A drift project Bunney would be proud of!!

Apart from a lack of stickerbombing :D
Boo Hoo so it's no JDM tyte drift car but for anyone interested it's at least informative!

So after selling this because herself was pregnant
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...a/IMG_1771.jpg

And this because of the 110 mile round trip to work everyday, and an itch to go back racing
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...1/IMG_0743.jpg

So I decided to do the only thing i've ever been decent at lol, Karting!

I went for the Senior Rotax Max class, the most popular class in Ireland. 125cc non gearbox, electric starter. Cheap to buy and easy to maintain. But much more expensive if your in the National Championship at the front. The National series runs at 165kg (kart & driver). Club series is 170kg and the heavier class is 180kg.

So for €2k I got this:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x/IMG_1494.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x/IMG_1496.jpg

2010 chassis, 2009 engine with 0 hours since full rebuild, wets and wheels, a suit, some sprockets, chains, oil, toolbox, mixing jugs and some other bits and bobs. It's a solid setup and is fairly clean. The beauty of the kart is I dont need a driveway or garage lol. It spent its first few weeks in a spare room in the house lol
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x/IMG_1497.jpg

First things first, I needed gloves and a datalogger. Picked these up at Murrays, gloves were a bargain but the Mychron is pretty dear but woth it (when I ever get it working :rolleyes: ) The Mychron gives laptimes, revs and water temperature. It can also have a GPS tracker hooked up so you can download it all to a laptop tracksde and get the tracked mapped showing lines and where your gaining or losing time. But at 600 bucks I'll do without it for now!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x/IMG_1520.jpg




So first time out was in Kart City. The track hasnt been used in nearly ten years for race karts but it's been well cleaned up since I was last there. The day started off well with me pulling up and bouncing the Mondeo off some truck tyres whilst parking. Then Donna arrived and did the same in the Audi, so I didn't feel as bad then lol

Pikey karting for the win lol!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...s/b2bd45ee.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...s/cd6742df.jpg

Anyway testing went well. Ran the engine in, ran myself in and had some fun. The rear hubs kept moving (shit on the axle and hub) so the handling wasn't great, I managed two laps with a proper setup though and it felt great so i was happy to just do laps. The Mychron didn't really work but I knew the revs were ok and I sussed the temp to make sure it was ok (The engine only runs to its best within a 10 degree window) before it packed up so it didnt matter. I got no laptimes nor did I get to weigh myself to see how bad it was! Most of the main drivers werent there, but I seemed to be second or third fastest of who was there.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x%20Max/16.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x%20Max/15.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x%20Max/12.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x%20Max/11.jpg

So first race; Whiteriver! I had two weeks between KC and Whiteriver but I f**ked my ribs so I wasn't sure to race or not. I got a trolley because axle stands aren't worth a shite lol
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...s/0c70f1cc.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...s/1d7e83bc.jpg

Did a full check on everything and it needs a good few bits. Steering column is bent, rear axle is too soft, brake disc is warped as is the carrier, brakes have too much travel, sprocket carrier is bent also and the rear axle and front hub bearings are in a pretty poor state. Easily all cheap and easy fixed but should make a big difference. Anyway did nothing before the first race other than changed the sprocket. I sent the Mychron back and Murrays gave me a replacement along with the GPS system for the weekend. Savage bit of kit.

I got 3 hours testing on the Sunday of Paddy's weekend. First time on the long track in Whiteriver, it's epic! My ribs were totally wrecked though, by the end of the day I could only manange 2 lap runs (out lap and in lap!). Packed up, went home, hit the neurofen and anti inflamatorys and had an early night! Still not weighed though.

Raceday. Signed on, got the kart ready, scrutiny etc and went out for practice. Came back in and finally got to weigh in with a low tank. 179kg. Fuck. Fill the tank and go heavy or try the light class being a heavy cunt. I chose the lighter class as there were loads in it! Qualified 7th out of approx 30 I think. Finished 6th from 7th in the first heat. Second heat was cancelled so started 6th in the final, and finished 6th. My tyres were totally fucked but concidering the extra weight and tyres my times were pretty decent.

So the race cost €55, fuel €8 and that was pretty much it! €100 for a new set of tyres or 25 second hand. You wont get cheaper than that. Had an absolute ball, it's great to be back racing :D

I need to do a mini rebuild (bits above), get a go pro and some tyres. I'll probably be out till June with my ribs so I'll miss the first two championship rounds but I can drop two I think.... Plus Nutts Corner might be on for a round. Yes! It also gives me 8 weeks to be less tubby lol

Pics:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...ax%20Max/6.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...ax%20Max/5.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...ax%20Max/4.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...ax%20Max/1.jpg

Videos:

Heat 1:
Whiteriver 19/03/12 Senior Max Heat 1 - YouTube

Final:
Whiteriver 19/03/12 Senior max final - YouTube

Thanks for reading :)

That's cool Fred, a bit of a difference goin from the jz to that!! Lol

Goood stuff Kieran, its all about having the craic!

Fuck that looks fast! I'd say you feel a lot less invincible in those karts than in rentals! Is the maintenance of the kart expensive for a season if your competing?

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x%20Max/11.jpg

Whats going on in the pic Kieran?
Always see it in karting, Whats the idea behind the hand in the air?

Awesome kieran , best of luck this year

Quote:

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Originally Posted by s13-ste

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a59...x%20Max/11.jpg

Whats going on in the pic Kieran?
Always see it in karting, Whats the idea behind the hand in the air?

---

It's to make other drivers aware that you are pulling into the pits

Cheers lads, it's pretty quiet for now but myself and my dad are gonna build a trailer during the summer and more racing! For now just gotta wait for the ribs to heal up :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dave V

Fuck that looks fast! I'd say you feel a lot less invincible in those karts than in rentals! Is the maintenance of the kart expensive for a season if your competing?

---

It's actually only around 80mph but it feels faster, especially with being in the wind as such. Yea the rentals are like tanks although you have much more grip and way better brakes so its harder to get into trouble than rentals! Nah, the engines are sealed from factory so no messing allowed. they need a mini rebuild after 25 hours (piston & gaskets) and a full rebuild after 50 (piston, crank etc) although if your decent so pushing it all the time i've been recommended to do both after 14 hours and 30 instead. Rebuild is about £350 so its not too dear. You should only need a rebuild once a year unless your doing some serious testing.

Maintenance is easy, there is a lot more to them than you'd think but its really basic stuff. The only thing to alter for a track is the sprocket size, just like on a bike. The bigger the sprocket the more acceleration you have but lose top speed, and the smaller you have the less acceleration. For example I ran a very low sprocket for Whiteriver, I assumed the top runners all would but you can see they were all definately running more teeth. Running a low sprocket only works if you have good exit speed though, which I hadn't lol but that was mainly me being rusty.

After buying the outfit you just need the sprockets for each track (basically one wet and one dry sprocket for each) and they are €8 and a chain to match (some chains may do a few tracks) and they are €22. After that its just oil (1 bottle is €20 but should last a good lump of the season), petrol (about 5 litres per race) and tyres (second hand at €25 - €50 a set) After that its just bits and bobs, they are a pretty cheap class to run in. The main national championship you'd need a new set of tyres every event and fees are much dearer but the club championship is getting more numbers due to the costs and simplicity of it all!

Like I have a bit of a rebuild to do, new brake disc & pads, disc carrier, sprocket carrier, steering column, rear axle and bearings which in car terms sound like a lot but actually:

Disc: €70 (only replaced because bent otherwise no need)
Pads: €35 (two sets would do a season)
Carriers: €20 each
Axle: €90
Bearings: €12 each (by 4)
Steering column: €15!

Although you can go mad and use ceramic bearings, they are like 100 quid each but would be a bit better.

I hope that helps!