Vintage Karting Forum

Looks like the beginning of a great project. Just need a pair of WB 580, Clinton A490 or E65's to bolt on. Or even better a pair of K82 Homelites.

I'm curious about the design of the steering assembly.  I have seen one or two other designs with the tie rod/steering shaft connection made on the underside of the frame like this one but it would seem to me that the first time the kart gets off the pavement and hits something like a curb, sprinkler head, tree root, etc., the steering is toast.  It's almost like the steering part of the kart design was a complete afterthought.

Sterling that is one of the reasons I asked. There were a zillion different brands and models back in the hay day but I've never seen anything quite like that. Given the pedal location the tie rods would have been in the way. I keep thinking that maybe it was homemade but seeing as how I don't know the old karts at all my curiosity got the better of me and I had to ask the experts.

..WoW ..im almost 100 percent sure .. I bought the motor off it 2-3 years ago power products h82 ..at the time I couldn't get it shipped ..the young lady was very helpful but couldn't find anyone to help her move it around transport it etc..

[attachment=1426]I'm surprised that I seem to have everyone stumped.  That doesn't happen often.

(05-24-2017, 09:24 PM)Paul F Wrote: [ -> ]I'm surprised that I seem to have everyone stumped.  That doesn't happen often.

could be a special as in one off.
looks a little short?

Paul,

Here's a "stumper" for you....

I have the only 2 versions of this kart that I have ever seen.  I bought both here in California.

They looked the most like the n1ke (that's N I K E) karts from New York, so I have called them "Kalifornia Nykes".

No one has ever properly identified these karts, though I have been asking for years.  They appear to have been factory built, given the complexity of the tube bending, and the quality of the build.

The black one has undergone a "quickie" restoration and slight modification, and it first appeared in operating order at Adams this year - and again yesterday at Davis.  The other one will undergo a more serious re-development, and will appear in its own time as a "Palmini Special", with twin right and left 5-Port, V700 West Bends, and all Palmini gear.

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Seems to only take 2 pictures at a time.  Here's the Kart as restored...

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Seems to only take 2 pictures at a time.  Here's the kart as restored.....

I keep trying to add a "new reply", but it keeps tacking it onto my prior reply, then I can't add any more photos.

Grrrrr........

Seems like I had to leave the "General" section, then go back, and then it allowed me to actually add a "new reply".  Very strange.

This is the kart as restored.......

Jim W,
Wow, the resemblance to a 1960 Bug is striking.  Maybe K&P did an experiment with square tubing!

Or, someone skilled in the art of metal fabrication decided to copy his neighbor's Bug.

I would post your photos on the REAR site too.  Rob Voska, Virgil Love, Tom Smith, et al, have amazing memories for karts from that era.

My first kart was a dead-axle Billbrook, and it was also built from square tubing.  Not too common.