Are these the only guys keeping it real for karting- whilst we surround our karts with Tuppaware!

Over the last 5 years or so there has been a growing interest in historic karts, and Shenington and Rissington, amongst others, have provided demonstrations at their flagship meetings each year. The problem arises for those who crave more time in their machines. Many hours are spent burning the midnight oil restoring these karts, many of which have sat rotting in the back of someone’s shed for more than a quarter of a century. When the demo is over, the driver is sat marvelling at how out-of-proportion the time is spent restoring their pride-and-joy to the time it is actually on-track doing what it was designed for. All of this is about to change.

On November 5th 2005 karting history was made when Red Lodge near Newmarket boldly hosted the first ever UK Historic Kart race. 2 races were held, one for Class IV karts (gearbox), and another for Class I (100cc direct drive). Judging by the interest shown by the modern karters it was a huge success. As one spectator said, “We’d normally have gone home by now, but we’re not missing seeing these nutters, first!”.
Not sure about the reference to nutters (well I’m all right – it’s all the others), but you get the gist.

First ever Historic Kart race held in the UK – Red Lodge, November 5th 2005

The karts eligible for the championship are those models that started manufacture 1958-1979 for gearbox karts, and up to 1982 for the direct drives. The karts will be split into 3 age categories to give everyone a chance at being a champion in their respective group, and the latest karts will be pushing out around 25HP; couple this with a kart weighing not much over 50kg, and not-so-grippy (read cheap!) tyres, you have some wicked karts! Having been used to modern karts, the first time I drove one I was accutely aware of the exposure to the elements. Driving down the long straights of Shenington, the driver gets plenty of time to think about the worse things that can happen when racing these things, yet within just a few laps the feeling was that this type of kart was the essence of what a kart should be – a simple racing machine with amazing performance – what I had in mind before ever having the opportunity to so much as sit in such a machine.

The rules specify such things as the banning of Alfano style on-board timers, professional teams, etc. and insist on preserving the integrity of the karts – no bodywork to be added, suede steering wheels, coloured seats, long side-rails or the like. Suitable karts can be found at sources such as ebay if the potential RetroRacer knows what they are looking for, and if he or she doesn’t, help is always at hand at RetroKarting who co-ordinate the series, and run on-line updates, as well as providing all info required to enter the series, and help to all those wanting to get involved.

I personally have been running the latest 100cc water cooled motors with much success in recent years, but craved getting back to basics (my air-cooled 32HP Ital MV21 was a real favourite), away from those tubes, rads, hideous new-shape bodywork and such like. By chance I came across a kart that I thought looked the part (on ebay) and ran it, after restoration, at Shenington – that was enough! I realised that this was the sort of kart I had in my mind’s eye – a pure, stripped down racing machine with only one purpose – to go fast (not to do it politically correctly!). Trouble was, I wasn’t happy doing 10 lap demos here and there. With like-minded partner in crime Martin Gilbert, the idea of racing these pocket-rockets was born. Through his Kartline connections a race at Red Lodge was organised. The racing was very close but fair, and never in my racing career have I felt racing so safe (relatively); with no bodywork, the driver is aware that bumper-car style techniques are out of the question – leave that to the Rotax and TKM boys. Judgement and skill are of the essence.

If any of my ramblings spark the slightest interest, please take a look at http://groups.msn.com/RetroKarting
Join the site, root through all of the many photos, and get involved in the best thing to happen in karting in a long time, and find out what Ayrton was really on about. The next article will show you how and where to find these karts, and how exactly you get them looking like new and back on track, so you too can find out how cool these karts are for yourself.