Texas Lone Star Grand Prix - Leopard Setup?

[John LaBarbera]

Running TAG Sr at the new course set up for Lone Star Grand Prix...was wondering if anyone out there had any tips on proper set up. I've been running at Katy Sprint Style Track, not sure if this upcoming rack in Lockhart would require a different set up. At Katy we run a 10/78 gearing with Sprint type clutch. I'm new to this, not even sure what a road type clutch is just saw it's offered. It's a new course so I know there is no experience there....but the website has a nice map....google Lone Star Grand Prix.....

[Juan D Gomez]

The track last year in Dallas was almost twice as long and with some long straits so it was a hybrid of sprint and road. Most people though that it will run like a road course but due to the rough track surface it turned out to be more like a sprint track with really long straits. So people with leopards were using anything from a 16-87 to 12-7? and 11-70. This year at Lockhart should run more like a Sprint race with the longest strait said to be 900ft. So I'll just stick to the sprint set up and work from there.

[Jeff Salak]

Road race clutch if for tracks like Daytona, Road America and so on. They would use a 15 or 16T driver gear. Maybe even for last years Lone Star GP on a smooth course.

I would think this years set up for Lone Star GP would be an 11T driver. Rear gear have 75-85 with you. Id start with an 11-80.

Just my opinion, you wont know until after your first practice.

[Matt Dixon]

If we were going (wish we were) I would;

Gear for the str8 and put in a short flex for all the 90* corners.
Put a ton of grip in it since its a street race.
Go out on new tires first practice, very limited practice so have good rubber under you.
Wait to leave grid so you are not in a wad of karts, or get collected by the guy who puts it in the barriers and causes a pile up.
Be fast from the get go and stay fast.

Temp street races are awesome!
_________________
Matt Dixon
94y Energy Corse/Swedetech

[John LaBarbera]

Matt

I'm new to this...not quite sure what you mean by first 2 sentences? Can you educate me with some more detail?

Thanks!

[Russell Stevens]

Gear for the str8 and put in a short flex for all the 90* corners.
Put a ton of grip in it since its a street race.
{EkartWeb Automatic Translator: on}
Gear the kart to hit max RPM at the end of the straight. Do not gear it down to pull the tighter corners. Run the shortest allowable flex pipe, as this will help with low end power and get you out of the corners.
Adjust your chassis per the manufacturer's doccumentation to provide as much grip as you can. Because this is a street race the surface will likely be green, and may have an inherent lack of grip due to the composition of the macadam.
{EkartWeb Automatic Translator: translation complete - please note that this is mearly a translation, and neither supports or refutes any statements that have been made}

Beep Boop Bop

[Russell Stevens]

John,

The flex is that little expanding tube that sits between the header and the muffler on your kart.
A short flex will give you more power in the higher RPM range of the engine.
A longer flex will give you more power at the bottom at the RPM range.
Changing this is a way to tune where the peak power of the engine hits.

On a sprint track you normally loosen the chassis up by removing the adjustment bars and moving the wheels out. Because of the tight turns, and prepared surface you might have too much grip which causes drag in the corners, and bicycling the kart (think left or right side wheelie).

Road race clutch: http://www.ekartingnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=69785&sid=2b0680392010effb8cda52ee4bb8bcbe

I'm sure there is more info to be found with a click of the search button.

Have fun at the race!

[Sam Jordan]

I would also be sure your ride-height is at its highest setting if you can adjust it. Although they're expecting a much-smoother course this year, street races are typically pretty bumpy and you'll save a lot of wear-and-tear on your stuff if your ride height is up.