gijoe985
Member
What are concession kart bumpers made of? The ones that run all the way around the kart to protect the wheels and whatnot.
Concession Kart Bumper?
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jandj
Active member
They weigh a ton so plate steel wouldn't surprise me. Unless you run a concession, get rid of 'em!
gijoe985
Member
Well, we're building a kart for a high school and one of the requirements of me getting this approved was that we had to take "extra" safety precautions. I figured making something like that would be a good one.
jandj
Active member
Those bumpers aren't there for your safety, they're from keeping the concession owner's karts from getting torn up. Although I understand the "It looks safe so it must be" aspect, but I'm not really sure how you can make a kart "extra safe".
OzFab
Well-known member
Simple side pods & front & rear bumpers will do that & be much lighter than a concession kart bumper rail...
Also (& you can show this to your teacher or whomever makes the decisions) seat belts are a bad idea unless you also have a rollcage; if you flip/ roll:
-without a roll bar/cage, you want to be thrown clear as opposed to being trapped under the kart
-with a roll bar/cage, you don't want to bounce around inside the cage...
gijoe985
Member
I'm on the fence about whether I want to (or will be required to) put in a roll cage.
As for the bumper, it would be partly for the "look safe" factor, partly to keep the karts alive longer (high school kids), but also to ensure that there is no wheel to wheel action. I used to race open wheel cars and saw some mighty impressive air after wheel contact. I undertand bumpers would help prevent that, but the full wrap around bumper would make my superiors happy.
Anyone want to help me with an argument for/against a roll cage? What are the chances of getting a low center of gravity 30mph kart to flip? Especially if we make a course where they would not be hitting any solid objects (like walls or cement medians).
As for the bumper, it would be partly for the "look safe" factor, partly to keep the karts alive longer (high school kids), but also to ensure that there is no wheel to wheel action. I used to race open wheel cars and saw some mighty impressive air after wheel contact. I undertand bumpers would help prevent that, but the full wrap around bumper would make my superiors happy.
Anyone want to help me with an argument for/against a roll cage? What are the chances of getting a low center of gravity 30mph kart to flip? Especially if we make a course where they would not be hitting any solid objects (like walls or cement medians).
OzFab
Well-known member
Without "outside interference", being solid objects, medians, walls & other karts, it's almost impossible to flip most go karts as their CoG is only a few inches from the ground, a wide stance makes that even more difficult.
In case you haven't noticed, most concession karts use 9gp engines whereas most of our karts only use 6.5hp engines. The reason for the extra hp is to compensate for the extra weight in the bumpers
In case you haven't noticed, most concession karts use 9gp engines whereas most of our karts only use 6.5hp engines. The reason for the extra hp is to compensate for the extra weight in the bumpers
Sorry couldn't resist
'sid
OzFab
Well-known member
You will notice a few key phrases like
&
in my previous post. IMO, the kart in your pic suffered from a case of
jandj
Active member
The easiest way to flip a traditional (straight frame, rear engine, skinny tires) kart is put modern sticky wide slicks on it. They weren't designed for that much side grip and will (trust me on this! ) go over in a hard corner. The frames don't flex in the same way as a race kart (old kart lifts front wheel, modern lifts rear). Besides, sliding the rear on skinny slicks is more fun!
) go over in a hard corner. The frames don't flex in the same way as a race kart (old kart lifts front wheel, modern lifts rear). Besides, sliding the rear on skinny slicks is more fun!gijoe985
Member
Yeah, we're looking at using treaded tires since we won't be on a smooth surface. Not super wide.
One thing I do like about that picture is the track layout. I never thought about just using tires with nothing attaching them. Cones would work well too... I'll have to figure out how to get a good use of the space I have available for a track
Edit- Here is a pic of our shop area. I'm sure could make a pretty cool track with this much area. Just need some tires and cones...
One thing I do like about that picture is the track layout. I never thought about just using tires with nothing attaching them. Cones would work well too... I'll have to figure out how to get a good use of the space I have available for a track
Edit- Here is a pic of our shop area. I'm sure could make a pretty cool track with this much area. Just need some tires and cones...
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Course.JPG
jandj
Active member
There's a reason that back in the day kart tracks were lined with haybales! As for your track, my suggestion would be lots of turns and keep the straights to a moderate length. As you've run open wheelers you don't need me to tell you about carrying too much speed into a corner, especially if someone's going in there with you! AJ and Parnelli could get away with it, high school age noobies are another story.
As for your track, my suggestion would be lots of turns and keep the straights to a moderate length. As you've run open wheelers you don't need me to tell you about carrying too much speed into a corner, especially if someone's going in there with you! AJ and Parnelli could get away with it, high school age noobies are another story.gijoe985
Member
If we ran 1-3 karts, how wide do you guys think the track really needs to be? 10ft? I figure that is about 3 karts wide. Which I doubt to ever see, but it should be about right.
jandj
Active member
High school kids who've never crashed before? Oh yeah, you'll see 3 wide if they get a chance although gettin' through the next corner might cull the herd a bit. Seriously though, I'd take the width of your karts, add a foot between 'em and add another foot on each side (so if your kart is 36" wide measured from the outside of the tires I'd say at least 13' wide simply so there's a little wiggle room until they get the hang of how the karts handle.)
Seriously though, I'd take the width of your karts, add a foot between 'em and add another foot on each side (so if your kart is 36" wide measured from the outside of the tires I'd say at least 13' wide simply so there's a little wiggle room until they get the hang of how the karts handle.)
I agree give 'em room to -like jandj said - wiggle
You wouldn't want a 10ft lane with your 7ft car at highway speeds either
'sid
You wouldn't want a 10ft lane with your 7ft car at highway speeds either
'sid
gijoe985
Member
I'll see what I can do. To get the track how I want it, I may have to squeeze it down in a few bottle necked areas where I'd like to get two way traffic going. (With a divider of course)
jandj
Active member
You can always let 'em go staggered. Say it takes a minute to lap your track. Start one kart every 20 seconds that way you'll have some distance between 'em. After they've got some feel for it you can start 'em closer together or all at once. As for two way traffic the only way I'd do it is with a solid divider. Cones or tires won't help if-God forbid- there's a stuck throttle or a tie rod breaks or any other freak occurance.
gijoe985
Member
Yeah, I was thinking tires, but attached to each other. Something "solid", but that gives...
jandj
Active member
Stacks of tires cabled together would work.
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