F200 OHV Concept

The F200 OHV concept was established to fill several needs that Karting here in the U.S. will need to address in the coming years. With the Tecumseh Star out of production and the Briggs 5hp close behind, karting needs to be looking down the road to fill this void. As these classes (Tecumseh Star and 5hp Briggs) dwindle and are phased out, the F200 format will make an ideal replacement. We feel that the F200 engine program, when fully operational, will provide the Karting community with an affordable, reliable source of power that will be extremely popular with everyone in the industry as a whole.

As many of you already know, the days of the 2 cycle and flat head 4 cycle engines in Karting are numbered. Some of the reason is government related, but a lot of the problems lye with the major sanctioning bodies in the U.S. and their rules, regulations and policies regarding the current engine programs that we now have, as well as those upcoming ones. A good example is the 5 hp Briggs engine that has been the backbone of Kart racing for almost 20 years. As it now stands, with the current IKF, KART, and WKA technical regulations that it has to operate under, this engine costs at least 25% to 30% more to build and at least 50% more to operate because of their rules and over regulation! A small change in specs to eliminate "slapper" cams and simplify carb tech would reduce initial building costs and allowing aftermarket rods and pistons would greatly reduce tear down frequency and dramatically increase engine life.

They (the organizations) say their rules are designed to keep cost down, but obviously they haven't! The unfortunate thing is this year they didn’t learn from their past mistakes and did the same thing with the Briggs Animal rules! The F200 tech guide lines, being generic, takes the politics out of the rules and puts each individual engines performance in the hands of the manufacturer, the aftermarket and engine builder/tuner just as in other forms of motorsports. If there is a problem area, it can be addressed immediately by the manufacturer or the aftermarket instead of having to wait a year for the politics of the sanctioning bodies to react. All too often these reactionary decisions are governed by who you know or who you pay (approval fees). Unfortunately, this will never change.

Below we have listed some of the various advantages of the F200 OHV program and what we hope it will accomplish. Support of this program in the coming years will help make Karting stronger and more affordable for everyone.

F200 Engines

The F200 OHV concept was established to fill several needs that Karting here is the U.S. will require in the coming years. The BNSS hopes that the racers, tracks and manufacturers all pull together to make it a huge success. The following is a rundown of the many benefits and goals of the F200 project.

Create a truly universal engine formula that will be cost effective and affordable. One that will allow creativity without excessive costs.
Brand competition (Briggs, Honda, Kohler, and Tecumseh, Yamaha, etc.) like NASCAR and other popular forms of motorsports.
Support from many sources such as engine manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers. Karting industry involvement at all levels.
Better accessories and components at lower prices. By having open sources for many of the engine components, like other forms of motorsports, top quality at the best prices will be the order of the day.
Much longer engine life than current classes. Run modern overhead valve engines that are considerably more durable and are made to much higher quality standards.
Fast, non-invasive tech that can be thoroughly performed in a matter of minutes. Eliminate getting your motor back in pieces and the resultant cost ($200/$300) and inconvenience of having to send it back to your engine builder for re-assembly!
No “gray areas” and nit picky “judgment calls” like the one engine stock classes. Simple rules and a level playing field without the politics.
A premier class with the possibility for a true “National Champion” . Raise the level of recognition of Karting. Ideal for T.V. coverage.
A section on the Speedway Karting (www.speedway-karting.com) web site dedicated exclusively to F200. Tech and engine building tips, a discussion board, and a “Resource” section for F200 related products and services will be available.