The problem with the single engine provider/sealer previously (which all but destroyed Honda Cadet was as Kelvin said (ie no interest in racing). The product was poor and it was luck if you got a decent motor (never mind a good one) albeit for a fixed low cost base.
Cut forward 10/15 years and there was a definite missed opportunity to equalise the engines with the introduction of the T2 engine - they made all previous engines redundant in a single stroke anyway so it was as good as a complete engine change. It would have been as easy as what RPM have done with the 200 Extreme but open the control away from a single builder subject always to measurement on a single dyno against a control engine outputs. With numerous vested interests (and the fact that karting to Honda is so negligible that it is hardly recognised and they change the engine as they require) this would have been difficult but not impossible.
As for Extreme, in my view, this is the best thing that has ever happened in prokarts. It has removed the engine element away from the variables of racing and whilst buy back is available at every series it only happens rarely. This is our 3rd season and we have run 4 sets of engines and there has been nothing between them. The quick guys are still quick (and winning) but the margins are reduced. It isn't perfect though as it has fragmented an already fragile class but those that experience it rarely look back and have significantly more cash in their pocket than if we had continued down the SP route.
Kelvin has a thankless task and is constantly one step behind Honda and the builders. Thumb in the proverbial dyke springs to mind. The regs will never be perfect. If it was me I would simply rather than regulate like we did with the camshaft gear all those years ago. If you allow the variables to be optimised (like the cam gear and the ignition timing for example) it removes the need for wording that become open to interpretation. Solicitors we are not, racers we are and what better racing than with equalised engines.
Graeme
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