New to USA karting - NE Region

darren newport · Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 8

Hi

I have recently moved to the states from the UK where I raced Tag/ Easy kart and 100cc, and I am now planning on realizing my dream of racing shifter karts next season.

Im living in Pennsylvania close to Philly so there are a good few tracks within driving distance which seem to accommodate shifters. Having done some research and understanding the differences in class structure from the UK, it would seem my option is either Honda Stock Moto or ICC.

I would like to do some club racing at NJMP and maybe some tracks further north and also looking at the NE Shifter kart series too.
I may also have asperations to do some long road course races (mid-ohio etc) if possible, so I would be really grateful for any wisdom from fellow karters in the NE area and shifter class generally.

Biggest question is really Stock Moto versus ICC, pro's and cons etc. and then If ICC is the best option, which engine is the going to suit me the best. Im looking to have some fun and not spend my life savings trying to get to F1, but Im not racing for second place either....... Wink

Thanks in advance!

Darren

Enzo Iadevaia · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject:

The NE has a very big ICC following.. (NE Shifter Series)
I would look into getting an ICC.
You'll be fine with TM or Maxtor

Jim McMahon · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 7:02 pm Post subject:

Since you're from Europe I'd say run with the KZ (new name for ICC since '04ish) since they are popular in the area you are based in and offer less culture shock than the "hodgepodge" of the CR125.
TMs tend to be a bit more torquey/flexible, Maxters and Vortex's can be a bit more revvy and highly strung. It depends on who tuned it as well though. Overall I'd say TM's tend to be a bit more forgiving and for sure work very well on road courses.

The KZ vs Moto debate has been done til death, and then some. Having run both in our team of the years, summarize I would say KZ is not as expensive and unreliable as some people would have you believe and motos are not as cheap and reliable as other people would have you believe. So, since the KZ's are popular in the area you are racing and you are already familiar with euro stuff I'd say run with the KZ.
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Byron Rothenhoefer · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:04 am Post subject:

It does seem the NE series has quite a bit of KZ/ICC, but I believe their stock Honda numbers have been slowly rising. There are quite a few WKC members from where you are living that are into Stock Honda. WKC , Woodbridge kart club is a road race club. Biggest class is Stock Honda. Tracks used are Summit Point, VIR, Shenandoah course at Summit Point, and on occasion Lightning or Thunderbolt course at NJMP.
Mid Ohio kart road races are put on by DKC , dart kart club.
Research them all and welcome to the USA.
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Christiaan Bouhuys · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 97

Darren,

Welcome to the US. Are you from the UK originally? I also live close to Philly (Villanova) and drive my karts at NJMP. I have 2 stock moto's as that is what everybody raced when I lived out west. I do not want to get drawn into the stock moto vs. KZ discussion but can tell you that maintaining a stock moto is very easy and affordable. All you need is a CR 125 workshop manual ($25 on eBay) and it tells you exactly what and how to maintain the engine. Parts are also really affordable and maintenance intervals are pretty long. I did drive KZ before and can tell you the kart handles a bit better with KZ, is faster (also has more HP) but it a bit more expensive to run and maintain. Your choice depending on fun factor vs. budget. I would recommend you visit the NE Shifterkart races at NJMP at the end of October. Let me know if you want to talk a bit more about all of this offline.

-Christiaan

Bernard Muminovic · Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 593

Darren,

Which ever motor you decide to go with the North East welcomes both Stock moto and KZ Smile

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Michael Taksa · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:56 am Post subject:

Tough question. NE Shifter Kart Series (Sprint Racing) ICC/KZ dominate the fields, WKC (Road Racing) Stock Honda dominates the fileds. For local tracks around the area other then during NE Shifter Kart series all run together. Is there a way to get both? Smile

darren newport · Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 8

Thanks for all the replies, some great help there which saved me a bunch of time.

Without getting into what seems an ongoing debate about Honda vs ICC, my initial thought was to go with stock moto as it would, from the outside looking in, seem like the easier of the two to maintain and possibly tune, but that I'm sure is subjective like all engineering so my next question would really be more to do with the difference in build and tuning spec between road course and sprint track stock moto engines as this might dictate whether I could race both with a single engine or if two separate engines are required.

Thanks!

Nick Rango · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 172

Go with a KZ engine without a doubt, especially since your from the UK. You can race it when you go back across the pond. There are plenty of shops/tuners in the Northeast who have KZ expertise. Give them a call: CRG America, Action Kart Supply, Joe White Racing, DRT Racing just to name a few.

Michael Taksa · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:00 pm Post subject:

Stock moto is EXACTLY the same between sprint and road race. The only difference may be the jets in the carb, road racing you will probably jet on a richer side. I run stock moto in sprint and road races and the only thing that changes is front and rear sprockets. And all of this also applies to ICC/KZ. Figure out were YOU will be racing and take a look at the entries, see how many are of each and which way the trend is going.

Christiaan Bouhuys · Joined: 03 Jun 2010 Posts: 97

Chuck Parker · Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject:

Go with the KZ, nobody wants to hear the wounded walrus sounding Honda's at the track. Why do the Honda's make that noise when they rev them on the stand anyway?

Jim McMahon · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:13 am Post subject:

You can chop and change either of them between sprint and road with no changes other than jetting and gearing.
Both are pretty easy to maintain to be honest.
My experience has been that the KZ performs near its best on a more consistent basis than a moto. YMMV. I believe that's more down to the carbs selected for the respective packages moreso anything else.
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Spencer Uzri · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 798

Darren,

Look into the TaG-ICC engines. They're ICC/KZ engines, but have been built with enhanced durability in mind. Chiefly, that means that they're slightly de-tuned compared to a full-on KZ & run a re-limiter & larger bottom-end journal & main bearings for longer service life. For example, TM rates the max service intervals for my K9ES at 100 - 140 L of fuel for the top-end & 440 - 480 L for the bottom end. That's a lot of run time.

It's a nice engine with smooth power & good grunt even down low.

Byron Rothenhoefer · Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2012 11:08 am Post subject:

Doesn't matter to me what you get,(avoiding KZ vs Honda) Smile

. One thing about a Honda , you have a very wide array of builders, you can buy parts at your local Honda dealer. KZ , depending on engine brand , one guy might specialize on this type or that type, and possible parts issues.

Ps I have no distaste for KZ , if you give me one I wouldn't say no . Lol
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