| Firstly, can you explain
a little about what F100 is and how it started in Australia?
'Formula 100 is basically the same as what is
commonly referred to around the world as Formula A or Intercontinental
A.
It allows the use of both reed and rotary valve
100cc engines and you can use any pipe (no silencers needed here).
The carby is exactly the same as what was always used in ICA/FA
- 24 mm butterfly type two and three jets. The class runs at a minimum
weight of 150kg on the MG Yellow tyre which has a decent level of
grip.
Chassis are open, mostly CIK homologated. Most
karts do not run the rear plasticcrash bars here. In Australia you
have to be the holder of at least a B grade license ( no beginners
) to race the class. The class was started in Australia as a lead
up to Inter A and Formula A, but with the demise of CIK in Australia
due to poor management by the governing body.
Formula 100 became the only option in this country
for people wanting to run these engines. Once again poor management
and a lack of will by the governing body of karting in Australia
led to Formula 100 declining over the years to the point where only
small numbers of karts were racing, even at the National Championships.
In 2004 I started what has come to be known as
the Titan Series for Formula 100. With good management and organisation
the class has risen from the ashes and is once again in a growth
period in Australia. I now promote a stand alone National Championship
for Formula 100 in Australia, having run twice now in 2007 and 2008,
with Fifty Formula 100 karts entered in the 2008 race meeting in
two divisions, light and heavy (163kgs ). The best drivers in Australia
are coming back to the best class! Many drivers comment on how much
they enjoy driving in F100. '
What is it about 20,000 rpm bad boy 100cc
engines that you think makes them so awesome to drive?
'Its ever so simple. A fantastic spread of power
from the bottom right to the top. No dead zones or all or nothing
power delivery. They sound right, go fast and reward the drivers
who are willing to charge hard. Motorsport is all about noise, speed,
big revs and an engine that gives everything its got to you. The
100cc engines are damn reliable these days and we find that we are
spending comfortably less money than many of the 125cc classes and
Yamaha 100 cc classes where there are so many more add on components
that need to be replaced after breakage or wear and tear.
There is no doubt that whenever you give someone
a 100cc reed engine to drive they
comment that it's simply the most fun and enjoyable engine that
they have ever driven, and that is the point of motorsport, to win
and compete, but also to simply enjoy what you are driving. Taming
a beast like these engines is great fun and a challenge.'
With manufacturers stopping, or slowing
production of 100cc engines how do you manage to keep a constant
supply of new spares, and engines?
'Well it simply hasn't been a problem. Many manufacturers
are still producing these engines brand new like IAME, who in fact
have updated their engine in 2008. Numerous companies produce pistons,
rods and all the other components required to keep the engines going
The fact is that these engines are still a big
market. That's obvious by the never ending list of companies that
continue to make everything we need. Remember the engines are simple,
there isn't a whole lot needed to keep them going.'
There is a fierce debate in Europe about
whether KF has been a successful cost cutting class, and whether
it was right to move away from the key principles of 100cc karting
- simplicity! What impact do you think over complication of karts
and engines has had on the scene as a whole?
'You make a great point here. There is no doubt
in my mind that the good teams are spending more money than ever
since the introduction of KF engines.
Whoever made the decision on KF got it dead wrong.
When 100cc was king in the major international races, it was also
very popular with the karters who raced at a club level. It was
fast, simple and a thrill to drive.
Now with KF like all engines that have clutches, power valves and
wiring looms etc, the average club level karter is turned off by
the over complicated nature of the engine and the cost of it to
purchase.
The ones that drive the KF or read up about them
discover that they are not faster than the simple 100cc engine and
absolutely less fun to drive. For goodness sake, who the hell wanted
an engine that drives like a Rotax Max 125. If that was the only
engine available to drive, I would change hobbies to chess ( just
joking ).
But sincerely the KF scenario has hurt karting
as an attraction to watch and it will drive a wedge between the
top level of the sport and the average club racers. I know one thing
for sure, when Formula 100 is racing, you know that everyone will
be at the fence watching the race!'
20 years ago it was very simple for a driver
to learn about 100cc and carbs because that was the staple of world
karting and knowledge was all around. However. with so many 'pick
up and play' classes available today maybe the knowledge isn't so
easily available to find. How do you prepare drivers for F100 when
it comes to engine prep and manual carburetion which they might
not have had to deal with in a sealed class like Rotax?
'Its pretty simple really. I spend a little time
with people and explain the basic nature of the engines. If you
give them the right amount of fuel then the 100s will be reliable
motoring. Sounds simple and it is. I implore anyone getting into
the class to make sure that they have a good late model carby which
has tended to cut down on problems. Ibea is the main carby here
and most drivers find it quite easy to find the correct settings.
Obviously I give guidance on where to start and this helps. There
are many good operators in Austalia that are very good with Formula
100cc engines, so there is plenty of help for the competitors who
get into the class.
Actually most find the engine tuning reasonably
easy after a short trial period. Its certainly an easier carby to
understand than the horrible del-orto on the Rotax 125. You need
to be a scientist to pull one apart and put it back together! In
Australia most classes are still using carbies that need to be manually
tuned so its not much different to all of them.'
With a heavy push towards TaG 'low maintenance'
karting from various governing bodies and organisations how have
you gone against the grain and made F100 so successful? What are
the key attributes of 100cc karting that actually make it an exciting
proposition?
'Now thats the funny part of all this. The so
called 'TaG (Touch and Go - Clutch and Start on the engine) low
maintenance' engines are exactly the opposite of that, they are
a nightmare for the new karters and once they age they become worse.
There are so many hidden expenses with these engines
which if you are truthful you will understand that they are not
low maintenance at all. So making F100 successful has been made
easy because they are so good to drive, so fast and so bloody simple.
And yes believe it or not they are cost effective when compared
to many of the classes operating now. You can be a back marker and
have an engine thats as good as the guy that wins, now thats nice
isn't it.
When you look at TaG engines and F100, you realise
that even little things like changing engines on the F100 is so
easy and less time consuming. You don't need to have wires all over
the place and charge batteries at night etc. No buttons in the nassau
panel. You just go fast, race hard and enjoy yourself, sounds so
easy and it is. Thats why F100 is successful again. I have also
helped stop the many lies that were being told about the engines.
Some other groups with self interest always love to spread rumours
about the engines which are far from the truth. People now see the
class racing for themselves and make up their own mind. The truth
is in the tasting so to speak.'
What are your plans for the future of
F100?
'To keep going as we are and offer a genuine alternative
to the other classes. To keep running the Titan Series, to keep
the class racing at the best race meetings and to keep a National
Championship alive for the class. Karting needs Formula 100, especially
in countries in Australia that have no CIK, no exotic classes. It
would be bloody awful for Australian Karting to be left without
a class that can truly excite an audience and attract the attention
of sponsors outside of karting.
If you don't understand karting and you are at
the track and you see Formula 100 karts screaming around you are
going to be impressed! 2009 will be bigger and better than ever.
More races than ever for the class, more entries and more interest.
Just recently two of our top juniors in Australia stated that they
will turn senior and compete in Formula 100, that's the sort of
influence we are having here with F100.
Juniors know that to compete in this class is
the ultimate test of their talents in Australia. It is hard to resist
the temptation when the class is available to race. I have some
plans to do some longer distance CIK style races using stickier
rubber. Unlike KF in Australia which just cant get off the ground
even with the huge resources of the Australian Karting Association
behind it, Formula 100 is in good shape. If only I had some of those
resources available.CIK would certainly be back in this country,
just with the engines that everybody actually liked! '
Alan Dove
All photo's by Cooper's Photography
except image showing a TM on a VRK
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