Help identifying kart

[Bob Towarnicki]

Rob,
I agree. I started searching last night and it looks like a Goodyear/Meritor aircraft brake. It is definitely a later modification. The heavy gauge steel plate on the side of the frame has been welded on and whatever steel was originally under the tube on that side of the kart is gone. If the frame mirrored the other side of the kart there would be no way to hang a Palmini Brake so it is going to be a challenge to get this back to original. Ted, or anyone else with history or a picture, help. If I can't get the info I will likely leave the plate as is since it will make a good hanger for an alternative brake system, including a Palmini. I didn't come close to the one on EBAY last night.
Bob

[Rob Voska]

I'll bet it's easly rebuilt and parts are still available. Why not just use it? It is a period correct modification.

[ted johnson]

Hey, Bob. Sprockets are surely Bug. Boy, we hated those things. They came loose with astonishing regularity! The brake may be as Rob says, aircraft. Some early machines used helicopter brakes. Don't know enough about 'copter history to know if they were rotor brakes or not.
What a rare find - it's got to be one of the rarest Bugs existing. Dad and I were Bug dealers then. but we never saw a wide frame Wasp in person. Ted

[Bob Towarnicki]

Ted,

I found a picture of the Karts Inc. Bug Wasp you remembered. Unfortunately it isn't detailed enogh to see what I am looking for. I never noticed the wide frame until looking at it with renewed interest.

Karts, Inc. Bug Wasp.pdf

(90.47 KiB) Downloaded 549 times

Bob

[Rob Voska]

There was a guy selling a really wide Bug when I was in Vegas a few years back.....2006? Someone bought it but I forget who? Maybe Frank Payne?

[ted johnson]

Hey, Bob. Looking at the Karts, Inc. Wasp, the brake side looks different from the narrow frame, but can't tell much. What DOES hit me is that the seatback sheet metal looks like it's on the opposite side of the hoop from yours. Maybe it's an illusion. Anyhow, the picture brought back memories. Thanks. Ted

[Jack Canaday]

On pages 44 & 45 Dec 59 Rod&Custom, is a kart that could be a sibling. Remember, things were changing very fast in 59. The Mc 10 had just arrived, with it came live axles. All shops were trying new stuff every week. Since we could race 4 or 5 times a week, the manufactors around Kansas City were changing the House Cars daily, to keep up.