UK Karting - Notice Board (Combined Forum) : Re: Out of date kit

Notice Board (Combined Forum)

Re: Out of date kit
Posted by 'DanXP1' on 30 Sep 2008 @ 21:00

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DanXP1Joined: January 2007
Total Posts: 1
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Hi Devon Hawker, you have it backwards regarding homologation being a money spinner for manufacturers.

Certification of suits and helmets expire after 10 years (I think), this means testing, materials and construction are to a set level of safety. As safety technology advances manufacturers of suits and helmets are forced to pass new tougher certification.

Most people wouldn’t keep normal clothes for more than 10 years because they would wear out, let alone safety critical clothing where wear and tear reduces their effectiveness. Also people replace their suits and helmets as they wear out or are damaged, so you don’t see a huge increase in sales when a new certification comes out.

Homologation of chassis and engines requires a manufacturer to produce equipment that is inspected to be of certain safety, material, construction and sporting regulation. This ensures stability of the sporting regulations and effectively forces a 3 year freeze on development, although the design can be altered a little within the tolerances of the homologation.

The homologation process actually costs manufacturers money and prevents them from producing ‘specials’ only designed for specific tracks and weather conditions. This saves the competitor money by not having to purchase a hot, cold, dry and wet kart for each track they race at to be competitive. However the top classes such as KF1 don’t require homologation and here the works drivers will often have prototype karts for each championship meeting.

Many people are fashion victims and will buy new equipment every year with only minor detail changes from their old kit. This is why 1 year old outfits can be found at half price of new, while lightly used 2 year old onwards can be a bargain if you’re on a budget. The exception to this is Super1 drivers that will replace their kit as often as possible due to heavy usage and chasing every tenth.

The MOT system would be impossible for scrutineers to conduct due to the time and detail of the checks required. Depending on the class a homologation remains eligible for 6 to 9 years. Even at club level there are very few competitors on equipment more than 3 years old, simply because a kart at that age is so broken and tired that it’s no longer competitive or financially viable to repair.

On the environment issue, you will never stop people from buying new karts. However a 10 year old kart out of homologation can still be raced non MSA, used as a fun kart, or recycled as scrap metal.

Message Thread:

Out of date kit by 'DevonHawker' (30 Sep 2008 @ 9:03)

Re: Out of date kit by 'itpro' (30 Sep 2008 @ 10:33)

Re: Out of date kit by 'bertie77' (30 Sep 2008 @ 11:53)

Re: Out of date kit by 'DevonHawker' (30 Sep 2008 @ 14:06)

Re: Out of date kit by 'itpro' (30 Sep 2008 @ 14:48)

Re: Out of date kit by 'DevonHawker' (30 Sep 2008 @ 15:28)

Re: Out of date kit by 'DanXP1' << You are here!

Re: Out of date kit by 'DevonHawker' (30 Sep 2008 @ 21:26)

Re: Out of date kit by 'garycooper01' (01 Oct 2008 @ 10:06)

Re: Out of date kit by 'DanXP1' (01 Oct 2008 @ 14:41)

Re: Out of date kit by 'richn14' (02 Oct 2008 @ 14:20)

Itpro is right but it is difficult by 'archiebald' (03 Oct 2008 @ 17:27)

Re: Itpro is right but it is difficult by 'RichyC' (03 Oct 2008 @ 18:59)

Re: Itpro is right but it is difficult by 'itpro' (04 Oct 2008 @ 0:08)

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