I acquired a new race team!

"Bandit" (2bandit)
10/17/2015 at 00:07 • Filed to: purdue grand prix, phoenix racing

Well, it is a new year and do you know what that means? Bandit gets to have fun with karting again! After starting a kart team from scratch last year, I decided to move to bigger and better opportunities. This takes the shape of me leaving my humble Cavalry Racing outfit that was just me driving and a friend as my crew chief and taking position as lead of the new Phoenix Racing.

The last time Phoenix Racing competed in Purdue’s Grand Prix was in 2013 with a historic record of performing well (peaking at 2nd place a few years ago). All of the knowledge for the team sadly has graduated leaving nothing but their kart and shop behind. Also gone from the previous years are the team’s sponsors which rather stinks because karting is expensive and a Grand Prix kart has pretty good advertisement value to a company looking for Purdue engineers. Luckily, with the knowledge I gained last year with my rookie team, I’m feeling sort of confident. Already got the hibernating kart running, but the clutch needs a rebuild.

And tonight I rebuilt the brake calipers and bled the system with fresh DOT5.

Also cleaned up the fuel system with new lines, a new filter, and fresh seals all around. Exchangeable tanks are required because we are racing a 40 mile (160 lap) race.

The biggest downside to the Grand Prix is the required roll cage and 4 point harnesses. We can thank the lawyers for that. But at least it gives us a good place to put sponsorship decals. Anyone want to sponsor a team haha?

Anyways, here’s a really quick and lo-res tour of my new shop. I did some light organization last month because the old team lead didn’t organize very well.

A nice note left from the last team lead about what to take care of.

2012 calendar....

I could use a decent tool box and tools. All I really have is a little filing cabinet and some broken screw drivers and mis-matched wrenches.

Inherited a ton of gas cans and fire extinguishers which is good.

Also good are inheriting a $220 set of new tires that area already mounted. Yay saving money!

Not as good is inheriting a random ass pile of junk. Guess the last team was full of hoarders.

On the plus side there is a glorious amount of spares! If they all fit my kart, that’s a different question. I should have an extra engine rebuilt so when mine explodes I’m not screwed like last year, but that’s a lot of money.....

So that’s where Phoenix racing sits as of right now. Jalopnik, I could use a bumper sticker. +5hp extra is a huge amount for a simple KT100.

DISCUSSION (9)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > Bandit
10/17/2015 at 00:24

Kinja'd!!!

This’ll come in handy.

desertdog5051 > Bandit
10/17/2015 at 00:31

Very cool, Bandit. Start an Oppo/Jalopnik tool fund. Get some sort of a legit name with a bank account for people to contribute to. I would contribute.

Bandit > desertdog5051
10/17/2015 at 00:34

Haha, I’ll probably use some of my budget to go to harbor freight and have a fun time.