Tecno SS22 Jenson Button Replica 1997
| 8 August 2014 |
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Hot on the heels of the James Courtney World Championship Tony Kart replica comes another set of build pics from South Australian karter Glenn Davidson. This time it's a 1997 Jenson Button Tecno SS22.
Above: The finished project
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
After racing a Tecno himself back in the late 90s, Davidson decided to try and find an old one he could restore.
"Thankfully I was able to purchase one cheaply" he told KartSportNews. "But when you see the photos, you'll see why."
The kart arrived with no original bodywork, was painted metallic green and all the genuine Tecno components, such as the hubs, sprocket carrier, floor tray etc had been stripped and painted black or green.
"The frame had a slight crack on the seat mount, but thankfully it was a very minor issue and not difficult to fix."
Above: The kart came with lots of non-genuine parts
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
Finding a late nineties 100cc rotary valve Rotax engine was surprisingly easy. "A contact in the UK had one and was helpful in getting it shipped out. I was also lucky in the fact the same guy had an old Tecno kart with all the genuine Tecno parts with the gold Tecno magnesium finish to them. I managed to get all the parts I needed from him to replace my painted ones, as well as a fuel tank and a set of Tecno rims."
Above: Fresh paint, ready for assembly
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
"The bodywork was quite easy to obtain and I managed to purchase new pods and a nose cone through Bob Ulhorn who has some old KG plastics" Davidson explained.
"The sticker kit I designed to be like Jenson Button's kart from the 1997 season where he won the European Formula Super A title, racing for the GKS Lemmens team."
Above: Press coverage of the era, plus Button re-united with the kart at the McLaren factory
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
Once again Glenn's mate, Greg Young, helped with the repairs and re-conditioning the brakes and other parts.
"One of the hardest bits to find was an old Tecno race suit. I remember them being everywhere in the late 90s here in Australia, but couldn’t find one anywhere. Thankfully a guy I made some Tonykart stickers for in Queensland had one and I was able to purchase it from him."
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
Glenn still hasn't managed to find the genuine round Tecno steering wheel from the era, and he'd also like to fit the kart with a brand new fuel tank if someone has one available. He can be contaced via reversegraphics.com
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
pic - Glenn Davidson, reversegraphics.com
