Daytona Unlimited race 2013

After a full practice day went well, the first day of racing was cut short by rain and many didn't get to race. This race is the Unlimited class on the second day of racing 12-29-13. Its one of the biggest fields in recent memory. The drivers that got rained out on day 1 were all entered in this race.
I start very near the back, about 23rd of 26-27 karts. Some of the fastest Unlimited karts in the country are in attendance. The first few laps are quite action packed. I tried to make as many positions as possible before the group got spread out and drafting was limited.
You can clearly read the data on the steering wheel. Because of the Sun position it is more visible in certain points on the circuit than others.
Data as follows: top left = EGT, top right = H2O temp, lower left = MPH, lower right = RPM's
Once again were driving the TSR chassis with ICC spec Vortex RVS engine. My best time was 2:03.5 on the 12th of 15 laps. With the draft early on we saw 138-139 mph. On our own it slowed considerably, as we missed the jetting.
After the field spreads out I have a great battle with Jeff Meter in his Anderson Gas-Gas. Each of us have a strong part of the circuit, fortunately for me mine was the Oval and that is where the finish line is located. With that said Jeff did a good job keeping me honest and we had a great run together finishing 6th and 7th respectfully.
Enjoy the video!
RPM

[@F125yourself]

I have lost the password and info for this channel, all my onboard videos and other stuff is now at F125yourself. Tons of helmet cam there!

[@VortexdriverRPM]

I now have access to BOTH of these channels!!!!

[@TugboatJohnson]

@@VortexdriverRPMcongrats man!

[@thomasalford9349]

Dale Jr Download

[@enduroian]

oh this was you! hell yeah man. what a ride

[@masterprocrastinator8521]

It's cool to see the two methods of strategy with how the body is shaped Either streamlined for higher straight line speeds or more aggressive, giving more downforce and higher cornering speeds

[@F125yourself]

The red kart had a 250 single cylinder engine. Not quite twice the power but much more torque than our Stock 125 for sure. The aerodynamic advantage here at Daytona is huge as you can see. It would be very hard for me to run with that type of kart at say Mid-Ohio. Not imposable, just very tough. Thanks for looking in!

[@11begood31]

Thanks that was so bad ass, the things that pop up on KZbin these karts are mini rockets

[@hobie1dog]

Thanks for posting this up for us.

[@steveoreneo8220]

Love it. I raced Enduro in the late 70s and early 80s in SCK. VanK 100cc & 200cc stock, Yamaha KT100s. Its to bad you can't hear the harmonics from the approaching Karts in your video. I remember my first drafting pass, I almost pee'd my pants. It looks like you gained 2 mph by just tucking your left hand down.

[@fostbitten5721]

Man that infield would have killed my back! The oval section so smooth compared to the infield. I bet the limited classes were crazy to watch. 20 wide into the 3rd turn!!! Looks like it would be a blast. I raced dirt oval karts in the late 80's but, I would have loved to do this. We did run a dirt road course a couple times. And my home track was a D shaped right hand turn oval. Good times.

[@VortexdriverRPM]

It IS a bit rough, that is why I'm constantly pulling my helmet back down. We have developed a new headrest that will fix all that. Never too old!!! Laydown karts are plentiful and CHEAP! A 100cc Yamaha on a laydown will be BIG fun at Daytona..... not this fast but close tight racing for sure.

[@chasehenley83]

I heard the flagman threw his yellow flag away because if you wreck you need more than a red

[@pwizzle4872]

At the beginning after a couple of seconds it sounds like the Garry’s-mod jalopy... lol

[@enduroian]

huge field, awesome lol

[@stevenrogers000]

what are your speeds on the back stretch?

[@jacobshepherd1770]

130s to 140s

[@Dreway]

@@jacobshepherd1770 damn that’s fuckin fast for those lil guys

[@papag5433]

Crazy fast when you ass is a couples once’s off the track.Bucket list for this.

[@DarkWolfForza]

I’ve heard these things can get up to 140+ I was wanting to know what engine they are? I just got into these and I’m looking to get the engine for it

[@geezus1201]

Here is going so fast that the air is forcing his face shield up on his helmet. He's blowing past alot of those slower karts,

[@Sushi_the_Idiot]

Engine revving in the beginning gets me hyped

[@paullevine1813]

Having raced for 15 years with Woodbridge Kart Club & WKA i know how much fun Daytona & Charlotte were & it's a shame they no longer run at Charlotte. Been to many tracks during those years & still Summit Point is my favorite. Thanks for sharing your Gopro view of what real Karting is all about. That was a great cat & mouse dual with Jeff which is one reason this sport is so much fun . I ran from 91- to 2007 in the Yamaha Medium class & the Yamaha EX class when they had it with Woodbridge. You were in good company here as i recognize a few of the guys like Randy Fulks , The Harpers & Tommy O'reilly. Great race for sure & some of the best camera shots i've seen i just wish we had those when i ran. Great drive..

[@F125yourself]

Thanks for the reply Paul! Glad some folks can appreciate what we do without getting all critical. This was NOT the class I went to Daytona to run. The Unlimited class is a bonus race for us Northern guys, if you travel that far to race you get all the laps you can! My F-125 race got rained out, we would have been much more competitive in that race. There are literally more than 100 video's at my active channel: F125yourself Take a look, it will keep you busy for awhile! Would love to see you back at the track and more specifically IN a kart! The late Kenny Deutch once said "missing just 1 guy, 1 kart, 1 entry, makes these races lesser events". I couldn't agree more!

[@paullevine1813]

@@F125yourself Thanks my friend I do miss it & still get out to Summit as it's only 45 minutes from my house. Not many left from my days there & with WKA but at least i'm glad to hear Charlotte is back on. I didn't know Kenny very well but well enough to have spoken with him many times & he was a great racer . We have lost more than our share of greats which two i knew very well Dave( Reds) Phelps , Mark Taylor, & my friend & mentor Wayne May. And others . Not sure why some are critical of any aspect of this sport specially the Top Dogs in the Unlimited class ,my lord it just doesn't get any faster & better so perhaps it's a jealous thing as it's not sport anyone can do & even more so at this level. It's OK we know better. I'll check out the rest of your stuff & best of luck in all your races.

[@davidkliss8161]

Hey Paul. I ran Woodbridge Kart Club, Summit Point from 1986 to 1995. I started in sprints and ended up in 125 Gearbox. I also ran Watkins Glenn, Charlotte, Rockingham, Pocono and Bryar Motor Sports, now New Hampshire International. I finished top 5 for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 at Summit. 10th for year in WKA in 1995. Then I ran formula 200 at Pocono. I had an offer foe a GT2 IMSA ride but couldn't get the sponsorship, so I packed it in!!!!!!!! I miss the crap out of it!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my name is Dave Kliss. Maybe you saw or heard of me at Summit. Summit Point and Watkins Glenn were my favorite tracks!!! Anthony Lazarro, Tim Richardson, Cervino, Mike White... and many others.

[@davidkliss8161]

@@paullevine1813 Wayne May passed??

[@horstd.engart9362]

How fast they can go in Daytona ?

[@catyesbelike]

He

[@catyesbelike]

And he started in 100th

[@nimusworks5475]

why not mirrors? by the way, what a Trip!

[@VortexdriverRPM]

Mirrors have been a no-no in karting for as long as I can remember. They were used to block others behind and deemed dangerous. We kinda have our hands full looking ahead, what is behind doesn't matter. The "overtaking" kart/driver is responsible to do it safely.

[@nimusworks5475]

@@VortexdriverRPM thanks men.

[@driech1]

Great run....looks fun. May I ask how much did your cart cost and are there any restrictions on the Kart in the Unlimited class?

[@VortexdriverRPM]

Exact cost is hard to determine, many components are hand made on these karts. I would guess $7-9 thousand could build one of these complete ready to run. Any restriction per class is in the Sanctioning Body rule book. The rules vary by region/Series but for this kart really just bore & stroke/engine displacement.

[@coach_scuffy]

This looks so incredibly unsafe... With limited downforce with no wings, if that thing got up into the fence, you'd be killed most likely. Scary.

[@F125yourself]

Agreed! The bodywork does create downforce though without the addition of elements like wings. Especially at the front! Hope you at least enjoyed the ride!

[@bigbaderek1978]

makes some people wanna do it even more...we are conquerers by nature

[@kem0n0.kokomo]

Some people are based.. Maybe not you

[@Eastwoodcruise]

that crazy dawg

[@justinbradbury3633]

I want that cart lol what a blast that would be

[@vetb882]

definitely 250cc 2 strokes. Braaaap. :-D

[@jonosborne4711]

i believe Lake Speed 6x usa kart champion and Nascar driver was clocked at 155mph at a race here back in the late 70's .

[@youknoweverything7643]

You was very fast in the draft on the oval part but once y'all got into the infield you looked really tight on entry in slower corners that sucks cuse if you would have been faster in the infield and just as fast on oval you would have been up front but awesome driving and balls of steal. This is crazy 140 mph on a go kart is nuts and I thought doing 90mph in one on a asphalt oval drafting I was doing was craZy I gotta do this some day

[@robbybahnsen_15R]

I bet poo came out at 6:36

[@VortexdriverRPM]

Haaa haaa!! No poop but it DID get my attention! Never let off the gas though!!! Good Fun!!!

[@catyesbelike]

Huh?

[@stevesolo16]

Why does this guy keep screwing with his helmet? Does his shield keep pulling open?

[@F125yourself]

Steve, I keep pulling the front of my helmet down so I can see where I'm going! The bumps in the track surface will jostle your entire body including your head on the seat's head rest. I use a Bell Dominator helmet, it has a narrow eye port so adjusting for vision in a laydown kart is normal on most tracks. Unless they are super smooth!

[@stevesolo16]

​@@F125yourself I raced 125 sprint and long track in S. Cal. 1990-2000. I never tried a lay down kart. I figured seeing the track could be an issue. But, lay down karts have been around for a good while. I assumed there are ways in place to keep your concentration on the track. Maybe it's the wrong helmet or head position?

[@TheHa11jesse]

i cant even imagine how much centrifugal force there is on those little tires at that speed

[@ronzogo]

So much that if you don't cap your valve stems, the valve spring is actuated by cintrifical force and tires will lose pteasure.

[@tedoud4738]

Late reply, but if anyone is interested I get about 120g's at the tire tread. 11" tire at 140mph.

[@papag5433]

What’s top speed on these skateboards?

[@billythekid3234]

ABOUT 140 WITH A 125 CC......

[@MasonA1702]

this is so sick!!

[@CollinTiptonMusic]

This look so fun

[@christopherjohnwest]

Haulin ass! Is that thing running on Dickel lol!!!

[@delahayenator]

I used to own a normal frame 125cc shifter (pcr frame/rotax 123 125cc) Never seen these laydown karts in Holland or anywhere in Europe. They seem really fast. What speeds do you reach on these car tracks? Amazing machines. You seem to outrun 250cc superkarts with your 125cc Vortex on the straights, am I correct?

[@VortexdriverRPM]

The Laydown chassis is "native" to the USA, and for a bit back in the day in Australia. We call then "Enduro" Karts because the races were originally 1 hour long. All "enduro" classes run 45 minute races now, this race was only 30 minutes because I ran in the "Unlimited" Class (primarily 250's) and their races are just 30 because of fuel tank size. They won't make it more than 30 minutes. Yes, that was a GasGas 250 I was racing with (red kart) and simply laying down is much more aerodynamic than the higher powered Anderson chassis. My top speed was 139mph on lap 1-2, without a draft it ran 130mph all alone. Not bad for a stock std. ICC!!!

[@delahayenator]

@@VortexdriverRPM Thnx for your answer! Great footage! The aero advantage must be huge, what an enormous speed.

[@killersmith92]

They go bout 120-140ish. Some looked to have 2 engines.

[@ronzogo]

What is your mph? must be @ 135to140mph?

[@F125yourself]

Yes! This particular event I did not have a leaner jet so we missed capitalizing on some good air! We were geared to run in the draft, it was just short of 140. On my own, as the race progressed, we never saw 1000 deg of exhaust so it slowed considerably, 130 or so on our own.

[@jerry132526]

Is the Vortex RVS 125cc?

[@VortexdriverRPM]

Yes, although we have an open fuel and carb/porting/ignition rule for this class in this clip its still ICC or KZ legal configuration. 30mm carb, OEM PVL analog ignition, standard CCV, OEM porting, etc. The only bits NOT ICC/KZ legal or standard are the M4 titanium silencer, electric water pump, air filter with NO airbox. I do retard the Ignition timing from Std but that is not an ICC/KZ issue.

[@bigd6908]

How fast do they run at Daytona?

[@VortexdriverRPM]

This one ran 140 with the help of a draft, 132-135 on it own... 130 most of the race.

[@mr.speed..6368]

Wonder what speeds you guys were pulling

[@VortexdriverRPM]

Running alone 130/132, the first 2 laps with a draft it touched 139

[@ВадимФишков-ъ3с]

Хорошая гонка...

[@that_puffsley_guy]

Naskart

[@tyspapa2001]

Wow! Just subscribe to your Channel👍

[@catyesbelike]

My dad won in PKE for cycle there got 1st

[@bigbaderek1978]

what do the wheel bearing last in those? 2 races or 1 ..lol..140 on 4.5 or 6 in rims....bonkers

[@F125yourself]

The front hub bearings are sealed, we do treat them though. Can't say with what, it's a speed secret! They last a good amount of time. Running just Road Circuits like Mid-Ohio you can get years from them, but we generally change them out each off season. The rear axle bearings are much bigger and, on this Kart, they are housed in a "Cassette" requiring a lubricant to be added. If properly maintained, they will last many years. We dont run tracks like this more than once a year (130-140+ mph) with sustained terminal velocity of more than a few seconds. The WOT in 6th gear, as fast as it will go, for more than 3-5 seconds is rare actually. Most real Road Course Circuits require more physical gearing to go corner to corner quick that a place like Daytona. It is unique!