There are huge variations in the performance of BT82s. We must have had about 30 over the 22 years we raced in the class. We have had some good ones and still have; good enough to let us stay competitive without ever having to buy new tyres but they are not up there with the very best. There is a thriving market for hiring those special engines which most of us mere mortals can never aspire to.
Now, this year, if we read the TKM newsletters we will see that works Talko drivers, are sweeping all before them.
They may be very good drivers but there is something very unsatisfactory when the company who make the rules for the class and act as judge jury and executioner, runs a works team that wins the championship, possibly, I am speculating, with works engines. Who is the arbiter of engine legality in that situation.
(Maybe, in the interests of being seen to be fair, Talko should auction their works engines after every Super 1 round. )
What Mr Scothern did was clearly in breach of Talko's rules but has it not highlighted a glaring problem that the rules are not fair to all drivers. A Talko works driver could in theory ask Talko to supply him or her with an engine that will win a Super 1 round. Talko presumably are permitted to machine the barrels to any specification they want so long as the negine still meets the fiche. Talko fit the liners to the barrels and if there is any advantage gained by fiddling with this then in theory that process could also be optimised. Presumably the pistons and conrods could also be optimised. As the engine would still be as it left the factory and within fiche it would be legal.
I am not suggesting Talko would do this but they could select some of the components that measure up the best to build the odd special. When we started karting there were "factory selected " engines which could be bought at a premium. I seem to recall the Parilla TT27 was available on this basis.
As far as I am aware Talko never offered this option but what we will never know is whether certain drivers or dealers were offered these.
Patently there are inequalities in engine performance that in the fairness of the sport need to be addressed. Mr Scothern's attempt to level the playing field has resulted in him being ejected from the sport but he may just be the first martyr to the cause.
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