After Daytona Kartweek, there’s always a lot of talk about speed records for karts and I’ve never seen a single resource that talks about the different attempts over the years… So far there are three primary karts that come to mind:
BRC250 Laydown at Daytona piloted by James Russell Jr.
Mike Clements’ 1992 World Land Speed record for 4 cycle karts. On the Salt Flats of Bonneville, Utah.
His kart ran 144.832 mph with the help of the Tecumseh Star power and the Emmick
chassis.
n.b. Karts are not permitted on the Salt Flats under USFRA rules.
I’m gonna say that because it’s BS. Twin super at Daytona barely cracks 160. The aero isn’t good enough to push 170 without a a big glob of power. Drag increasing with the square of speed and all that. You’d probably need 150HP or more.
I’d love to hear more about the KZ at 130 too. Most I’ve seen was 119, in a big ass draft train, coming down off an oval bank at Gateway Motorsports Park
For the KZ it was on a wheel sensor so its possible the speed was all whacky because the tire gets bigger at those speeds. But i was tucked in behind an 125open who had full aero.
I was as suprised as you! Been running this class for years and never saw this before. It was a freak event closing on a pack punching a huge hole in the air.
