Blas From The Past Erik Penz Front Aero Package

Rob Hogenmiller

Was this piece ever legalized?

John Sullivan · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

Hard to tell if we can not see which item you are talking about.

Carlos Calderon · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

Rob, it seems that the image you posted does not load, at least from our end. Please fix the image so that we can reply. Thanks.
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Aluminos

joseph hollinger · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject:

No.

Eric had a great idea. But SKUSA and IKF now have rules that require that you run the radiator on the left side. So, as far as I can tell, it's not legal.

Rob Hogenmiller · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:34 am Post subject:

David Cole · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:02 am Post subject:

PG Racing's Scott Barnes ran one in the Stock Moto class at Rock Island. I believe he was top three until connecting with a barrier.
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Kurt Mathewson · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:52 am Post subject:

SKUSA rules allowed it (at least through 2007 rules) as there no position requirement for the radiator. The only thing that limited it was the width and height limitations on the front fairing. I've run one in road races in Great Lakes Pro Series. Intuitively it looks like an advantage on high speed courses. My data showed the advantage was more on the mid speed range, allowing the kart to accelerate faster. At very high speeds I didn't notice a big advantage (100+MPH). My guess is that the overall poor aerodynamics of a sprint kart with a sit up seat overcome the benefits. But then I could be wrong!
Kurt Mathewson

Rob Howden · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:18 am Post subject:

We tested the EPIC Plenum for Shifter Kart Illustrated back in 2002, I think. We put in on the SRA Arrow ICC shifter of a then unknown talent named Pier Luc Ouellette at the 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville. The aerodynamic efficiency of the Plenum increased the straightaway speed by 2 mph and dropped his times by .5 seconds in a back-to-back comparison. PLO also liked the stability of the kart, as the added front weight allowed us to better tune in the front of the kart. The hefty price tag was a stumbling block for sure.

There is no doubt that karting is short on ingenuity(except in the laydown ranks where guys build some cool stuff), thanks to its strict rule set. Eric Penz was thinking outside the box with this concept and it was a shame that the orgs felt the need to put out such a fire.
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joseph hollinger · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:07 am Post subject:

Kurt Mathewson · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject:

Joseph, on what basis? As I mentioned I don't have the 2008 SKUSA rules, but the 2007 rules do not have a basis to prohibit it. That may have changed this year.

joseph hollinger · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:06 pm Post subject:

SKUSA told me "Must be CIK or CIK style. "

Carlos Calderon · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject:

Carlos Calderon · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

So unless it's CIK homologated, then I'd bet it's not allowed.
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Kurt Mathewson · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject:

Carlos, you got it exactly right! The wording "CIK style" is nebulous as there are lots of different fairing styles currently allowed that meet "CIK Style". What controls is 15" wide, no closer than 3" to the steering wheel, and no higher than the horizontal plane of the top of the steering wheel. This picture is from low angle and you can't see the top of steering wheel, but if mounted correctly this would be legal in SKUSA (07). Several organizations banned it by specifying that the radiator must be mounted left or right of the seat. Too bad, its a nice piece of engineering.
Kurt

alan speyrer · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 1329