02-14-2019, 05:16 PM
Paul in Alaska. I grew up in California where I got into karting and have been in a 20+ year hiatus since moving to AK in '97. First ride in a kart was one a neighbor was fixing for his friend. I have no idea the make but as I recall it was rear engined with a chainsaw engine that had been converted. I doubt I was more than 10 years old and he let me drive it around the street. He rode on the back in an attempt to keep me from going to fast, but when I turned around the bottom of the street he rolled off and next thing you know I was tearing up the street. I ended up hopping over the curve and on my parents lawn before he caught up and killed the engine.
In college I met a guy who built his own cars and raced at Bonneville (side story we ended up building a streamliner that last year set the record as the worlds fastest gasoline powered car at 384.7 mph)
Anyhow I got the idea I should build a laydown motorcycle powered by a kart engine. I scraped up a few bucks, went to Cambel karts and bought a K-88. Next thing I knew I had the idea I should race karts, ended up trading the K-88 back with an additional infusion of cash I ended up with an Emmick (I think an express) with a KT-100. Instead of having an appreciation for concentrating on racing one class and setting up a competitive kart I ended up dabbling for a few years and as I recall had the Emmick, an Invaded Pro-works 026, Hi-rev 125 (rebranded Invader), and a Trackmagic 80cc shifter. Engines that I went through were KT-100, Parilla TT-25, PCR 50/3 reed, K-35, Honda cr-80 and a Honda cr-125. Almost forgot, a friend gave me his '89 Invader Mirage frame that I ended up building as a 125 and added a third bearing support, still have it. I did end up a Mac Minarelli rotary valve and ran the Mirage up here a few times. Also at some point I traded through a Parilla SS-22, Hewland Arrow and an Atomik AKL-90.
As the Mirage now qualifies as a vintage kart (makes me feel old) I might need to find a period correct engine and get it going again. I ended up selling off all my engines over the years, so it's just a roller. There is also a chance I might be moving out of AK to a state that has active kart racing.
I'd love to get a 60's or 70's vintage rear engine kart and restore it with an early Italian engine.
In college I met a guy who built his own cars and raced at Bonneville (side story we ended up building a streamliner that last year set the record as the worlds fastest gasoline powered car at 384.7 mph)
Anyhow I got the idea I should build a laydown motorcycle powered by a kart engine. I scraped up a few bucks, went to Cambel karts and bought a K-88. Next thing I knew I had the idea I should race karts, ended up trading the K-88 back with an additional infusion of cash I ended up with an Emmick (I think an express) with a KT-100. Instead of having an appreciation for concentrating on racing one class and setting up a competitive kart I ended up dabbling for a few years and as I recall had the Emmick, an Invaded Pro-works 026, Hi-rev 125 (rebranded Invader), and a Trackmagic 80cc shifter. Engines that I went through were KT-100, Parilla TT-25, PCR 50/3 reed, K-35, Honda cr-80 and a Honda cr-125. Almost forgot, a friend gave me his '89 Invader Mirage frame that I ended up building as a 125 and added a third bearing support, still have it. I did end up a Mac Minarelli rotary valve and ran the Mirage up here a few times. Also at some point I traded through a Parilla SS-22, Hewland Arrow and an Atomik AKL-90.
As the Mirage now qualifies as a vintage kart (makes me feel old) I might need to find a period correct engine and get it going again. I ended up selling off all my engines over the years, so it's just a roller. There is also a chance I might be moving out of AK to a state that has active kart racing.
I'd love to get a 60's or 70's vintage rear engine kart and restore it with an early Italian engine.