One man's idea is....

[Brian Sheridan]

Guys,
Brian here,
The Kurtis Kraft Kart is completely torn down. The horrible repair job on the front axle is completely fixed, and the bent axle straightened. Whoever tried to repair the axle, welded over a very large crack in the tubing, a little scary. To understand this kart, you need to understand Frank Kurtis. This kart is the 500 JR quarter midget, with the body removed, and the steering hoop replaced by a triangle sheet metal steering support, exactly like the Percival Hellcat part. The front axle hangers are the same part as the Hellcat. Frank designed the Hellcat, and made parts for it.

Here's the real story about this first of 4 Kurtis-Kraft kart designs:
When Art invented the go kart, he worked for Kurtis, as a metal fabricator. He asked Frank if he was interested in building the little karts, and Frank said no, that Kurtis-Kraft build rear race cars, not toys. Remember that by this time, Kurtis had won INDY 5 times with his cars, and he had built sports cars as well. He built over 1000 midget race cars. So Art went off and started Caretta, and we all know the rest of the story. Frank was left holding the bag, so to speak, when go karts really took off, so he pulled the body off the 500 JR and called it a go kart, so he had something to sell.

So, where does all this information come from? Arlen Kurtis, Franks son is 82, and living in California. Arlen worked at Kurtis-Kraft / The Kurtis Company, before & after a short stint in the Navy. Arlen even built the 500 JR QM & karts. Arlen & I have spent hours on the phone talking about Kurtis race car history, and the Kurtis Kart. Arlen is digging me up some NOS decals, and photo's so that I can see what the correct seat cover looks like. The kart was sold with a Clinton engine, so I'm putting a Clinton E65 engine on it, that Terry is restoring for me right now. The paint color is up for grabs, because Arlen told me that whatever paint was in the spray booth that week, from painting race car frames was what was used to paint the karts. Many were painted black. I'm taking a ton of photo's of the kart as it gets transformed back to new 1958 condition. I'll post some here from time to time. One thing this project won't be is inexpensive. I'll bet I top $2000.00 before it's completed. You will see it at the 2016 TBO, running, no trailer queens out of this shop...
Brian Sheridan

[REAR]

Brian,

Thank you so much for sharing this restoration project with us and we will all be eagerly awaiting your progress reports and photo updates. If possible could you assemble a scrap book dedicated to bringing this fine machine back to prominence, would be a great addition that we could display at THE BIG ONE.

Say "Hello" to Arlen for us also and Thank him for jumping on board with this restoration.

See you at and 'on' the track.

R.E.A.R.

[Dominic Salvato]

One of these sold for 3K a few years ago with a WB580. He should have listened to Art.

[dave bright]

This should be a great project thread. Something way different. With all types of restoration involved.

[Brian Sheridan]

Guys,
Here is the Kurtis Kart as it stands tonight.
All the cracks in the frame are welded up, and I made all the seat parts, so it goes to United Auto Trim.
Saturday I'll pick out the seat material color and leave the frame for a few weeks up by Rick.
Then it's off to the powder coaters for the paint job.
After the frame is out of the shop, I'll start to sort all the parts for plating.
How about this, front wheel bearings & axle bearings, $240.00. They are odd ball sizes.
Brian
Sorry,
I dropped the photo down to 72, but it still won't take it, suggestions?

[REAR]

Brian,

Thanks for the update, on the Kurtis. This is great project.

Are you using a photo hosting service like photobucket and then downloading the pictures ?

You can send the photos to Bob Kurkowski thru his personal email and he can post them for you also.

R.E.A.R.

[REAR]

Received a progress update from Brian. She coming along real well.



See you at TBO !

R.E.A.R.