06-25-2017, 06:44 PM (This post was last modified: 06-25-2017, 06:54 PM by Jim Waltz.)
Ok, this is kind of a placeholder for the present.
The Kalifornia Nyke, Second Edition, the "Palmini Special". By Jim Waltz
First of all, there is always attribution. I blame Terry Ives first, and I blame Matt Azzara second. Terry for being the inspiration for my getting involved in vintage karting in the first place, and Matt for encouraging me to make contributions to the VKCA newsletter.
So after attending a couple of vintage events in 2006 and seeing Terry on the track, I had the bug. Now, I’ve been an active racer for 20 consecutive years as of the 2017 racing season, but in 2007 I saw this interesting looking old kart on Craig’s list, and went to take a look at it. Turns out I bought it from Craig Owens, and it was my very first vintage kart. See photo posted below.
The upside was that it was pretty much all there. A “roller”. So my buddy Tim and I worked it over one Saturday, I mounted a 5-port V700 Bender and took it to Davis for a vintage event. Only problem was the carb didn’t work right, but Louie Figone lent me a carb for the day and we put it on the track – for 1-1/2 laps until the remains of the piston side puck in the Palmini brake unit gave up the ghost. End of that story.
Working two jobs and with a disabled spouse, I move at a very moderate pace, plus I’ve kept my modern kart racing going, so this kart sat, waiting for me. Ultimately I decided that this one would become a “Palmini Special”, for which I am still gathering parts. This is that story. See the "First Edition" story as another topic here on the Forum. The first edition is on the track as of February 2017.
By the way, no one yet has been able to identify these factory-built karts, but they look a lot like the n1ke karts from New York, so I finally decided to christen them “Kalifornia Nykes”.
07-18-2017, 10:00 PM (This post was last modified: 12-13-2017, 09:23 PM by Jim Waltz.)
Part of the reason I liked and do like this kart is the "raked" look of the chassis.
I also like it for the use of square tubing. I'm an SAE aficionado, so square tubing works for me.
Another thing I liked was that the kart was built to use a Palmini hydraulic brake unit, which I thought was quite an innovation back in 1960, and the one on this kart was complete and working at the time the kart was purchased.
It did, however fail after one lap at the Blue Max Kart Club in Davis, CA during it's first ever outing, due to the disintegration of the piston-side puck (which was paper thin it turns out - remembering that this was my very first vintage kart, and I was as ignorant as a rock about vintage karts)).
This build has only just begun, but the key to it will be that it will springboard off of the single Palmini hydraulic brake unit to be augmented by copious Palmini hardware, to become a "Palmini Special", including:
- Dual Palmini brake units, incorporating motorcycle brake cable actuation with a ba1ance bar at the initial point of the cables so as to equalize the pull on the cables to get uniform braking from both units
- Palmini sprocket hub (only one, since the drive will be through a jackshaft mounted beneath the rear of the chassis - i recently acquired a perftect 2nd generation one, after buying two first-generation hubs that needed work)
- Palmini engine accessories, including:
- Palmini chain guards
- NOS Palmini exhaust headers
- Palmini intake scoops (got one, need another - anyone?)
- Palmini seatback tank (I have three of these at present, and only need one, so let me know if you need one)
- Palmini Taper Lock rear wheels and tapered-end axle
- Palmini 4" front wheels (similar to the rears in that the outer rim can be removed to change or repair a tire or tube without actually dismounting the inner half that is integral to the entire wheel hub - Bob Palmini was rather inventive)
- Palmini steering wheel (if I can ever find one)
Similar to the first edition, this edition will have a front porch, so that I can actually sit in it and drive it. My design was tested on the first edition, and works well, though I will probably make this one just a bit longer, and mount the pedals differently on this edition for yet a little extra leg room.
For a bit of additional driver space, it will probably have the seat back reclined a bit, and the steering hoop canted forward a bit.
This kart lost its steel floor pan, so it will probably get a bolted-in aluminum floor pan.
Rear steer will be in order, similar to the first edition.
For motivation, this kart will be equipped with dual, 5-Port West Bend V700 engines, left and right - driving down to a jackshaft just under the frame in the back.
I have all the needed parts, excepting the long-desired Palmini steering wheel, and a difficult step has already been accomplished, that being getting replica upholstery done up. thanks to a Chet Yashuk and Steve Shaw referral, I got new seats made for the first and second editions done at the same time - also thanks to the fact that the original upholstery was still in this kart to serve as a pattern. The upholstery design is quite unique given the underslung seat, so this was a very fortuitous circumstance.
Now, as of this writing, my daughter and wife have decided that it is time to relocate our family a few miles north and east to get out of the high-rent San Francisco Bay Area, and to be closer to our son and his wife in Sacramento, so progress on this project is going to be delayed for a bit. Hopefully I will get started in 2018.
Jim.....wow moving....I just read that no one residing in urban California can afford to own their house, as it costs close to 60 % of your income for housing .
People are asking if my house is for sale all the time.......I can't afford to move unless I move out of California.....so good luck on your move .
As to your Vintage square tube Palmini racer, do you have pictures of what you need to acquire to finish it ?
You never know when one of us will happen to find a part or two, but without reference images to guide us it's hard to help in your search ?
The only parts I need at this point are the following:
1. A cast aluminum Palmini steering wheel. No, I won't drive it with this wheel, but I do want one for display. The kart will be all put together and sorted out on the track, then it will be taken down for powder coat, polish, etc., etc. It will then be a show kart for one year, after which it will go back on the track as a permanent runner. I don't believe in "trailer queens".
2. Another Palmini intake scoop. This too will be for display only. I have NOS West Bend air filters that will be used for actual on track work.
I have everything else I need to build this kart, including the tubing all bent up for the front porch.
