Right, so I know most of you boys are really more into your full-sized (BMW branded) toys, but for those who enjoy the smaller things in life, here is my build/race/blog thread about my foray into the deep dark world of amateur go karting.
I've been racing casually on and off since I was 17. For a while I was a regular visitor to F1 Boston and had some really good success in the junior leagues there. Second in the points championship, first in the big final race, yadda yadda yadda. Indoor is fun and all, but there is only so far you can go with it. After coming in second place in a team 90 minute endurance at F1 Outdoors, I knew that was place for me, but the story kind of ended there.
After turning 18 my only option was to run in the adult leagues. Those were on weekdays at six or seven PM in Braintree, which is south of Boston. I live north of Boston. A 45 minute ride wound up taking two hours, and after six rounds of getting my butt kicked by dirty drivers, I was done. Besides, I was heading off to school anyway. So why the sudden change of heart? Well, I noticed a good friend I met (and usually beat, hehe) in the junior leagues was actually going somewhere in racing. He posted on Facebook a blurb about how his application to the Skip Barber Karts to Cars Shootout was accepted. I instantly became ultra jelly, and needed to do something.
After about a week's research, I decided World Formula was right for me. This is a four-stroke series that uses Briggs and Stratton motors. These are much more reliable and much cheaper than rotax or other two-stroke motors. Although they aren't as popular as the oil burners, these motors still put out power in the range of 15 HP, plenty to get me going. It also helps that they are beginning to gain a lot of following, especially in New England. I found a good deal online, a 2013 Arrow X2 chassis (proven at a national level) that came with a dyno'd and blueprinted motor with only four or five races on it. The owner graciously lowered his price to exactly what I wanted to pay, and even offered to drop it off at my front door. Perfect.
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Now, for those of you who made it all the way through, let's get on with the pictures!
Here's the kart with its original owner on the cover GORacing Magazine, April 2013.
GORacing April 2013 by 686erak, on Flickr
Sitting in my garage the day it was dropped off (PO's seat padding still installed).
IMAG0263 by 686erak, on Flickr
Test fit in the parts van from work (THANK GOD it fit!! Also happened to fit into my mom's RAV4).
IMAG0264 by 686erak, on Flickr
Got it cleaned up and squeezed into the basement.
IMAG0266 by 686erak, on Flickr
Organizing the work bench.
IMAG0268 by 686erak, on Flickr
The whole shebang; official work area.
IMAG0270 by 686erak, on Flickr
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That was it for week one of ownership, here's some updates from this week.
Found these perfect wing nuts, I have to take the sidepods off to transport the kart, so they will be quite handy!
IMAG0271 by 686erak, on Flickr
And for the moment you've all been waiting for, NEW STICKERS!!!!!!!! What a pain in the arse these were. Still not happy with the right sidepod, plastic too rough for perfect adhesion.
IMAG0278 by 686erak, on Flickr
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Coming up soon:
Getting the kart to the scales this week
First practice session Saturday
I don't care if not a single person reads this post, I'm going to update for myself anyway!