Craig,
You may have seen elsewhere, reference to Rotax Light fields disappearing. I witnessed this personally in 2003 in Central Queensland. More recently, Leopard Light has been similar.
I suspect part of the problem is the weight and I've never understood how the initial weights for Rotax Light back in about 1998 was 145 kg and Heavy 165 kg, became 160 light and 180 heavy. It doesn't make sense because I am 82 kg and well into the heavy class in clubman but can make Rotax Light weight.
I believe revising the weights to align better with how other classes are divided, would encourage more of the seriously light competitors to the 125 classes if they're not having to carry 20kg or more ballast.
The stats are readily available and I expect the techs could and should investigate this and if their view is positive, make reccomendations to the members for approval. Given the demise of these fields, I don't see a downside and if it doesn't work, revise it again.
As the old saying goes, when you can't think what to do, do something.
Regards
Graeme Hancock
Comments12
Hi,
Some years ago Ian Mooney did a weight survey which showed just what you are talking about. The light weight was to heavy and the heavy weight was just right. The weights I believe have been made to accomodate the light heavy and super heavy weights as a super heavy that runs a little lead can step straight into 125 heavy.
If we introduced a lighter light weight class then had a lighter heavy class I believe you would have a strong push for a 125 Super Heavy. Do we need another class/classes?
Long term I think Clubman Super Heavy (what a shocking name) will disapear leaving room for the weights to be adjusted to 150 170 and 190.
CD
John, I don't think you do agree with Graeme!
He's saying (and he's totally right) that 160 is WAY too heavy for light. Many guys that run Clubman Heavy comfortably make the 125 light weights. At the moment, racing a 125 would be absolutely insane for me, because I'd need a 106kg kart! No thanks!
I think 150, 170, 190 would be ideal. Let TaG Superheavy take the place of CSH.
Yeah you have the right idea col.
Col Fink said:John, I don't think you do agree with Graeme!He's saying (and he's totally right) that 160 is WAY too heavy for light. Many guys that run Clubman Heavy comfortably make the 125 light weights. At the moment, racing a 125 would be absolutely insane for me, because I'd need a 106kg kart! No thanks!I think 150, 170, 190 would be ideal. Let TaG Superheavy take the place of CSH.
When rotax first started in Aus...the weights were 145 light, 165 heavy....and we always had big light fields.....maybe we are all getting fatter.????
There you go Craig. Instead of waiting to see what happens, do something about it now. All I've suggested is the techs look into it, not change the rules, like happens too often in this sport, without properly investigating first.
If the techs conclude the 125 classes would benefit from returning to the original weights, then change the rule.
Graeme Hancock
Scott, I'll second that! Regards, Max.
Scott Taylor said:Yeah you have the right idea col.Col Fink said:John, I don't think you do agree with Graeme!He's saying (and he's totally right) that 160 is WAY too heavy for light. Many guys that run Clubman Heavy comfortably make the 125 light weights. At the moment, racing a 125 would be absolutely insane for me, because I'd need a 106kg kart! No thanks!I think 150, 170, 190 would be ideal. Let TaG Superheavy take the place of CSH.
If we could start a forum poll?
125weights sound good at 150 170
Sounds also more in line with chassis performance for 30/30 and 30/32 chassis/ frames.
arter on February 22, 2010 at 23:07
I'm in TaG r Light (hopefully soon to be unrestricted) and I would love the Light weigts to be 145kg as I currently run about 10kg of dead weight and have to run a full tank for every heat and only just make the 160kg limit.
But I would settle for what Craig Mentioned, Lights at 150, Heavies 170 and Super Heavies at190, but also agree with John Daly that Restricted TaG should be a combined weight. I beleive this would encourage anyone with enough experience under their belt to move into the unrestricted classes.
The main point I want to highlight of this post is 160KG for lights IS too much.
dge on February 23, 2010 at 10:20
Yeah 150 ,170, 190 are good numbers they would even suit me better butt.........you have just added another class which is a bit of an issue when alot of clubs are trying to reduce classes. (its along day allready)
Rotax and Leopard are promoter classes on a national level and it should be these promoters that are approached in regards to weights for there class, or as RemoRacing done when the X-30 was introduced, a feedback request.
As States run TAG to boost field numbers rather than individual promoter classes, let the state decide what the weight should be to suit their demographic and as years change and people change the state can easily change to suit.
As for lead ballast and driver weights, a typical 125 kart weight is 82kg, meaning a driver weight of 78 to make the class weight and a driver at 83kgs will more likely run heavies with 15kg of extra ballast. So what weight do you want your drivers to be for light weight? People will run 15kg's of lead to go from lights to heavies so 15kg of lead is not extreme.
Consistency across classes on weights? So what is the typical kart/driver weight in clubman/national classes, I don't run this class so I don't know. I have heard kart 66kg and driver 74kg for clubman?
In the end it's the supp regs that stipulate the weight for all races (although the open state and national titles are set as per rule book), maybe you can change the weights for your class in your state by approaching your club or state rep?
Actually for some strange reason Chapter 44 TAG 125 is a "Promoter Class"
I understand that in a "Promoter Class" the Promoter can make and change the rules with AKA approval.
Craig, Thanks for offering to answer some questions - Can you please explain why TAG 125 is a "Promoter Class" ? and Why it is in the best interests of karters that it is a "Promoter Class" ? Why doesn't AKA take control of TAG 125 ?
I understand that Chapter 32 Restricted 125 Class is not a "Promoter Class" or am I the promoter of that class ?
I would love it if they reduced to weight for JMAX to 125kg, My young bloke is 13 but only weighs 37kg with all his race gear on, so with a max kart weigh of 100 kg, and with his build he should be just heavy enough to go in to JMAX when hes going to seniors !!!