[Larry Andrews]

Just got around to putting this video out there…not like watching F1 but you can definitely get a feel for the track.

 

[Larry Andrews]

 

 

How’s about Ham-Ric-Ros?

[Larry Andrews]

First race I’ve seen all year.  Not great, but not bad either.  Kind of fun to watch Vettel act like an entitled dooshbaby, stoked to see Ricciardo doing well.

Not sure why DirecTV doesn’t even see the races in the search results…

Thanks for doing the points Greg!  :)

[Larry Andrews]

Looking like Ham-Ros-Vet is the way to go…

[Larry Andrews]

I’m happy to see that Greg is having fun and doing a great job!  Game seems more fun this year…  :D

[Larry Andrews]

Might be easier to find if you look for an M6x1 thread bolt in 95mm length.  I can get that size pretty easily and would think that the 1.25 thread will be quite difficult to source.  :D

[Larry Andrews]

Greg: Thanks for taking this on!

 

Ham  But  Ros

 

-la

 

[Larry Andrews]

Greg – I think I’m going to have to flake this year…way too much going on.  Haven’t had my butt in a kart seat in almost a year!  Will be glad to help someone else out that can take over for me though!

-la

[Larry Andrews]

Those are good and I’ve always had great experience with Ribtect.

 

[Larry Andrews]

There *is* a Kartmaster parts company in Nipomo, CA that does make heel stops.  <shrug>  Am a bit surprised as I’ve also never seen direct email used for karting and you might be right that something fishy is going on.

-la  (who tries to use an alias with anything posted online…you might remember one)

[Larry Andrews]

Since you’re in SJ, you may want to check out Monterey Bay Karters – there’s a small group of 80 shifters and all are good guys that race clean.  Doesn’t sound like you’ll run out of engine bits, but parts for the CRG made PTKs can be a bit hard to find.  Eric at SeventhGear.com will have a lot of the obsolete CRG stuff.  Cambrian in SJ has good selection but mostly Birel and Fastech has a lot too and goes to the MBK races.

Have fun!

[Larry Andrews]

The lithium 9V batteries last a lot longer than alkaline.

I use a pack of 6 AA lithium batteries taped up behind the nassau and connected to those leads and rarely need to think about batteries anymore.  <shrug>

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-9V-6x-AA-Size-Battery-Holder-Box-Case-With-Cover-ON-OFF-Switch-Wire-Lead-/190997531270

[Larry Andrews]

Mike’s got great advice.

I’m 6’2 and run an extended porch – without it I can’t get front weight above 40% and get severe understeer.   You can tune around some behaviors with hubs and stuff but past a certain point you’ve gotta start doing serious work to get things right.  JMO

[Larry Andrews]

One more advantage to the 6″ setup is additional ground clearance.  While this does change chassis performance, it’s a huge benefit to enhancing chassis longevity for kart guys on rough courses.

Here in SFR, we have exactly zero lots where repeatedly bottoming out isn’t a fact of life.  I haven’t autocrossed very often (just twice in 3 years) because I’m not willing to bend a new Tony roller.  Additional ground clearance (even just 1/2″) would be welcome.

ymmv, etc and so on…

[Larry Andrews]

One thing that’s important to know is that anything goes with used karts.  It’s not the least bit unusual for someone to piece something substandard together out of what’s available so the tired old heap can be sold.  If it doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t.

Heck, used racing hardware rarely is ‘right’…but it’s almost always more fun than just watching other people have fun.

Energy karts have had CRG brakes for a long time.  It’s possible you found one with old VEN04 brakes – not bad but there’s a reason they only made them for one year.  Parts are getting scarce.  Before CRG, seemed like Energy was using mostly Righetti based stuff, at least my ’99 did.

[Larry Andrews]

[Larry Andrews]

If you want to see the original metal surfaces/ weld HAZ then you probably want to avoid media blasting and also avoid using anything besides white scotchbrite to loosen the coating.  (yes, this will be frustrating)  Also might be a good idea to throw down some good 2-part clearcoat once you get the frame cleaned off so the steel doesn’t rust too quickly.

-la  (metal finishing guy way back when…)

[Larry Andrews]

Points for the Indian Grand Prix!  Big congratulations to Justin Martin for the big points haul this week – got the picks in and picked up a second correct podium pick for 10.

Next week: The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix…

 

[Larry Andrews]

One of the most important things is engine fit.  Once that’s under control, the rest is easy.

I made a custom engine mount for my WF to move the motor out by the width of the clutch.  Wish that such a mount were commercially available…

A lot of shops will charge $$$ to move the right seat mount inwards and some people cut off those tube and mount a rear-bar strut.  IMO both of these are weak solutions but other people are making them work…  <shrug>

And one more thing – OIL OIL OIL!!!  WF failures are EXPENSIVE!

[Larry Andrews]

It all depends on how much work you can and are willing to do.  I’ve got a 4/s on an extended porch Tony, but it required a custom motor mount top plate and the Tony porch kit isn’t even close to complete so that required a good bit more fabrication.  I’m happy with the kart now but it took a LOT of work to make it happen.

I’ve always admired Margay and want to support American manufacturers – but it’s tough when there really aren’t any dealers anywhere near me.  Some of the best advice I’ve seen is ‘buy what’s supported locally’.

For tall guys, IMO getting weight moved forwards and down can be a really big deal.  If you want to experiment, just sit up and lean forwards onto the steering wheel.  If the kart starts turning easily, you’re way too far back.  I keep finding that I have to get the weight close at least before any of the other tuning advice will make a difference.

[Larry Andrews]

Another thing that can flood the cases is when the kart rocks back and forth when in gear and sitting in the back of the truck.  BTDT…took a long time to clear out the motor.

 

[Larry Andrews]

Sold.

[Larry Andrews]

[quote quote=18870] I have heard many race directors say in drivers meeting no bumping but most of them choose not to see it when it happens. [/quote]

[quote quote=18830]I’ve been in exactly one series where the race director had the guts to enforce this rule and you know what?  We didn’t try to hit each other.  Amazing.[/quote]

Sounds more and more like changing the karts isn’t going to change anything because the wrong problem is being addressed.

I’ve considered and walked away from quite a few series where it was obvious that the first case above was to be expected.  I need to go to work on Monday and won’t waste my time anywhere that doesn’t consider that to be a reasonable expectation.  Obviously racing is dangerous and things can and will happen – but excuses and laziness are no substitute for real leadership.

Disagree strongly with ‘danger teaches you to drive’ as the whole point of racing is to be ruthless.  When a drivers’ success depends on ‘do whatever it takes to win’ then it’s clear that the only real path to a reasonable degree of safety comes from the leadership of the race officials.

[Larry Andrews]

One more thing that can help – knowing how to apply throttle when restarting.  I helped someone recently that kept stomping on the gas as if an accelerator pump was there and would get the motor started.  Asked them to just apply 5% gas and leave their foot there and their motor started in about 10 feet of pushing.  Usually there’s a throttle position that works for most carbs but you kind of have to figure it out.  Seems like the PJ carbs can be pretty bad about this…even if it’s not relevant to your situation.

hth, la

 

[Larry Andrews]

Points for the Japanese Grand Prix – Congratulations to Jason, Mike, Juan and Sundar for the big points hauls this week.  Bonus cookie to Michael Boone for echoing my thoughts exactly.

Next race is in two weeks – the Indian Grand Prix.  Will start a new thread in a week or so…

 

EDIT:  Because it’s possible that we could have a bit of controversy…I let it slide that one picker clicked send after quali started but before anybody was eliminated and but didn’t let it slide when another picker got picks in roughly after Q2 finished.  I lean towards ‘tough but fair’ but let this one go.  If popular opinion proves contrary…

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