60 Bug Wasp

[ted johnson]

Al, your Wasp is either a very late '60 or a very early '61. It goes to show how the lines were blurred. I would say it's a '61, as it has the extended bottom frame rail. My early '61 had the same configuration. Tom, all Faye's karts seemed to have the fat side pads. She was (still is) very petite! I wonder who made that sprocket hub? I don't remember it, though it sure looks nice for the day! The engine may not be as early as you think, as the Bug/Trophy header was already being made. Have a good 'un! TJ

[Russ Smith]

Tom,
Was there a reason (advantage?) in running a reduction gear drive Super 55A over, say, a direct drive Super 44A?
RS

[Russ Smith]

My Wasp is referrd to as a 1960 model, but I sent pictures of it to Faye and was told that is was built in the fall of 1959. it's the very first type Wasp that was built with the SPUTNIK (thanks Dean) steering wheel, Palmini juice brake, early type spindles, flanged engine mounts, etc., and is the "deluxe" model with the FAT side and Jewell pads (try fitting my fat ass into it!). Bob DiNozzi's is the second type 1960 Wasp with the mechanical Trophy brake, three spoke-three hole painted steering wheel, stamped/formed pedals but retains the cross member for the steering hoop. Late 1960 (1961 model) Wasps dropped the cross member and changed the engine mounts to flat plates. An easy way to tell the 1960 from the 1961 models.

[Tom Smith]

The only Super 55-As that I know of for sure that were run on karts originally with the gear reductions were on Jim Yamane's first single and another was on a Caretta. Balsinger had a pair of Mcs on his first kart with gear reductions, but I don't know what models they were. Only advantage would have been the clutch and recoil starter. The other ones like Faye's and Jim's later dual Super 55-As ran plain direct drive without the gear reductions, which take away power and add weight, both disadvantages. The Super 55-As are very similar to the early Mc-10s. I'm fairly certain that the first Mcculloch saw motor on a kart was Jim's Super 55-A. I think the first Mcculloch on a kart may have been a twin cylinder direct drive drone motor on a live axle kart Roy and Duffy or else one of their pals built.

[Tom Smith]

Ted, Faye said she drove a fairly standard Bug like the one in the Azusa picture at the first Tecate race and it beat the crap out of her, so for the second Tecate race she says they built her a Bug Cadillac. Tom

[ted johnson]

Tom, Tecate beat the crap out of EVERYBODY without prejudice! I still remember the photo of the mostly airborne R!. I wonder how someone as light as Faye even stayed in the kart!! I lived in Florida back then, and Mom sure as Hell wasn't going to let Pop and I go to Mexico to race go karts! Later! TJ

[Tom Smith]

Yamane Tecate.JPG

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This one?

[ted johnson]

Ouch! That's the one... I didn't remember that it was Jim Y. Lotsa busted karts - and butts! TJ

[Tom Smith]

ya, there were 3 Mcculloch R1 Team karts at that Tecate Race set up with clutchs, sprocket guards, recoil starters, air filters, big fuel tanks, auto-mac chain oilers, etc. and they did an excellent job of not winning.

[ted johnson]

Who DID win that year ('61, was it?) I know Cub Lyon won the year before, but? Thanks. TJ