02-12-2022, 08:40 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-20-2022, 06:03 PM by Terry Bentley.)
Chapter 97
Mr Jack Peck, owner extraordinaire of Mercury Tool and Machine proceeded to give me the whole rundown on their products. He started out explaining all about the S-85 to me directly. His eye contact was fixed on mine for most of the sales pitch. If I was shopping for a new kart, he would have sold me after his dissertation of the history and development of the Hornets karts.
You see, we worked on the initial new design and have been developing this kart, known as the S-85, right after having a very horrible showing at the 1960 Azusa Nationals last year. I had actually sketched a layout of the frame on a napkin during the very long and arduous drive back from California.
[Writing all of this down in the journal took some time. I actually had to look up how to spell arduous. Also to find its meaning. This word stuck in my head the whole time Mr Peck was selling his product line.]
Initially after we had a working chassis, Richard and Yeada De Armon campaigned our first Hornet S-85 for the ba1ance of the 1960 racing season. They were racing 5 nights a week with a Mc 6 engine. Racing 3 nights a week here in the Dallas area while the other nights in Central Texas. The results we faired are incredible too. Out of 72 starts, there were 57 First Place finishes, and 12 Second Places, with only 3 DNF's.
So as for the name, S stands for Super and the 85 is for 85 pounds complete race ready weight which originally included a Mac 6 engine. We are on the final version of our chassis right now in full production.
As of this date there are 3 main versions of the S-85 kart. These three here are the first ones originally made. Many of the improvements have already been made on these particular karts here tonight. All of them are built using 1 1/4" OD X .065 wall 4130 Chromoly tubing, dropped steel seat pan with aluminum floor pan, and 7075 T-6 aluminum alloy centerless ground axle with staggered keyways.
The first production karts after our initial testing in mid summer last year were equipped with a small round two quart tank, and Hovey mechanical brake with a welded plate that accommodated an aluminum motor mount. Hands aluminum wheels, and a long throttle cable are among the main items unique to this first model.
On the next version, we incorporated changes adding Go-Power Wheels and a long chrome swing mount which floated on extra axle bearings and was anchored to the frame via a tab, secured in rubber bushings. This version also included an Airheart Brake that became standard equipment. Now along with Kurtis Kart, are the first production models to offer the Airheart Hydraulic Self Adjusting Disc Brake. A Bendix mechanical drum brake is offered for anyone that chooses against the Airheart brake.
We changed the reinforced plastic steering wheel over to the Covico steering wheel. A round Palmini chrome fuel tank was another one of the changes made early on.
That long throttle cable was originally on these karts here, but have already been changed over. We went with a much longer steel rod and very short cable. Then more recently, we changed the fuel tank again to the Chilton.
Our final version came out just a few months ago. We are referencing this one as the 1962 model for next year. The steering shaft is now legal per the 1962 rule changes. We made some motor mount changes for more versatility. We now have a very short stubby swing mount which utilizes a vertically adjustable side plate. The mount is attached using an aluminum clamp on the rear crossmember, which allows the owner to position the mount anywhere desired, along with adding a second or third one for more engines.
Right now Richard thinks the current model kart is about good as it is going to get for handling. No complaints at all.
To do the testing we have been running at every track we can make here in the state and the surrounding ones. Especially at the bigger races. Tomorrow we will be racing back in Waco. Then next Thursday start all over again.
Normally we are racing here on Thursdays, but there is no racing tonight since they are adding a new pit strip running inside the full length of the track right now. So we raced here Thursday and then last night over in Ft worth. Then back here again.
So are you guys racing tonight? There sure is a lot of juniors that run regularly out here. You mentioned something about having a couple of Lynns karts?
Well almost. It is sort of a long story. I ended up with one that was completely trashed out last spring. We worked all summer fixing the wrecked frame then copied it building another one. So both of them are sort of Cates karts.
Mr Cates has been a great help with getting both of the karts built. Without his generosity and advice, there is no way we would even have a single kart ready to race right now. I owe him a lot for everything he has helped us with.
Hum, I remember hearing about a kid getting in a tangle at the Fabens track last spring. We dont usually run there very often tho. They said the kart was beyond repairable. Never heard anything about the driver. You know like who it was or if he got hurt bad.
Well that might have been me going for a test flight in outer space. The kart was completely destroyed. Fortunately I was not really hurt. Only shaken up a little bit. But sure dont remember very much past the point of lift off. Jack and Richard both got a good laugh from my exhortation of that night.
After all of that information from Jack Peck, my mind was again in orbit. But this time, not like from that accident last spring. He was nice enough to give me a brochure. This is a full size ad for the latest S-85. It looks totally wicked too.
![[Image: attachment.php?aid=4949]](https://www.vintagekartforum.com/attachment.php?aid=4949)
1961 Hornet S-85 pic
Mr Jack Peck, owner extraordinaire of Mercury Tool and Machine proceeded to give me the whole rundown on their products. He started out explaining all about the S-85 to me directly. His eye contact was fixed on mine for most of the sales pitch. If I was shopping for a new kart, he would have sold me after his dissertation of the history and development of the Hornets karts.
You see, we worked on the initial new design and have been developing this kart, known as the S-85, right after having a very horrible showing at the 1960 Azusa Nationals last year. I had actually sketched a layout of the frame on a napkin during the very long and arduous drive back from California.
[Writing all of this down in the journal took some time. I actually had to look up how to spell arduous. Also to find its meaning. This word stuck in my head the whole time Mr Peck was selling his product line.]
Initially after we had a working chassis, Richard and Yeada De Armon campaigned our first Hornet S-85 for the ba1ance of the 1960 racing season. They were racing 5 nights a week with a Mc 6 engine. Racing 3 nights a week here in the Dallas area while the other nights in Central Texas. The results we faired are incredible too. Out of 72 starts, there were 57 First Place finishes, and 12 Second Places, with only 3 DNF's.
So as for the name, S stands for Super and the 85 is for 85 pounds complete race ready weight which originally included a Mac 6 engine. We are on the final version of our chassis right now in full production.
As of this date there are 3 main versions of the S-85 kart. These three here are the first ones originally made. Many of the improvements have already been made on these particular karts here tonight. All of them are built using 1 1/4" OD X .065 wall 4130 Chromoly tubing, dropped steel seat pan with aluminum floor pan, and 7075 T-6 aluminum alloy centerless ground axle with staggered keyways.
The first production karts after our initial testing in mid summer last year were equipped with a small round two quart tank, and Hovey mechanical brake with a welded plate that accommodated an aluminum motor mount. Hands aluminum wheels, and a long throttle cable are among the main items unique to this first model.
On the next version, we incorporated changes adding Go-Power Wheels and a long chrome swing mount which floated on extra axle bearings and was anchored to the frame via a tab, secured in rubber bushings. This version also included an Airheart Brake that became standard equipment. Now along with Kurtis Kart, are the first production models to offer the Airheart Hydraulic Self Adjusting Disc Brake. A Bendix mechanical drum brake is offered for anyone that chooses against the Airheart brake.
We changed the reinforced plastic steering wheel over to the Covico steering wheel. A round Palmini chrome fuel tank was another one of the changes made early on.
That long throttle cable was originally on these karts here, but have already been changed over. We went with a much longer steel rod and very short cable. Then more recently, we changed the fuel tank again to the Chilton.
Our final version came out just a few months ago. We are referencing this one as the 1962 model for next year. The steering shaft is now legal per the 1962 rule changes. We made some motor mount changes for more versatility. We now have a very short stubby swing mount which utilizes a vertically adjustable side plate. The mount is attached using an aluminum clamp on the rear crossmember, which allows the owner to position the mount anywhere desired, along with adding a second or third one for more engines.
Right now Richard thinks the current model kart is about good as it is going to get for handling. No complaints at all.
To do the testing we have been running at every track we can make here in the state and the surrounding ones. Especially at the bigger races. Tomorrow we will be racing back in Waco. Then next Thursday start all over again.
Normally we are racing here on Thursdays, but there is no racing tonight since they are adding a new pit strip running inside the full length of the track right now. So we raced here Thursday and then last night over in Ft worth. Then back here again.
So are you guys racing tonight? There sure is a lot of juniors that run regularly out here. You mentioned something about having a couple of Lynns karts?
Well almost. It is sort of a long story. I ended up with one that was completely trashed out last spring. We worked all summer fixing the wrecked frame then copied it building another one. So both of them are sort of Cates karts.
Mr Cates has been a great help with getting both of the karts built. Without his generosity and advice, there is no way we would even have a single kart ready to race right now. I owe him a lot for everything he has helped us with.
Hum, I remember hearing about a kid getting in a tangle at the Fabens track last spring. We dont usually run there very often tho. They said the kart was beyond repairable. Never heard anything about the driver. You know like who it was or if he got hurt bad.
Well that might have been me going for a test flight in outer space. The kart was completely destroyed. Fortunately I was not really hurt. Only shaken up a little bit. But sure dont remember very much past the point of lift off. Jack and Richard both got a good laugh from my exhortation of that night.
After all of that information from Jack Peck, my mind was again in orbit. But this time, not like from that accident last spring. He was nice enough to give me a brochure. This is a full size ad for the latest S-85. It looks totally wicked too.
1961 Hornet S-85 pic