[Keith Buffo]

I’ve dropped the price to pretty much as low as I’ll go. It’s just too nice to blow out. It positively dominated last weekend at a club race, finishing ahead of all but one KZ. Before I decided to back out of shifters, I was leading the points in all three New England club series (NHKA, IKS and F1 Outdoors.) This is your chance to be envied, loathed and feared by all your karting friends.

[Keith Buffo]

Dropped the price. It’s such a great kart, and the engine was built by the best. It’d be a shame (and a hassle) to part it out, but if that’s what it takes to get a reasonable amount for it, that’s next. Bummer.

[Keith Buffo]

Hi Juan,

Your email bounced back, your phone number is incomplete and this site doesn’t appear to have PM anymore. That’s three strikes for me… you’re up! Please send me a text at 617-818-7099 and I’ll reply to that with your picture.

Thanks,
Keith

[Keith Buffo]

If you can’t wait for Kart Mania! you don’t have to… the NHKA Racing Series will be on the full road course at Canaan on June 17th. Check out http://www.NHKA.net for details.

[Keith Buffo]

I just made this list for our local club. Hope it’s helpful.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/puot3qb7d8naoxl/RacersPackingList.pdf?dl=0

[Keith Buffo]

Last Saturday we had 96 entries despite iffy weather. We’re a passionate bunch of racers. The next two NHKA Racing Series events – June 17 and July 8-9 – are on the full road course at Canaan Motor Club. Given the hugely positive response we got to running the big track last season, we are expecting record-breaking entries for these events. If you like speed and competition check out http://www.NHKA.net

[Keith Buffo]

When mounting the rotors to your new spindles, be sure to install the conical washers with the outside edges touching the rotor for the correct amount of “float.”

[Keith Buffo]

On a Honda it’s for elbow clearance, so you don’t wreck your plug, boot, elbow or race.

[Keith Buffo]

I agree with Jeff. Raceware is literally the only cover I’ve put on a kart that actually fits without precise positioning or yanking with all your might. That plus quality materials and assembly kept it in use for a long time… two karts ago to be exact.

[Keith Buffo]

I’ve had good luck with white wall cleaner. I’ve had better luck with black body work.

[Keith Buffo]

“Yes Eric there will be a replacement for one of the DKC events.  We’re just waiting for confirmation at this point before announcing anything.  Hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll know more.
That’s for the inquiry, Clark Sr.”

Clark, anything to report about the status, where and when of this pending race? If by replacement you mean to fill the gap in the spring, it would be helpful to know now. Thanks!

[Keith Buffo]

Will there be a “Fun Run” where non-racers can try a kart at the end of the day Saturday?

[Keith Buffo]

Hey Rick, I used a spare Rotax battery and mount on my World Formula. There will likely be lots of these around for cheap in the coming weeks as Rotax drivers make the EVO upgrades. Just ask anyone with a funny looking black box with a Fisher-Price knob… they’ll probably be short on cash and willing to make a deal.

[Keith Buffo]

Has anyone seen official word from WKA about what the Stock Honda rules will be at Roebling and for the rest of the season?

BTW: Here are the results from Daytona: http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/1103658

The weather wasn’t the best and the scoring system had an broken pick-up wire. Despite these two issues that weren’t anyone’s fault, the event team put on a fun race. Every single staffer was a pleasure to interact with and responsive to concerns. Much appreciated!

[Keith Buffo]

Thanks man!!!

[Keith Buffo]

Hard working, dedicated, warm, soft spoken, rational and never one to seek the spotlight. Man oh man, is road race ever going to miss you Gene Davis. Thank you for the years you’ve put toward keeping this rolling for the rest of us.

[Keith Buffo]

The whole thing! The only new twist for you might be that we take the chicane immediately before the Keyhole… which is great, like the rest of the track. I look forward to this race every year.

[Keith Buffo]

(edit: looks like David and I were writing our replies at the same time.)

Hi Bill, I do hope you join us at the track and talk to a few people. Folks find a way into the sport at a wide variety of budgets. Being just one step down in performance from shifters, TaG karts and parts can be pretty pricy depending upon age and quality. The rental prices you quoted are fair and common for a TaG kart. The $150 is a disincentive as much as anything. Nobody should ever be driving over their heads. You learn, you get faster. Nobody gets faster wrecked. Google suits and helmets, or just click an ad on this site… the prices aren’t near what you think.

Walt makes a good suggestion about the Briggs 4-cycle karts. Much less expensive than TaGs to buy and maintain. Not as fast but tons of fun. The NHKA doesn’t have a clone class or an adult LO206 class. That’s because they are about the same speed/power as rentals, and there’s plenty of rental tracks around here. We run the WF instead, which is similar to the LO206, but twice the power. You can find very good used complete WF karts in the mid $2k range.

Come to the track. Ask around. Folks will try to help you find a way in.

[Keith Buffo]

Thank you David, and welcome Bill. Have you found the NHKA Racing Series website?  http://www.nhka.net  Under the information tab you’ll lots of details about the karts and classes we race. By liking our Facebook page you’ll have all the latest event updates delivered to your news feed. http://www.facebook.com/NHKAracingseries

We have a race this Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Seeing the TaG Masters and World Formula karts on track, checking them out up close in the pits and talking with the drivers is the best way to gather info about which is best for you. I’ll be away at a national race, but if you go find Mike Camarra, he’s the guy who runs things. Mike will answer your questions and introduce you to people that would be helpful.

If you make it to the race, please post back here your experiences, what you learned and any lingering questions for the benefit of other people looking for the best route into the sport who have the same questions… TaG Masters vs. World Formula is a common one. Actually you’ve inspired me to write a piece on on the pros and cons of each. Probably later next week I’ll post it to the NHKA website and post a link to this thread. So be sure to click the little box below “Notify me of follow-up replies via email”.

Finally, share a link to the website of the track/club where you’ll be racing in FL (specifically their rules/classes) I’ll be able to compare and offer some thoughts on which class would be most most in synch between the clubs. You’ll find NHKA’s rules under the INFORMATION tab of http://www.nhka.net</span></p&gt;
 

 

[Keith Buffo]

Nylock flange nuts. I like my 14v impact gun because I’ve found that the 18v guns tend to back out studs at the worst possible moments. Sometimes it lacks the grunt to loosen nuts after a run. Pulsing the trigger with the gun at random slight angles and pulling at the wheel will usually get the nuts off. If not, out come the ratchet. I’ve never thought about torque or gone back over them manually. My only loose wheel was because we forgot to tighten the nuts at all.

[Keith Buffo]

Floats would be my first guess too, but I’d start by inspecting the fuel line inside because it’s so easy to do. Flex the line a bit to see if there are any cracks. If it’s at all stiff, replace it. You may also want to look for any broken wires. Follow each one paying attention for cracks near connections and any rubs or pinches.

[Keith Buffo]

I’d also consider one of these metal cases:

http://www.dx.com/p/fat-cat-c-c3-cnc-aluminum-alloy-extension-metal-heat-sink-case-w-uv-lens-for-gopro-hero-3-247775#.U0i5q8aBjB9

It’s not so much the case (though it looks sturdy enough to survive a tumble down the track), it’s that it replaces the GoPro’s brittle clear plastic fingers with metal ones. I lost an early GoPro to those things breaking due to vibration, wind turbulence and apparently cracks caused by the torque needed to keep the camera positioned (a little surface texture would go a long way there.)

This metal case also has a place to attach a tether. However, I’m not sure it wouldn’t be better to let it fly off into the grass than beat itself to death on the kart flopping around in the wind. And I’d hate to think what it would do to a radiator. I’d rather lose a camera than a radiator, and maybe an engine too! <span style=”line-height: 1.5em;”>Letting it fly off would be a safety hazard.</span><span style=”line-height: 1.5em;”> </span><span style=”line-height: 1.5em;”>That said, I do know that pulling in for a camera would be a really stupid way to lose a race.</span>

GoPro makes a great camera, but the case is a piece of junk that they’ve done nothing to improve. A huge disappointment considering the <span style=”line-height: 1.5em;”>price </span><span style=”line-height: 1.5em;”>gouging and fixing. I’ve resisted buying one because it seems really stupid to risk a four hundred dollar camera to a design flaw that GoPro is too greedy to fix. This Fat Cat case might have me making movies again though.</span>

[Keith Buffo]

RK blue o-ring chain is absolutely the best I’ve run. With no special attention, the things just keep on going. An entire season of road racing two classes a day plus a ridiculous number of practice laps = 2 chains. One probably would have been fine, but I was just too paranoid after many seasons of chewing through Panthers, Copperheads, DIDs and CZs.

[Keith Buffo]

Guess we’re all a little North of Mid-Atlantic!

You can tell by the enthusiasm of NHKA racers (even ones from other classes!) World Formulas really are great. I’m surprised more clubs don’t offer it. In just a couple years it has become the one of our main entry points for new drivers, and one of the largest, most competitive classes.

[Keith Buffo]

I don’t see why not… and I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it done.

Back when I was new to Rotax, not only did my onboard starter fail, it failed to stay on the kart! Not too good. After I got done nut-n-bolting the whole kart, I bought one of these: http://sharkshifter.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137_140&products_id=597 I give my starters two seasons, then ready or not I replace them with $100 aftermarket. I’ve never had an issue, but bring one of the old ones to the track every anyway.

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