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Bad-Ass Carbon Kart

We received these pictures in our email today - a totally wild full carbon fibre kart with twin engines!

We are not sure of the original source of these pictures (a quick Google didn't reveal anything) but believe the kart was built in Ohio and is, in fact, the second chassis to be built. The original prototype was 'tail happy' to drive but rear venturi and barge boards settled the kart down and there is no need for a rear wing to stop it lifting off the race track at speed.

It appears the kart is of full carbon monocoque construction with a spring-suspended rear axle. It is one mean motha...

UPDATE: the kart was built by Algie Composites Inc - click HERE for more info and some pictures of a slightly different version. Thanks to our American readers for providing us with the further information (see bottom).

Above: Front view with decent size winglets on the nose. Brakes operate on all four wheels. The seat has pleny of shoulder support... and it would be needed.

Above: Rear view - an adjustable spring/damper unit has a linkage through a hole in the chassis. As the seat is fixed solidly to the floor, we presume the rear axle is 'floating' as there are hinge-like connections to the chassis between the seat and the engine on each side. There's twin rear brakes, but is that a live axle or is each wheel independently powered and braked?? Straight-out-the-back exhausts look mean...

Above: Side view - barge boards deflect air around the sides. Parilla reed-valve engines suck air through long snorkels. Savage power-to-weight ratio with around 80hp quoted to push along just 63kg (plus driver).

Above: Behind the cockpit - the dash is mounted in the footwell (bizzarre place to put it...), looks like rack-and-pinion steering mounted on the floor, Firestone tyres.

Above: Closer detail of the front, the carbon patterns clearly evident. The kart has a full F1-style floor and full width venturi to achieve ground effect downforce.

Some updates from our American readers...

The carbon fiber kart shown on your website belongs to a guy here in Columbus, Ohio. It has appeared at our local track (Circleville Raceway Park - HERE ) on several occasions recently.

I snapped some pictures at a recent event of our club (Mid State Ohio Kart Club - HERE), which are attached. I don't know much about it other than the builder is obviously quite the master craftsman. His son does the driving, and while the kart goes rapidly in a straight line, it doesn't seem to turn in well because of the weigh bias toward the rear. It is fun to watch, however.

I was in Australia in March and visited Grange Park Raceway in Wollongong. Unfortunately, it was the weekend before Round 1 of the NSW Premier State Cup event. I did get to meet a few friendly locals who were there to practice, however.

If any of you are ever in America, please look us up on Ohio!

Bill Bruce
Bruce Brothers Racing

pic - Bill Bruce

pic - Bill Bruce

Hi,

I saw your article on the B-A Carbon Kart. I am from Columbus Ohio (USA) and this kart runs at Circleville Raceway Park.

I have spoken to the two guys who drive this thing and it is incredibly fast. A couple of things about it are pretty interesting. They use a pickup truck with a couple of two by fours sticking out from the bumper to start it. Think about a kart pusher attached to a truck to get an idea.

I posted your link on our forum so you may hear from some of the other karters from our track...possibly even the owners.

Greyson Eves

With regards to the carbon fiber kart you posted on May 9th:

No, it was not designed in Texas, it was designed in Columbus, Ohio by Algie Composites, a company serving motorsports and aerospace.

It is fully operational and several times a year it is brought out to Circleville Raceway Park for lapping sessions. It is a thing of beauty, a work of art but unfortunately it is not as fast as it looks. Contemporary production karts will out corner this suspended kart.

Still, when it shows up at our track it is easy to stand and just look at it for an hour and marvel at the workmanship.

For more: www.algiecompositesinc.com

Jim Conlin
Owner, Conlin SpeedSports

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