Back twenty years ago or so from a 125cc shifter kart you stepped up to an Indy Lights car. At that time Indy Lights were using retired Indy car chassis with a Buick V-6 making 450 horsepower, big wings and slicks. And big dollars.
Later, I think the Formula Atlantics took over the development rung from Indy Lights. So today I think you need a Formula Atlantic to go faster than a shifter.
Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...
akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...
That's not any faster than a shifter kart
icaneat50eggs wrote:akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...That's not any faster than a shifter kart
But it's more dangerous.
icaneat50eggs wrote:akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...That's not any faster than a shifter kart
But it's inherently unstable which adds a layer of difficulty and danger you just can't get in anything that doesn't fall over when it's stopped.
My answer to this question was the S1000XR. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKLCDOIQi5o
It delivers.
When my Hayabusa frame broke we put the engine on a supercart frame, It was pretty sketchy to drive compared to the CR500 that was originally in it. that would probably keep someone amused for a few laps at least.
icaneat50eggs wrote:akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...That's not any faster than a shifter kart
Uhhh yeah it is.
I don't know of any shifter karts that can do 1/4 mile in sub 9 seconds...
0-60 on sportbikes is irrelevant. They have so much power there is nothing you can do to keep the front wheel down.
MattW wrote:icaneat50eggs wrote:Uhhh yeah it is. I don't know of any shifter karts that can do 1/4 mile in sub 9 seconds... 0-60 on sportbikes is irrelevant. They have so much power there is nothing you can do to keep the front wheel down.akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...That's not any faster than a shifter kart
Long rear swing arms and strapped down front forks works wonders
MattW wrote:icaneat50eggs wrote:Uhhh yeah it is. I don't know of any shifter karts that can do 1/4 mile in sub 9 seconds... 0-60 on sportbikes is irrelevant. They have so much power there is nothing you can do to keep the front wheel down.akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...That's not any faster than a shifter kart
that's exactly my point. What are we measuring for acceleration? 0-60? quarter mile? 60-120?
Which is more hairy to drive, a shifter kart or a momentum racer on skinny tires.
One you are really busy smashing pedals and yanking levers and steering, squaring off corners.
The other you finesse, avoid braking and on the ragged edge carry as much speed through a corner as possible.
Vracer111 wrote: Ariel atom with just a little power increase... 650Hp Ariel Atom...
That guy can't drive for E36 M3. He's gonna die in that thing if he doesn't learn to heel-toe. Lol
snailmont5oh wrote: Supermodifieds would probably be entertaining, too. The power to weight and downforce of a sprint car, but pavement under the tires. I bet that gets the side loads going.
I raced big block supers when I was younger, they're plenty fast. The problem with supers is the speed to safety ratio is out of wack, 8-900hp in a tube chassis (basically) built in some guy's garage, surrounded by 24 other yahoos with open wheels and red mist is pretty silly. The only series I ever ran where I was afraid while sitting in line to go out on track. Wouldn't trade the experience for many others though.
icaneat50eggs wrote: However a quicker lap time probably doesn't mean much as far as how violently they accelerate and turn. The kart is going to be top speed limited that will really kill it in a full size road course
Start rallycrossing. Pavement is boring because of how slow and smooth it is.
In reply to icaneat50eggs:
Get kicked around when at max cornering and have to go from opposite lock to a lock of turn-in or vice-versa in the space of a car length and it makes more sense.
Pavement may be faster on a vehicle speed, cornering forces level, but the inputs required are really slow.
I totally get the concept that dirt is always more fun and challenging, but the op said more acceleration and cornering
icaneat50eggs wrote:MattW wrote:that's exactly my point. What are we measuring for acceleration? 0-60? quarter mile? 60-120?icaneat50eggs wrote:Uhhh yeah it is. I don't know of any shifter karts that can do 1/4 mile in sub 9 seconds... 0-60 on sportbikes is irrelevant. They have so much power there is nothing you can do to keep the front wheel down.akamcfly wrote: Sportbike? My basic sport-ish bike will 0-60mph in about 3-5 seconds. I imagine the liter bikes are significantly quicker. Add in the pucker factor fact of being surrounded by toyotas and hyundais...That's not any faster than a shifter kart
Power to weight ratio. And there is no comparison between the two.
Power to weight ratio. And there is no comparison between the two.
At some point power to weight ratio doesn't mean anything. (in cars driven by turning wheels)
a 1000 lb car with 1000 hp will accelerate the same as a 1000 lb car with 5000 hp. you've ran out of traction.
Thank you, everyone, for the suggestions.
I'll try rallycrossing later this year, once I get a RWD car. RX8 vs E46 M3 vs C5 - my Civic Si is the last Northern car I'll ever buy and the last used car I buy without a compression test.
I have a friend who races 305 Sprint Cars and I'll crew for him this year at a couple of events. He still hasn't found someone who'll rent me one to try.
When I lived in Texas I rode sportbikes. Michigan roads are spectacularly unfriendly to them and I don't like the lack of runoff on Michigan tracks.
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