Trophy Kart racer weights...

[BAPerf]

How much do your racer's weigh (kid not kart)? My little 13yr. old driver is 138lbs. Just trying to figure out if there is a total weight that might be attainable for everyone?

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[Kritter]

Tony was here today and he said there will be no weight minimums. There will be 2 age groups but all run at the same time.

I think the extra weight will help. They will steer better and the clutch will not shift as fast due to the tires not breaking loose which will in turn get you to top speed much faster.

The new sheetmetal required is tedious to say the least.

[BAPerf]

Tony was here today and he said there will be no weight minimums. There will be 2 age groups but all run at the same time.

I think the extra weight will help. They will steer better and the clutch will not shift as fast due to the tires not breaking loose which will in turn get you to top speed much faster.

The new sheetmetal required is tedious to say the least.

I've never heard on more weight being better. The clutch can be adjusted to match the desired acceleration curve. Also, if more weight was a benefit, then why not make everyone weigh the same. The whole idea behind the series is to have a "safe, fun, and fair" series for kids to learn and have fun in.

[Kritter]

Im telling you what tony told me.

The car goes faster with a 170 lb adult then a 70 lb kid in normal driving conditions...if it was a mile stretch of hiway the kid would reach a higher top speed.

[BAPerf]

Well, after watching the Trophy Karts in Chula Vista, I definitely don't buy into the heavier=better theory.

Doesn't anyone know how much their son/ daughter weights (sp?)? After seeing a few of the kids climb out of the trucks, I would say that my ~135lbs. driver is in the ballpark for the 13-16 year olds. The 7-12yr. olds are definitely a bunch lighter.

[Dan McMillin]

Well, after watching the Trophy Karts in Chula Vista, I definitely don't buy into the heavier=better theory.

Doesn't anyone know how much their son/ daughter weights (sp?)? After seeing a few of the kids climb out of the trucks, I would say that my ~135lbs. driver is in the ballpark for the 13-16 year olds. The 7-12yr. olds are definitely a bunch lighter.

Kritter is actually right. Heavier is better for a Trophy Kart for CORR like scenarios. A kid would go faster on a stretch, but an adult (170+ lbs) is better for turns and handling. Think about it though, more weight to the tires means more traction and control. The tires are small enough already, I would say its better for more weight.

[BAPerf]

Kritter is actually right. Heavier is better for a Trophy Kart for CORR like scenarios. A kid would go faster on a stretch, but an adult (170+ lbs) is better for turns and handling. Think about it though, more weight to the tires means more traction and control. The tires are small enough already, I would say its better for more weight.

Dan,

Your physics are off. There's a current trend happening in CORR. In the past, the common consensus was that a heavy truck with a correspondingly larger engine was the best way to build a Pro-4 or Pro-2. Johnny, and Rick have proved that lighter handles better through the technical areas. There's a reason that the heavy dinasaurs are becoming extinct...

Without starting a physics discussion, I'll tell you that the tire's contact patch is only capable of handling X amount of load. That load can be from vertical loading (weight), centripital force, or any combination of the two. If you increase one, the threshhold of the other is decreased.

Anyhow, I guess we'll see how "weight" plays a role in the races next year...

[Kritter]

centrifugal clutches work on load...if there is no load they shift into high gear right away instead of winding the motor out and getting up to speed in a hurry so there needs to be more traction and more traction comes from better tires or more weight or both. Wether you want to belive it or not it is true to a point...obvioulsy a car with me in it is going to go a lot slower then one with your son in it but I dont even fit in the thing so its a moot point.

I already have a feeling this is going to turn in to a motodad type event and if you have ever raced motocross you know what im talking about. Allessis dad being the most prevalent "motodad"

[ChuckH]

Light people could always put in lighter/heavier springs to fine tune the centrifugal clutch engagement, whoops i have to stop posting racing secrets like this

[John F2000]

I am a big fan of trophy kart racing, since seeing them at chula vista, and plan on having my son in one soon. But weight is weight. And when the karts have underpowered motors in them, weight is going to be a disadvantage no matter how you look at it.