The Autosport Auto Show Experience

    Since coming back from the Autosport show, everyone I have spoken to has asked how its been. My brief short answer has been, "uh its just like the PRI show." but few have been to the Performance Racing Industry Trade show nor did they have any clue what it was like. My brief explanation was its all the major players in Motorsports. But to be more specific, the PRI is more about horsepower. Everything to the point of how to make horsepower, where to find horsepower. While the Autosport carried the same heavy hitters, it was more than that.

    At the NEC Convention Center in Birmingham England, The focus was put more into the different type of racing. I think what caught my eye the most was the format of the show. The first two days was trade only, meaning paid big money to spend big money, while the second two days of the show was more of the entry level racers. Lower budget teams and how to get started, which I feel is a major part of racing today.

    The second two day stint had a R/C car track, and featured more drag racing and dirt racing. The drag racing was nothing new to me, here in America we have the Drag Racing industry on top of its game on how to make speed as fast as possible. The dirt racing was a bit different in the fact they had more of a late model type frame with little sheet metal for a body, while carrying a smaller wing shaped more like the Sprint cars. What surprised me was the speed and power some of the R/C Cars had. Gas powered engines with speeds around 35 mph on a track with a straight away of Thirty feet with an unreal power to weight ratio. I was intrigued of the power, after asking starting price on a car with that technology I was looking at 500 pounds which is roughly $1000. If I wanted the fast engine, it was another grand to get the blueprinted ceramic bearing special.

    Aston martin had its new display of race cars as well as street cars, As well did Subaru, Mitsubishi, Renault, and Seat. The main displays were the newest technology of the V8 Supercars, Formula 1, and the WRC series. However when it came to the technology, Brembo, Intercomp, Aim, and Eibach all had their newest and greatest on display. What was very impressive was the Grid of Formula 1 cars. Renault up front along side Ferrari, with Mclaren breathing down their necks. However the biggest light that I saw was the popularity of four cylinder racing engines.

    In a country/continent where fuel is twice the cost and air is twice the priority as our home country America, there racing was in the midst of changing directions. There was far more popularity in the smaller engines or cleaner engines at the show then anything else. From the R/C Cars, to the cleaner 4-cycle kart racing engines, and the Inline dual overhead cam electronic fuel injected racing engines.

    With the growing popularity in our home country of the lawnmower sounding mufflers on the smaller cars and the new four cycle YF 200 or biland, wankel, you name it, the future of this countries racing could very well be coming to cleaner burning quieter 4-cycles after all. Or in car racings case, 4-cylinder engines.

     Kartexpo is coming up towards the end of this month and coverage will be here at Norcal Karters. Stay tuned as news from the racing world will shared right here!

Infineon getting set for Winter Race #1. The TAG's will be running this weekend as well as the Comer's and Gazelle. races will be run around 12:30 to 1:30. Possibility of having A and B groups.

No Practice Saturday. Norcal Karters will be on hand to bring you up to date results throughout Sunday. Stay tuned

2/1/07 Infineon Date Change

1) Tire change for 80 shifter classes will be the Bridgestone YJL tire. The YJL tire is a fairly softer tire then the commonly used YDS however no tire softener will be allowed.

2)Shiny manifolds supplied with the leopard engines early in distribution will no longer be legal. All manifolds must be from conventional shipments. The reason being is the shiny manifold was no longer available and gave those who used them a performance advantage.

3)Carbon Fiber Reeds will no longer be legal. The only Reeds allowed will be the conventional reeds supplied with the engine and must say IAME on them. Thickness shall .30 with a .02 tolerance.

More changes to come as they are released. Stay Tuned.

Mark your calendars on Saturday, February 3rd, Blue Max Kart Club- Davis is holding a swap meet/work party. The day will start with the swap meet in the parking lot. Which is open to everyone- NO CHARGE. Bring your kart related leftovers and some money for the things you'll find that you just can't do without.

The work party will be used to repair/fix-ups of the facility. For those members or non members who participate in the work party will be granted a free practice afternoon run. Members who choose not to participate in the work party will be charged to run that day.

And one final note- don't forget chest protectors for Jr. drivers a new rule for 2007. All lead weights MUST be painted white. This includes cans, or any form of weight. This is a new safety rule recently approved by the IKF national board.

A block of rooms has been reserved for all IKF racers at the Shilo Inn in preparation for the IKF Medford participants for May 26-27. $95.95 consist of a double or king with a microwave, refrigerator, free breakfast, parking for trailers, good lighting and security. The Shilo Inn is located across the street from Food 4 Less, fine foods, Dairy queen, pizza and other restaurants. The Shilo Inn is down the street 2 miles from a shopping mall, and 3 miles from Costco and a movie theater. The Shilo Inn is close to the track, and freeways. If you are interested please contact Debra ASAP to reserve your spot. 1-800-841-8680 or email at speedwaynut@msn.com.

This past weekend Stockton Kart Track had some noticeable changes. Some of the turns had a type of seal put down. The seal had filled the the crevices in the asphalt and had seemed to fill a few of the slight bumps. The track is currently testing the new seal and is looking to make some more significant changes in the near future. Chris is looking into an asphalt grinder to grind down the sever bumps and covering the track with sealer. Changes looking to take place in the Spring. Track is interested in anyone who owns or has access to an asphalt grinder. To experience the changes of the sealer come out any Wednesday night for Weenie Wednesday from 3pm to 10pm. For information call 209-595-2200.