Hi everyone, I'm just looking at buying a kart and kit for my lad who is 15. Because its late in the season the plan is to sort the kit/arks test over the winter months so he's ready for practice sessions at the start of the 2011 season. The thing is he turns 16 at end of december so I don't know wether to go for a junior or senior max kart. He's had some experience in the junior championship at castle combe, albeit on slower karts on a shorter track so he's not a complete beginner, but at the same time he hasn't yet experienced the power of a rotax kart on a long track. Are the rotax junior/senior completely different engines or can one be modified into the other, ie: if I buy a junior kart can the engine be 'un-restricted' and become a senior engine?
Apologies if I sound a bit 'duh' but just want to buy the right kit from the get go. Any advice would be more than welcome.
Thanks.
Dave

Oops, posted in the wrong section, sorry... dropped my first newbie clanger!

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum and to Rotax!!
My opinion would be to go for a senior max. The only difference is a powervalve on the engine but believe it is somewhat costly to 'convert' it from junior to senior!
There is more power from senior obviously but you could restrict his throttle by adjusting the throttle cable or wind the power valve in so it kicks in a lot later should you need.
The main point though is the quick juniors are lapping into the 46's at dunks and most senior max drivers are 47,48 and 49 sec laps!
(the quicker ones are very low 46's)
Maybe pop up this weekend and talk to a few drivers, if you do pop in and say hi, I'll be in a red awning with blue plates no 71 in senior max!

Good luck and hope to see you both at dunkeswell soon!

Moved it for you

Thanks for the info Steve! very much appreciated. We may be able to get up to Dunks this saturday but not til mid afternoon-ish. Would this be worth it? if not then we'll get to a session before the season is out. Just another question... do they ballast the karts ie when the juniors move into the senior category or do the young guns dominate!?

Thanks for tidying my mess up Stuart!

Thats ok mate, we allow everyone 1 mistake before we ban them

Hi Dave,

The karts have to weigh in at a minimum 162kgs at the end of the race.
Saturday will finish at about 5pm on track but then the annual sw champs party starts with hog roast and a bar so might be a good time to talk to a few people!
For spectating sat afternoon is qualifying so everyone will be pushing like crazy and Sunday is the heats and finals - definately worth a look!

Better get all my questions in before my next blunder Stuart!!

Thanks for your help Steve, will try and get up there sat aft. Don't want to be gate crashing any parties though and got to drive back down to penzance so must stay on the straight and narrow!

Just re read my post. I should clarify that senior max is 162kgs, but I have no idea what min weight juniors run (I've only been karting for just over a year!)
If you make it then we'll se you Saturday, if not good luck with your decision and hope to see you at the track soon!

Ah now thats different, you are allowed 3 blunders but only the one mistake

ps, before you pop in and see Steve I feel I must warn you about a few things, firstly, make sure you dont have any alcohol on you, Steve can sniff out a cheap can of White Lightning at 200 yards. Secondly, dont mention anything about Nissan GTR's unless you have previously trained your ears to block out the incessant chattering of a howler monkey. Thirdly if its at all sunny I would wear some sunblock, Steve usually ends the day glowing bright red when theres any sun and you may end up with 3rd degree burns on any skin thats exposed to him......I would suggest a toasting fork and some slightly stale bread

pps. class weights etc can be found here www.karting.co.uk/KandK/classes.html

Stu that's proper funny, I had to wipe tears away reading that!!
However I have a few points -

1. I hate cider, lager however, rocks!
2. GT-R, if you don't want to know, don't ask!!!
3. There is not a chance in he'll of sunburn this weekend.

Oh I almost forgot...... If you do make it up to dunks Dave, don't mention Stu's weight. He's a little touchy aren't you chunky???

Thats it Skeletor, you are sooo close to a ban its not funny

1: Ok, Special Brew then
2: I was being polite, you know, like asking your boss if he had a nice weekend before zoning out and remembering that blonde from the bar on Sat night.
3: Just remember not to stand under any lamps, just incase that sets you off.

As an aside Dave, you may want to make sure that pikey.......I mean Steve...... doesnt get too close to your kart, you may find that the rear axle ....ahem.....accidentally snaps in half for no apparent reason.

Touché

Found a pic of you online Steve

He looks a bit bigger built than me!! I guess that's why my mates call me Stick!!!

Thats the padding in the suit

ok thanks fellas

A cheaper and staged option would be to buy a CIK (50mm) axle (rotax class eligible) Kart and a Junior TKM 100cc motor.(clutched or Direct drive)
Then when he is 16 years old go either senior TKM (115cc) only a rebore and new piston, or sell the TKM engine and move into Rotax max, but it is a much more expensive class to race in.

Exposed Radiators getting wiped of the side of the Kart, etc, etc. (A TKM doesn't have a radiator).!!!
A heavy engine/Carb designed for a motorcycle not a Racing Kart. The extra weight affects Chassis balance in the back rear corner of the chassis.!!!

You also have to take it to a "Sealing Agent" rather than work on it Yourself, if you want to.

Kind Regards.

Mike.

Many thanks for the info Mike. Very helpful, although that's opened up another avenue of possibilities that I wasn't even aware of!
Our initial reason for researching the rotax class was that it seemed like a popular class and there seemed to be tons of parts available on ebay etc. I was unaware of the differences axle spec you mention and was under the impression that parts like that would be generic, so better get swatting up again. We will be coming up to the october meeting so maybe that will give us a better picture of the different classes. Thanks again.

All the best

Dave

Hi guys, Well we've taken the first step and picked up a 2008 BRM Chassis in decent order with 50mm axle and a Kelgate braking system. There's no engine, wiring or sproket. Still pondering which way to go forward. Been looking around for tkm engines but there doesn't seem to be much about. Wondering whether to start him in tkm for budgetary reasons and then move into Rotax when we've learnt the ropes so to speak. Can he race in junior tkm til he's 17 like in junior rotax? and can anyone point me in the drection of any tkm engine suppliers. Just taking it slowly whilst doing a lot of head scratching as we don't want to make any wrong moves at this early stage. We will be coming up to the october session so maybe it will become a lot clearer then.

All the best

Dave