Running a 125 shifter at the Dragstrip???

Dale Nickos

Anyone ever try to run their shifter at the Dragstrip??

Im having a grudge race vs a friends car (Time vs Time)Not on track at same time.

Any Info??

DN

Rick Crow · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 49 Location: Albany NY

Why waste your time going in a straight line?
Want to find out who not only has the fastest car/kart but who can drive the best?
Take your grudge match to an autocross and find out who is the best!

Here is a link to a autocross (also called soloII) club in Chicago. www.scca-chicago.com/solo/index.html
Here is a link that explains what autocross is. www.scca.org/amateur/solo2/index.html

Rick

Matt Kull

I would love to know what kind of times that you run. I have been a bit courious how a kart would do.

Erik Frank

For what its worth, Car and Driver had an article on kart racing several years ago, in which they "road tested" a 125cc shifter. I think they did the usual battery of tests, including 0-60 and 1/4 mile. You can probably look at their website archives for more info.

But I agree with Rick. What's the point? Everyone knows you'll be in the lead after the 1st corner.

Scott · Joined: 27 Jul 2001 Posts: 23

I took my 125 to the drags last year. It was way fun. I think I did a 13.8 with not even close to the right gear on. My buddy went on the line with me so I could do a burn off. I had a clip for my rear brakes so I could disconnect them and have line lock. Then just put it in 2nd gear and hold it to the floor. Every one thought a go cart was dumb until I went down the strip.

Brian Kay

Aaaw Man, I cant find that issue of Car & Driver. (I know it's around here somewhere)

The really cool part is that the kart they used was my very first shifter kart! (tear welling up) It was a 96' Will Kart / Honda.

Smokin' Joe J. might remember the ET / MPH, he's the one that drove it for the magazine test, at Milan dragway, here in MI.

Waxing sentiMENTAL,

Brian K - www.t2racekarts.com

Greg Maxwell

Here is the article from Car & Driver's web site [URL=http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/1997/February/199702_feature_itain.xml]

Rob Hogenmiller · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 850

Just made it a little easier to click, Thanks Greg.
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/1997/February/199702_feature_itain.xml

Todd Bellew · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 2902

Yeah the dragstrip can be a lot of fun. After we ran the first time everyone was all over our stuff. ACtually everyone stood up and awwed when they screamed past the stands. And seriously fast times flashed on the board. It was cool.

I remember running faster mph but slighty slower or almost equal to what I saw posted.(approx 90-95 about 14.3 secs). The acceleration in the first 1/8 was close to the fastest of anything out there. BUt after 70 mph or so even a good 125 that might have low 40's hp gaining mph is slow. So you accelerate almost 70 or more mph in the first 1/8 but maybe gain 20 over the next 1/8. So different gearing giving similiar times makes sense over a long course.

Try a nose cose like enduro guys do. Helped the one kart like 5 mph trap speed over the other with no nose.

I think gearing was around 18/23 or 24, around 95 mph for the tire dia. and engine package we had then. I changed gears while I was there. I was way out in left field when I got there. It was funny actually usually a kart track you can guess pretty close.

Todd Bellew

Rob Hogenmiller · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 850

I believe my 100% stock 98YZ ran 14.1 at 84mph. I've lost the slip, but I do recall it was better than most of the Vette's and Camaros running 95-105mph. Had the wrong gearing on there as I was rapped out nearly at the 1/8 mile.

I would think the drag strip especially the 1/8 split time could be very beneficial in motor testing. I'd rather rely on figures like that than a dyno any day. 5mph rolling start to the 1/8 mile---Sweet in my book.

Charlie Tackett

Thanks guys! We have a drag strip about 30min from the house. Now Ted wants to take the kart over there some Saturday night.

Have to admit it sounds like fun to do it once.

Marc Miller · Advertiser Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 1834

Charlie-

It is 30 minutes from my house too...so let me know when you are going... and I'll go too.

Make sure the two if us get some pictures... we could do a pretty good story I think with both of us there!

MM

Pete Van Ginkel

The California Speedway is putting in an 1/8 mile drag strip in September. It sounds like a good place to promote 125 shifters.
Pete

Charlie Tackett

Marc....cool, gearslammin'!... sounds like a definte plan! WIll have to look around and see if I can find there schedule.Don't know if the run every SAturday night like they did 30+yrs ago.

Robert Sobota

Marc and Charlie, can you let us all know when you go? I'm in Kalamazoo and would love to test also (I'm assuming @ Martin) in order to have another piece of info to give all those people that see my kart and ask:
1) What the heck is that thing?
and
2) How fast does it go?

It'd be pretty sweet to see a group of shifters tear into the 13's.

That is, if you'd allow a rookie to tag along.

Thanx.