An Introduction to: Non-Gearbox Superkarts
The second of my explanatory articles on racing classes features the smallest and by far the most cost-effective.
Superkarts come primarily in two major distinctions, Gearbox and Non-Gearbox. The point of difference is entirely self-explanatory. The two biggest assets of non-gearbox are budget and driver development.
The vehicles themselves are essentially, no they actually are short circuit Sprintkarts raced by drivers of all ages, even teenage school children in 125 cc Rotax Max classes all across the country. No changes to the technical specification need to be made from AKA sanctioned karts for the transition to long circuit Non-Gearbox Superkart racing. You can be as young as 12 years of age and a National title exists for the class. Champions in Light, Heavy and Junior (ages 12-15) raced at Phillip Island last year.
The advantage of the Sprintkart origins of this class means it is incredibly simple for AKA Sprintkart drivers to step across into long track circuit racing. They can use the same equipment and the Queensland Raceways series even has day licences. To run State Championship you will need a CAMS racing licence.
Racing is organised by the Queensland Superkart Club with Don Munro being the prime point of contact for the Non-gearbox classes at Queensland Raceway and Lakeside, while Ashley Zahl or Cameron Hoswell should be contacted for State Championship. The classes race at both CAMS (Morgan Park) and AASA (Queensland Raceway and Lakeside) events, although AASA sanctioned events do not permit Junior licence holders to compete.
While Rotax Max karts are preferred, and you need a Rotax max to race for the club pointscore other Sprintkarts, for example a 100 cc Leopard, can run at AASA events although Rotax Max is the only Sprintkart class sanctioned to run at CAMS events.
Rotax Max featured 125 cc Rotax engines mounted on a variety of Sprintkart chassis both imported and locally designed, with Melbourne's Arrow Karts a popular favourite. Junior Max entries are slightly different mechanically, the lack a power valve compared to Rotax Heavy and Rotax Light.
In Queensland non-gearbox Superkarts frequently race with their much faster gearbox-equipped cousins because of grid numbers, so drivers do have to watch out for the faster karts coming up to lap them, so it is particularly importnat to hold your racing line as much as possible and not weave unneccesarily, particularly on the straights. On the wide expanses of Queensland Raceway's unforgiving straights the speed diferences to the twin cylinder 250 International class Superkarts could be as high as eighty kilometres an hour approaching the long braking zones.
2012 season could be fascinating as it is not yet known who will race which series. 2010 Qld Raceway/Lakeside champion Dan Lewis is back with his Arrow X1 for the same series and will face stiff competition from Don Munro, also in a near new Arrow X1 and Sean Maberly in his near new Intrepid Cruiser.
Meanwhile in the State Championship at Morgan Park, Rotax Junior Liam McAdam is the reigning champion overall in the Queensland Superkart Club pointscore in his Hypermax Phoenix, but Liam will not defend his crown. The four members of the extended Aston family should move into the frame but the Aston Pharmacy's team of a CRG Maximo and Arrow AX8 might have a revolving door of drivers between Rob, Chris, Jaymie Aston and Wayne Webster.
Pros: Close, hard slipstream racing. Unparralleled in low-bidget racing compared to every other class. Great family class for teenagers to race against their parents.
Cons: Not the best class for spectating. The small vehicles and relative lack of straight-line speed means it can almost look like yacht racing on the straights. Also if you are larger person, the weight of the driver becomes a significant part of power-to-weight ratio with ultra-light chassis and modest power. Also the safety structures at race tracks are designed for larger, heavier and faster race cars and as such can bring compromised outcomes with karts.
Star drivers: Dan Lewis (Arrow X1), Don Munro (Arrow X1), John Hay (Sodi SR4), Rob Aston (CRG Maximo), Sean Maberly (Intrepid Cruiser), Jason Shaw (CRG Maximo), Joe Sciacca (Arrow AX8)
Past Champions
Rotax Max Series (QR/Lakeside)
2011 Joe Sciacca (Arrow AX8)
2010 Dan Lewis (Tony Kart/Arrow X1)
2009 Sean Maberly (Intrepid Cruiser)
Queensland Superkart Club - Rotax Max
2011 Jaymie Aston (Arrow AX8)
2010 Rob Aston (CRG Maximo)
2009 David McAdam (Hypermax Phoenix)
Superkarts come primarily in two major distinctions, Gearbox and Non-Gearbox. The point of difference is entirely self-explanatory. The two biggest assets of non-gearbox are budget and driver development.
The vehicles themselves are essentially, no they actually are short circuit Sprintkarts raced by drivers of all ages, even teenage school children in 125 cc Rotax Max classes all across the country. No changes to the technical specification need to be made from AKA sanctioned karts for the transition to long circuit Non-Gearbox Superkart racing. You can be as young as 12 years of age and a National title exists for the class. Champions in Light, Heavy and Junior (ages 12-15) raced at Phillip Island last year.
The advantage of the Sprintkart origins of this class means it is incredibly simple for AKA Sprintkart drivers to step across into long track circuit racing. They can use the same equipment and the Queensland Raceways series even has day licences. To run State Championship you will need a CAMS racing licence.
Racing is organised by the Queensland Superkart Club with Don Munro being the prime point of contact for the Non-gearbox classes at Queensland Raceway and Lakeside, while Ashley Zahl or Cameron Hoswell should be contacted for State Championship. The classes race at both CAMS (Morgan Park) and AASA (Queensland Raceway and Lakeside) events, although AASA sanctioned events do not permit Junior licence holders to compete.
While Rotax Max karts are preferred, and you need a Rotax max to race for the club pointscore other Sprintkarts, for example a 100 cc Leopard, can run at AASA events although Rotax Max is the only Sprintkart class sanctioned to run at CAMS events.
Rotax Max featured 125 cc Rotax engines mounted on a variety of Sprintkart chassis both imported and locally designed, with Melbourne's Arrow Karts a popular favourite. Junior Max entries are slightly different mechanically, the lack a power valve compared to Rotax Heavy and Rotax Light.
In Queensland non-gearbox Superkarts frequently race with their much faster gearbox-equipped cousins because of grid numbers, so drivers do have to watch out for the faster karts coming up to lap them, so it is particularly importnat to hold your racing line as much as possible and not weave unneccesarily, particularly on the straights. On the wide expanses of Queensland Raceway's unforgiving straights the speed diferences to the twin cylinder 250 International class Superkarts could be as high as eighty kilometres an hour approaching the long braking zones.
2012 season could be fascinating as it is not yet known who will race which series. 2010 Qld Raceway/Lakeside champion Dan Lewis is back with his Arrow X1 for the same series and will face stiff competition from Don Munro, also in a near new Arrow X1 and Sean Maberly in his near new Intrepid Cruiser.
Meanwhile in the State Championship at Morgan Park, Rotax Junior Liam McAdam is the reigning champion overall in the Queensland Superkart Club pointscore in his Hypermax Phoenix, but Liam will not defend his crown. The four members of the extended Aston family should move into the frame but the Aston Pharmacy's team of a CRG Maximo and Arrow AX8 might have a revolving door of drivers between Rob, Chris, Jaymie Aston and Wayne Webster.
Pros: Close, hard slipstream racing. Unparralleled in low-bidget racing compared to every other class. Great family class for teenagers to race against their parents.
Cons: Not the best class for spectating. The small vehicles and relative lack of straight-line speed means it can almost look like yacht racing on the straights. Also if you are larger person, the weight of the driver becomes a significant part of power-to-weight ratio with ultra-light chassis and modest power. Also the safety structures at race tracks are designed for larger, heavier and faster race cars and as such can bring compromised outcomes with karts.
Star drivers: Dan Lewis (Arrow X1), Don Munro (Arrow X1), John Hay (Sodi SR4), Rob Aston (CRG Maximo), Sean Maberly (Intrepid Cruiser), Jason Shaw (CRG Maximo), Joe Sciacca (Arrow AX8)
Past Champions
Rotax Max Series (QR/Lakeside)
2011 Joe Sciacca (Arrow AX8)
2010 Dan Lewis (Tony Kart/Arrow X1)
2009 Sean Maberly (Intrepid Cruiser)
Queensland Superkart Club - Rotax Max
2011 Jaymie Aston (Arrow AX8)
2010 Rob Aston (CRG Maximo)
2009 David McAdam (Hypermax Phoenix)