IKF Yamaha Sportsman Enduro

Debbie Kuntze · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2001 7:57 pm Post subject: IKF Yamaha Sportsman Enduro

If you recall, last year the IKF board allowed sprinters to be run in this class. I wrote in as opposed to this change because they were monkeying with a spec class. You start monkeying with a spec class and you kill it! (Also went to the meeting and did some yelling.)this rule was to allow more people to compete in the class. I had never heard of anyone wanting to run a sprinter in Sportsman, but now if someone had a mind to run away with the class they could. So, if you are a member of IKF, turn to your August edition of KARTER NEWS, page 16, 2nd row, 1st picture. Check out Phil Harris' picture. Yup, that's a sprinter, not an enduro for midgets! Having run Sportsman since its beginning, I would have a MAJOR problem if someone showed up to Streets and entered a kart like this. Matter of fact, I am still awaiting an answer to the letter I wrote IKF back this spring about the seat that you
can(t)see in this picture. The letter was referred to the RR committee and I haven't heard one word of discussion out of them, so they will get another letter. This kart is no more a situp then my "baby" is, just a heck of alot shorter enduro!

Charlie Tackett · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2001 3:22 am Post subject: IKF Yamaha Sportsman Enduro

Debbie, may you need to get the IKF to do what the WKA did. They have a rule which specifically states soemthing to the effect that in all enduro (vrs sprint enduro) classes only laydown style chassis permitted.

Rich Lehman · Joined: 20 Jul 2001 Posts: 163

I agree with Charlie. I saw the picture too and thought the picture got distorted in printing. Where are Phil's knees?

Phil Harris · Joined: 08 Aug 2001 Posts: 1 Location: Grand Prairie, Texas

Debbie,
In our area, the parcipitation in the sit-up classes has been poor for a while. You show up to race against 1 to just a few other competitors. I decided to try this class since, in our area, there is a fair size field of entries. If you noticed, even with a 30# weight spot against a 390# lay down, 2nd place was as good as I could do (twice in the same weekend). I'm not whining, but it looks like 30# is not enough of a weight spot to make me competitive. I got beat by 15sec in one race and 10sec in the other. The body-work sit-up classes were set up so that the karters could be creative. My kart completely fits all of the rules. We were forced to change from our Tillet sprint seat, in order to compete with the more creatively designed seats being used on the West coast. The kart design that won Troy Ruttman award in 1999 was responsible for the changes in my kart. This kart has raced with your own organization (SCK) for over two years. There is not much difference in our karts. SUMMARY: lay down karts 2 WINS, sit-up karts 0 WINS.

Debbie Kuntze · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 5:06 am Post subject: IKF Yamaha Sportsman Enduro

Phil, My main beef is is that Sportsman is a SPEC class, or was. If you run a spec class, all specs should apply, i.e. 390#. How did the guys feel who you finished in front of? Wasn't the guy who won, generally the very fast guy? We have one of those out here in SCK so the battle is generally for 2nd this year. IKF also should have had a minimum vertical height rule for the seat in sit-up, they do have rule 312.1.1 but it seems no one has bothered to enforce it.

Rhonda Mims-Brown · Joined: 09 Aug 2001 Posts: 538

Hi Debbie

The rule 312.1.1 is for class #3 thru 8 and #16-18. Super Stock is Class #2 and this rule doesn't apply. For the record, I'm not crazy about the new seat designs either for Super Stock Sit-Up and have whined to Wayne and Phil about doing this for some time. I tease them and tell them they've ruined my class. They did; however, only create their seat to be competitive with other seats running, all of which meet the rule specifications outlined in 312.3.8

I do recognize that regardless of how well the rules are written, racers will always come up with the most competitive designs based on those rules. New creative ways to lower the driver was started (by the California Bunch - hee hee) and Wayne/Phil perfected it to a degree. Fast people will always find something to help gain speed and I see it as creativity regardless of whether I like it or not.

As for Yamaha Sportsman, I thought a "spec class" would be considered same kart, same motors, same body, same pipes, etc., etc., and I don't believe Yamaha Sportsman is all of that. The addition of sprinters in the Sportsman laydown class is simply to create another place to run a Yamaha with full body work and to help the promoter and racer. I doubt a sprinter will ever be as competitive.

Congrats again to all of you for Scott's Duffy win. You all are a great group and so many of us were happy to see you guys finally bring one home!

Debbie Kuntze · Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2001 6:22 pm Post subject: IKF Yamaha Sportsman Enduro

Thanks for the congrats, Rhonda! I just got a bunch of blow ups done of Scott getting his Duffy.

Technically then there are no "spec" classes in karting, due to same kart? Sportsman, I thought was designed so all would be on a "level" playing field. One weight, one can, one header and one motor. You could still fiddle with a foot of flex, carb and clutch. But it was a good class for beginners and more experienced karters alike. On a short course like small (east) Firebird which is narrow and Streets, the sprinter would have a definite advantage over any laydown. Phil only lost by 10 seconds in a half hour. That isn't much.
Deb K

Rhonda Mims-Brown · Joined: 09 Aug 2001 Posts: 538

Deb, Don't mean to change the topic, but I am sending the group shots of you all which I took in Portland. They went out in today's mail to Julie and they are great of you all. BIG SMILES!

Back to subject...this is the beauty of IKF, a democratic system...write letters on how you feel, let them get the opinions of others and either keep it or change it. In this case, no big expense lost. It helps the promoter in our region stay alive.

With the seat in Super Stock however, it would be hard to make this change back now that it's spread...I guess I just have to learn how to drive a little lower and more "laid back." Don't really like it yet, but still trying to get used to it and getting used to being back in a kart, period! It's amazing how much feel you lose after being out of a kart for 3.5 years! I almost feel spastic in a way...look out!

Debbie Kuntze · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2001 8:34 am Post subject: IKF Yamaha Sportsman Enduro

Rhonda-I am on the tail end of gossip out here, I didn't know you were driving again! Hopefully Julie will bring the picture tonight when we go to Perris, would love to see them.

I do like the (alleged) democratic way of IKF. I have only been involved for 10 years, but have yet to really see the democratic ways yet. Although, the past two years have been more promising then most. More honesty about funds and other issues is flowing off the dais