Racing Virginia International Raceway...in a kart.

"Because Race Kart" (theresidentracer)
07/29/2014 at 13:00 • Filed to: None

That's right. VIR. The same track the ALMS (I'm still getting used to not calling it that anymore) runs later this year. Er well, half the track they run at least. We ran the north course, they run the full course with the oak tree (RIP) and uphill esses.

Still, the whole facility and course was amazing. The roller coaster and hog pen were without a doubt my favorites. Taking the hog pen flat out in a kart is something that will clench your butt cheeks. We weren't one of the faster ones out there, our kart simply has too much drag compared to the sprint enduro karts we ran against. But we are out there for seat time, not to win trophies (not yet at least). Unfortunately a little over half through the race the engine experienced massive overheating, with the cylinder head topping 560F degrees. The optimum temperature is 375F, so yeah...Watch the video or jump to about the 15:20 mark if you are one of those weird morbid guys who watches racing only for the accidents. I won't judge.

After this we decided to go back out against my best judgement. But the damage was done, and half way around the track, I retired. Fortunately I retired next to someone in my class too, and promptly made good friends with him. The race ended, and in good humor, I turned on my GoPro again for a ride with the recovery truck.

That's all. An amazing weekend. Next race is Summit Point September 6th-8th. We'll be bringing out our laydown sprint enduro kart, to be more competitive and more importantly, get that speed rush.

DISCUSSION (22)

Flavien Vidal > Because Race Kart
07/29/2014 at 13:11

That looks really painful on that poor kart stucked at full RPM pretty much the whole time... What engine is that btw?

Because Race Kart > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 13:33

In all honesty these engines weren't really made for road racing,(bar the shifter kart engines). But plenty of people still finish the races (30 mins for sprint karts, 45 mins for laydowns). The engine I'm running is a Yamaha KT100, considered one of the beginner engines.

Flavien Vidal > Because Race Kart
07/29/2014 at 13:36

Yeah, I personnally would have done one lap and given up.... There is a reason why pretty much only shifter karts race on full sized track with a huge gearing. It's just toooooo hard on the engines.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/29/2014 at 13:37

haha getting towed in by my brother in my dads truck!! lol ill have my video up tomorrow probably i was in a laydown!

MINI COOPER POWAH! > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/29/2014 at 13:38

actually, i was the one that handed you the tow rope! small world

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/29/2014 at 14:08

Haha wow no way! Glad to see other oppos road racing too! Are you on the ekn forums also? I swear I've seen your name there too haha.

Because Race Kart > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 14:18

Forgot to add that the engine was also not running at full blast, 12,000 RPM while drafting. Should be getting above 14k. Our engine had the wrong carburetor settings too, way too lean. Hence the high temps from being too lean. Average operating temperature for the road races stay at about 400F, so it can make it to the end. In the end the piston head got a crater put in it, (not a full hole though) burn marks, and the spark plug melted.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/29/2014 at 15:02

Yes I am. im everywheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/29/2014 at 15:34

Haha gotcha. Also saw in another post you worked at OG Racing. That's where I got my karting gear last year. We'll be back there again as my sister needs karting gear too. Might see you there. Would love to get a job there too, I live an hour away though.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/29/2014 at 15:40

Yep, im right when you come through the front door usually. Been here about a year now.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/30/2014 at 09:36

Posted my video up today!

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/30/2014 at 11:30

Awesome, just finished watching it. You said it was an ICA engine? You're not running one of those crazy 20,000RPM ones right? Only saw about 10k on your Mychron. Also what happened at the beginning? Heard some...not nice words haha.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/30/2014 at 12:12

people had the lane blocked off, so i figure i missed about one lap of practice, i think i was being nicer then my dad was. lol it would rev to 20k on a sprint track where your hitting it for 1-2 seconds, on an enduro track we turn them about 14k with the spec pipe they have us run.

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/30/2014 at 14:11

Ah I see. Well, are you going to Summit Point the Sept. 6th weekend for the WKC? Would like to see you out there.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/30/2014 at 15:02

ill probably at least come out, dont know if ill race or not, summit is rough as hell in a laydown

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/30/2014 at 18:03

Hmm, well I'll be bringing out a sprint enduro kart for summit alongside our CIK kart, you kind of lie down in the sprint enduros but not fully. Will be my first time on the main circuit.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
07/30/2014 at 19:07

Yep! ive got a sprint enduro at home. main is fun but bumpy. i used to be able to run 1:19's there in the controlled, but not anymore

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
07/30/2014 at 22:18

Interesting, I'll be on the lookout for the roughness then. Well, me and my sister may be out at OG Racing sometime soon, hopefully I'll see you there!

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
08/07/2014 at 11:26

Hey again, looks like we'll be at OG Racing this Saturday. You working that day?

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
08/07/2014 at 11:37

Nope, Ill be at Lemons in NJ saturday

Because Race Kart > MINI COOPER POWAH!
08/07/2014 at 12:30

Ah ok cool, well hopefully I'll see you at Summit next month.

MINI COOPER POWAH! > Because Race Kart
08/07/2014 at 13:06

I should be up there!