★ = INDICATES CLARIFICATIONS OR A NEW RULE 2021 RULES & TECHNICAL GUIDE . CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION TO KART. 1 6 ROAD RACING ......................................20 2 SPIRIT AND INTENT ...................................1 7 TECHNICAL SECTION INTRODUCTION ....................27 3 RULES AND REGULATIONS ..............................2 8 2-CYCLE TECHNICAL GUIDE ............................ 28 4 SPRINT RACING ..................................... 10 9 4-CYCLE TECHNICAL GUIDE ............................39 5 SPEEDWAY RACING ..................................16 10 TOUCH AND GO (TAG) TECHNICAL GUIDE ..................50 . 1 INTRODUCTION TO KART a professional, it does not alter the fact that karting is not a profes- KART was formed as a governing body to promote the sport of go sional sport. It is an amateur sport for the enjoyment of participant kart racing. The following rules and regulations are for the purpose and non-participants. of providing an environment of fair competition among the various We must not let a micrometer have the final decision in each and classes; to provide stability and consistency to the rules; and to try every case. and reduce the hazards associated with motorsports racing. We as competitors must make every effort to see that the parts we use All members, drivers, pit crew, and members in general are required and the way we use them is in accordance with the rule book. to be fully versed with these rules and regulations. Race officials and tech inspectors must use the rule book to enforce fair By becoming a member of KART you are agreeing to abide by KART’s and equal competition. When it is apparent that a competitor is trying rules and regulations. to abuse the rules for an unfair advantage, he/she should be thrown out. But when a part is questionable, it should be looked at through the eyes It is the responsibility of every driver, owner, or crew member to pre- of fairness, and spirit and intent should rule. I know this is a tremendous pare and operate their racing kart in a safe manner. burden on race officials and tech inspectors, but I also know that the It is the responsibility of the track owner or operator to provide a track best of them govern themselves with fairness in mind. as safe as reasonably possible for the competition events to be run. I am going to give you some examples: ROAD RACING KART EXAMPLE # 1: You have a wrist pin that shows no sign of being altered A racing kart that is driven in a lay-down (on your back) or semi-lay- or modified in any way. When measuring it, it is found that all mea- down position. Generally raced on tracks of 1 to 4 miles in length. surements are fine with one exception. One end of the inside hole is SPRINT RACING KART one or two thousands too large for approximately 1/8 inch of depth. A racing kart that is driven in a sit-up position. Generally raced on irreg- You look at the area and can find no evidence that this part was tam- ular tracks with both left and right turns and lengths of 1/4 to 1 mile. pered with. Tough call? I don’t think so; it would seem obvious to me SPEEDWAY RACING KART that the spirit and intent of both the competitor and manufacturer was A sprint-type kart. Generally raced on dirt oval tracks of 1/5 mile or to market and use a legal part. less. Many racers use a standard sprint chassis, but there are numer- EXAMPLE # 2: You have a part that shows machining in an area ous manufacturers of special speedway chassis. where the manufacturer does no machine work. All comparable models show an as-cast appearance. The book has no dimension in 2 SPIRIT AND INTENT BY MIKE BALDUS this area, but says all parts must be stock appearing. Tough call? I SPIRIT: Real meaning; true intention (to follow the spirit if not the letter don’t think so. Someone, and it may not be the competitor, but of the law). someone, has obviously tried to gain an unfair advantage. Again, spirit and intent should be the guiding light. If the competitor took INTENT: An act or instance of intending; law; one’s mental attitude of this part back to the person that worked on it and said “I want my doing an act. money back and I don’t want any more parts like this, or I won’t be The sport of go kart racing cut it’s teeth on these two words. SPIRIT back.” the problem will go away. and INTENT. Through the years, these words seem to have slid from Remember, it is your right to have a KART official tech inspector make the front of our rule books to the rear of some books, and have com- the final call on any engine tech item. If you feel you have not been pletely disappeared in others. treated fairly at a KART sanctioned event, ask that the part or parts be This is, and I hope always will be, a fun, family-involved motorsport. sent to an official KART tech inspector. We have a format that allows a future Indy-driver a place to start. We I know I am going to take some flack about this, but I also know there have a format that allows the average Michael or Michelle to learn are many that feel the same as I do. good driving skills, mechanical skills, sportsmanship, and experience If we all attached these words to any item of question, there would be a great hobby. no questions. SPIRIT AND INTENT. Even though some karters have been able to convert their favorite sport into a means of making a living and/or in some cases, becoming KART 2021 1 3 RULES AND REGULATIONS is 12. In the Sprint division, any 7 year old that will be turning 8 during the competition year and has at least 6 races in the Kid ★Except for emergency and/or safety, the rules will not be changed Kart class may send a petition to the Administrative Office for before the 2023 competition year begins. Competition year is defined permission to compete in the Jr. 1 class listing those 6 races. as January 1 through December 31 of the current year. This petition must be approved by a KART Director before the A. MEMBERSHIP, ELIGIBILITY, AND TRACK competitor will be allowed to participate in Jr. 1. All other Junior INFORMATION rules such as not moving up and back, apply. National Regular members of KART must be 18 years of age or older. A b) In the Speedway Division only, attained age of 15 allows minor can only join under the family membership section of the 15-year-old drivers to compete in the Senior (16-year-old) application. A minor cannot be the primary national member of KART. Briggs and Stock Yamaha classes only, in the months before It is required that all entrants or participants in a KART sanctioned their option year. All other Junior rules, such as not moving up event be a current member in good standing with all necessary docu- and back, apply. mentation on file at the KART office or in the hands of a KART official c) In the Enduro/Road Race Division, 15 year old drivers who in the process of being sent to the office. All KART memberships will have competed in at least 8 road races, may send a petition list- expire on December 31st of the current year. ing those races to the Administrative Office for permission to Participants must be able to furnish proof of membership at event reg- compete in the Senior (16+ year old) stock piston port classes, istration, or they will be required to join at that time. The KART office 125cc TaG, and 80cc Shifter. This petition must be approved by will refund upon verification of a pre-existing current membership. the KART Directors before the competitor will be allowed to No member and kart can go onto the track surface without being participate in the senior classes. All other Junior rules, such as entered in the event. It is KART’s policy that there be no refunds after not moving up and back, apply. the kart has gone through pre-technical inspection or been put onto d) In the Enduro / Road Race Division, Juniors ages 12-14 may the racing surface. send a petition listing qualifications to the Administration No promoter may exclude a member in good-standing from partici- office for permission to compete in the Sprint LO206 senior pating at a KART-sanctioned event without showing JUST CAUSE. class. This petition must be approved by the KART directors All bids for the KART National Championships must be in the KART before the competitor will be allowed to participate in the Administrative Office by October 1st. senior class. All other Junior rules, such as not moving up and B. SPECIAL DRIVER REQUIREMENTS back, apply. 1. LIABILITY WAIVER: All drivers shall sign a waiver of liability 5. OPTION YEAR: If, during the season, the driver has a birthday before being allowed to participate in any event at a KART member that would make him/her old enough to move to an “older” class, track. All participants, by signing the entry form and/or liability he/she has the option to do so, BUT if he/she elects to do so, he/she waiver, hereby elect to use the track at their own risk, and thereby cannot return to the “younger” class, and when he/she moves up in release and forever discharge KART, Inc., together with their heirs, one division of racing, he/she must move up in all other divisions assigns, officers, representatives, agents, employees and members, also.