Some Chassis Humor

Tom Stephens · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2001 6:54 pm Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Darren, thanks!...another link for my ever growing list. I got there at http://www.reynardkarts.com/frameset.htm

Are you saying Reynard Mexico is not the actual manufacturer, but one of your customers...or is that a future deal with Reynard Mexico producing them currently?

Tom Stephens www.kartfinder.com

Darren Swisher · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2001 7:01 pm Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Tom, I am saying that The Reynard Chassis is Made in mexico to reynard standards. They have purchsed the "rights" to produce but must follow very specific guidelines. Basically they must produce a quality piece.

They order racewear from me.

Darren

Tom Stephens · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2001 7:38 pm Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Darren, gotcha...thanks! Do you ever sleep

Tom

[ July 27, 2001: Message edited by: Tom Stephens ]

Rick Blood · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2001 8:45 pm Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

So the tally has been made and the following is a list of "who makes what" according to the astute members of the forum.

Tony makes Hasse. or Hasse builds there own
Tony makes Kosmic
Tony makes Trulli. Parolin also does some work for them.
Tony makes Corsa

Parolin makes SKM
Parolin makes PCR
Parolin makes MBA
Parolin makes KGB
Parolin makes Interkart.
Parolin makes Energy

Topkart makes Renspeed.
Topkart makes GP
Topkart makes Fullerton
Topkart makes Zip
TopKart is Comer ?

Parrilla makes Swiss Hutless

Rakama makes Paul Tracy karts

CRG makes GP karts
OLD CRG chassis used to be called "Kali" as in Kali-Kart.

ItalCorse makes Swiss Hutless.

DFM is DFM
Top is Top
Birel is Birel
PCR is PCR
Sodi is Sodi.
Haase is Hasse
Reynard is Reynard

Parolin seems to make the most and they like to make karts with three letter names.

Tony Gaylord · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2001 8:57 pm Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Wow, being newer to karting, but not auto racing, that list there doesnt suprise me. But DAMN, it's alerting to me.....

TG

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

Rick,

Don't forget

Dreamkart makes BRM and Red Baron

Owner of Dreamkart, is some how related to one of the CRG guys.

Here is a list of other European chassis lines, don't know who makes what though.

Biesse, Fox, First Kart, Gold Kart, Merlin
just to name a few more.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

Gary Robinson · Joined: 25 Jul 2001 Posts: 158

Hey Erik, do the math again, 1.1 inches
(width of a transponder)
Love to see the photos, we could not tell.

GFR

Sanford Mitz · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2001 4:05 am Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Fox is made by Biesse

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

Righetti Rodolfi (pods and stuff) make Golds.

John Neilson · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2001 5:46 am Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Rick, All.
Comer owns TopKart.
John

Todd Bellew · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 2902

HEy GAng,

Been a long time.

I noticed one thing that wasn't mentioned in the 60 someting posts.

I asked the owners of GP chassis when they came to the states why thy didn't manufacture their own chassis. They weren't shy about admitting that CRG makes their karts.

He said that R+D is too slow. If their entire operation had to worry about the massive amounts work and money and most importantly in racing, time. They feel they could have spent that on making the karts better. CRG does what ever they ask so if GP develops something better. Boom it gets produced right away. No large corporation red tape(which they mentioned). Or massive costly retooling.

I found this very interesting and very clever at the same time.

So the big question is, can small companies have karts as good or better than the larger companies producing them?

Thanks for listening again.

Todd Bellew

Darren Swisher · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2001 9:08 am Post subject: Some Chassis Humor

Todd, Good to see you back to the forum.

As I see it, the smaller companies (if ran right) have the opportunity to be better, they do not have to large burden of the day to day atmosphere. It takes smaller companies less time to adapt to market changes.

Darren

P.S. Good show at SBGP.

Todd Bellew · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 2902

Thanks Darren.

The one disadvantage about having someone producing your chassis is, they know what your doing. Hard to actually move ahead when everyone knows what your doing.

Looking at and measuring a frame is easy. Determining what metal and alloys are used and to a larger degree the heat treating used are harder to determine after manufacture.

For example, Company X has it's design made in several varying types of steel. Type c works best so now to have it produced company X has to go to the manufacturer and tell them to use type c steel. NO secrets. You may get contracts and patents but, the secret is out.

I've seen many small private label karts do well but, The have a tall order when you look at the size and technical abilty of the BIG FIve (or whatever) Euro kart manufacturers.

Todd BEllew

Gary Osterholt · Site Admin Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 2769

Hey All,

Most of the big european kart manufactors are trying to get as many karts out the door as possible.

Take CRG for example. They make the GP, which we all now is a CRG with GP stickers. Now is CRG making quality karts or more quantity of karts.

Of course CRG is trying to make a quality product but at what cost.

D.A.M. Racing, is the racing division of CRG. I was able to get two D.A.M. drivers chassis after 1996 North American Championship. All I can say is what a chassis. You could feel every change and put the kart anywhere and be fast.

Needless to say, I ended up trashing one of the karts. Purchased a bare frame. The new frame was pretty much worthless.

I've heard that CRG produces around 75 karts per day. Compared to a small company DreamKart (BRM) which produces around 10 karts per day.

Overall, which company produces chassis that are close to each other. By guess would be with the small company.

Another reason I say this, is because I've had 3 different BRM, all have acted the same way. I could feel every change. And they were all easy to tune.

Just some food for thought.

Gary Osterholt
www.garyosterholt.com

PS. I'm not saying CRG are bad karts. I had alot of success with them.

bird · Joined: 17 Jul 2001 Posts: 147

Tom reckons that Tony still do make Haases, and also that Titan (Haase engine dept) makes PCR engines.

Swiss Hutless make Italcorse chassis. Mari and DAP as well I guess. Although DAP stands for De Angelo (sp?) Parrilla who started the whole saga so I'm confused.

We think Alpha and Merlin are both made by the same people, possibly Sodi.

Tonykart also make Kart Mini which must be logistics hell with them being on different continents.