Quote:
Originally Posted by Tobra
I think the conversion formula for a cart going 70 mph to a normal size vehicle is pretty extreme.
I ran the numbers and my 914 would have to go Mach 3 for equivalent pucker factor.
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Yeah, well I seem to remember that if an ant were done the same way they travel 1000 MPH in human speed.
70 is not that fast in a kart. You can change the gearing to find top speed where HP no longer overcomes air resistance. I think that's around 80 with a 16HP 100 cc motor. Increase the motor, increase max speed. I've been at the track where 250 cc karts do 140 and they could probably find that max/resistance out at Bonneville somewhere near 160.
My laydown kart (enduro) with the same 100 cc Yamaha would do 100 on the back straight at Willow under perfect conditions. Classes are grouped in bigger groups for practice so during practice it wasn't unusual for someone in a bigger class to breeze by me doing 120. I mean they disappear fast given the differential.
But, to the point, when you're in a pack all doing 70 there isn't much drama unless of course you come to a sudden stop, like in a shunt. I flipped 2wice in 30 years of racing and stood up and walked away both times. Most do.
Back on the subject. Since posting I learned that the color you see in anodizing is dye. The anodize is clear but will absorb the dye at some point in the process. Since I work with aniline dye stains all the time, I made my own clear gold coating. It's only for show anyway and well good enough for the ferrous bits here and there.
The difference between me finishing up the refurbishing and hanging it back on the wall vs. actually taking it out for a few laps is new (used) tires, complete braking system rebuild, clutch service with the purchase of fresh clutch oil (newer karts went back to dry clutches) and some engine work including carb kit, fuel lines and filter.