NEED HELP IDENTIFYING THIS KART FOR CHARITY

[Glen Annarumma]

I am restoring this Kart for the Darrell Gwynn foundation and it will be Auctioned off at the Barrett Jackson Palm Beach event. I need to know what make it is so I can let them know what it is we are auctioning off. The Last item I restored was a 1970 Rupp Scrambler Mini Bike that went for $6500.00. I am hoping this will do more. If anyone wants to get involved with this project or wants to donate any parts or services I would appreciate it. This is really going to happen and if you want to contact the Darrell Gwynn Foundation to make sure this is legit the number is 954 792 7223. The proceeds of this auction will benefit chilldren who need powered wheel chairs that their insurance don't cover. You can also go to the DGF website to see what is done with this charity. Darrell was a NHRA race car driver who had a horrific crash in 1990 which left him paralized. His mission in life is to help others which is pretty inspireing to see when he is confined to a wheel chair himself. If anyone has information on this kart or thinks they can help feel free to contact me @ 631 889 2229. This is going to be a great thing to see and the REAR ENGINE group will be recognised for the effort. Thanks

Glen Annarumma

[Dan Flanders]

Hi Glen-
Looks like a neat kart for a great cause. What I think you have is a very interesting kart called a Champ built by a company in Arkansas named Fox Karts. I looked through all of the kart magazines from '59 through '62 (Kart, Karting World, Quarter Midget & Karting, Karting Quarterly plus all of the karting books by Trend and Patterson) Anyway, I finally found a very similar visual match for the very distinct front axle, that also has the rear steering, and long front porch that leads me to believe it is a 1960 or 1961 Fox Champ kart. The write up describes it coming as a kit or factory built so the seat rails may or may not be factory.
I'll post the picture later this afternoon.

Dan

[Rob Voska]

Dan I too found a 1962....close but not like the pictures. Got tired of looking. I thought Cubel had all the mags memorized!

[Ronald Cubel]

Leave me out of this one!!! The knee thing is wierd, see them added several times buy owners...ron

[Dan Flanders]

OK, finally got the images scanned and cropped. After talking with Ron, I am thinking more along the lines of '61 or '62. As it turns out, Fox Manufacturing is still in business cranking out small displacement motors for model aircraft. Glen, I sent them a information request through their web-site, who knows, we could get lucky with some additional information. As you can see from the pictures, it is isn't a direct match, but it is pretty dang close when you consider all of the similar elements. Your kart was probably the next iteration or a one off.

Dan

[Glen Annarumma]

I think you have the right manufacturer because the pedals and lots of other components match the one I have. I hope the fox corp has some info on these. Thanks Dan I appreciate all of your hard work researching this. I will keep you all updated on the progress of the build. I would also like to know if there is anyone out there with 1960's race history who is willing to come to Barrett Jackson Palm Beach to explain the significance of these karts and talk about them before it is auctioned off. Who ever we get to represent us will get a VIP pass to the event. I'm sure you guys know who would be the best ambassador to represent us. you can call me @ 631 889 2229.

[ted johnson]

Glen, It does look like a Fox Champ with added ugly side seat pads. Duke Fox, of Fox model engine fame, tried to bring this out in 1960 with a B class and a C class engine of his own design. The engines looked like giant Fox model airplane engines. Dad was a big model fan and even knew Duke Fox. We wrote to Mr. Fox to find out more about the engines, but he wrote back and said that production problems prevented the release of the two mills. The karts were sold off at a loss to Fox. I remember their being advertised as having chassis geometry that caused the inside rear wheel to lift. Good pictures, Dan! TJ

[Dan Flanders]

Here is another image Dan Dettmann found from the 1960 Popular Karting magazine

[Glen Annarumma]

Wow I guess if you search enough you can find information on anything. Here is the link to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation http://www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org/

[Dan Flanders]

UPDATE:

I got an email from Fox saying they might have something, then found an envelope in the mailbox yesterday. Unfortunately, it was photo copied and the quality wasn't great but it pointed me in the right direction. Now were looking for a spare copy of the September 1960 issue of Karting Sport to include with the kart if someone has a spare. Definitely not the same kart, but at least helps document the builder. Too bad the motors never made it into production, they look pretty interesting.

Dan