[Steve O’Hara]

I’m in the same camp…. modern karting is boring and I have more fun with my vintage stuff where there are basically no rules. Of course vintage karting isn’t the place for electronics but at least we can still play with engine modifications, clutches etc.

Steve O’Hara

[Steve O’Hara]

Mike,

In my era of running the Pro Mazda series we had fields of 30 plus cars and ran with the ACRL and sometimes with Trans Am at venues like Laguna Seca, Sears Point (Infineon), Portland, Seattle, Phoenix. There were never any spectators to speak of beyond the families, friends and sponsors of the race teams. On a few occasions the Pro Atlantic series was also part of the event and there were still no spectators.

All of my Pro Atlantic racing was in the era when we were a support race for CART, F1 or IMSA so there were crowds but I don’t think the Atlantics would have drawn spectators anywhere except Trois-Rivières, Quebec where the Atlantics are revered.

Harsh reality… Americans are just not open wheel race fans like the Canadians or the Europeans so these forms of racing that we love will never be big draws. I don’t care… I go to race and never cared if anyone was watching!

Steve O’Hara

BTW, All the funny code in Roberts post is gone now and the text is easily readable. Robert, did you do something to fix that or is it something that cleared up on its own?

[Steve O’Hara]

Robert,

Some great projects you have shown but you have gone so Hi Tech we can barely decipher your posts LOL

Kidding aside, I love the innovative ideas and I indulge in some myself but only for my own amusement. Last time I was out at CalSpeed with my TAG I met a guy there with a 250 four stroke shifter fitted with the paddle shift setup and it looked pretty slick.

Steve O’Hara

[Steve O’Hara]

Robert,

54 years in karting and you still haven’t discovered that karting is not a spectator sport???

Not trying to be rude here or burst your bubble but karting is a PARTICIPANT sport, it has never been and will never be a spectator sport in any meaningful way. Growth will never be driven by adding devices that cost more than the entire cost of the karts raced by a large percentage of the participants across this country. The Supernationals is a great event but it means virtually nothing to 99.9% of the people that enjoy racing or driving a kart in the USA. Those grandstands you showed are filled mostly with the family, friends and sponsors of the racers on the track. Ticket sales will never be a significant factor in the economics of karting at the level where the majority spend their time and money in the sport.

Adding sophisticated expensive new equipment is not going to increase the participation or spectator appeal. It only interests gearheads like you and me and a small handful of others who spend their time dreaming up new ways to go faster.

That being said, your device is a neat invention and I hope you have fun developing it and learn some useful information about the effects of fuel delivery on performance.

Now before you blast me for not knowing what I’m talking about, just know that I have been involved in karting for 47 years and have eight Duffies and a couple of Lou Borelli Awards gathering dust in my office. All earned before I went off to race cars in the Pro Formula Mazda and Pro Atlantic series… which are also NOT spectator sports. Based on my experience in the professional ranks I can tell you that if not for being slotted in as a support race at many CART or F1 events, no one would come to watch and the TV coverage is bought by the series sponsors. Like the top level karting events, Pro racing in the open wheel series just a step below Indy cars is revered by the people involved but virtually unknown to the rest of society. Anyone that can’t accept that reality is going to be perpetually disappointed.

If you really want to see karting grow the emphasis must be at the grass roots level to make the sport more accessible and less expensive. Best example I have seen is what Stu Hayner and his F100 Karting organization have achieved in the last few years. People having fun competing in a friendly and supportive environment at a very reasonable cost.

Regards,

Steve O’Hara

[Steve O’Hara]

From the people I know that run them the are basically the same. The RLV has less cuts in the front cone and uses an elbow to get the rest of the 90 degree bend so it uses a shorter connector tube to produce the same piston to first cone length.

I’m looking to buy one or the other… doesn’t matter which model. If anyone has an HPV-3 or an RLV-3 For sale please let me know.

Steve O’Hara

[Steve O’Hara]

Got em!

Thanks to Sebastian from F100 out west!

Steve

[Steve O’Hara]

No, the Mychron is not a transmitter for the AMB Timing and Scoring system.

Yes, buy your own transponder if you race on a regular basis.

As far as I know the only transponder you can buy is a proprietary device from AMB.

Here is a dealer…https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=6656

Look around and you can find the used for a lot less.

Steve O’Hara

[Steve O’Hara]

This stuff is the best cleaner I have ever found…

Xenit Cleaner and Remover from Stoner. Won’t hurt paint or plastic but it cuts through grease, oil, tape or sticker residue, you name it with ease. No water involved so you don’t have to worry about rust.

http://www.criticalcleaning.com/products/product?Category=specialized&Item=94213

Steve O’Hara

[Steve O’Hara]

I recommend Burris Castor at 16/1 ratio for general use. Will increase oil to 12/1 ratio for maximum performance and protection in race motors that get rebuilt often. The only reason you would ever want less oil is if you have trouble fouling plugs or have problems with the ring sticking. Oil is the life blood of a racing engine… don’t starve it!

Steve O’Hara

 

[Steve O’Hara]

Mar-Hyde Tal-Strip II Aircraft Coating Remover is the best stuff you’ll find for stripping paint from a kart frame if you can find it. I used to buy it from Kragen Auto Parts. May not be able to get it from an auto parts store these days… it is nasty stuff!  Aircraft Spruce might be a source.

The aerosol can version is fantastic but be very careful to use in a well ventilated area with no breeze and wear gloves and clothing that cover all skin. I used the stuff to strip a Tony chassis and it lifted the factory coating off with ease.

Steve O’Hara

[Author]

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