Vroom Kart UK #012

N

U K

.

12

D E C E

M

MA B E

R

GA Z

2

0

KARTING, EMOTION & PASSION

14

-

INE

£

PHOTO D. PASTANELLA

4

W E I V

E R P TE S T TR ACK ERS: ORT DRIV H S & L L TA GE S - UP C H A N T E S W O H

GARAGE

ALL YOU NEED TO DO BEFORE PUTTING YOUR KART TO SLEEP

ROTAX GOES EVO THE AUSTRIAN FACTORY PRESENTS A STRONGER, MORE POWERFUL VERSION OF THE 125 MAX

FOCUS SUPER ONE

2014 LGM IN REVIEW

2015 RACING CALENDAR

VROOM POINTS

Here’s were you find your copy of Vroom UK

4

8 10

7

6 5

9 1 3

1

2

DARTFORD KARTING – OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR

www.kartstore.co.uk contact Maria at sales@kartstore.co.uk BAYFORD MEADOWS KC www.bmkr.co.uk contact Ian at info@bmkr.co.uk

SHENINGTON KC www.sheningtonkrc.co.uk contact Graham at Graham@sheningtonkrc.co.uk

BUCKMORE PARK – DARTFORD KARTING www.kartstore.co.uk contact Maria at sales@kartstore.co.uk

TRENT VALLEY KC www.tvkc.co.uk contact Clare at clare@tvkc.co.uk

CUMBRIA KC www.cumbriakrc.co.uk contact Malcolm at malcolmfell@yahoo.com

WHILTON MILL KC www.whiltonmill.co.uk contact Debbie at debbie@whiltonmill.co.uk

FOREST EDGE KC www.fekc.co.uk contact Colin at carolyne.wright@btconnect.com

ZIP KART www.zipkart.com contact Dan at dan@zipkart.com

2

3

4

5

7

8

9

10

LLANDOW KC www.llandowkartclub.co.uk contact Colin at llandowcompsec@hotmail.co.uk 6

AND IF YOU ATTEND THE SUPER ONE SERIES, FIND IT AT THE S1 INFO CENTRE

VROOM UK

81

CONTENTS

www.vroomkart.com

DECEMBER 2014 - N. 12

info@vroom.it www.facebook.com/vroomkart twitter.com/vroomkart

48

30

24

news

14 MONDOKART - News & Previews

60

20 YOUR TKM GUIDE Full Grip 22 ROTAX MAX BEGINNERS TIPS Set-up: get it right

66

24 PREVIEW Rotax 125 MAX Evo 28 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Dartford Karting Race Team 30 FOCUS

Super One Championship 34 CLOSE UP Little Green Man Series

28

72 VINTAGE Restoring a Birel T6 powered by a Parilla TG14 78 2015 NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL CALENDARS

race

40 ROTAX INTERNATIONAL OPEN 44 EASYKART INTERNATIONAL FINALS 48 BUKC QUALIFIERS 52 SHENINGTON KRC CHAMPIONSHIP RD.11 54 BUCKMORE PARK KC CHAMPIONSHIP RD.7 56 TRENT VALLEY KC CHAMPIONSHIP RD.7 58 BAYFORD MEADOWS KRC CHAMPIONSHIP RD.8

technical side 60 TRACK TEST Tall & short drivers 66 GARAGE Winter Care

VROOM UK

7

PR E VIE W RO TA X 12 5 M A X E VO

NEW 125 MAX EVO

ROTAX EVOLVES THE AUSTRIAN FACTORY PRESENTS A STRONGER AND MORE POWERFUL VERSION OF THE MOST POPULAR KART ENGINE SINCE 1997.

REPORT: MAURIZIO VOLTINI – PICS: DAVIDE PASTANELLA

24

VROOM UK

There is room for improvement even for what may seem perfect, especially after nearly twenty years of honourable duty. With this concept in mind, the karting world can get ready for the coming of an updated version of the most popular kart engine used by professional drivers and for hobby racing: a new Rotax 125 Max Evo. To be honest, it is exactly as the name says, it isn’t an absolutely new engine, but an evolution – a considerable one really – of the normal Austrian TaG that dominates the karting scene in several countries.

Before going into the technical details, we certainly cannot ignore the importance of this innovation, even in a world like motorsport where evolution and changes to go faster are everyday stuff. The thing is that, differently to other classes and series, the success of the one promoted by Rotax has been due to several issues like economy in running it, technical reliability and stability in regulations. Just think that since 1997, when it was first presented, the Rotax 125 Max has never been changed except for changes to

NEW 125 MAX EVO

ROTAX EVOLVES IT IS EXACTLY AS THE NAME SAYS, IT ISN’T A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE, BUT AN EVOLUTION reduce power and adapt it to the Junior, Mini and Micro classes for younger drivers.

So many years have passed, enough to justify an evolutionary step especially if, as managers of the Austrian factory say, the aim is to improve not only performance but also reliability and the life of the engine.

FROM THE CARBURETTOR TO THE EXHAUST

So let’s see which changes have been made to the Rotax engine. The mechanical part is almost the same as before: now the cylinder head is red, but this is more for a distinction than an actual technical difference. Technical changes concern the con rod and the piston, which are components that can be easily changed: significant improvements have been made on the new con rod as far as the thermal processes is concerned, these are such as to improve lubrication, while the piston has a different profile that goes to increase smooth running and at the same time it reduces wear and break-in time.

Externally we see a new Dell’Orto VHSB34XS carburettor, always 34 mm in diameter but in a more recent variant that reduces the need to re-adjust the calibration at changing conditions, besides improving response to gas opening. Instead on the opposite end of the propulsive “chain” there’s a new exhaust system that has been studied to reduce noise emission, which is lighter and longer lasting.

“ELECTRIC” INNOVATIONS TOO

Above, some of the details of the new 125 MAX Evo. The new battery with a three position switch (on, off, start), and the new distinctive red head which identifies the Evo.

The changes are not exclusively mechanical ones: talking about the exhaust, there is a new control for the timed exhaust valve, it is always a pneumatic type but it is controlled electronically. This way the opening is more precise, besides being selectable, you can choose, on two different points to back the choice of whoever is using it. The ignition

VROOM UK

25

CLOSE UP SUPER ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

30

VROOM UK

A BRAND NEW FORMAT THE BRITISH AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WILL CHANGE LOOK IN 2015.

SUPER ONE CHAMPIONSHIPS ORGANIZER JOHN HOYLE TELLS US ALL ABOUT IT. REPORT S.MURTAS / PHOTOS C.WALKER & T.DECK

VROOM UK

31

f

ocus

LITTLE GREEN MAN SERIES

EVER-GROWING

SUCCESS Simple format,

A

m I correct in saying that the biggest novelty for the 2015 LGM is the addition of one round in the calendar?

highly performing

“Yes, the series will run pretty much the same way as 2014 with no major changes, the

equipment, lots

only exception is that it will be contested over 9 rounds rather than 8, rounds 6 and 7 being

of track time,

Junior and Senior as the support programme.”

and great prizes.

a double-header at Rowrah. Alongside the Little Green Man we will run the X30 Tour for

How do you explain the success of the LGM with the “official teams”?

These the winning

“I believe the LGM is a good feeder-series for the Super One. It seems that in the past

ingredients of Mike

started out mainly for dad & lad outfits. The teams enjoy our simple format, with no time

couple of seasons the teams have regarded the LGM as a series in its own right, which

Mills’ Little Green

practice, three heats, A and B finals, and limited testing the day before.”

Man series, which

“No, the current system works very well. We will keep the one set of tyre (one slick, one

saw as many as

Any regulation changes for the next season? wet) for the 9 rounds, which helps to keep costs down. In fact, besides those who race for the major teams, our series accommodates also for the dad & lad who turn up in the little

seven different

van and can’t afford to spend top dollar. This is the reason why our Privateer Cup, which

winners in the 2014

You will have one new feature for 2015, which people already had the opportunity

eight-round series.

REPORT S.MURTAS / PHOTOS C.WALKER (KARTPIX.NET)

2015 CALENDAR Race 1 Race 2 Race 3 Race 4 Race 5 Race 6 Race 7 Race 8 Race 9

5th April 12th April 17th May 31st May 19th July 30th August 31st August 20th September 4th October

P.F.International Kimbolton Larkhall Whilton Mill Buckmore Park Rowrah Rowrah Shenington P.F.International

rewards small outfits of two (dad and driver, no mechanic allowed) is well supported.” to experience in the conclusive round at PFI – a fabulous new hospitality…

“The new, fully articulated lorry turns into a beautiful mobile hospitality unit which participants of the LGM are welcome to use. It’s all LED lit, with heating and cooling fan, it has a kitchen on-board, and it also accommodates our new podium. It’s a very nice social area too; you access through the electric doors into a very comfy coffee lounge, where you can sit down, follow the races live on our four massive plasma screens, have a chat, and a nice hot coffee or latte. We operate it as a cashless system, people are given a card which they scan for every item. It’s an added value that will certainly have a huge success at circuits which don’t have this sort of facilities.”

When is the entry deadline?

“We already have more than 40 drivers registered to the LGM, so I think we will have a full entry list well before the deadline, which is on 28th February. I have to say that the Juniors for the X30 Tour are filling up quite fast, the deadline here is obviously more flexible, as drivers can jump in and out and just do the rounds they want, similarly to Seniors. The class is going from strength to strength, people have been showing great interest from club level all the way up.”

34

VROOM UK

2014 SEASON REVIEW

On October 6th last year, as we watched Alex Quinn and Oliver York fighting for the 2013 Little Green Man title in a pulsating finale at PFI, few of us believed that such a thrilling battle could be repeated 12 months later. This assessment proved to be wide of the mark.

364 days afterwards, once again at the Lincolnshire circuit, 50 LGM contenders turned up and no less than half a dozen individuals were capable of lifting the title. Consequently we were treated to a truly memorable final, with an outcome that was decided out on the circuit rather than in the Clerk’s office.

GLORY ALSO FOR PRIVATEERS PRIVATEERS CHAMPIONSHIP 1) WOOLDRIDGE (582); 2) RAVENSCROFT (481); 3) WILLOUGHBY (447); 4) BUTTERWORTH (382); 5) HUNT (377)

Before 2013, the Little Green Man Championships had largely been contested by privateers. Once Iame motors were introduced, teams such as Fusion, AIM, Next Gen and Eclipse appeared. In order to encourage genuine dad & lad outfits, which made up less than 30% of the total entry in 2014, series organizer Mike Mills introduced separate championship prizes, together with trophies at each round for the top three privateers. Ben Wooldridge grabbed the title with one round to spare 100 points ahead of his closest rival, Clayton Ravenscroft, as Joe Willoughby rounded up the top-3.

VROOM UK

35

BRITISH UNIVERSITIES KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP

RACE

WHILTON MILL, 15-16TH NOVEMBER

THE BIGGEST QUALIFYING ROUND EVER! 48

VROOM UK

An incredible 90 teams from Universities across the UK took part in the two-day event to decide who will and who won’t be taking part in the BUKC Championship 2015.

REPORT BUKC P.O. / PHOTOS STU STRETTON PHOTOGRAPHY

A summer of waiting, three test days and two months of preparation. All leading towards this moment; the BUKC Qualifiers 2015.

For those that failed to qualify there is the next option - the BUKC Rookies Championship. Formed to give the opportunity for newer students and teams to gain experience on the incredible Club100 karts before mounting a challenge in the main championship, it has now grown to the point where it is rivalling the main event for

A whopping 90 teams registered for the British Universities Karting Championship qualifiers at Whilton Mill. The revised format to accommodate for such huge participation saw 45 teams contesting on the Saturday, and the remaining 45 on the Sunday.

Needless to say, the racing was mind-blowing!

size and intensity.

Because of the incredible demand for entries this season, the qualifying format had been altered to accommodate a record number of teams over the weekend-long event. The day began with 5 practise / qualifying sessions, which set the grids for the first group of sprint races later during the day. The grid for the second group of sprint races would be based on the finishing positions in the first races.

Also new for this season is the introduction of a Premier class to the BUKC Championship. The top 26 qualifying teams will be split, with the top 13 qualifying for the Premier class, and the bottom 13 qualifying for the Intermediates.

SATURDAY QUALIFYING Q1 - #72 Queen Mary A, 46.629 Q2 - #27 Brunel B, 45.752 Q3 - #44 Cardiff B, 45.766

Q4 - #17 UWE A, 46.198 Q5 - #18 Swansea A, 45.473 ROUND 1 With the dry weather holding out during the morning qualifying sessions, it was straight into the racing with Queen Mary A lining up on pole for Race 1. Reigning champions Coventry A got their title defence off to a shaky start after failing to secure pole in any of the qualifying sessions, but with three podium finishes in the first five races they were off to

a good start.

Huddersfield started off the 2015 season in style, claiming the first race win of the season, along with a 2nd in Race 4 (losing out to their B team!).

R1 - 1st: #10 Huddersfield A, 2nd: #7 Brunel A, 3rd: #1 Coventry A R2 - 1st: #50 Newcastle B, 2nd: #1 Coventry A, 3rd: #16 Coventry B R3 - 1st: #17 UWE A, 2nd: #39 Sheffield A, 3rd: #22 Cambridge A R4 - 1st: #53 Huddersfield B, 2nd: #10 Huddersfield A, 3rd: #5 Cardiff A R5 - 1st: #20 Durham A, 2nd: #18 Swansea A, 3rd: #1 Coventry A ROUND 2 The second round of racing began with the grids based on finishing positions from round 1. However, drivers were no longer tied to the race that they qualified for - instead the team was free to move their drivers to whichever race they wanted, adding a

VROOM UK

49

T R A C K

T E S T

SOME TALL, SOME SHORT All kart drivers have their “ups and downs” also from a dimensional angle. Let’s take a look and see the effects that the dimension or the size of a driver really has when he is lapping.

60

VROOM UK

BY N. BRANCHER - PHOTOS D. PASTANELLA

WHO IS RICCARDO PORTA From Modena, Italy; born in 1996 3rd in the 60 Mini Regional championship, 4th in the “Trofeo del Garda” in Lonato; 6th best time and 3rd in heats at the “Trofeo delle Industrie” in Parma in 2007

WHO IS IGOR SCHIOCCHET From Belluno, Italy; born in 1978 He has always raced in the gearbox classes, and has done well in several championships and amateur classes in the North East area

VROOM UK

61

garage WINTER CARE

BEFORE PUTTING IT TO SLEEP

Here you will see some of the best ways to put away your kart so that it is ready (or nearly ready) when you take it out again in spring.

BY M. VOLTINI - PHOTOS: VROOM ARCHIVE

66

VROOM UK

The cold season is upon us, yes, also for us kart drivers. And we all tackle it differently, in a personal way. Some are so taken by the sport that they don’t stop, perhaps even intensify their racing knowing that sooner or later the bad weather will make it impossible for them to race, so they make the most of it, dressing up to face the cold. Then there are some who are real masochists, barechested (metaphorically speaking, we hope to avoid getting pneumonia), they go to the track and have adventurous tales to tell after… However, there are also some who not immediately, but in a week or so, before it gets colder and the tracks freeze up, decide to hang up their kart for the winter and would like to apply all the necessary care to their kart so that it will be ready for use in springtime. This column is dedicated to the latter; we’d like to tell you a few things that should be done so that when you decide to take your kart out in a few months time it is ready to go.

START WITH ELBOW GREASE

The first thing to do, if you haven’t done it yet, is to have lots of patience and some elbow grease and start cleaning your kart thoroughly. It is much better if the main components like the wheels, at least, are removed. In fact, having the various elements apart, isn’t only easier to clean but

ALSO GREASE OR AT LEAST OIL BEARINGS AND UNIBALL OF THE STEERING SYSTEM also allows you to check the parts when you put them together again. You have several products on the market to help you clean the various elements, but it is better not to use products that are too aggressive: if they have a chemical reaction - either a strong solvent or corrosive product - it would damage the part, and not just in aesthetics. So wash everything carefully and then rinse, or just use products that aren’t so aggressive. Now, let’s say that we took apart the chassis, engine, wheels, and also the brakes. The following instructions would apply also if, due to necessity or inexperience, we were obliged to put the kart away without taking it apart.

WHERE GREASE IS NEEDED

Let’s start with the chassis, say that it is clean and ready to use. Well, it isn’t enough.

To protect it from dust, better to spray it and spread the grease with a cloth all the way along the length of the tubes (and the various elements welded there) grease with WD40, a type of oil that protects from rust and leaves a shine to the varnish (better than the dust anyway). For the varnish, it is

much better than Vaseline grease, which we could put in areas that are particularly vulnerable to rust, places like the axle.

Instead, for the bearings, always in the area of the axle, better to get them cleaned first with petrol or gasoline and, after having left them to dry, fill (using your common sense!) these bearings as much as possible with specific grease. The bearings and uniball of the steering set and also the steering column support must be greased or at least oiled. You must empty the fuel tank, not one drop must be left in it, and as for petrol tubes, you might as well face it, they must be changed when you will to back to the track. The steering wheel is apart, it depends what brand it is. You don’t have too take it off, but as a general rule it would be better to wrap it in a plastic bag or in cellophane to save it from humidity.

The part you hold is made of leather, use specific grease for this before you put the steering wheel away. Our kart has wiring and perhaps also a battery; treat all the connectors with the appropriate sprays, while the battery must be put away after having charged it (it is better if the lithium

You need lots of patience and elbow grease then get down to cleaning your kart...

There are several product on the market, liquid and sprays that help us to prepare our kart for its winter rest. Avoid using products that are too aggressive: their action would continue throughout winter…

VROOM UK

67

VINTAGE RESTORING HISTORIC KARTS

CONSERVATIVE RESTORATION OF A 100 CC BIREL T6 POWERED BY A PARILLA TG14 THAT HADN’T BEEN USED FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN YEARS 72

VROOM UK

Conservative restoration of any vehicle believed to be of historical interest, is different to total restoration because the work done on it, is just to make it go without changing the actual state of the “second hand” vehicle. Obviously, the general conditions of the vehicle must not be very bad, and it should have undergone important changes in structure or mechanics that affect the original model made by the manufacturer.

This is the case of the kart that we are presenting in this column. It is a Birel T6 powered by a 100 cc Parilla TG14 engine.

The kart that comes from a work shop, had not been running for about fifteen years, and it was in the conditions seen in the pictures, partly disassembled, with stickers that did not correspond to the kart and several layers of sludge that had accumulated over the years through use and having been later abandoned.

After having evaluated the actual state it was in from a mechanical and structural point, they decided to proceed with the restoration so that in the end, the kart would maintain its so called “patina” of old, but at the same time be able to work again as in the best years of its life.

First lots of pictures were taken of the vehicle in the conditions it was in when it was first found. Besides being useful for final assembly they are also useful for comparing “before” and “after” the restoration.

VROOM UK

73

the racing trademark

annual subscription £ 39 for UK (12 issues) £ 21 (6 issues)

to subscribe send an e-mail to info@vroom.it

£ 52 for rest of Europe (12 issues)