Hello Rear Engine Karts

Eddie Saurenman · Post by **Eddie Saurenman** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 11:17 pm

I started racing karts in 1962 as a kid in "PeeWee" league in Memphis. My Mom and Dad and other parents would meet at various parking lots (church and shopping centers) on Sunday after church and setup the "track" I drove this kart for about ten years, started off with a briggs and stratton and for a short period twin briggs. Unfortunately during one of the family moves the Kart got left behind. My next "Kart" was a 1968 Mustang.

Anyway, I want to get back into this and re-live the fun Karting gave me and pass it on to my second daughter. My first daughter is now driving a Rail (drag racing) which she loves.

I would like to find or build the same Kart I had back then but the make and model has escaped me and my folks. Attached is a photo of me and the kart shortly after getting it.

Any help on its ID and possible whereabouts of one or data to build from would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Eddie Saurenman

Rob Voska · Post by **Rob Voska** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:53 am

Looks a little like a Sears go kart.....rear axle in a tube and petals.....but the steering wheel is wrong and the scrub brakes look added.

Eddie Saurenman · Post by **Eddie Saurenman** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:30 am

Thanks Rob for your comments...to my knowledge the steering wheel and scrub brakes are original as the picture was taken long before Dad and I started any modifications. But you could be right as Dad had a tendency to mod stuff out of the box!

Eddie

ted johnson · Post by **ted johnson** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:41 am

Good morning, Eddie and welcome to Vintage Karting! I've been around karts since late 1957, and your original one is the first I've seen exactly like it. You may have a time finding one. There are hundreds of decent frames and engines to choose from out there on the market. Also, remember, if you plan to make the vintage events, and you'd always be welcome, that the 4 cycle Briggs generally won't be allowed to run. Most, if not all, vintage events are for 2 cycle engines only, as reflects the racing rules of the olden days. Find a chassis, restore it, and add a 2 cycle and go karting! Hope to see you at The Big One 2010! Ted

Michael Jackson · Post by **Michael Jackson** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:21 am

Just a guess, but didn't the early Putt Nik karts have scrub brakes and some came with either Clinton or Briggs engines?

John Swartout · Post by **John Swartout** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:37 pm

That is an early Sears Kart....I had one many years ago. The pedals, scrub brakes, and triangular steering support are original. I'm not sure what model it is, but I believe it is from about 1960-61.

John

Eddie Saurenman · Post by **Eddie Saurenman** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:33 pm

Thank you everyone. I thought it might be a Sears Kart because my mother worked for Sears & Roebuck back then. I'm going to look around a little for one of these sweethearts and if I can't find one I'll follow Ted's advice. I love constructing so are replica frames allowed in vintage Karting?

I'm looking forward to all this.

Thanks,

Eddie

ted johnson · Post by **ted johnson** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:46 am

Hi, again, Eddie. Reproduction karts are most certainly O.K., but not vintage-style karts of your own design. If you can get the dimensions and such from a real Sears kart, you can reproduce it yourself. Look at the REAR home page. The purple kart in the first frame of the video at the top is my reproduction Swoopster. I also have 2 other repros of early karts. At the left edge of the home page, there are several options to choose from. One of these is the guidelines for REAR. There you'll find what is and is not allowed. Other orginizations have their own rules, but all seem to allow reproductions. Good luck! Ted

Ron Reaves · Post by **Ron Reaves** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 1:01 am

Hi Eddie, do you still live in the Memphis area? I do also, and I have a pretty decent Sears R-300 that you might want to look at. Send me a PM, i'd like to meet and talk to you. I also went to the shopping center parking lots in Memphis on Sundays...about the same time....Ron Reaves

Hello Rear Engine Karts

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