We have planned some changes, and will try and institute them throughout the winter. As is often the case, a race car is an evolution. This is no different. We started with a good car, and we will refine it some as we go. Some changes planned, are some internal engine upgrades, a cage and bodywork change, and some basic chassis setup changes. We felt as though we had an effective car, but are interested in making it better.

ROLL CAGE

We originally built this car with a roll cage from Bodyguard in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. While we feel it served us well, and kept young Joshua safe during racing conditions, We met up with Roger McVitty of Iceberg Racing Karts, of New Richmond Wisconsin. Although his cages are a little heavier and more expensive, I really liked the workmanship, and Roger was helpful as well. As luck would have it. I ran into a person who had built a car using an Iceberg cage, and had decided that the trip to the race track was too far, and "unconverted" the kart. I was able to secure the cage, tail, bumper, and wheels and tires from the team of Darrin and Hunter Lawson at some attractive prices. The cage i already powder coated what my local shop calls Chrome, actually looks like aluminum, and that was the color I was planning on powder coating our cage for 2008 anyway. Thanks Darren and Hunter for the great deals.

( This is the car of Hunter Lawson that I got the cage, bumper, tail, wheels and tires from )

12-08-2008

I started taking the old car apart to fit the new cage. I thought this would be a good time to show ho easy it is to convert, and un-convert, if needed, a kart chassis to this kind of racing.

here's "Herbie" with the hood and wing removed.

..........

here is a front (RF) cage receiver. This BOLTS onto the nerf bar receptacle, The cage then slips into the receiver, and sits on a spring. The spring allows the cage to "float" or "rock", which allows the chassis to flex so the kart can handle as it should. These receivers can easily be removed so the kart can be converted back to a "flat kart" if the need  or desire ever arises.

...................

this is the rear cage receiver (RR). Same as the front, they can be easily removed. If done correctly, it would only leave 2 bolt holes when removed. In my opinion, these receivers should be modified slightly. The tube should go OVER the rear frame rail, then this receiver should weld on top of that tube. Then the rear frame rail would not need modification, and the sprint car styled tail section would not ride as close to the track surface. But that is the beauty of the conversion karts, as they are known. There are several different takes on how the should be done, and as simple as they are, they are easy to modify.

stay tuned for more tear down.

12-8-2008

tear down started today. I attempted to fit the new cage to the chassis. The width at the front is great. The length is great. BUT the rear receivers that mount the cage to the back of the frame are off a little. should be a real easy fix.

-----------------

In preparation to send the motor to a builder to be rebuilt and also search for that elusive power increase, I pulled the cylinder head off to check the material the cylinder is made from. the reason this is important is there are 2 materials. Aluminum or cast iron. Pistons are no longer being manufactured for the aluminum cylinders, so the block has to be "sleeved" to convert to a steel bore, adding 150.00-250.00 to the cost of a proper rebuild.

Our engine has the steel bore, saving us money and adding to the reliability of the engine we will have built. The engine will be sent to a builder on Monday. I will have follow ups as they come.

12-14-2008

TRR RACING ENGINES CHOSEN AS 2008 ENGINE BUILDER !

after lots of calls of builders around the country, Scott Racing Engines, Dover Power, Uncle Franks, TRW Racing, Waller, Gecker Power, and others, I settled on TRR Racing Engines in Mitchellville Ia. to take on the rebuild/upgrade of "SUPERMAN".

 Close to home, and during our discussion, it was revealed that he had built some of the very successful engines at our home track. So it felt like a natural. I thank all the builders I contacted for their time. I really thought I was going to get on Team WIN with TRW engines. But at the last hour, literally, I decided on TRR.

Our engine was built as a Purple restrictor plate engine, which is built to perform at lower engine RPM, and generally produces less power because of that. We had to run the engine faster than it was designed to run to keep up with the pack. At that engine speed, we really weren't making as much power as we should have been. The new engine will be built exactly to our needs, and the class specification.

Our engine was know as Superman by Sherm Kimple, the previous builder, and it lived up to its name. We'll see what kind of super-hero power TRR puts in it ....

SHOULD BE EXCITING !

01/03/08

TAKING A WHAT WHERE ???

heard back from the engine builder today, motor is down and measured, the head was found to be illegal by .001 in 1 spot, the carb was all stock except being drilled for methanol, port work was not done or not done correctly. In short, we really weren't up to our game engine-wise. I asked if we had been taking the proverbial knife to a gunfight, and he chuckled and said "yes" ... it will cost some $$$, but Tom assures me there is power to be found. I feel like if Josh did that well with this motor, once we level the laying field a little, he should be able to do even better !

That's great news I think !

01/09/08

I went out to TRR Engines to give him a couple parts he was going to need, and found out the motor is done, dyno'd and ready to pick up. I wish I had the money !  I will have to round up some $$ ... I looked at the dyno sheets and I think its gonna be a go-getter, at least it will be more suited to the task than our engine was last year. Engine isn't the biggest part of the speed equation, but it sure cant hurt to have a good one !

Thanks Tom ! 

3-10-08

Over the weekend, I painted the frame. I laid the last coat on the 1st section, and decided to really lay on a wet, heavy coat. The color, Aluminum from a farm supply store, really didn't do it for me. My wet, heavy coat ran, and I was unable to recover. The frame would have to be sandblasted, so I decided to take it to a Powder Coater. Powder coating is tougher than paint, and really lays on nice. I chose Miller's Custom Powder coaters on 2nd Ave in Des Moines, Ia. I asked for it to be back by Friday, and it was. They blasted it, and powder coated it, and it looks fabulous, for a REALLY reasonable 170.00 !    This thing looks great, I would recommend this process and this particular shop to anyone.

3-13-08

Picked up the engine. Dyno'd at 6.83 HP with a .425 blue restrictor plate in. Tom at TRR was familiar with our Ultramax chassis, as he was the dealer for Ultramax when that car came out. He had some ideas to improve handling and corner speed. He has offered to help with suggestions through the year if we need help.

Thanks again,  Tom !

the new "Superman"

Doesn't look much different, but inside beats the heart of a rabid Wolverine

3-16-08

Mounted the cage to the frame today. There had been a hold up, because the frame and the cage didn't match up well, and we had ruined a set of receivers trying ( the receivers are the mounts that mount the cage to the frame)

I asked Roger from Iceberg Racing Karts about receivers, since he built the cage. He offered to send some at no charge. I received the package on 3-14-08, and not only did he send my rear receivers, he sent fronts, and 2 Koozies, 2 REALLY REALLY cool T-shirts, and a bunch of decals. IS THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE OR WHAT !??!?!?! INCREDILBLE !!!!

After I received them I asked Tim Strayer, who has been busy building conversions this winter how to do it, and he told me I was making it to difficult, and it turns out he was right. I used his suggestions, and in just a couple hours, the cage was all mounted up ! I can start reassembly now. I am SO excited !  Turns out I was waiting for weeks to get time to get this done, and it was SO easy to do. But I'm happy its done. The receivers are going to stay black for several reasons, not the least of which is that there will be several black highlights on the car, and this should all help it come together.

3-22-08

I added some more parts, re-did the rear bumper to fit, installed an adjustable left rear bearing cassette, spindles, rear axle, motor mount, brake master cylinder, caliper, and rotor, adjusted the caliper for better stopping action, nerf bars, the 2nd part of the seat mount, etc. This car is getting MUCH closer to being ready to go. Stay tuned !

I painted the tail oday. It was cold and ainy, hard to control the temp in my shop. I used White Implement enamel with hardener. I had to decide whether the off white like the original Herbie the Love Bug, or a more "white white" that would look better under the lights.I picked the whiter white.

 I didn't have much light, and I have a fair amount of Orange Peel to work out. This is by far the worst side. Looks decent, though.

3-30-08

Painted the backup wing ( going to have to use it a week or two while I get my new wing), mounted the seat and belts, squared the chassis, discovered the curved pipe wont fit with the tail section, so I trimmed that, pretty much have to mount tires and wheels, trim and paint the hood, mount pedals, set toe in and we will be ready to run, then I need to get our decals before REAL racing, I have less than 2 weeks before our test and tune night. I think Ill make it !

4-5-08

man, we are getting close now !

not much left. should be tomorrow, then just lettering and scaling the kart remain

4-6-08

what little bit is left, you can't see ... about an hour or two should tidy it all up

NOW WE NEED DECALS !!!!!!!!!!

gettin' our color back !

I asked Josh if I could take a little "artistic liberty" with the "herbie stripes this year. He wants the car to remainthe Herbie the Love Bug theme, but it's a RACE CAR darn it !  Gotta have a little flash I think.

I had chatted w/ our decal guy last year, and had a hard time describing what I wanted, But I found a page on the internet that showed exactly what I was thinking. Then I discovered they had literally HUNDREDS to choose from.

and they will size them to FIT YOUR RIDE !

FIT MY RIDE ?!?!? OH YEAH !

I was concerned, having not worked with them before , so I still ordered our numbers seperately. No reason for concern, as it turns out these were really nice product.These folks are, without a doubt, the EXPERTS !   I tried to explain to our graphics people last year just what I wanted. I could picture it, but just couldnt describe it. That happens sometimes  with everyone, known as a COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN. Well, I think we figured out what I was trying to say last year. THIS IS IT, except it looks even cooler than it did in my head, and i liked it there !  Anyway, gonna try to explain what the sponsors want and see what they come up with ... I'll bet it'll ROCK OUR WORLD !    stay tuned ....  its gotta happen -- FAST  -. But thats how we like it. Fast.

look up SIGN SPECIALIST for your needs. Maybe you need graphics for something and dont even know it yet !

damn, this car's gonna look good on the track.

didja see the "Herbie Fully Loaded" graphic in the hood scoop ?