Difference in driving a 5-1600 and 1600

[<Cody Agee>]

Well normally I am driving a 5-16 and this weekend I am getting the opportunity to drive part of san felo in a 1600. What are the main differences in driving the two. Obviously they are faster, lighter, longer wheel base etc... what can I expect the differences to be? I know that you can flat foot a lot more sections which I'm happy about, but what are some techniques that are different in karting them? I am going to get to test the Friday before the race most likely but I am just to anxious to wait and find out lol. What have you learned from your experiences in driving the two??

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[harleys dad]

Cody take it from me, it will take a while to shake your Baja Bug Mind set since you have not raced a 1600 before. The 1600 will roll easily if you try to pitch it like you can a short wheel base car into corners. While I do not agree that 1600 is 100 percent wide open and hold on it is close. As long as the car is set up decent(I dont care who made it or how much was spent on it) but if it is anything like mine if you hit things straight on it will amaze you what they can do over a 5/1600. My cars have a foot brace for the left foot and the gas pedal has a brace for the right foot. Plant yourself and hold on. NEVER brake going into stutter bumbs, always coast or power threw, Good luck and remember every time you let off the gas is time lost!! Use your class 11 experience to your advantage while picking lines forsure threw the sand, several years ago I drove the entire 2nd half with 3 cylinders and missed 2nd by 12 seconds out of over 50 cars and that was 99 percent sand. And last always try to be in a higher gear. Just because it is reving doesnt mean you are going fast, just making noise dont be afraid to takle huge woops while upshifting threw them. You may scare yourself at first but you will begin to relize you can go faster. Cameron and I went threw slowing for baja bug things at first, it takes a while to break the habbit

[BRINGTHERUCKUS]

we never had a problem pitching it into corner in the 16 car... slides very well. and again DONT BRAKE.

[<Cody Agee>]

Thanks for the advice dave. 5-16s have come a long way in suspension though but so have the 1600s. There are times when I WANT to go faster but I just can't lol. And don't bugs roll easier in corners than 16s?

[bajabird]

great question,
i had corey torres (great 1600 driver) riding with me the 425 in the 5 open.

he kept saying.... this is like a cross between a 9 and a 12. Over and over he told me a 16 would be full on through here..... haha, the rear would fly out....

Move on to the high speed, balls out 16; have fun and drive like you do, be comfortable and go for the win!!!!!!

Hopefully a 16 driver that has driven a 5/16 will answer too.

[Rick 1634]

If you can drive a 5/1600, you can drive anything!

I raced a 5/1600 for two years and now run 2/1600. The short wheel base, heavy bug was much harder to drive. Your going to have a blast.

[harleys dad]

Cory a 1600 will roll much easier in a turn, think of a canoe, long and skinny. I personally have only laid my 1600 on its side once but everybody else that has driven my 1600 cars with me have rolled them a lot. PAB didn't even leave camp and had it upside down! My son rolled my 2 seater twice at Laughlin in the big ruts.You will find it fun if it works well or bummed when cars start beating your behind. Either way its good experience for you then you can buy my single seat car put your motor trans in it and race real competition!

[Deenracing]

Hey Cody, we just finished our 1600 after selling our 5-16 and raced the 1600 at new years. The difference is night and day and can't be figured out in a race, (not with me anyway). It's faster over everything! Way more forgiving, which is cool. I got into some stuff which I thought would ball up the bug and the car hardly kicked! When I got into dust and couldn't see and the road went away it was amazing how well the car took it. One thing I had problems with was where to check up and when not to. I started getting more ballsy but never got our car to it's full potential. One thing I noticed it wouldn't rally like the bug. I could throw the 5-16 into corners like nobody's buisness and never wanted to roll, the 1600 seemed to get light on the inside tires. The HP and torque curvers are way different too! keep the RPM's up that restrictor plate makes a huge differnce. The cars are fast! and you will have a blast. good luck! keep it pinned!

[M.Harvey1600]

I was told by my mentor that "you drive a 1600 on 2 wheels all the time"! Bang the car into the berm bicycle it and power out... a lil creepy the first couple times but then you get the hang of it... your one hell of a talented driver behind the wheel of a 5/1600 so 1600 should come fairly natural to you... I've Never been behind the wheel of a 5/1600 but would love an opportunity to compare the 2 classes...

good luck in San Felipe Cody...

who's car do you get the pleasure of driving???

[AZ1000]

If you can drive a 5/1600, you can drive anything!

I raced a 5/1600 for two years and now run 2/1600. The short wheel base, heavy bug was much harder to drive. Your going to have a blast.

I've been upside down with Robbie in a baja..So you have learned from experience....lol