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Komet99
Member
- Today at 9:59 AM
- #1
Years ago I ran an ole staight rail with a KT100. It was pretty fast for its day. Later on put an open K78 and set the track record mph and lap time. Later on put some CIK bodywork on it. That was the same kart I won the 2008 enduro national championship with. It seemed like a fast kart wherever I took it. Maybe because I spent so much time and effort making it do what I wanted.
Fast forward to current times......
Im considering finding an old straight rail of the late 90s to early 2000s, do a little work to it, maybe put adjustable front end on it. Maybe even some weight jackers!! Get back to my old roots and what i know.
Maybe a Margay before they went metric? Maybe talk to the chassis fabricator to see if we can find another one? Thennnn...put some bodywork on it for the intent to run stock predator/Clone classes. A possibility of switching to the Reedjet once in a while.
Something else to consider...Im not a follower. Maybe thats why i used to win races?? If I do what everyone else does, I go as slow as everyone else.
Thoughts and discussion.
Last edited by a moderator:
Colt sr
Member
- Today at 10:39 AM
- #2
Komet99 said:
Years ago I ran an ole staight rail with a KT100. It was pretty fast for its day. Later on put an open K78 and set the track record mph and lap time. Later on put some CIK bodywork on it. That was the same kart I won the 2008 enduro national championship with. It seemed like a fast kart wherever I took it. Maybe because I spent so much time and effort making it do what I wanted.
See Also4cycle.com - Karting - Bob's 4 Cycle Karting... ▷ Traffic, Ranking, Analytics [2020] | HypeStatFast forward to current times......
Im considering finding an old straight rail of the late 90s to early 2000s, do a little work to it, maybe put adjustable front end on it. Maybe even some weight jackers!! Get back to my old roots and what i know.Maybe a Margay before they went metric? Maybe talk to the chassis fabricator to see if we can find another one? Thennnn...put some bodywork on it for the intent to run stock predator/Clone classes. A possibility of switching to the Reedjet once in a while.
Something else to consider...Im not a follower. Maybe thats why i used to win races?? If I do what everyone else does, I go as slow as everyone else.
Thoughts and discussion.
If you feel like you will be faster or have more fun. Do it!!! I would say you have a lot of options in Ron LaFollette's(sorry if I misspelled) barn sale to start off with. I don't know if it would be super competitive in the stock classes but you may be quite competitive in the 2 stroke class.
9
95 shaw
Site Supporter
- Today at 10:47 AM
- #3
I think the old karts, ie straight rail, were designed around engines with more hp. Especially for oval racing.
Most 2 strokes make as much hp or more than a modified 4 stroke.
The chassis requirements for very limited hp are to free the chassis as much as possible. As such, setup theory has evolved beyond the capabilities of the old flexible straight rail kart.
It will be competitive with like chassis especially with more power. You'll struggle to find the speed in stock 4 stroke classes.
Just my opinion.
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Komet99
Member
- Today at 11:09 AM
- #4
95 shaw said:
...setup theory has evolved beyond the capabilities of the old flexible straight rail kart.
I think this would be a consideration if I chose to go wild with current technology setups. Who knows if I never try it. Thats why I started this thread, to discuss those things.
If I keep the technology of the 90's in the kart it should go as fast as it did back then. The tires are the same...the pookey is more advanced.
Ted Hamilton
Helmet Painter / Racer
- Today at 11:30 AM
- #5
Buy my Jaguar roadrace chassis, complete with body and run it on dirt... the body is already setup for the chassis (non-offset) and I can include a large oval seat if desired. I'd let the whole thing go, FWB and all, for $800. It's American, made by an oval kart company called, predictably, Jaguar, in GA. It had a Sudam on it originally. If you want an axle clutch on it also, I'd sell the whole package for $1200. Kelgate superkart brakes on it now, so they'll handle whatever you throw at it. It's the kart in my profile pic. And you can tell people it's a double Daytona winner. 
Shoot, if you're close to NC, I may even deliver it. I'm a fan of unconventional thinking...and my CRG oval kart is product of that... Proceeds will be rolled into the vintage Margay restoration I'm doing to give to my dad...(Shhh....he doesn't know!)
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Komet99
Member
- Today at 11:59 AM
- #6
I have a PT-4 built by Phantom/TS. That thing isnt but 35" wide. it would look funny with half of a 12x9 stickin out of the body!!
Colt sr
Member
- Today at 12:23 PM
- #7
Komet99 said:
I have a PT-4 built by Phantom/TS. That thing isnt but 35" wide. it would look funny with half of a 12x9 stickin out of the body!!
I think it would look good and you wouldn't have to worry about scuff marks on the body. Lol
Ted Hamilton
Helmet Painter / Racer
- Today at 3:48 PM
- #8
Mine's a bit wider, but closer to old American sizing than current Euro...Beside, run a wedge!
sundog
Member
- Today at 4:52 PM
- #9
I have traveled much the same path as you. See Profile pic, 98 Top Kart. Had every 2 stroke of the day on that thing. Mounted a Rotax and sold it. Also had a 1990 small tube DAP kart that I refurbished was light and fast but flimsy in the braking zone. Now I've modded an old Margay to accept 4 stroke engines. I can't tell you who is making good chromalloy frames these days but these old karts really hold up over time if you don't bang/scrape them up. One thing I learned over many decades, it comes down to the driver and being very familar with whatever you got.
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