Petawawarace
Petawawa ON
Joined: 04/25/2005
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Just recieved an Email from Marcel on the new F-500 based junior class. I think this is great for the 10-14 age group kids. Hopefully it takes off like the F-500 class did.
1993-1998 Polaris Indy Lite 340 c.c. carburated model
Starting minimum weight is 340lbs (to be reviewed)
basically all the same rules as F-500 after that. Any Hood allowed, 45 inches wide ect. The rules leave it open to limit the speeds later if needed.
DeJongMotorsports.com
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iceracer030
work shop
Joined: 09/22/2008
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Why use the 340. Still hasthe same issue is the current classes. Why not just use the F500. I raced in juniors for 6 years and was a high point junior driver for 5 years. We could ave raced a 600L/C at 12 years old. I have 2kids age 10 and 11 and they ran my f500 on the test track last year and were fine with it. The f500's are not all that fast. If want to slow them down put a resstrictor plate on them. Also it would help teams save money if arent and kid want to race. Have the juniors run one day and parents the next. If USSA dose this this coming year I will have 2 kids running on my and my dads f500 with restrictor plats on them on one day and we will run them the next.
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Petawawarace
Petawawa ON
Joined: 04/25/2005
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When I was running the F-500 I was clocked in Eganville at 85mph...Right now there is no class in the east between the 120's and the F-500 except the junior fan class and those machines are very expensive. Even 80 mph is too fast for a kid. No offense meant here, but the test track and racing against other kids are two totally different things. These rules were made up with some current racers who have kids they would like to see racing this class. I think it will take off very well in the East.
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old motorman
DOWN BY THE RIVER
Joined: 11/18/2003
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I think what the other post was saying is why have a sled that only the juniors can run? The speeds at Eagle River for the F-500 were in the low to middle 70"s, I don't know what size the Eganville track is, but I think 85 is a little high. I think the idea of a restrictor plate behind the carb is a good idea,plus the sled could be run in other classes. In Wi a person can drive any size sled on the trails at 12 years old after going thru a DNR class, this is alot more unsave than on a race track with all the safety there.
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iceracer030
work shop
Joined: 09/22/2008
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85 mph is a far strech. I saw your sled at Eagle River a couple of years back and you were no where near 80 mph. I know a couple of very good polaris racers from back in the day and 80 was very hard to do. Is far is testing when they are running against each other and dad and want to win it is a very true comparison to the race track. But to slow them down use a restrictor plate. This will also allow the parent to run with little more money stuck into it. And what is the big deal with the speed. Look at other forms of racing and how fast the kids are going. for example moto cross and thats a hell of a lot more danagerious. Not to metion my step-son who is 12 years old is able to jump on a sled out on the trails that goes well over 100 mph. Just my 2 cents
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Flatout
Ottawa Ont.
Joined: 11/20/2001
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I have to agree that the 340 is fast enough for most juniors. The F500 class out here in the EPT is fast and very competetive. These sleds are just too fast for beginners.
Howard...
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colt53
Kincardine, Ontario
Joined: 04/29/2006
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A bit off topic......but what the EPT needs also is a class for the 15-17 year olds in F500 to get kids involved in racing without the great expense of a junior sled ( if you want to be competetive in junior this is an expensive class )....l have talked to Marcel about this a couple of times and he talked to the ISR but a running came back from the ISR that you had to be 18 years old to run a F500 sled......yet my son who has raced karts since he was 7 and now races senior classes in karts at the age of 16 and can run a late model stock car, yet he can't race a F500 sled.....this is the class we wanted to get involved with this year because of the good turnout of sleds at all the EPT races so we will have to look at some other form or racing to fill the winter months.
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dezldave961
Rome, NY... was MI & MN
Joined: 01/14/2008
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Ability levels are definitely not an issue with most gung-ho junior racers. The primary reason ISR has the 18y/o rule is insurance purposes, I'm sure. Beyond that, I know some circuits will let a young racer prove him/herself before getting a premature green-light to jump to adult classes. When I was 15 or 16 back in 99-00, after 5-6yrs of much success in juniors, I was allowed to run limited pro races. When we checked at Eagle River to do the same, they wanted me to show at least 2yrs of similar success on their own circuit. Not sure if either organization still allows this almost 10yrs later, but they definitely need to see the rider in-action for an extended period, rather than going off the parent's positively-biased opinion.
For the F-340 junior class, this sounds great & I'm sure many will jump into it as they have F-500. Having to share sleds with dad isn't what I think EPT was going for, as it falls in-line with the budget racing mindset that F-500 was designed under. Building one of each to run both days will not only benefit the drivers (parent & child) with more track time & points, but also benefit the series by having a larger field for both classes.
In my junior class experience, we had a very similar class, called Champ Jr. This was almost identical to F-340, but we had open chassis rules at the time (potentially alot more expensive than the new class), with 340 stock motors. Myself and the other top contender back then (Platt) were able to nearly hold them wide open around most EPT tracks, and were clocked at/over 70mph at one of the smallest tracks back then (Evans Mills, NY). This was probably taken into consideration along with cost, when the F-500 based chassis was selected, as the limited handling compared to a Champ chassis will force speeds to drop.
If you're seriously considering placing your child into the ice oval world, and think their success in using bigger machines already has shown they could succeed, then by all means consider taking up F-340. If they can potentially do well in something beyond that, then let them grow alot of confidence and comfort in this class for the few years they'd be running it, and be 100% more prepared for the engine swap later on. Not everyone needs to be Joey Logano, being thrust into the top circuit right away, as that's not the safest way to earn your stripes & respect among the competitors.
- Dave
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Spy-Guy 74
Almost in Canada, MN
Joined: 07/25/2003
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Wayne, I would check again with Marcel, I don't see anywhere in the rules that state you have to be 18 years old.
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tp176
Rome, NY
Joined: 03/30/2006
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It should be 16 years old, I'm pretty sure.
Tony P
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