Historic Karting

John McKechnie · Post by **John McKechnie** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 11:06 pm

Thats a big thumbs up from me also.
A friend Peter Kitchen raced there, also we used to fly control line planes there 1969-70, so the karts were a great sight.
Habu- man, a pulse jet, thats the Marsh dragster of model engines,same principal as in the Nazi V1 Doodlebug.. What a sight with your dad !!!!!!!!!! Was it on a Combat Wing with the long streamers behind ?

928 · Post by **928** » Wed Sep 23, 2015 11:30 pm

just imagine the fun the LVVTA would have with that. would have them dribbling in the corner

BMCBOY · Post by **BMCBOY** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 12:14 am

Thanks Guys, I have enjoyed revisiting the photos myself.
What has amused me most is the "crowd control" and "safety fencing" or lack of it.
Try and park a car right next to a track fence now or stand on the wire or posts!!
Different era I guess and no doubt the karts are very much quicker now.
Lots more Dads and sons sharing a kart back then too which was less pressure.

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:56 pm

John McKechnie wrote:Thats a big thumbs up from me also.
A friend Peter Kitchen raced there, also we used to fly control line planes there 1969-70, so the karts were a great sight.
Habu- man, a pulse jet, thats the Marsh dragster of model engines,same principal as in the Nazi V1 Doodlebug.. What a sight with your dad !!!!!!!!!! Was it on a Combat Wing with the long streamers behind ?

Ha ha - no John, the pulse jet once running (which is an art form / rigmarole on its own), is timed by the number of "laps" it completes if I remember correctly. No ribbons, and no sissy nylon control lines. Jet lines are made from braided steel "for real men" and the fuel for it used to be made and delivered by a friend who was an industrial chemist - so probably a bit Marsh like. Think the Old Boys one used to have an average speed of over 130mph.

Yes, V1 technology - the noise must have been terrifying during WW2, as I can still remember the noise it made.

The real treat, is to see one flying at night :cool:

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:58 pm

BMCBOY wrote:Thanks Guys, I have enjoyed revisiting the photos myself.
What has amused me most is the "crowd control" and "safety fencing" or lack of it.
Try and park a car right next to a track fence now or stand on the wire or posts!!
Different era I guess and no doubt the karts are very much quicker now.
Lots more Dads and sons sharing a kart back then too which was less pressure.

Yes, so not PC compared to all the hoops we have to jump through today.

A much simpler time....

928 · Post by **928** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 1:03 am

like driving a kart on the road. the LVVTA would have fits if that was presented for certification now.

BMCBOY · Post by **BMCBOY** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 7:21 pm

Final post of these photos - I have quite a few individual kart shots too. If people would like me to search for anyone in particular PM me and I can have a look.

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 2:50 am

[quote="BMCBOY"]Final post of these photos - I have quite a few individual kart shots too. If people would like me to search for anyone in particular PM me and I can have a look.

Just look at those motors - Komet, Parrilla's and I'm guessing TD Yamaha stuff? Wow Thanks a heap BMC BOY.
Are there any photos from the late 70's / early 80's anywhere by any chance?

Many, many thanks

Ross Hollings · Post by **Ross Hollings** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 4:35 am

Couple of Karts i owned 1977 on,raced at Rosebank Rd and street races. 545 had a YamahaT100 motor i think it was called and 250 was a Honda CZ.The 250 kart was built by Ron Robinson to a Peter Bruin design,quite unusual in its double chassis rail,made it quite ridged.Big wheels on the front were also unusual,[also front disc brakes]handled well and went like stink.Raced it at road circuits and also Taupo [small track] and club circuit at Pukekohe.Interesting to see the 1974 photos

and the my shots,how quickly design had changed,the 250 and Yamie would have been around 78-80.
I used to make a lot of the Kart seats ,wings and front fairings ,in fibreglass in those days, hence the 3 colour [all gelcoat] seat on 545.

BMCBOY · Post by **BMCBOY** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 10:14 am

Superkarts were just as fast as Formula Pacifics around Baypark at this time.

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:19 pm

Hi Ross, Nice photos! The 545 karts engine is definitely not a Yamaha KT100 - its a reed valve engine, so could be a Dap / Corsair. Please post anymore they're great

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:21 pm

Nice superkart photos! Is that Chris Heron in kart #25?

Ross Hollings · Post by **Ross Hollings** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:47 pm

Definitely a KT100,had one of the first ones that came on the market,got sick of my Macs blowing up.Never had a Rotary,those guys were considered,or considered themselves F1 drivers ,anyway was always to heavy for that class !!

Ross Hollings · Post by **Ross Hollings** » Mon Sep 28, 2015 9:48 pm

Definitely a KT100,had one of the first ones that came on the market,got sick of my Macs blowing up.Never had a Rotary,those guys were considered,or considered themselves F1 drivers ,anyway was always to heavy for that class !!

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 12:29 am

Ross Hollings wrote:Definitely a KT100,had one of the first ones that came on the market,got sick of my Macs blowing up.Never had a Rotary,those guys were considered,or considered themselves F1 drivers ,anyway was always to heavy for that class !!

Sorry Ross, I said reed - I meant Rotary, but you already picked up on that. Whats got me confused is the carb is mounted to the outside of the barrel closer to the rear wheel and the ignition coil looks like a red one from a motoplat mounted on the front. Regardless, its still a cool looking kart.

Ross Hollings · Post by **Ross Hollings** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:43 am

Hell i hate when i am wrong,yes Habu you are correct,looked at the original photo and it is a carb,i bought this kart of my nephew and he was running a Rotary,so long ago think i must have run it in a couple of meetings then put the Yamaha on.Memory going maybe on my part.545 was his number,Brett Oakes.Can not remember what i did with the motor,probably used it as a trade in. !Good spotting.Checked out the local kart shop in Rotorua..........wow they are a work of art now these new karts,had a look at the track here,a very fine track it is,with all the timing gear etc,thought about having another go in seniors but felt the technology was a bit complicated for me now.Some of the rigs they have were amazing.Have to say it was some of the best racing i have enjoyed in motorsport. RH

BMCBOY · Post by **BMCBOY** » Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:19 pm

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:56 am

Ross Hollings wrote:Hell i hate when i am wrong,yes Habu you are correct,looked at the original photo and it is a carb,i bought this kart of my nephew and he was running a Rotary,so long ago think i must have run it in a couple of meetings then put the Yamaha on.Memory going maybe on my part.545 was his number,Brett Oakes.Can not remember what i did with the motor,probably used it as a trade in. !Good spotting.Checked out the local kart shop in Rotorua..........wow they are a work of art now these new karts,had a look at the track here,a very fine track it is,with all the timing gear etc,thought about having another go in seniors but felt the technology was a bit complicated for me now.Some of the rigs they have were amazing.Have to say it was some of the best racing i have enjoyed in motorsport. RH

I know exactly what you mean! Its a cool kart - and a cool motor. Yes, modern karts are certainly complicated compared to what was around years ago.

Habu · Post by **Habu** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:58 am

Geez BMCBOY you keep outdoing yourself with these. They are superbe. Pretty sure I was there for this event. The colour just brings a whole new dimension to these

GD66 · Post by **GD66** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:33 am

Ross Hollings wrote:....thought about having another go in seniors but felt the technology was a bit complicated for me now.Some of the rigs they have were amazing.Have to say it was some of the best racing i have enjoyed in motorsport. RH

Is there no interest or facility in karting for historic racing along the lines followed by motorcycles and cars ? The chassis aren't very big and wouldn't take up too much room in the attic....

The Roaring Season

Historic Karting

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Karting Photos 1973 and 1974

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Superkarts Baypark 1982

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KT !00

KT100

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Superkart Photos Pukekohe 1982

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