CycleKarts at Laguna Seca, Le Mans Start

We had about 20 CycleKarts at Laguna Seca for the Velocity Invitational Historic Races, November 13, 2021.
We had CycleKarts from all over the USA, Washington, Utah, Arizona, Missouri and California were represented.
We were on the big track on Saturday immediately following the National Anthem. When 'Drivers Start Your Engines' came over the loud speakers....they were talking to us, LOL. We did a LeMans style start, the first time that has ever been done at Laguna Seca. We decided to all stick together....well some of us did, so most of the time we are not at full speed. The lead guys slowed down a bit after the Corkscrew so the rest could catch up a bit to put on a good show at the Finish Line. The Corkscrew was the absolute best part, the CycleKart really picks up speed going down that part, wow.
Thanks again to the whole crew at Velocity, our group really had fun.
/ cyclekart
www.etsy.com/shop/ArizonaCycl...

[@mellowfellow6816]

When the safety car is a golf cart, that's when you know things are about to get real

[@stevevinson6030]

Ha Ha, time to throw down!

[@edteach3r]

Comment of the day. 😂

[@barryp4700]

The only set of cars that didn’t intimidate the golf cart! 😂

[@redryderaus]

🤣🤣🤣

[@Moondoggy1941]

Slow down you are making us look bad.

[@waynepurcell6058]

This is beyond cool. Not everything is about raw speed and power. I'd absolutely love to do this lol.

[@stevevinson6030]

It will put a smile on your face a mile wide!

[@rickfry6031]

Let’s not get too excited. Pretty soon somebody will figure out how to make big money on it, and it will no longer be an affordable way to go racing. Just like everything else.

[@rickfry6031]

My mistake, I put machines and Laguna Seca together and thought it was a race. This was my first time seeing these. Terrific concept.

[@patireland3345]

Thank you all for making the trip. Laguna Seca deserves the attendence of every vintage and class of road race competitor. Certainly a tribute to your fabrication skills and commitment. :)

[@stevevinson6030]

It was a thrill for our humble little machines to be on that track, what a thrill

[@mchristr]

Gives new meaning to the term "throttle pinned." I'm guessing momentum is everything.

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes on on a real track, our karts need all the momentum we can muster.

[@garyjohnson4575]

...and drafting

[@rolux4853]

@@garyjohnson4575I can’t imagine drafting does much at those low speeds and bad aerodynamics. But I’ll stand corrected if someone with real life experience in those cars tells me something else.

[@brrebrresen1367]

can't say how much it effects these cart since in the US most i have ever seen is using the GX200 6.5hp and the local gang here just went straight up for the GX390 13hp engine. so have little reference to how it's is with that power but when drafting clearly works for cyclists it should be same for any other "slow moving" vehicle, problem is learning how to utilise it... so my guessing is that gearing would give way more effect (sacrifice how much acceleration for higher top-speed for example?) than drafting.

[@zacharyreichert5035]

No doubt, that and simple reliability.

[@SgtBrewdawg]

This is very very cool ! I can only imagine how fun this has to be 😁

[@stevevinson6030]

Unbelievable!

[@davidfuller764]

Looks to be great experience!

[@davidfuller764]

Hairy! At 6:37 that red car got looose!

[@donelmore2540]

@@davidfuller764LOL, I noticed that too! I wonder if he got a little drift or just twitched the steering wheel a little to hard?

[@kevinbaker6168]

Very nice! For those that missed it he was dressed in era clothing; sport coat, sweater, knickers, knee socks and oxfords. Personally I would opt for the flyer style; cotton work shirt under a light weight leather jacket, kahki twill pants and leather riding boots.

[@stevevinson6030]

Good call!

[@rodneynoriel1528]

Yes I noticed the tweed!

[@teddyrascal6305]

Soundtrack gets a big fat PERFECT! In my book. The fun levels are off the charts. Simply cannot be measured.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks, I love the old Jazz Age Classics

[@ryburnanderson6045]

Didn't know about cycle carts til just now. Fantastic! Thanks for the post.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching

[@michaelmstevenson4004]

Thank you! This is great...I was really looking forward to seeing your footage, and it's a great capturing of the feel of the circuit we took! Great editing, too.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thank you very much!

[@davidfuller764]

Yes, mesmerizing! Great video

[@highenergyog]

This is true racing at its finest, now I want to build one .

[@stevevinson6030]

Go for it. Lots of information on my channel and the web.

[@WmArthur]

Beautiful workmanship on the carts, that's what it's all about. Thanks for sharing.

[@stevevinson6030]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@juanziegler1471]

as someone who built and raced dirt track stock cars and mini pickups many moons ago. now at 56 yrs young , this looks awesome !!!!!!1

[@stevevinson6030]

Jump in, the water is fine

[@ironspur2000]

That’s awesome! I don’t know where I would run one, but I’ve got to build one now…

[@stevevinson6030]

This is a super fun hobby, especially if you can find some friends to built with

[@tomtruesdale6901]

Thank you for posting the video and for taking us along for the ride. Hope to get started on a kart sometime this year if I can finish a bunch of projects on my 'to do' list

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks and welcome to the fun

[@TheTrooper777]

Awesome view of the race

[@4486xxdawson]

So jealous,,,love cycle karts and Laguna Seca , ahhhhhhh you guys are so lucky .....where the hells the 10o thumbs up botton 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@stevevinson6030]

Ha Ha, thanks very much. We sure had a blast that day, for sure!

[@signorpippistrello]

Never expected a cart dressed up as an Austro-Daimler Sascha! Pretty cool!

[@stevevinson6030]

Good catch, the Sascha is a beauty

[@markjeep9415]

Looks so much fun. I can only remember how hard them corners are from PlayStation days haha

[@stevevinson6030]

It looks easy, but lots of black tire marks showing where other guys went off beg to differ. What a thrill.

[@spadRman]

Hi Steve Extraordinary ! what a pleasure to ride on a track of this quality ....

[@stevevinson6030]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@yariendedispo671]

Very fun ! This is great . Thanks from France .

[@stevevinson6030]

Glad you enjoyed it! We have a lot of fun!

[@benjamincaro1574]

C'est totalement génial, je sais pas si ça existe en France

[@ricardojuricic9027]

Thanks folks!!! Thouroughly enjoyed the ride!! Have seen Laguna Seca race on Indycar, yet this was outstanding🤙👍👏 This video trully makes you feel how cars & cyclecars go up from curve 5 to corkscrew and then slide down ¡¡Mil gracias!!! Lo disfruté MUCHÍSIMO saludos = cheers 🇦🇷 Argentina 🏎👀🤗🤣😆🙂

[@stevevinson6030]

The drop over a blind curve.....crazy fun and scary especially when you get the bottom of the hill and have to turn, whoa nelly.

[@davidhakes3884]

Whoever was running that drone did a nice job.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks

[@johnclary729]

I find it amusing that the slowest part of the track is a big sweeper for the CycleKarts

[@stevevinson6030]

We weren't going full steam. We were trying to stay together a bit. Normally our max speed is about 45MPH, this track we could be wide open all the way except for the downhill bit of the Corkscrew. Terminal velocity by the bottom of the hill, brakes are needed there.

[@GunnyArtG]

That has to be a bucket list item. Incredible

[@stevevinson6030]

So much fun. just watched the Indy Car race there on TV yesterday...yeah I drove that track too.

[@barryp4700]

1000’s of hours of work let loose! It must have been great fun, thanks for sharing.

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes it was!

[@mtbkmaniac1]

Amazing all the Tempory structures. Takes you back decades

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching

[@claudiotorre998]

Hermoso!!! Me motiva mas a terminar el mio en realidad a empezar en este pais se hace dificil pero las ganas estan ya estan las ruedas, el motor a seguir soñando FELICITACIONES!!! de Buenos Aires Argentina

[@davidfuller764]

Good luck friend!

[@tonywood3660]

This would be brilliant around Mount Panorama Bathhurst NSW OZ. Could image them screaming down the dipper! 🤣 And the spectators could nip down town for a beer as they meander down Conrod straight and be back for the finish....

[@stevevinson6030]

That sounds great!

[@psychedashell]

@@stevevinson6030 I think the podium would pretty much be the only three people to make it to the top.

[@Edward135i]

I've never heard of these before, but man do I want one now.

[@stevevinson6030]

great, lots of information available. www.huntsvillegp.com/get_started/?fbclid=IwAR0NgfN570dzc12NbkH4BmGfH_8j428DcnNY0HquP0YR5gnsjfpm4Xm4OmE

[@sly2392]

and when the race was over they all went home and mowed their lawns. with the same engines. 🏎 🏁

[@stevevinson6030]

Pretty much

[@SimmerCK]

I started watching this without reading the title. "That's Laguna Seca!" I've only driven it in Gran Turismo games. It's amazing how accurate the simulations are to the real thing.

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes, we have it on our simulator too and they get it pretty close to the real deal

[@AdamsOlympia]

Laguna Seca and other famous tracks are all laser scanned in the latest sim titles, down to every little bump in the track. It's still one of my favorite tracks in Automobilista 2 and Forza Motorsport -- though I started on Gran Turismo 1 and 2 like most of us older sim racers.

[@johncarold]

This would have been fun to see. Thanks for the video

[@stevevinson6030]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@robbieevans6536]

Reminded me of my week at the Jim Russel driving school about thirty years ago...Love it.

[@stevevinson6030]

So much fun

[@ovalwingnut]

As good as "any" race I've seen at Laguna :O) Thank you for the video.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching. It was a hoot to run that track

[@brentlanyon4654]

It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than it is to drive a fast car slow- Good fun!

[@stevevinson6030]

You got that right!

[@carlparker3571]

That looks like so much fun!

[@stevevinson6030]

It was!

[@cardboardcrawlersrc8805]

Omg what fun absolutely fantastic

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks so much

[@abpob6052]

So basically soap box derby with an engine. Cool to have to build them yourself

[@stevevinson6030]

Pretty much yes. Thanks for watching

[@louismartin4446]

Beautiful items and fun! Cheers!

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonnybeck6723]

So it seems, with one speed trannies you'd pretty much be flat out... Were there any turns that called for slow down or braking? (Amazing fun BTW)

[@stevevinson6030]

Oh yes, we were flying on the down hill of the Corkscrew! The rest of the track, probably no brakes needed.

[@jonnybeck6723]

@@stevevinson6030 That 'corkscrew is such a cool turn... it makes the Laguna Seca track what it is

[@1miltond]

Building it and running on it wow that is max . I love it

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks, it was a 'bucket list' sort of deal

[@mikelacross]

Must admit I LOVE the 3rd car in the pre race line up, but then all of them had some great querky design features. Looks a lot of fun too

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching

[@lukeasacher]

OMG thank you so much- just discovered cycle karts today- I'm 62, a NH Free Stater and lifetime amateur mechanic- owned a few classic cars over the years (55 Healey, 62 Fuelie Vette, 63 Avanti) and currently an inherited 95 Miata from Morro Bay CA- but THIS is a boyhood dream come true. Are there any cycle kart people here in New England?

[@stevevinson6030]

Welcome! Yes there is very active group in your area, or not too far away. If you are on FaceBook, search for the Northeast CycleKart Club, or join the www.cyclekartclub.com page and introduce yourself.

[@darylSKYTZOwillis]

Looks like a lot of fun. 😎

[@stevevinson6030]

Oh, Absolutely

[@user-fx2sh6pk9u]

They are as cool AF...I want one😊

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks, we welcome new builders.

[@manoman0]

What a wonderful thing to do with children! I wish I had some myself.

[@stevevinson6030]

The best!

[@Richardcecker]

Dang that was cool!

[@kenhodkinson1118]

Excellent!

[@stevevinson6030]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@stevetribett9907]

Loved the circuit of the track and the variety of the builds. I saw a couple that really spoke to me. I looked in the comments and the video description for links to the differing projects. It may be asking a lot, but is that a possibility? Thanks for your videos and ability to share.

[@stevevinson6030]

A lot of those karts are featured here: gittrevillegp.com/cyclekarts-in-profile/

[@stevetribett9907]

Thanks for the info!

[@pyfutura07]

​@@stevevinson6030is there a site you used to learn how to build one of these? This is rad

[@jeffelliott689]

These are pretty cool. Looks like alot of fun too. Surprised at how rough the surface of the track looks. No wonder theres so many marbles outside the groove during a race.

[@stevevinson6030]

I think they just resurfaced the track in the past year or so.

[@GDaddyTx]

That did look like a lot of fun.

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes, indeed

[@patriley9449]

You can see exotic cars everyday in SoCal, but these are way more interesting.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks, we have the biggest smiles for sure.

[@Anne6621]

now that is real honest fun !!

[@stevevinson6030]

Biggest Smile you will ever have, well ..........almost.

[@Dundertaker1]

So one lap? (I assume that was enough…and amazing!)

[@stevevinson6030]

It was amazing, but unfortunately, one lap was all we had time for in the schedule.

[@patrickhite3026]

I gotta build one of these Cyclekarts....I bet that's a blast...I'm sure of it..100%..I'm in & I'm done..Thanks .😅

[@stevevinson6030]

Welcome to the fun. Lots of information on our FaceBook page CycleKarts North America also www.cyclekarts.com and www.cyclekartclub.com

[@Kenneth-qd3js]

That looks fun

[@stevevinson6030]

Oh yes, it is indeed

[@DFX2KX]

Honestly I'm still surprised at how fast these little things can go even after seeing a few videos of them. Though Laguna still counts as an endurance race for them, haha. Would be a fun project to build and hoon around on.

[@stevevinson6030]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching.

[@stephenbuckhornjr]

recently found this awesome Hobbie that i wish i could be a part of, looks like so much fun. wish i could find a few design templates, so i can build one

[@stevevinson6030]

www.etsy.com/listing/1483881216/cyclekart-frame-plan-full-scale-digital?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=cyclekart&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sts=1&dd=1&referrer_page_guid=f76aaa4e4cb.64057fa372401c140975.00&organic_search_click=1

[@MrShaneSunshine]

Can you show a technical video where the mechanicals are featured??? Who has the best legs etc?

[@_chipin]

These things have motors in them? I thought they were pedal powered 🤣 super cool ⛳

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes, Honda GX200 or Predator 212 are the most common

[@sonikboom007]

What do u figure was your average speed.this looks like epic fun

[@stevevinson6030]

Probably not more than 40 on most of the track, the Corkscrew I have no idea, it felt really fast. We weren't racing hard, just trying to stay together as a group.

[@sjp35productions6]

It was good of the organizers to put the GT and F1 races ahead of these guys. It helped to rubber in the track for more grip on the turns.

[@stevevinson6030]

Very helpful, I was on the hard compound and had trouble keeping the rear end under the car, lol.

[@acmemeatsmoke4865]

The track has GOT to feel 10 miles long in those things.

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes and still fun

[@RandomFabrication]

Where do those guys buy their hubs to fit those wheels?? someone send me a link

[@stevevinson6030]

www.renegadecyclekarts.com

[@littlefishy6316]

Red car had some steering input to get around the corner at the bottom of the corkscrew, brown trouser moments indeed

[@stevevinson6030]

It was really cooking at that point. Some guys ran out of brakes before they ran out of corner.

[@davidjennings127]

The guy swerving to heat his tires,😂😂😂😂

[@stevevinson6030]

Proof we are just kids at heart

[@flynbenny]

I've turned slower laps at WRLS in iRacing trying to learn the IR18

[@stevevinson6030]

It is a fun track for sure, my son has is it on his iRacing set up and its harder in a fast car

[@rickklein7792]

Love it. Grown up (or not) version of Soap Box Derby.

[@stevevinson6030]

Toys for big kids

[@stevewhitesell4195]

Awesome race! Does anyone know why some of the cars have negative camber?

[@stevevinson6030]

Mostly because the inspiration car had that on the original cars.

[@50gary]

I think you mean positive camber, as in the top of the wheel is tilted out as compared to the bottom of the wheel. Old (real old) race cars did that to counteract the kingpin inclination thus making steering easier with zero (or near zero) scrub radius. Negative camber is modern.

[@rrpinsanfrancisco8598]

Is there a group to join or participate in for other cyclekart events? I live in San Francisco. Thanks.

[@stevevinson6030]

The main FB group is CycleKarts North America, there is a Northern California CycleKart group on FB also.

[@ananominity]

I've never even heard of cycle carts before but now I wanna know all about them! Where do I start?

[@stevevinson6030]

There are some good videos on KZbin. Also our Facebook page CycleKarts North America, www.cyclekartclub.com www.cyclekarts.com

[@sed6]

The owners of those million-dollar cars are just boys at heart like the rest of us, I'm sure they were quite jealous. I wonder if any of them begged a ride from someone at some point?

[@stevevinson6030]

A few of the "Real Racers" came over to visit us at our 'little track' and a few took a few laps for fun. I drove my kart through the pits and the guy wrenching on a Ferrari 250gto stopped to watch me roll by.....LOL.

[@jadams3427]

WOW !... They go so fast it makes it look like the camera is only 6 inches off the ground ! .) 😁

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks, the camera, was a bit too close to the ground, unfortunately, they wouldn't let me go back and try again for a second take, lol. Thanks for watching

[@senatorjosephmccarthy2720]

I'm wondering why no one clipped any of the apexes. With the track being that big, doing so would have been highly valuable.

[@stevevinson6030]

We were told not to push it. This was an exhibition run, so we purposely kept it slow. Someone told me that we were faster than the Rag Time Racer group, so we have that bragging right.

[@kittygruru]

Did the auto union do any better with that tire set up?

[@stevevinson6030]

Probably not. We aren't putting down enough power to need additional traction.

[@horstd.engart9362]

They should drive on Kart tracks . Much more fun !

[@stevevinson6030]

Great idea

[@Duncan-om3vb]

That looks like so much fun.

[@stevevinson6030]

Oh, yes it is

[@norbertpecheq3427]

I try to imagine ride this funny cars in Le Mans or Targa Florio..! Or Spa-Francorchamps..!! It will be more interesting and fun than regular racing!!

[@stevevinson6030]

Challenge accepted

[@norbertpecheq3427]

@@stevevinson6030 Great !! P.S-I forgot Nürburgring-Nordschleife..!

[@Zanion]

I'm terribly sorry to say this: but this was not the first Le Mans style start at Laguna seca I think Porsche is doing them at Rennsport Reunion in their tractor race each year. they definetly did one in 2018 But it's awesome to see it with these cars

[@stevevinson6030]

Possibly, I was told we were first by the folks at the track, I assume they would know. I am happy to follow in the steps of Racing Tractors.

[@kenmartin861]

I figured these people would take the soap box derby away from the kids. It was inevitable

[@stevevinson6030]

Kids cant have all the fun

[@jefflundquist5771]

What kind of engines and transmissions are in CycleKarts?

[@stevevinson6030]

Honda GX200 and Comet TAV torque averters. The Predator 212 is also very common and the clones for the Honda GX200

[@robertheinkel6225]

How did the car with dual wheels do in the race?

[@stevevinson6030]

He finished. The dual wheels are a challenge, but look cool

[@JD-kg3mx]

You need to learn camera angles of overall big picture races. Watch what they do on televised races. Please.

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes, thanks. I don't have a team of video guys following me around. Just little old me and a GoPro. Thanks for watching

[@PseudonymAliase]

I couldn't limit myself to stay with the group. That's like taking one bit of a bacon cheese burger, and not a second, when you are really hungry.

[@stevevinson6030]

My right foot feels the same way.

[@michaeldesilvio221]

Could these be registered as quad motorcycles? What is the difference between a cycle kart and a cycle car?

[@stevevinson6030]

I have thought about that very question, each state is probably a bit different. The register those Side By Side vehicles all the time here in AZ, this is just smaller

[@Mordalo]

Looks like fun. Now, what the hell is a CycleKart?

[@stevevinson6030]

I toy for the young at heart!

[@jeffreyhutchins6527]

When a Pizza needs to be delivered in 30 min or less....

[@stevevinson6030]

I think we will be giving away a lot of free pizza, ha ha.

[@davem5333]

What do they use for engines?

[@stevevinson6030]

Honda GX200 and its clones like the Predator 212

[@Moondoggy1941]

What type of motors do you use?

[@stevevinson6030]

Single Cylinder 200 to 212CC Honda or Predator is most common

[@jerryjohanan4511]

How fast were you going

[@stevevinson6030]

Most CycleKarts top out around 45 on flat ground, the corkscrew was on a different level, I don't know how fast we were going, but it was fast enough to scare some of the guys, lol.

[@joevalicenti2722]

What happened at 5:53... why the sudden check up?

[@stevevinson6030]

No reason, other than I wanted cars in front of me going down the Corkscew

[@amelierenoncule]

Although something of a wet-dream, mes amis, they ARE of interest.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching. Its all just for fun

[@user-mc9om5di1f]

This is almost as exciting as an unmodified pedal car race.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks for watching

[@littlefishy6316]

what spec engine/power?

[@stevevinson6030]

Honda GX200 and it clones, Predator 212 is the most common.

[@freednighthawk]

I would love to build one of these based on a Morgan 3 wheeler. Maybe someday....

[@stevevinson6030]

The Morgan is a good choice

[@maxcrittenden9109]

I assumed these cars would be pedal powered, but obviously they have some kind of motor. What is it?

[@stevevinson6030]

Honda GX200 or Predator 212 are the most common, good for 35 to 50 mph top end, depending on gearing.

[@domenicozagari2443]

If there is no competition there is no passion.

[@stevevinson6030]

Passion can be in many forms

[@waynepurcell6058]

You compete with other men in the sack with your woman? Sicko.

[@MF-tt4pf]

How fast to they go?

[@stevevinson6030]

depending on gearing. 35 to 45 is average.

[@Moondoggy1941]

I came in first, I hold the record for the fastest lap in my class!!!!!!!

[@stevevinson6030]

Yes!

[@A.J.1656]

It's the Rahal Straight named after Bobby Rahal.

[@stevevinson6030]

Thanks