Combining 125cc & 250cc

[Eric Nelson]

Hello All

We are in the process of organizing a Road event and have begun to receive ICE and FKE entries. We also have a contingent of local 125cc "Open" Moto and ICC karts that will be attending. It appears that 125cc & 250cc have been successfully combined at other events, so we would like to solicit thoughts and experiences from 250cc racers on this issue. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks in Advance!

Eric Nelson
Tri-C Karters

[Dean Martin]

what track is it at?
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DEAN MARTIN

[Benn Herr]

There is no real way to combine the classes.

If you run them at the same time you could just line them up by practice/qualifying time and then score them separately at the finish. This gives a pretty safe rolling start but there can be some racers that will be less than happy if a "slower" kart lines up ahead of them.

Usual practice is to line the classes up separately with the slower class behind the faster. The pole sitter of the second class maintains a gap to front group. Works sometimes. Problem is, the slower class is not always slower and racers can have a hard time estimating a gap when the adrenaline is flowing. Plus when the front group gets the green, the back one does too, wether they deserve it or not.

Our group uses the straight up timing method. Occasionally we'll get a new (to us) guy that doesn't understand why a slower kart is ahead of him on the grid. But once the race is underway the reason is usually pretty obvious.
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[Rob Forker]

Eric,

At Mid-Ohio, Dart Kart runs the 250s and 125s at the same time with no problem.

It's a split start. The 250s go and 30 seconds later the 125s go. That way they are separated at the start. Within a few laps, the fast 125 guys will catch and pass the slower 250s and within a few more the fast 250 guys will catch and pass the slower 125 guys but by then everything is 'settled down' and it's just working through traffic.

HTH

[mal crosher]

just my opinion As don't know full situation re track hire etc

If it works it will come down to track itself or as someone suggested line them up as qualify ( provided no fast karts at rear due to whatever ),

General rule is avoid it if possible . I hated it big time As they did or do it in oz . Never felt safe and got sick of having to look back just to overtake. in a 125cc you might as well include the slower 250's cause you will be basically racing them anyway and chances are those slower 250's think it's great to finally have someone to race with . A quick 250 twin can accelarrate a lot quicker than a 125 especially in mid range , seen a 250 get pinched out trying to split 2 of them once. Badly.

also club days , you'll find the smallest gearbox kart class loses out. Always , if you got guys losing too many laps in shifters to twins and paying same amount to race ? Just pushes some up a class and the ones that stay need to step it up and then good chance class can die outright. ( for eg : if your like us ? someone will push control class rules in and leave you with a smaller split of an already split class ).

Sets a bad precedent as if you accept it at club days then people start to think it can be done anywhere anytime. Even nationals like us down here now.

Going by that last point of lower classes feeling the brunt ? It can almost have an adverse affect than if you run the classes separate on different days all together if possible. To me keeping those windows of possible chances of an incident as small as possible is just a standard these days.

Just my opinion.

[mal crosher]

just my opinion As don't know full situation re track hire etc

If it works it will come down to track itself or as someone suggested line them up as qualify ( provided no fast karts at rear due to whatever ),

General rule is avoid it if possible . I hated it big time As they did or do it in oz . Never felt safe and got sick of having to look back just to overtake. in a 125cc you might as well include the slower 250's cause you will be basically racing them anyway and chances are those slower 250's think it's great to finally have someone to race with . A quick 250 twin can accelarrate a lot quicker than a 125 especially in mid range , seen a 250 get pinched out trying to split 2 of them once. Badly.

also club days , you'll find the smallest gearbox kart class loses out. Always , if you got guys losing too many laps in shifters to twins and paying same amount to race ? Just pushes some up a class and the ones that stay need to step it up and then good chance class can die outright. ( for eg : if your like us ? someone will push control class rules in and leave you with a smaller split of an already split class ).

Sets a bad precedent as if you accept it at club days then people start to think it can be done anywhere anytime. Even nationals like us down here now.

Going by that last point of lower classes feeling the brunt ? It can almost have a diverse affect than if you run the classes separate on different days all together if possible.

Just my opinion.

[Jim White]

If this is for the Fontana event on the infield road course my 2 cents worth.
Looking at the track layout the 125's will probably be as fast as most but the quickest 250's. The course is a little on the tight side for the 250's while the 125's will probably get around it pretty well. If you've only got a couple 250's give them a pretty good headstart and then if the 125's catch them they will be spread out and it will be easier on everyone.

[Chris Hegar]

+1 to what Jim said.
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