That is what I have heard and the reasoning is that the AKA want an engine that can carry through another class (so its not a dud like it is now, being only in Midgets).
Well pardon my sarcasim but, HELLO you had that with the Jay engine!
Also, with the dollar going down, the Comer is now DEARER than a Jay engine! So much for having a cheap grass root category!
I know when Comers were introduced, it was way before clutches were even thought of (brilliant idea at the time for the kids). BUT now that clutches are available.............the AKA should have got rid of the Comers and gone back to the Jay engine, at least you used to be able to race that from Midgets to Seniors.
Any comments
Well pardon my sarcasim but, HELLO you had that with the Jay engine!
Also, with the dollar going down, the Comer is now DEARER than a Jay engine! So much for having a cheap grass root category!
I know when Comers were introduced, it was way before clutches were even thought of (brilliant idea at the time for the kids). BUT now that clutches are available.............the AKA should have got rid of the Comers and gone back to the Jay engine, at least you used to be able to race that from Midgets to Seniors.
Any comments
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Comments12
Unfortunately there are J's and there are J's - some people are willing to pay BIG Bucks for a good J
The issue is more about finding an Engine that is competative out of the box (without the need for expensive blueprintng)
The Comer S to the SW + J now back to SW drama caused a lot of stress and anxiety to many Midget parents not so long ago and probably lost some to the sport
So whatever it is we need to get it right this time!
Ernie
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Comer is running in it's unrestricted form in Midgets? Or is there phenolic spacer?
Reason I ask is, if the Comer is already at it's performance peak, surely they can't use it in Rookies too?
Sorry Col yes they can they put a j pipe on it. There is also a 100cc barrel.
Ben Thomas
Valid points Ernie. Yes we need to get it Right!!!!
My understanding is .......a few very smart people were able to read the rules and modify the Comer S so that it was faster but "illegal". The poor technical people checking them are only volunteers and not as knowledgeable. The Comer S was not an easy engine to pull down to check specs so that is why the AKA went to the SW. The SW now has a seperate head and barrel, easier to check. Correct me if i am wrong.
A SW still needs to get "worked" on and its not significally cheaper than a J. With the dearer purchase price compared to a J, then the potential future upgrade to a 100cc barrel and an exhaust pipe.....Midgets and future Rookies are being priced out the market.
I also think with the changes from an S to an SW should have been significantly subsidised by the AKA. After all it is their stuff up. But then that would lead to so many more problems with other classes and changes and so on and so on.
It wouldn't be the worst thing to happen to Australian karting, that's for sure.
Ernie is exactly right, if they are going to change, make the change and do it once. We don't need it half assed and then need to adjust it another 6 months down the track and cost people alot of money.
if rookies run comers the class will be destroyed just like midgets have been when the J engine wieght went to 100kg.
In hindsight had the J been left where it was and the S penalised to bring it back behind the SW then the SW would have been the engine of choice at its introduction and all drama avoided way back then!
However many believed (me included) that the SW had not yet been fully developed at that stage
Regardless had the SW been competative instead of 4 to 5 tenths down it would have been the logical engine of choice
Nichole is correct in saying the S was uncontrolable from a technical perspective - and should have been dumped sooner!
Absolutely right. We need an out of the box engine that can be used.
Make a decision once and stick to it not the chopping and changing we have been put through in the Midget class.
There are expensive J's and cheap J's but this is not limited to just J's, there are expensive ARC's, Rotax's etc. As soon as an engine wins the State's or the National's people will pay extremely high prices in all classes.
The NKC went to the Comer SW80 with the intent of changing the barrel 12 months down the track to a more even, milled port liner. This would be great for consistency but alas at the last NKC meeting when DPE asked the question if they should continue the development down this path the answer was no.
I am grateful as it means we have a salable item but not happy as we have to go through multiple engines until we find a good one.
but hang on, if they want an engine that can carry through.. whats wrong with keeping the j.... it goes from rookies to juniors to seniors.... if thats not carrying through then im a rubber duck. wudnt the betst thing to do is make all rookies and midgets run the j? then you can effectivly get 6 classes out of the 1 engine
Andy Turnbull said:but hang on, if they want an engine that can carry through.. whats wrong with keeping the j.... it goes from rookies to juniors to seniors.... if thats not carrying through then im a rubber duck. wudnt the betst thing to do is make all rookies and midgets run the j? then you can effectivly get 6 classes out of the 1 engine
I think the AKA should hire you in the department of "says stuff that makes sense" area. Because I think they need you XD
The Comer is a brilliant engine, but only for midgets. As you said Andy 6 classes from 1 engine (being the J) WHOA
UNLESS
The AKA are planning to introduce Comers to seniors??? and maybe a turbo so they can keep up with the Junior Lights :P
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BUT What is wrong with the current system!?!?!?
Mitch Anderson said:Well to be honest i think the way it is is good. cos a.. once u buy a comer you dont have to do all that much to it to keep it running. with a j your constantly changing something... But if the aka want to make there be an engine that you can run all through your karting experience then the j is a good idea but the comer is good coz u buy it and u can run it from the box..... the j required a clutch,starter,yearly rebuilds lots more changes and basically a hassle for little kids to handle... i think the comer should honestly stay where it is till they make a pull start j and make the j engine come with a clutch to start with.
They have made a pull starter for J's just check one of the recent kart mags for the advert, made by Yamaha
Where do people get the idea that you can run a comer straight out of the box?????
Like any engine in karting, if you want to be up at the pointy end you have to get it worked on.
With the cost of a new comer at $1600.00, which then NEEDS to be blue-printed ($600.00). That is a total cost of $2,200.00 and you don't even know if you have a good one. Then you have your recall maintenance problems, carbon build up, pistons and rings gumming up, other more technical changes as the driver becomes more confident. These are regular maintenance problems! These all cost money!
We picked up an average J engine for $600.00 which is blue-printed!!! Where is the initial purchase price comparison?!
There is so much more in the comer that people dont realise.
I am sorry, but seeing Reece Sidebottom at the Vic Open this weekend. I'll wager his engine wasn't straight out the box!!! I also bet most of the Midgets weren't either. There seems to be less GOOD comers in comparison to J engines. This only increases the resale value of GOOD comer engines to a ridiculous amount. Again proving my point that the AKA has made an introductory class too expensive and the idea of bringing the added expense of the 100cc barrel and exhaust pipe into Rookies is STUPID!!!