Is this what this is about?

Rob Voska · Post by **Rob Voska** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:42 pm

Over time I have been getting a few videos of vintage karts that all seem to be ending up like this. After all the years & hard work from everyone involved & this is the end result? So I ask: Is this really what we really want?

I would like to open a constructive discussion about this. I also received one from Orville kart track that I can't find right now. Nothing offensive or I'll jump it.

CLICK HERE to watch in Large HD Video mode (requires high speed Internet connection)

Ronald Cubel · Post by **Ronald Cubel** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 2:11 pm

Now that they are over 50 they have to show they are still a Racer!!! THE KARTS DO NOT MATTER, they are only they way to show how fast they are? I figure if you have not already done that by our age maybe you just ain't fast? Really screwed up a nice Fox.

Ron

Andy Stevenson · Post by **Andy Stevenson** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:49 pm

The start/finish line is waaay too close to the turn. That type of bad track design invites trouble.

Mike Anderson · Post by **Mike Anderson** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:06 pm

Hey Rob and Bob,

Please don't put that race word on the Big One schedule and please don't open us up to those type displays. Thanks as always Mike. See you soon.
later Mike Anderson

ted johnson · Post by **ted johnson** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:08 pm

Keep up the questions, Rob. I'm not sure of the answers. One thing is that we're running 1962/63 karts with modified '91's, 101's Etc. Anybody who thinks an Mc7 will run that fast wasn't around in the day. I can count all my flips fron '58 thru '64 on the fingers of one hand, and there was only one "event" of the caliber of Rick's tumble in all that time. That flip was on my GoKart 1200/twin Mc20's, on the loooong straight of Casselberry's Checker Kart Track. Even then the kart came out fine except one header broke off. Destroyed a brand new 500TX Bell helmet. Maybe most of our tracks were shorter, so speeds were lower (not true of Checker). Maybe our teenage reaction times were faster. I KNOW the karts weren't as fast back then. Also, most of us were lighter then. Humanity has grown taller and heavier in the last 50 years. By '62 or '63, most of us were running new Carlisle slicks, and they were the perfect balance for the chassis of that time: far more consistent than today's Cheng Shins. Watching the video, they were flying. Sooner or later the inevitible will happen, and vintage karting will be a memory.

Carl Haydt · Post by **Carl Haydt** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:31 pm

Well,I think beings that the video used shows me & my kart I think I should post my response as it seems Rob & Ron have a problem with what I do with MY karts!
Here's the BOTTOM LINE: They are MY karts,I can do WHATEVER I want to with them! GET OVER IT!
If you don't agree with my choice-that's fine!

There is absolutely no NEED to start a discussion about this topic.

Rob,as a moderator you should know this topic will only cause a bigger split within the vintage karting community! If you really wanted to know how individual karters felt about racing in actual competition you could have simply asked for a YES or NO vote without the opportunity to add a comment.

But,After all we are humans & humans make mistakes.

Rob you made a typing mistake as your question SHOULD have read: Is this what "I" really want?

Ron your mistake is not understanding what a "true" racer is about. Somebody who has raced all their life has that spirit in their blood. If they kept themseves physically fit & mentally sharp racing a kart (or anything else for that matter) becomes second nature.
I took that tumble,brushed myself off,shook hands with Andy Symons,laughed about it,went back to the trailer,brought out ANOTHER Fox kart & ran the feature,finishing second to Andy. Are YOU physically & mentally fit enough to do that? Maybie that has alot to do with your opinion huh?
As far as your comment "really screwed up a nice Fox" Don't worry I have TEN more PLUS it's not rocket science to cut & re-weld a front axle back on a kart! After all they did it in 1962!

Just MY opinion...........and that's all that counts when it concerns MY stuff! Carl

ted johnson · Post by **ted johnson** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 5:19 pm

Carl, you don't seem capable of seeing that this site IS Rob and Bob's, and that, as such, they're free to put forth whatever questions/opinions they please, and that there are a lot of us out here who AGREE with them. There are a lot of us out here who've made our mark in competition over the years, and who don't feel the need to "prove" anything. There are a lot of folks out there who enjoy just driving our karts without the need to look over our shoulders to see if Mr. "Big Time Auto Racer" is going to punt us into next week.
About your smart a$$ comment about Rob and/or Bob being fit enough to take you on: Either one can do it very well. They both are fine drivers. Both gentlemen have decided to spend their time and money making it fun and safe to ride, and promoting the restoration, reproduction and showing of vintage karts.

Rob Voska · Post by **Rob Voska** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:29 pm

I had no idea who was in the video as I have gotten other videos that are similar so I was not pointing anyone out. Sure things happen on the track from time to time they are called accidents but was it really necessary to "win or die trying"? I'm sure the first place was not going to get a call from Roger Penske. I thought with age comes wisdom. All see are two ego's that needed stroked without respect for anyone else, restored equipment, almost taking out the third place guy also, event promotion, safety or anything else. Anyone watching the video can see that it could have been a lot worse than a bent kart. It could have just as easily been 3 bent karts or very easily broken bones.

This does raise questions.
Is this something a new person wants to be involved with?
Is this about "racing" about ego's or about enjoying old karts?
Is this something I want to do with my kart when others on the track will crash me for a win?
Why didn't one back off before it came to this?

I waited a few weeks to even bring this up as I had been thinking about this.

Rob Voska · Post by **Rob Voska** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:43 pm

Blaming the track is like blaming the kart.
Blaming the track is like blaming the tree along the edge of a road you crashed into.
Blaming the track is like blaming the gun for shooting someone.
Blaming the track is like blaming the knife for cutting.
Blaming the track is like blaming the sun for your sunburn.
Blaming the track is like blaming the beer for your DUI.
Blaming the track is like blaming the cop for your speeding ticket.
Blaming the track is like blaming the rain for getting you wet.
Blaming the track is like blaming the tire for not sticking better.
Blaming the track is like blaming the chain for not falling off & putting you in that position.
Blaming the track is like blaming the engine for not being faster.
Blaming the track is like blaming the .........

If the track was unsafe why did they race & not change it before hand? If the track was unsafe why was it OK the lap before?

Carl Haydt · Post by **Carl Haydt** » Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:21 pm

Fred,I absolutely AM capable of knowing it IS Rob & Bob's site. I also absolutely know that there has been a definate "SPLIT" amongst the vintage karting community because of the "attitudes & beliefs" of Rob & Bob. In fact there are so many people who took offense to that attitude that they no longer are REAR members or attend REAR events. They even went so far as to start their own vintage kart site.
So this site is for those of you who agree with them and again-I'm FINE with that! Just Don't be coming down on me for what I decide to do with MY karts or telling me that YOU THINK I have something to prove to myself. I know I don't and neither do any of the other drivers who on this day signed up to RACE!
You seem to think just because somebody drives a kart agressively they have an attitude problem?
EVERY ad in EVERY magazine from the 60's that promoted all these different vintage karts & motors ALL shared one thing in common...... They used the word RACE or COMPETITION ! That's what these karts were made to do. Why is it you guys take offense to a person who decides to do that with their own equiptment?

There's a definate difference in attitude from the West coast to the East coast and you guys just can't seem to be content with letting us out here do our own thing! Man should we over here start pissin & moanin about a kart from the West coast that's been "over-restored?" Is spending $1500 chroming parts that weren't originally chrome acceptable? That's wrong but if the person lookin at the kart doesn't like it-Just look away!!!

I don't know where the "Blaming the track" part came from and as far as the track being "unsafe" EVERY driver out there made their own choice as to race or not! Nobody forced anyone to do anything!

Rob,I told you this topic was a bad idea,but at least you didn't just delete my response.
Bottom line: You guys keep doing your thing & promoting your events as you have been doing & keep the people happy who attend you events and share the same views as you BUT PLEASE: leave the other people (like me) who want to drive these karts in competition regardless of the risks to the driver OR karts ALONE!
We don't need to hear your comments or opinions.

Enough said! Carl

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