Driving a Rotax in the wet......

[speedy king]

Uh oh....

looks like on Saturday it will be havy showers all day and i am racing, Eek!

I drive a 125cc Junior rotax Max and the problem is i have NEVER driven the thing in the wet. I have driven Honda Pro-karts on slicks in heavy rain and was very fast however the Rotax i'm sure will eb a different matter, even with wet tyres on. I have a good wet set up (smaller 84 tooth rear cog rather than the normal 94) and my ride height is easy to adjust.

anyone have any tips? also note that i am now off Restricted plates and my first full National B race is on Saturday most probably in the wet and for once i will be surrounded by karts rather than starting at the back

[ghinzani]

ooh dont envy you mate - luckily I drove thru a tyre barrier on sunday and am out for a few weeks whilst the backs fixed again!!

[shiny side up!]

I don't think you'll have a major problem adjusting to rotax (granted, I haven't driven one in the rain...), but for me the problem in the wet is usually visibility, not handling. Assuming you get to practice in the rain before you race in it, you should have a fairly good shot at setting the kart up right... and you can adjust to being smoother on the throttle easily enough... but when you have the spray off of the other karts and your kart is when driving in the rain gets hairy!!!

[speedy king]

Well i should be starting mide field, so right in the thick of it!!

[#15 tkm 4/]

Speedy king, it was the exact same for me a last year, id been driving pro-karts since i was 14 and as soon as i was old enough to race senior i moved straight into, tkm 4/, but the thing was i had neverd practised in my tkm in the wet, and luck goes that it was a wet race,for ma first one in tkm. in the end i finished 3rd rite behind the 2nd place ... but i think this was all to the fact i was fast in the pro-karts, because to be fast in them you gotta be smoth and consistant, and in the rain you gotta be smooth to be fast in any class

hope this made sense (did in my mind) if it didnt just ignore me!!

p.s where u racing this weekend??

[Superliner II]

Front track out, rear track in. Maximum castor will help turn in. Spray all the electrical plugs with water dispersant.

Be smooooth

To stop your visor fogging up, rub the inside of it with shampoo. Keep rubbing untill there is a very thin film on it and your vison is not impeded. This works on car windscreens too.

Have fun. Racing in the wet can be s**t but you will love it after a while.... Really

[speedy king]

Cheers. I have an anti fog device in my visor. I'm racing at Ellough Park Raceway on Saturday

[nwp]

agree with superliner about track and castor
also loosen everything off chasis, nerf bars front rear bumper, take off any seat stays, may rattle a bit but get that chasis to flex and give grip.
Could try smaller diameter rear axle.
try standing seat up to move your weight forward also helping front end grip.

[shiny side up!]

How did it go in the wet, speedy king??

[speedy king]

It didn't rain, (phew!!!)

But the day went really well, a turn around from the last few races. No mechanical gremlins No crash damage Front row for heat three Battling with race leader on my first race off restricted plates and gave a Mini Max driver the two fingures on the straight

[DavidStHubbins]

2-strokes in the wet are what it's all about! Mental!

[spearce]

All, does anybody do hire deals for R-Max, or other 100's.
Or is anybody able to let me do a test in one - I'm thinking of making a comeback, just for fun. Havn't raced Karts since mid 80's, do they cater for OAP's !!! Please send me a PM if you can help.

[Revracing]

Spearce where are you from?, I still have all my karting equipment from racing in the nineties, I also pocess a never been raced rotax max which we run from time to time for fun, I may be able to hire it out.....