ABkC News January 2002 MSA Seminars for Club non-licensed officials
The MSA have been very disappointed
with the low turn out of kart personnel attending the
current round of seminars. The agenda includes lots
of informative matter including correct documentation for
signing on, insurance cover for marshals and officials,
and help on how to plan and run efficient meetings.
Contact Allan Dean Lewis at MSA for venues still to be
held. JICA Tyres
The Junior Intercontinental A class
will change to the Bridgestone YGB slick tyre, the same
as ICA, from 1st March. European
championship contenders will have to use a narrower tyre
than in the U.K. events though, it being too difficult to
bring two widths of MSA marked tyre into the U.K. (PFI
already run the new tyre.) Gold Book Amendments
Some parts of the Gearbox and Honda
prokart regulations in the Gold Book are incorrect having
been based on an early draft. Amendments will be
issued by the MSA shortly. Here is the draft
amendment for the Gearbox section: National 125
– Replace 15.4.1 (k) with the following: “No
form of reprogrammable ignition units. Only one fixed
delay curve is permissible with no variation to the
ignition timing or curve while the kart is in motion.
Devices may be required to be laboratory tested to
determine compliance.” 250 National: Replace 18.4 with the
following wording: “Engine. See Appendix 2 for list
of eligible engines,” and 18.4(i) with “No form
of reprogrammable ignition units. Only one fixed delay
curve is permissible with no variation to the ignition
timing or curve while the kart is in motion. Devices may
be required to be laboratory tested to determine
compliance.” Junior Gearbox Honda exhaust
The only exhaust to be used is to be
the HGS type TR02. N.1.3 Waivers still required
Member clubs are reminded that they
must apply for an N.1.3 waiver every year if they wish to
offer classes that do not have their detailed regulations
in the MSA Kart Race Yearbook, the “Gold Book”.
This might apply to TKM 4-stroke, the Biland, or the new
Restricted Junior Rotax U.K. None of the new
classes has yet been endorsed by the ABkC. If the
class is only run as part of a visiting championship a
separate N.1.3 may not be required, as the championship
will have one for the visit to the venue. Cadet Chassis and Junior Class tests
The MSA representative noted that
a particular trader is importing a Cadet kart, almost
identical to one already registered for use by the
official importer of the make, but emphasised this
parallel import kart is not eligible for MSA racing.
Buyers beware! The MSA will be holding a test day
to benchmark the various new and changed Junior classes,
and reserve the right to slow them down after the tests
if need be. After an importer requested a fresh
look at the ban on flat-top steering wheels, the ABkC
recommended that they could be allowed, so long as the
perimeter at any point met a specified minimum radius.
The Kart Technical Working group will discuss the
recommendation and propose a rule change. The use
of rev counters for Comer Cadets was also put forward to
Kart Technical but any change in that or general data
logging restrictions cannot take effect until 2003.
A small working group will be formed to help choose the
replacement engine for the MSA Cadet class from 2004. ABkC InterNations
The ABkC InterNations event will be
held at Watergrasshill in the Republic of Ireland this
year on 14th/15th September. The
classes will be Honda and Comer Cadet, racing together
with defined sprocket sizes, National 125 gearbox, Honda
Twin pro-karts, Rotax Junior UK and Rotax Max. Formula
Libre may be permitted to race along with the Rotax Max,
again with a specified maximum sprocket size. Invitations
are invited from English clubs wishing to host the event
in 2003. It must demonstrate financial viability.
Thereafter the event will rotate to Scotland, Wales and
then Northern Ireland. International News
The venue for the British entrants
for the JICA/ICA European qualifiers has changed to the
new Bombarral circuit near Lisbon in Portugul, still on
14th July. With the new requirements to
qualify for International Grade licences, drivers are
reminded that they must collect signatures during the
year, and ensure their place position in the final is
also recorded. Please tell your Stewards. Upgrades
to International C only require the holder to have a
National A licence, and Int C is the grade required for
the Junior European qualifiers and finals. But
entrants must already have two signatures from JICA
races. For the ICA qualifier, entrants must hold an
International B licence. To qualify for an upgrade
they need to have signatures from three National A or
International race finishes within the top ten in the
final, one of which must be from a National Championship
round e.g. Super 1, Super 4 etc or an International, all
within 24 months of the application. A maximum of
fifty drivers in each of JICA and ICA from each country
will be accepted. The MSA makes the decision if
over-subscribed and entries need to be in between 2nd
May and 7th June. Remember medicals are
required. The tyre contracts for ICA and JICA
Europeans have gone to Vega (FM Slicks, W4 Wets.) ICC
tyres will be Dunlop (DBM Slicks, KT8 CIK Wets).
Fuel for all Europeans will be from Elf Euro CIK 102/2002
at 3.7 euro per litre. For the Superkart European
Champs drivers need a long circuit International B or A
licence. To qualify the driver must be over 18, and
have been classified in at least two long circuit
Superkart races or have held a kart or car Int A or B
within the last two years. Junior Pushers, training and generic classes
The Kart Sporting Committee are
formulating regulations for Junior Pushers to stand in
designated safe areas only and have a special colour of
tabard for identification. They were also asked to
look into ways and means where larger clubs could
integrate the Junior Gearbox class. It is intended
to set up Clerk of Courses and Stewards training days in
the Autumn to help introduce the new judicial points
system. It is also the intention of the Kart
Sporting Committee to start formulating a generic
4-stroke libre class, so that individual commercial
classes for each new 4-stroke engine are not necessary. Racing for Buttons Training Day
Cumbria Kart Club representatives
have proposed holding a meeting of club officials
interested in taking up the “Racing for
Buttons” kart promotional activities. This
initiative has kart club members visiting primary schools
to promote karting, with interested youngsters being
given the opportunity to try out a Honda Cadet kart.
The best driver of the year then goes ahead to enjoy a
sponsored season of racing. Racing for Buttons has
brought a lot of new drivers into the sport. Fire Extinguisher Checks & Transponder Waivers
Clubs are reminded that fire
extinguishers must be inspected on a regular basis at
race meetings, usually undertaken by the environmental
scrutineer. There was an incident of a fire in an
awning recently where the competitor was proved not to
have an extinguisher. Clubs wishing to extend
their waiver on not having a transponder lap scoring
system need to apply to the secretary as soon as
possible. Bridgestone Tyre Price increase
ZipKart have informed us of a price
increase from 1.2. 2002, bearing in mind that over the
past four years some prices dropped up to 12.5%. But
the events of September 11th have led to
increases in shipping and insurance costs. For
instance YEQ will be £110 per set, YEJ £125 and YGB
£125, all plus VAT. News from BKIA and recent Technical Meeting
The Kart Show this year will be on
23rd/24th November at Telford.
(Call 01270 582146 for details.) Flat topped
steering wheels to be allowed from 2003 subject to a
minimum diameter probably of 300mm and with a recommended
height above the rim of items such as rev counters and
switches. Carbon fibre floor trays can be used
immediately in classes that do not specifically ban them
like TKM. The Comer Cadet engine tuning rule book
has been published by the MSA (£10.50) to clarify
internal measurements. It confirms ports may not be
chamfered. The amendments come into force on 1st
April. Gearbox karts with dual master cylinders may
have an exemption from the brake safety cable rule. Steering Group News
The next steering group meeting will
be held at the end of April, at Donington. Percy
Jordan of Ulster Kart Club has been co-opted onto the
Steering Group, and Neil Hann was appointed
vice-chairman. The steering group decided to give a
small grant and loan to St Athan Kart Club to help defray
the costs of the InterNations. If any club
has an occasional need for an item of equipment that
could be purchased by the ABkC and also be used/shared by
other clubs, please let us know. Late news –
it appears that the proposed Cadwell Super 4 round may
not be happening now but don't score it out of your
diaries just yet. ABkC O Plate Meetings
9th June at Three Sisters for gearbox classes 29/30th June at Shenington for Formula TKM, Junior
TKM, Junior Intermediate (and provisionally TKM 4-stroke
Junior & Senior open championship) 14th July at Clay Pigeon for Honda Cadet 11th August at Rowrah for Formula A, ICA, JICA, 100
National, 100 National/165, Honda Junior & Senior 25th August at Clay Pigeon for Rotax Max, Rotax Junior UK and Comer Cadet. Back to ABkC Site Index | Visit UK Karting |
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