes there own frames.

At the 1998 NAKC, I spoke with the owner of BRM about getting some extended porch karts. Needless to say they ended up making some for me and others.

The BRM extended front porch, is unlike any other extended porch kart. It's completely adjustable. Which leads me to believe they produce they own karts.

Gary Osterholtwww.garyosterholt.com

Alex Gappmayer · Joined: 30 Jul 2001 Posts: 301

Hi Gary!

I´m also not sure.
I´ve compared a 1999 CRG Heron and a 1998 (or 1997) BRM MK7 two years ago. The interesting thing was, that the mounts for the rear Bearing support (the piece of steel welded on the frame) were indentical. Also the steering column plastic support has Kali Kart stamped on.
This doesn´t mean too much, but it looks like that the firms do cooperate in any way.

The factories are also only about 10 miles away from each other.

Maybe its their secret?!

By the way, what do you mean with fully adjustable? I know you can also order a CRG frame with a factory built front extension.

I hope I have the possibility to visit both factories this winter and maybe then I know more.

Best regards Alex

PS: I think both CRG and BRM are producing the highest quality karts in Italy. Both have excellent brakes and are built with beautiful deatils which you can hardly find on any other italian made kart (I mean the green ones

)

Erik Frank · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2001 5:26 am Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

quote:
Originally posted by Alex Gappmayer:
[QB](snip) The interesting thing was, that the mounts for the rear Bearing support (the piece of steel welded on the frame) were indentical. Also the steering column plastic support has Kali Kart stamped on.
This doesn´t mean too much, but it looks like that the firms do cooperate in any way.
(snip)[QB]

Yes. My 1995 Kali has this steering support. It also has "KALI" stamped on the frame up front where the lower steering column support is welded to the cross tube.

Interestingly, I heard that 1995 Kali's were all painted blue. My frame has always been black, from the factory. Also, the double rails on the right hand side below the engine are 32mm tubes spaced 90mm apart (center to center), instead of 32mm/92mm. Is there any significance to this?

erik

[ July 31, 2001: Message edited by: Erik Frank ]

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

quote:
Originally posted by Alex Gappmayer:
Hi Gary!

I´m also not sure.
I´ve compared a 1999 CRG Heron and a 1998 (or 1997) BRM MK7 two years ago. The interesting thing was, that the mounts for the rear Bearing support (the piece of steel welded on the frame) were indentical. Also the steering column plastic support has Kali Kart stamped on.
This doesn´t mean too much, but it looks like that the firms do cooperate in any way.

The factories are also only about 10 miles away from each other.

Maybe its their secret?!

Alex,

I think at the beginning BRM karts were made by CRG. Having been on the BRM chassis line for the last 3 years. I've kinda heard all the stories about the manufactor.

I know the main chassis designer for BRM now, was the one that designed the CRG Kalifornia. If you look at an old CRG Kalifornia and a BRM Mk5 (now Dk5). It's pretty much the same design.

Also from what I gathered, the BRM owner is somehow related to CRG owner. I believe through marriage.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

p.s. I'll post links to the BRM extended front porch later today. So you can see the difference.

Alex Gappmayer · Joined: 30 Jul 2001 Posts: 301

Thanks Gary!

I think in the Italian Karting Industrie everyone ist related somehow with the others. (think of the whole Parilla dynastie!)

Alex Gappmayer · Joined: 30 Jul 2001 Posts: 301

Hello Gary!

The IRIS frame you bought at the NAKC was a prototype chassis. CRG often calls their prototypes IRIS. They won for example the 1999 FSA world champs with a frame called IRIS which looked like the 2000 Blue Demon.
The first Storm shifters I´ve seen in 1999 used by factory drivers in Italy had also the name IRIS stamped on the frame.
What I want to say is, that you can´t compare these frames with a standard one. Not that the normal frames are bad (I´m driving CRG shifters for abour 21/2 years now an I´m very happy with it) but of course they are different.

Regarding the BRM chassis line: As far as I know also the BRM (Dreamkart)frames are built by CRG.

I also visited the Parolin Factory two years ago and spoke with Albino Parolin himself. At this time they produced frames for:
PCR
Goldkart
Energy
Topkart
MBA

I think at now the list is longer.

Hope this helps

Alex

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

Alex,

Here are the pictures I was talking about.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

When the kart comes from the factory. The bottom U bar is pretty long. And you can cut it to the length you want it. Same goes for the bottom plate.

I'm 6'7" and I fit easily in it.
Picture of Me in Kart
I actually look normal in a kart.

Hope that explains it well enough for you.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

kgimpert · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 9

After 86 reply's there has yet to be a discussion about support. I don't know about everyone else, but in my opinion every European chassis manufacture is pretty damn close to one another, ditto to the American chassis manufactures.

I think that if an importer has a good inventory, shipments are quick, and track support it doesn't matter what color your kart is.

In my 7 years of karting, I've raced Tony Kart for the majority of the 7 years when the support was available to me at the track. Over the past few years I've found that JM's support of there product has sizzled out. I still feel that Tony Kart has the best quality products in the industry, but no support for there US customers.

I think that the trick is to stick to one chassis and learn it! It's pointless to switch chassis manufactures every year and start all over again learning another chassis. I've been racing birel's for 3 years now and I don't plan on switching anytime soon unless the company goes bankrupt, which I highly doubt.

7 years in the sport, all the mombo jumbo that I've heard about who makes what? and this kart is better than this one! is pointless. If you find a kart that works for you, stick with it guys and me loyal to the people who help you.

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

VERY VERY Well said Kenneth.

I totally agree.

I raced on the CRG chassis line for almost 7 years. Only decided to switch to the BRM when we decided to get into the shifter.

The reason we went with BRM.
1-We dealt with the importer for many years.
2-BRM Italy was going to make a chassis to fit me (Extended Porch--See post above)

What works for one driver won't always work for another driver. Gotta learn on your own.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

kgimpert · Joined: 19 Jul 2001 Posts: 9

Gary,

you bring up a good point. If you have a strong lasting relationship with someone in the industry and can set you up with Europe and a custom chassis fitted for yourself, its pretty hard not to take that offer. If you trust the people your working with, the karts name and color shouldn't even be in the picture.

I've seen it myself, people get funny when you go from one kart company to another. The best thing in any relationship is to work on that trust and that friendship that's going to build that bond and the winning package that's going to give both of you allot of fun and victories, isn't that what this is all about?