I am one of those karters that doesn't know his big end from his little end and thinks top dead centre is halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin. I am sure I am not alone. I get my engine builder to build an engine, marvel at the impressive dyno figures, take it to a race meeting (where it is often sealed by the officials) race all weekend only to find that in engine measuring 'the beast' is illegal. After remonstrations with the officials, and Engine builder, I'm guilty as charged, given a fine and told to take a holiday from racing for a while (driver suspension). This is a hypothetical scenario, as personally I have never had an engine 'go down'. But the situation is not uncommon and many drivers whose greatest feat of mechanical engineering is to bolt the donk on the chassis, are getting severely punished for something totally out of their sphere of knowledge or control. Shouldn't the engine builder be held responsible?
Why don't engine builders put their own seal on the engine with their name and date of re-build. These engine builders should be accredited by the AKA and any sealed engine which 'goes down' the engine builder takes the penalty (Fine) not the driver who has never touched the engine in his/her life. This will give the driver confidence that the engine builder knows all the limitations and stands by their engines.
If any engine does not have an official engine builders seal then the responsibility falls back on the driver. Maybe the seal is only valid for a short period - let's say one month and excludes CC's which is the drivers responsibility to check. This should ensure that if you have just had your engine freshened up for a major meeting the engine builder has guaranteed it's eligibility. It also allows engine builders to encourage drivers to have their engines checked and resealed regularly.
I don't know if this is the perfect solution, or indeed whether there is any solution, and maybe there are other ideas out there, but it seems unfair that drivers can pay good money to an engine builder, race at a major meeting ( costing them heaps of extra money) and then get excluded and banned for something totally out of their control.
I look forward to some suggestions.
Why don't engine builders put their own seal on the engine with their name and date of re-build. These engine builders should be accredited by the AKA and any sealed engine which 'goes down' the engine builder takes the penalty (Fine) not the driver who has never touched the engine in his/her life. This will give the driver confidence that the engine builder knows all the limitations and stands by their engines.
If any engine does not have an official engine builders seal then the responsibility falls back on the driver. Maybe the seal is only valid for a short period - let's say one month and excludes CC's which is the drivers responsibility to check. This should ensure that if you have just had your engine freshened up for a major meeting the engine builder has guaranteed it's eligibility. It also allows engine builders to encourage drivers to have their engines checked and resealed regularly.
I don't know if this is the perfect solution, or indeed whether there is any solution, and maybe there are other ideas out there, but it seems unfair that drivers can pay good money to an engine builder, race at a major meeting ( costing them heaps of extra money) and then get excluded and banned for something totally out of their control.
I look forward to some suggestions.
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Comments7
KIAA proposed a system for doing this, with SOME degree of a warm response from the NKC, about 3 years ago.
Since then, nothing has happened (and KIAA's President is too busy comparing fellow KIAA members to Mr Bean, and using far too many exclamation marks, to actually ACHIEVE anything!)...
Personally, I think it's a great idea and I'd love to see it happen.
i'd put my name to that.. cracking idea there.
we all say it, there has got to be a certain ammount of cheating, and dodgey deals going around out there, and this would be a step in the right direction to stamping all that nonsence out.
would it mean no seal, no race? what about the DIY rebuilders?
Hi Kasper, no I suggest anyone can still build engines and anyone can race any engine but if they get 'pinged' the driver will have to cop the fine and suspension if it is not a sealed engine by an accredited engine builder. So nothing really changes apart from peace of mind knowing that your engine is built by an accredited engine builder and should pass engine measuring. This should make the engine builder accountable and if they build dodgy motors they will cop the fine ( and probably bad reputation).
I just don't like the thought of the engine builder being able to walk away when it is totally thier responsibility while the driver sits on the sidelines for a month or two.
cheers
SIMON
Kasper Kowalski said:would it mean no seal, no race? what about the DIY rebuilders?
Guys this is a brilliant idea but my only worry is that i have heard of people asking their engine builders too build them an illegal engine whilst chucking some extra money in. So when they get caught out those people could say "oh my god i had no idea my engine builder would do such a thing" when the engine builder was actually asked/payed to do it.
Shaun Tidyman said:Guys this is a brilliant idea but my only worry is that i have heard of people asking their engine builders too build them an illegal engine whilst chucking some extra money in. So when they get caught out those people could say "oh my god i had no idea my engine builder would do such a thing" when the engine builder was actually asked/payed to do it.
If anyone puts their reputation on the line to intentionally build an illegal motor - they deserve whatever they get!
Some people dnt race AKA. Up here in FNQ, we have a non-AKA track.
I race there, and so do a few other AKA guys. but we (the AKA guys) all have AKA legal motors.......Im not sure bout the non-AKA fella's....but they only race for fun anyways, and most of the time we do beat them, so its all good =)