89-495: KZ2 is a kart racing class using 125 cc water-cooled two-stroke engines yielding about 52 hp (39 kW). The engines are equipped with a 6-speed gearbox. Z2 is the second fastest of the KZ karting racing categories, and technical regulations are similar to faster KZ1 except that in KZ2 the gearbox must be "hand-operated and exclusively mechanical without a servo system", as well as
178-736: A 1956 TR3 with disc brakes to the public, but the first production cars with Girling front-disc brakes were made in September 1956. Jaguar began to offer disc brakes in February 1957 on the XK150 model, soon to follow with the Mark 1 sports saloon and in 1959 with the Mark IX large saloon. Disc brakes were most popular on sports cars when they were first introduced since these vehicles are more demanding about brake performance. Discs have now become
267-577: A Chrysler non-caliper type. In the 1950s, there was a demonstration of superiority at the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans race, which required braking from high speeds several times per lap. The Jaguar racing team won, using disc brake-equipped cars, with much of the credit being given to the brakes' superior performance over rivals equipped with drum brakes . Mass production began with the 1949–1950 inclusion in all Crosley production, with sustained mass production starting in 1955 Citroën DS . Disc brakes offer better stopping performance than drum brakes because
356-481: A Crosley HotShot with stock four-wheel disc brakes won the Index of Performance in the first race at Sebring (six hours rather than 12) on New Year's Eve in 1950. The Citroën DS was the first sustained mass production use of modern automotive disc brakes, in 1955. The car featured caliper-type front disc brakes among its many innovations. These discs were mounted inboard near the transmission and were powered by
445-402: A bike gets into a violent tank-slapper (high-speed oscillation of the front wheel) the brake pads in the calipers are forced away from the discs, so when the rider applies the brake lever, the caliper pistons push the pads towards the discs without actually making contact. The rider then brakes harder, forcing the pads onto the disc much more aggressively than standard braking. An example of this
534-416: A disc or a rotor to create friction . There are two basic types of brake pad friction mechanisms: abrasive friction and adherent friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle , either to reduce its rotational speed or to hold it stationary. The energy of motion is converted into heat , which must be dissipated to the environment. Hydraulically actuated disc brakes are
623-565: A final which last 20 minutes or more, with a variety of point scoring calculations to determine the event's overall winner. Typical duration does not normally exceed 25 minutes. Here, speed and successful passing is of the most importance. It normally occurs in the format of qualifying, one to three heats and a final race for trophy positions. Sprint Racing in the United States and Canada are held at three primary levels, club racing (local races at purpose-built tracks), regional racing - like
712-431: A fixed caliper. A floating disc also avoids disc warping and reduces heat transfer to the wheel hub. Calipers have evolved from simple single-piston units to two-, four- and even six-piston items. Compared to cars, motorcycles have a higher center of mass : wheelbase ratio, so they experience more weight transfer when braking. Front brakes absorb most of the braking forces, while the rear brake serves mainly to balance
801-767: A fork brace, USD forks may be best stiffened by an oversized front axle). Bike disc brakes may range from simple, mechanical (cable) systems, to expensive and powerful, multi-piston hydraulic disc systems, commonly used on downhill racing bikes . Improved technology has seen the creation of vented discs for use on mountain bikes , similar to those on cars, introduced to help avoid heat fade on fast alpine descents. Discs are also used on road bicycles for all-weather cycling with predictable braking. By 2024, almost all road bikes are equipped with disc brakes, just like Mountain bikes. Drums are sometimes preferred as harder to damage in crowded parking, where discs are sometimes bent. Most bicycle brake discs are made of steel. Stainless steel
890-433: A lasting finish. The outer disc ring is usually manufactured from grey iron . They can also be from steel or carbon ceramic for particular applications. These materials originated from motorsport use and are available in high-performance vehicles and aftermarket upgrades. Two-piece discs can be supplied as a fixed assembly with regular nuts, bolts, and washers or a more complicated floating system where drive bobbins allow
979-474: A light and heavy category. Many people race worldwide in Spec series such as X30 125cc (a TaG class). As in other disciplines in motorsports, a license is required to drive a racing kart in competition. The licenses, issued by governing bodies, are provided by clubs or associations. Basic insurance coverage is usually included in the licence annual fee. In some countries, such as France , regulations require
SECTION 10
#17327904028351068-469: A modern disc-brake system even though the disc was thin and a cable activated the brake pad. Other designs were not practical or widely available in cars for another 60 years. Successful application began in airplanes before World War II. The German Tiger tank was fitted with discs in 1942. After the war, technological progress began in 1949, with caliper-type four-wheel disc brakes on the Crosley line and
1157-508: A motorsport in itself, it is one of the sports regulated by FIA (under the name of CIK ), permitting licensed racing for anyone from the age of 8 onward. In the United States, there is not as much FIA involvement; instead, many organizations regulate racing, such as the IKF ( International Kart Federation ), WKA ( World Karting Association ), KART (Karters of America Racing Triad), USPKS (United States Pro Karting Series) SKUSA (SuperKartsUSA). In
1246-412: A personal computer equipped with a data analysis software. More sophisticated systems allow for more information such as lateral and longitudinal acceleration ( g-force ), throttle position, steering wheel position and brake pressure. Kart racing is generally accepted as the most economical form of motorsport available on four wheels. As a free-time activity, it can be performed by almost anybody, and as
1335-435: A positive effect in wet conditions because the holes or slots prevent a film of water from building up between the disc and the pads. Two-piece discs are when the center mounting part of the disc is manufactured separately from the outer friction ring. The central section used for fitment is often called the bell or hat because of its shape. It is commonly manufactured from an alloy such as a 7075 alloy and hard anodised for
1424-604: A single stop. For these reasons, a heavy truck with disc brakes can stop in about 120% of the distance of a passenger car, but with drums, stopping takes about 150% of the distance. In Europe, stopping distance regulations essentially require disc brakes for heavy vehicles. In the U.S., drums are allowed and are typically preferred for their lower purchase price, despite higher total lifetime cost and more frequent service intervals. Still-larger discs are used for railroad cars , trams , and some airplanes . Passenger rail cars and light rail vehicles often use disc brakes outboard of
1513-475: A specification for the manufacture of grey iron for various applications. For normal car and light-truck applications, SAE specification J431 G3000 (superseded to G10) dictates the correct range of hardness, chemical composition, tensile strength, and other properties necessary for the intended use. Some racing cars and airplanes use brakes with carbon fiber discs and carbon fiber pads to reduce weight. Wear rates tend to be high, and braking may be poor or grabby until
1602-606: A stiffer chassis is preferable, while in wet or other poor traction conditions, a more flexible chassis may work better. Temperature of the track can also affect handling and may prompt additional chassis adjustments. The best chassis allow for stiffening bars at the rear, front and side to be added or removed according to race conditions. Braking is achieved by a disc brake mounted on the rear axle. Front disc brakes are used in most shifter kart classes and are increasingly popular in other classes; however, certain classes do not allow them. Shifter karts have dual master cylinders, one for
1691-421: A transmission in the automotive power train or drive train. The transmission can: Karts do not have a differential . The lack of a differential means that one rear tire must slide while cornering. This is achieved by designing the chassis so that the inside rear tire lifts up slightly when the kart turns the corner. This allows the tire to lose some of its grip and slide or lift off the ground completely. Power
1780-481: Is commonly perceived as the stepping stone to the higher ranks of motorsports, with most Formula One drivers—including Ayrton Senna , Michael Schumacher , Fernando Alonso , Kimi Räikkönen , Lewis Hamilton , Sebastian Vettel , Nico Rosberg , and Max Verstappen —having begun their careers in karting. Karts vary widely in speed, and some (known as superkarts ) can reach speeds exceeding 160 kilometres per hour (100 mph), while recreational go-karts intended for
1869-407: Is commonly used on the more heavily loaded front discs. Discs for motorcycles, bicycles, and many cars often have holes or slots cut through the disc. This is done for better heat dissipation , to aid surface-water dispersal, to reduce noise, to reduce mass, or purely for non-functional aesthetics. Slotted discs have shallow channels machined into the disc to aid in removing dust and gas. Slotting
SECTION 20
#17327904028351958-410: Is connected to the wheel and the axle . To slow down the wheel, friction material in the form of brake pads , mounted on the brake caliper , is forced mechanically, hydraulically , pneumatically , or electromagnetically against both sides of the disc. Friction causes the disc and attached wheel to slow or stop. The brake disc is the rotating part of a wheel's disc brake assembly, against which
2047-482: Is done mainly where the cost of a new disc may be lower than the cost of labor to resurface the old disc. Mechanically this is unnecessary unless the discs have reached the manufacturer's minimum recommended thickness, which would make it unsafe to use them, or vane rusting is severe (ventilated discs only). Most leading vehicle manufacturers recommend brake disc skimming (US: turning) as a solution for lateral run-out, vibration issues, and brake noises. The machining process
2136-963: Is held annually and lasts 24 hours with multiple classes participating. This event is hosted by the Prokart SSS Club near Johannesburg. The most popular class runs the Honda GX390 four-stroke engine, which is both affordable and durable, keeping running costs to a minimum. The Prokart Super Single Series, also known as Prokart SSS, has been running for more than 20 years and has proven to be a very popular entry platform for drivers of all ages who want to get into karting. Many clubs worldwide have taken on four-stroke endurance karting for this reason, since two-stroke karting can be very expensive. Speedway racing takes place on asphalt or clay oval tracks which are normally between 1/10-mile and 1/4-mile long. Tracks primarily consist of two straights and four left-turn corners, few tracks are symmetric and often
2225-507: Is no suspension , so chassis have to be flexible enough to work as a suspension and stiff enough not to break or give way on a turn. Kart chassis are classified in the United States as "Open", "Caged", "Straight" or "Offset". All Commission Internationale de Karting –, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile –, or CIK-FIA-approved chassis are "Straight" and "Open". The stiffness of the chassis enables different handling characteristics for different circumstances. Typically, for dry conditions,
2314-852: Is one example. They have become the norm as the top international classes have switched to 125 cc clutch-equipped engines as of January 2007. Wheels and tires are much smaller than those used on a normal car. Wheels are made of magnesium alloy, aluminum , or composite materials . Tires can support cornering forces in excess of 2 g (20 m/s²), depending on chassis, engine, and motor setup . Some car tire manufacturers, such as MG Bridgestone , Dunlop , and Maxxis make tires for karts. There are also specific kart tire manufacturers, which include MG, Vega, MOJO, LeCont, Cobra, Hoosier and Burris. Similarly to other motorsports, kart tires have different types for use appropriate to track conditions: As in other motor sports, several data acquisition systems have been developed for kart racing. These systems allow
2403-439: Is performed in a brake lathe , which removes a very thin layer off the disc surface to clean off minor damage and restore uniform thickness. Machining the disc as necessary will maximize the mileage out of the current discs on the vehicle. Run-out is measured using a dial indicator on a fixed rigid base, with the tip perpendicular to the brake disc's face. It is typically measured about 1 ⁄ 2 in (12.7 mm) from
2492-757: Is popular in Europe and the USA. In the UK, since the beginning of 2019, The Motorsport UK run championship is the only British Championship and runs to CIK regulations with Le Cont tyres. The NKF Super 4 series continues as KZ UK with a minimum weight of 180 kg but has no championship status. Kart racing Kart racing or karting is a motorsport discipline using open-wheel , four-wheeled vehicles known as go-karts or shifter karts. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits , although some professional kart races are also held on full-size motorsport circuits. Karting
2581-414: Is preferred due to its anti-rust properties. Discs are thin, often about 2 mm. Some use a two-piece floating disc style, others use a one-piece solid metal disc. Bicycle disc brakes use either a two-piston caliper that clamps the disc from both sides or a single-piston caliper with one moving pad that contacts the disc first, and then pushes the disc against the non-moving pad. Because energy efficiency
2670-415: Is preferred in most racing environments to remove gas and water and deglaze brake pads. Some discs are both drilled and slotted. Slotted discs are generally not used on standard vehicles because they quickly wear down brake pads; however, removing of material is beneficial to race vehicles since it keeps the pads soft and avoids vitrification of their surfaces. On the road, drilled or slotted discs still have
2759-401: Is so important in bicycles, an uncommon feature of bicycle brakes is that the pads retract to eliminate residual drag when the brake is released. In contrast, most other brakes drag the pads lightly when released to minimize initial operational travel. Disc brakes are increasingly used on very large and heavy road vehicles, where previously large drum brakes were nearly universal. One reason
KZ2 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2848-430: Is that the disc's lack of self-assist makes brake force much more predictable, so peak brake force can be raised without more risk of braking-induced steering or jackknifing on articulated vehicles. Another is disc brakes fade less when hot, and in a heavy vehicle air and rolling drag and engine braking are small parts of total braking force, so brakes are used harder than on lighter vehicles, and drum brake fade can occur in
2937-448: Is transmitted from the engine to the rear axle by a chain. Both engine and axle sprockets are removable. Their ratio must be adapted to the track configuration to obtain the most performance from the engine. In the early days, karts were direct drive, requiring push starts. The inconvenience of that configuration led to the centrifugal clutch for the club level classes. Dry centrifugal clutches are now used in many categories; Rotax Max
3026-592: The Arado Ar 96 . The German Tiger I heavy tank, was introduced in 1942 with a 55 cm Argus-Werke disc on each drive shaft. The American Crosley Hot Shot had four-wheel disc brakes in 1949 and 1950. However, these quickly proved troublesome and were removed. Crosley returned to drum brakes, and drum brake conversions for Hot Shots were popular. Lack of sufficient research caused reliability problems, such as sticking and corrosion, especially in regions using salt on winter roads. Crosley four-wheel disc brakes made
3115-1124: The California ProKart Challenge , the Texas Sprint Racing Series , the Florida-based Sunshine Karting Championship Series , Route 66 Sprint Series in the Midwest, and the F-Series Gearup Challenge in the Northeast. National level karting takes place across North America in dedicated national series like the SKUSA Pro Tour Archived 22 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine , the USPKS Championship Series , WKA Manufacturers Cup and
3204-579: The Daimler Company used disc brakes on its Daimler Armoured Car of 1939. The disc brakes, made by the Girling company, were necessary because in that four-wheel drive (4×4) vehicle the epicyclic final drive was in the wheel hubs and therefore left no room for conventional hub-mounted drum brakes . At Germany's Argus Motoren , Hermann Klaue (1912-2001) had patented disc brakes in 1940. Argus supplied wheels fitted with disc brakes e.g. for
3293-806: The Karting World Championship , SKUSA SuperNats and all SKUSA Pro Tour, USPKS and ROK Cup USA Nationals take place in this format. Sprint racing can be held at a dedicated purpose-built track (most of which also rent club karts for family fun), and sprint races are also held at kart tracks that exist at many major auto sports complexes like Daytona International Speedway , Charlotte Motor Speedway , Pittsburgh International Race Complex , NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Homestead-Miami Speedway , and Road America . Sprint races are also held at temporary kart circuits that can be built in parking areas at large stadiums and casinos throughout
3382-549: The Lincoln Continental . A four-wheel disc brake system was also introduced in 1965 on the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Most U.S. cars switched from front drum brakes to front disk brakes in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Lambretta introduced the first high-volume production use of a single, floating, front disc brake, enclosed in a ventilated cast alloy hub and actuated by cable, on
3471-579: The ROK Cup USA . The SKUSA Pro Tour championship is one of the most coveted, and the SKUSA SuperNats event held in Las Vegas annually is one of the largest kart races in the world, attracting drivers from every continent. The SKUSA SuperNats event has been run continuously for 25 years, and a SuperNats win is considered a legendary win in karting circles. The FIA championships, including
3560-541: The Studebaker Avanti was factory-equipped with front disc brakes as standard equipment. This Bendix system licensed from Dunlop was also optional on some of the other Studebaker models. Front disc brakes became standard equipment on the 1965 Rambler Marlin . The Bendix units were optional on all American Motors ' Rambler Classic and Ambassador models as well as on the Ford Thunderbird , and
3649-403: The driveshaft , near the differential , while most brakes today are located inside the wheels. An inboard location reduces the unsprung weight and eliminates a source of heat transfer to the tires. Historically, brake discs were manufactured worldwide with a concentration in Europe and America. Between 1989 and 2005, the manufacturing of brake discs migrated predominantly to China. In 1963,
KZ2 - Misplaced Pages Continue
3738-415: The 1890s. The first caliper-type automobile disc brake was patented by Frederick William Lanchester in his Birmingham factory in 1902 and used successfully on Lanchester cars . However, the limited choice of metals in this period meant he used copper as the braking medium acting on the disc. The poor state of the roads at this time, no more than dusty, rough tracks, meant that the copper wore quickly, making
3827-551: The 1962 TV175. This was followed by the GT200 in 1964. MV Agusta was the second manufacturer to offer a front disc brake motorcycle to the public on a small scale in 1965, on their expensive 600 touring motorcycle featuring cable-operated mechanical actuation. In 1969, Honda introduced the more affordable CB750 , which had a single hydraulically actuated front disc brake (and a rear drum brake), and which sold in huge numbers. Unlike cars, disc brakes that are located within
3916-539: The French Venturi sports car manufacturer in the mid-1990s for example, but need to reach a very high operating temperature before becoming truly effective and so are not well suited to road use. The extreme heat generated in these systems is visible during night racing, especially on shorter tracks. It is not uncommon to see the brake discs glowing red during use. Ceramic discs are used in some high-performance cars and heavy vehicles. The first development of
4005-533: The MSA. Billed as the UK's first national karting league , the Elite Karting League also falls outside of MSA governance. In Australia, kart racing is administered by one of the following Karting bodies: Racing classes start at age 7 or 8 (5 in the United States with "Kid Karts") and generally run in 3-year age groupings or weight divisions until "senior" status is reached at age 15 or 16, depending on
4094-483: The UK, the Motor Sports Association (MSA) regulates most "owner driver" Karting. Some associations, such as NatSKA (National Schools Karting Association), organize race meetings throughout the country under the authority of the MSA. Various four-stroke "hire kart" series such as EPEC (European Prokart Endurance Championship) or BRKC (British Rental Kart Championship) fall outside the governance of
4183-489: The UK, the most celebrated karting series is the National karting series, also known as Super One . There are three types of Super One championships: Other UK National Championships include: Birel BirelART series UK: Cadet 60cc, Junior 100cc, Senior Light 125cc, Senior Heavy 125cc, British Indoor Karting Championship (BIKC) The BRKC is the UK's rental karting National championship, and the UK's official feeder series to
4272-749: The United States. Additionally, there are street races where races take place on city streets on temporary circuits like some of the IndyCar races. Endurance races last for an extended period, ranging from 30 minutes up to 24 hours or more, for one or more drivers. In general, consistency, reliability, and pit strategy is of greater importance than all out speed. Called "enduro" racing in the United States, most WKA and IKF sanctioned events typically last 30 minutes (sprint enduro) or 45 minutes (laydown enduro) and are run continuously without pit stops. Enduro events are held on full-size road racing circuits that are usually between 1.5 and 4 miles in length. As well as
4361-480: The brake gets hot when stopping. This is acceptable as there is sufficient time for cooling, where the maximum braking energy is very predictable. Should the braking energy exceed the maximum, for example during an emergency occurring during take-off, aircraft wheels can be fitted with a fusible plug to prevent the tire bursting. This is a milestone test in aircraft development. For automotive use, disc brake discs are commonly made of grey iron . The SAE maintains
4450-634: The brake is hot. In racing and high-performance road cars, other disc materials have been employed. Reinforced carbon discs and pads inspired by aircraft braking systems such as those used on Concorde were introduced in Formula One by Brabham in conjunction with Dunlop in 1976. Carbon–carbon braking is now used in most top-level motorsport worldwide, reducing unsprung weight , giving better frictional performance and improved structural properties at high temperatures, compared to cast iron. Carbon brakes have occasionally been applied to road cars, by
4539-417: The brake pads are applied. The material is typically gray iron , a form of cast iron . The design of the discs varies. Some are solid, but others are hollowed out with fins or vanes joining the disc's two contact surfaces (usually included in the casting process). The weight and power of the vehicle determine the need for ventilated discs. The "ventilated" disc design helps to dissipate the generated heat and
SECTION 50
#17327904028354628-402: The caliper behind the slider (to reduce the angular momentum of the fork assembly). Rear disc calipers may be mounted above (e.g. BMW R1100S ) or below (e.g. Yamaha TRX850 ) the swinging arm: a low mount provides for a marginally lower center of gravity, while an upper siting keeps the caliper cleaner and better-protected from road obstacles. One problem with motorcycle disc brakes is that when
4717-507: The cars, and Crosley-based specials, popular in SCCA H-Production and H-modified racing in the 1950s. The Crosley disc was a Goodyear -Hawley design, a modern caliper "spot" type with a modern disc, derived from a design from aircraft applications. Chrysler developed a unique braking system, offered from 1949 until 1953. Instead of the disc with caliper squeezing on it, this system used twin expanding discs that rubbed against
4806-402: The cost is not prohibitive. They are also found in industrial applications where the ceramic disc's lightweight and low-maintenance properties justify the cost. Composite brakes can withstand temperatures that would damage steel discs. Porsche 's Composite Ceramic Brakes (PCCB) are siliconized carbon fiber, with high-temperature capability, a 50% weight reduction over iron discs (hence reducing
4895-415: The disc is more readily cooled. Consequently, discs are less prone to the brake fade caused when brake components overheat. Disc brakes also recover more quickly from immersion (wet brakes are less effective than dry ones). Most drum brake designs have at least one leading shoe, which gives a servo-effect . By contrast, a disc brake has no self-servo effect, and its braking force is always proportional to
4984-411: The driver to monitor from a display fixed on the steering wheel some parameters such as RPM, timing of laps (including sectors), number of laps, best lap, cooling system temperature, exhaust gas temperature and sometimes speed or even gear for shifter karts. Some of those systems are able to record (logging) laps data from the sensors, allowing replay of an entire running session or/and direct download to
5073-437: The drivers to pass a medical exam each year. License classes differ between countries according to age groups or levels. Most of the time a Practice License can be easily obtained, while a Racing License might require a capability assessment. For their safety, kart drivers are required to wear proper equipment: Disc brake A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against
5162-488: The famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race for automobiles there is also a 24-hours event for karts which takes place at the kart circuit Alain Prost at Le Mans , France. This race has taken place since 1986 and its winners list include four-time Champ Car champion Sébastien Bourdais (in 1996). Endurance racing is also considered a more affordable way of getting into karting. In South Africa, the 24 Hours of Karting Festival race
5251-524: The fastest growing in the United States is Lo206. The general classes are 125cc Shifter, 100cc tag, 125cc tag and then the X30 equivalents of these karts. The CIK-FIA sanctions international championships in OK , OKJ , KZ1 , KZ2 and Superkart . These are regarded as the top-level classes of karting and are also raced in national championships worldwide. The World Championship is decided here. In May 2019 it held
5340-487: The first European cars sold to the public to have disc brakes, fitted to all four wheels. The Jaguar C-Type racing car won the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans , the only vehicle in the race to use disc brakes, developed in the UK by Dunlop , and the first car at Le Mans ever to average over 100 mph. "Rivals' large drum brakes could match discs' ultimate stopping, but not their formidable staying power." Before this, in 1950,
5429-599: The friction surface, the balls would be forced up the holes forcing the discs further apart and augmenting the braking energy. This made for lighter braking pressure than with calipers, avoided brake fade, promoted cooler running, and provided one-third more friction surface than standard Chrysler twelve-inch drums. Today's owners consider the Ausco-Lambert very reliable and powerful, but admit its grabbiness and sensitivity. In 1953, 50 aluminum-bodied Austin-Healey 100S (Sebring) models, built primarily for racing, were
SECTION 60
#17327904028355518-745: The front and one for the rear, and are adjustable to allow for front/rear bias changes. Professionally raced karts typically weigh 165 to 175 lb (75 to 79 kg), complete without driver. Avanti , Tony Kart, Trulli , Birel , CRG , Gillard , Intrepid , Remo Racing , Kosmic, Zanardi or FA Kart and EKS are a few well-known examples of the many European manufacturers of race-quality chassis. Emmick, Coyote, Bandit, Shadow, MGM, Titan, PRC and Margay are American companies producing kart chassis. Racing karts mostly use small two-stroke or four-stroke engines; however, as of 2022, there has been small-scale adoption of electric motors in racing karts. Purpose of transmission: There are three reasons for having
5607-593: The general public may be limited to lower speeds. American Art Ingels is generally accepted to be the father of karting. A veteran hot rodder and a race car builder at Kurtis Kraft , he built the first kart in Southern California in 1956. Early karting events were held in the Rose Bowl Stadium car park. Instantly popular, Karting rapidly spread to other countries, and currently has a large following in Europe. The first kart manufacturer
5696-605: The inner surface of a cast-iron brake drum, which doubled as the brake housing. The discs spread apart to create friction against the inner drum surface through the action of standard wheel cylinders . Because of the expense, the brakes were only standard on the Chrysler Crown and the Town and Country Newport in 1950. They were optional, however, on other Chryslers, priced around $ 400, at a time when an entire Crosley Hot Shot retailed for $ 935. This four-wheel disc brake system
5785-453: The international under-15 championship. The driver who finished first overall was Vlad Sputzki (Russia) followed by Daniel Smith (England) and then followed by Maximilien Blank (Australia) CIK-FIA categories: Non CIK-FIA categories: The Kart World Championship (or KWC) as opposed to the FIA's "Karting World Championship" uses 4-stroke rental karts and travels to a different country each year. In
5874-681: The machine on which Tom Sheard rode to victory in the 1923 Senior TT . Successful application began on railroad streamliner passenger trains, airplanes, and tanks before and during World War II. In the US, the Budd Company introduced disc brakes on the General Pershing Zephyr for the Burlington Railroad in 1938. By the early 1950s, disc brakes were regularly applied to new passenger rolling stock. In Britain,
5963-515: The modern ceramic brake was made by British engineers for TGV applications in 1988. The objective was to reduce weight, and the number of brakes per axle, as well as provide stable friction from high speeds and all temperatures. The result was a carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic process which is now used in various forms for automotive, railway, and aircraft brake applications. Due to the high heat tolerance and mechanical strength of ceramic composite discs, they are often used on exotic vehicles where
6052-399: The more common form in most passenger vehicles. However, many (lightweight vehicles) use drum brakes on the rear wheels to keep costs and weight down as well as to simplify the provisions for a parking brake . This can be a reasonable compromise because the front brakes perform most of the braking effort. Many early implementations for automobiles located the brakes on the inboard side of
6141-587: The most commonly used mechanical device for slowing motor vehicles. The principles of a disc brake apply to almost any rotating shaft. The components include the disc, master cylinder , and caliper, which contain at least one cylinder and two brake pads on both sides of the rotating disc. The development of disc-type brakes began in England in the 1890s. In 1902, the Lanchester Motor Company designed brakes that looked and operated similarly to
6230-497: The motorcycle during braking. Modern sport bikes typically have twin large front discs, with a much smaller single rear disc. Bikes that are particularly fast or heavy may have vented discs. Early disc brakes (such as on the early Honda Fours and the Norton Commando ) sited the calipers on top of the disc, ahead of the fork slider. Although this gave the brake pads better cooling, it is now almost universal practice to site
6319-417: The outside diameter of the disc. The disc is spun. The difference between the minimum and maximum value on the dial is called lateral run-out. Typical hub/disc assembly run-out specifications for passenger vehicles are around 0.002 in (0.0508 mm ). Runout can be caused either by deformation of the disc itself or by runout in the underlying wheel hub face or by contamination between the disc surface and
6408-436: The piston seal has a square cross-section, also known as a square-cut seal. As the piston moves in and out, the seal drags and stretches on the piston, causing the seal to twist. The seal distorts approximately 1/10 of a millimeter. The piston is allowed to move out freely, but the slight amount of drag caused by the seal stops the piston from fully retracting to its previous position when the brakes are released, and so takes up
6497-470: The pressure placed on the brake pad by the braking system via any brake servo, brake pedal, or lever. This tends to give the driver a better "feel" and helps to avoid impending lockup. Drums are also prone to "bell mouthing" and trap worn lining material within the assembly, causing various braking problems. The disc is usually made of cast iron . In some cases, it may be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites . This
6586-750: The rental Kart World Championship. NatSKA is a budget karting association set up for schools and youth groups in the UK, with 13 classes. In the United States, Dirt oval classes (which often use Briggs & Stratton industrial engines) are prominent in the Southeast and Midwest. In the West, European style sprint racing is much more common. In particular, 125cc shifter karts using Honda CR125 power units have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. In Australia, classes include Cadet (previously called Midget),Junior KA4, Junior KA3, X30, KZ2, Senior KA3, Senior TAG (Restricted and Unrestricted). Most classes run
6675-424: The series. Typically, race formats are one of the following: Sprint racing takes place on dedicated kart circuits resembling small road courses, with left and right turns, hairpins, chicanes, and short and long straightaways. Tracks range from 1/4-mile (400 metres) to over 1 mile (1,600 metres) in length. The sprint format is a series of short-duration races, normally for a small number of laps, that qualify for
6764-540: The shape parallels that of an egg or a tri-oval . "Offset" kart chassis have been developed for precise handling and adjustability in left-turn-only racing competition taking place on oval and tri-oval tracks. Depending on the track material, different tires are used on the kart. Speedway kart races range in length from 4 laps for a trophy dash, to 20 laps for a main event. The two chief racing formats used in dirt speedway karting are heat races and timed laps qualification: There are many different classes in kart. One of
6853-419: The slack caused by the wear of the brake pads, eliminating the need for return springs. In some rear disc calipers, the parking brake activates a mechanism inside the caliper that performs some of the same functions. Discs are usually damaged in one of four ways: scarring, cracking, warping, or excessive rusting. Service shops will sometimes respond to any disc problem by changing out the discs entirely, This
6942-531: The system impractical. In 1921, the Douglas motorcycle company introduced a form of disc brake on the front wheel of their overhead-valve sports models. Patented by the British Motorcycle & Cycle-Car Research Association, Douglas described the device as a "novel wedge brake" working on a "beveled hub flange". A Bowden cable operated the brake. Front and rear brakes of this type were fitted to
7031-399: The thickness variation. Machining on-car with the proper equipment can also eliminate lateral run-out due to hub-face non-perpendicularity. Incorrect fitting can distort (warp) discs. The disc's retaining bolts (or the wheel/lug nuts, if the disc is sandwiched in place by the wheel) must be tightened progressively and evenly. The use of air tools to fasten lug nuts can be bad practice unless
7120-556: The two parts of the brake disc to expand and contract at different rates, therefore, reducing the chance a disc will warp from overheating. Key advantages of a two-piece disc are a saving in critical un-sprung weight and the dissipation of heat from the disc surface through the alloy bell (hat). Both fixed and floating options have their drawbacks and advantages. Floating discs are prone to rattle and collection of debris and are best suited to motorsport, whereas fixed are best for road use. The development of disc brakes began in England in
7209-479: The underlying hub mounting surface. Determining the root cause of the indicator displacement (lateral runout) requires the disassembly of the disc from the hub. Disc face runout due to hub face runout or contamination will typically have a period of 1 minimum and 1 maximum per revolution of the brake disc. Discs can be machined to eliminate thickness variation and lateral run-out. Machining can be done in situ (on-car) or off-car (bench lathe). Both methods will eliminate
7298-588: The use of medium tires. Both the engine and chassis must be approved by the CIK - FIA racing governing commission. The class is open to drivers aged 15 years and up with the minimum weight being 175 kg, this includes the kart and driver. The KZ2 class used to be called Intercontinental C ( ICC ) and was renamed by the CIK-FIA in January 2007. The KZ2 class is run in both national and continental championships and
7387-451: The vehicle's central hydraulic system. This model went on to sell 1.5 million units over 20 years with the same brake setup. Despite early experiments in 1902, from British Lanchester Motor Company , and in 1949 from Americans Chrysler and Crosley , the costly, trouble-prone technology was not ready for mass production. Attempts were soon withdrawn. The Jensen 541 , with four-wheel disc brakes, followed in 1956. Triumph exhibited
7476-488: The vehicle's unsprung weight), a significant reduction in dust generation, substantially extended maintenance intervals, and enhanced durability in corrosive environments. Found on some of their more expensive models, it is also an optional brake for all street Porsches at added expense. They can be recognized by the bright yellow paintwork on the aluminum six-piston calipers. The discs are internally vented much like cast-iron ones, and cross-drilled. In automotive applications,
7565-474: The wheel, bike disc brakes are in the airstream and have optimum cooling. Although cast iron discs have a porous surface that provides superior braking performance, such discs rust in the rain and become unsightly. Accordingly, motorcycle discs are usually stainless steel, drilled, slotted, or wavy to disperse rainwater. Modern motorcycle discs tend to have a floating design whereby the disc "floats" on bobbins and can move slightly, allowing better disc centering with
7654-465: The wheels, which helps ensure a free flow of cooling air. Some modern passenger rail cars, such as the Amfleet II cars , use inboard disc brakes. This reduces wear from debris and provides protection from rain and snow, which would make the discs slippery and unreliable. However, there is still plenty of cooling for reliable operation. Some airplanes have the brake mounted with very little cooling, and
7743-567: Was an American company, Go Kart Manufacturing Co. (1957). In 1959, McCulloch was the first company to produce engines for karts. Its first engine, the McCulloch MC-10, was an adapted chainsaw two-stroke engine . Later, in the 1960s, motorcycle engines were also adapted for kart use, before dedicated manufacturers, especially in Italy ( IAME ), started to build engines for the sport. The chassis are made of chromoly tubing. There
7832-417: Was built by Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company (Ausco) of St. Joseph, Michigan , under patents of inventor H.L. Lambert, and was first tested on a 1939 Plymouth . Chrysler discs were "self-energizing," in that some of the braking energy itself contributed to the braking effort. This was accomplished by small balls set into oval holes leading to the braking surface. When the disc made initial contact with
7921-473: Was the Michele Pirro incident at Mugello, Italy 1 June 2018. At least one manufacturer has developed a system to counter the pads being forced away. A modern development, particularly on inverted ("upside down", or "USD") forks is the radially mounted caliper. Although these are fashionable, there is no evidence that they improve braking performance or add to the fork's stiffness. (Lacking the option of
#834165