Jr Clone - Minimum Weigh

[Tim Draggoo]

Everyone,

There was concern this past weekend on the minimum weight for the Jr Clone Class. To best help us determine if we need to lower the weight, or even split the class into two divisions we need your input and information. Can you please send me an email, or PM with the following:

Name
Kart Number
Scale Weight
How much weight added to meet the 290lbs


Tim Draggoo
[e-mail]

[cj]

Hey Tim...

Really glad you brought this up.

I have a Jr1 with an animal right now but I plan to put a clone on it as that's where the most interest seem to be locally.  I have geat concerns about the minimum weight rule (290#) and I've been trying to understand the reasoning with combining the Jr1 abd Jr2 clones as one class.

My family is new to karting but I've been around racing for the past 25 years.  I'm pretty mechanical, been melting and hanging lead for many years.  I thought late models were bad... not too sure I'd say pretty simple compared to the weight required on these karts.  What to do... what to do...?  

I'll admit... I'm scratching my head as to where can I possibly mount the lead required to make 290#.  I know the standard method is attachment to the seat.  I don't know how I'm gonna hang 85# off the seat.  I know some have welded hangers/brackets to the frame.  Not me... these cadet karts have 28mm tubing and from research I find most have a wall thickness of 1.5mm - 2mm.  These chassis were never designed to have this much lead hung from the frame.  

I really think the Jr1 class should follow the IKF weight rules.  Jr1 light @ 240#.  I know there are 5 Jr1 drivers and kart combos weighing in at 200# to 220# without lead.  The 240# seems much more feesable for most involved.  What is your driver and kart weight without lead Tim?

I met another new racer at practice on Wednesday, Jr1 clone, they were wondering how to get all the weight on thier kart as well.  They have lead doubled up all over the seat and still need to add 20#.  That dad is scratching his head as well.

We really need to evaluate this subject.  I'm pretty sure most if no all Jr1 karts will be represented at the meeting Tuesday.  I hpoe we can come to some agreement.

Driver Specs:
Name:         Tanner Juhnke
Kart #:        Unknown
Scale Wt:   205#
Lead:          85#


Thanks Tim for this great topic.

Corey J.




             

      

[Tim Draggoo]

Corey,

Thanks for the info. One question, why pull the Animal engine off. It’s a much more reliable power plant. I have had nothing but problems with the Predator. I know there are drivers out there that haven’t had a problem, but it’s only time. I’m running two Jr karts this year, one Jr clone and one Jr 1 Animal. I could have put a clone on the Jr1 kart, but I wanted something that would last and I could take to the Tri-Cities and Gold Cup. The Jr 1 is at 260 and that's with 65lbs of lead. I don’t want to steer you away from the clone class but if you have the Animal keep it on and lets build that class. Sorry, just my two cents worth. But I would like to see the Jr1 Class grow.


Tim

[jhuttle]

I agree there should be two weight classes for all the reasons detailed above, but im concerned that the younger possibly less experienced kids will have the same engine in the lighter, thus faster, karts. I'm really new around here so i will defer to the more seasoned among us to determine if they think this would be a problem, but it seems to me that as the kids get older the karts should get faster, not slower.


Driver info
Thomas Huttle
#5
297-302
No weight needed

[Tim Draggoo]

Joe,

That was my feelings as well. I don’t want to see a younger, and in most cases a less experienced driver with the same HP and 40lbs lighter as the older drivers. I'm proposing we put a restrictor plate on the Jr 1 Class just as IKF does with the Jr 1 Animal. I have to check but I believe the same plate will fit the clone. We could run our clone class to match IKF’s.

•    Jr 1 – 260lbs – Restrictor Plate – 8yr to 11yr (We currently have 3-5 karts)
•    Jr 2 – 310lbs – No Restrictor – 11yr to 16yr (We currently have 8-10 Karts)

We could probably even do some testing to see how the Predator compares to the Animal, and with some adjustments have one class. I know both are based off a 6.5 HP engine. I think we could put the same driver in two different karts with both engines and see how they compare.

Tim

[cj]

Tim,

I have 2 animals motors as well but planning on going to a clone as that's where the interest seem to be. I hear you about being able to run Tri-Cities or Gold Cup events. My kid is not even close to that level yet. Not sure he'll even be up to speed this season. So my thought is to run a clone to let him log laps and gain experience. I see no reason to wear out a good animal.

I'm not opposed to a restrictor. I do think the Jr1 and Jr2 would need to run separate races or at least stagger their starts so everyone understand the separation and can identify who they are racing.

We think alike as far as following the IKF rules pertaining to Jr1. We just differ as far a weight. I would prefer to run the IKF Jr1 Light weight.

My proposal is as follows:

Jr1 - 240lbs - With or without restrictor - 8yr to 11yr (it appears everyone is 195lbs - 210lbs without lead)

I don't have a Jr2 kart so views for them will remain mute. I'm only interested in the classes we currently support. If the board decides to maintain a single "combined" Jr Clone class... then I'll feel compelled to defend my position pertaining to the Jr2 class.

I have counted 6 Jr1's at the track between practice and race day. Hamilton(2), Blakesley(1), Draggoo(1), Juhnke(1) and another rookie driver that was at practice this past Wednesday. I think the young mans name is Ryan. All of these drivers are rookie's to Jr1. I believe only Hamilton's drivers have prior experience in kid karts. The Jr1 class has new blood and great excitement. We can only hope the whole board will listen to the supporters of this class and react accordingly. I'm only one voice and I don't really know what the others are thinking. I hope they will come here and post or plan on attending the next meeting.

Thanks again...
CJ

[dwaynep]

Just a heads up, my son Cody and I will soon be joining SKRA. My son Cody is 8 and will be driving a cadet clone, we are currently building in hopes to be out at the track in the next month or so. I have been wondering how and where to put all the additional weight we will need to reach 290. He is obviously a rookie driver. I have not weighed the Kart yet as it is still not complete. I would guess we will be around 190-200 with kart and driver. It appears there should be two seperate classes between the older heavier kids and the younger lighter kids. I would like to run without a restrictor. We are new to this so any suggestions would be great, and we need help or who to contact for scales etc. Hope to see you all soon. Dwayne

[Tim Draggoo]

Dwayne,

Welcome to SKRA. Please let us know if you need any help with anything, or have any questions.

Tim Draggoo

[cj]

Hey Dwayne,

We look forward to seeing you and Cody at the track soon. We welcome all the competition we can get. Everyone in the Jr1 class is a rookie to the class. I'm sure you'll fit right in. Only two kids have prior kid kart experience. If you have questions or need anything, there are several guys in the Jr1 class with clone experience. I'd be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Please call me when you have a chance, I'd really like to chat.

Corey J.
509-869-0140

[randyl14]

Jimmy Lasswell
#14
317 lb.
0 lb. of lead

We are at the other end of this discussion. Jimmy is 13 and is 5'-7" tall. If you are going to start a new class for the younger kids, how about considering adding 10 - 15 lb. to the older kids to even things up a little. Every kid that races in the Junior clone class will have this problem before they can move up to the adult classes, they just keep growing.

Thank you,

Randy Lasswell

[Tim Draggoo]

Randy,

We will be looking into the weight for the Jr II Clone as well. We are talking to IKF this weekend at the Gold Cup and we want to get their stand point on the subject as well. More to come...


Tim