Just acquired this diamond in the rough. Late 60s Rupp Dart Kart. Its fairly complete still sporting its Rupp Steering wheel, Bendix brake with Azusa cooler, Rupp Feather Touch pedals and all 4 Rupp Grand Prix wheels. Restoring it for some summer fun, for the time being it will probably sport a 4 stroker, but will be saving my pennies for a right proper Mac. And after about a weeks worth of work here is where we are now.
Just stumbled on this thread. I raced karts from 1958 to 1968, out of Warren, Michigan. We ran Fox and Lancer karts for sprints, and a King for enduro's. Started running the Mid Ohio 250 enduro when the pits were dirt and the tower was cinder block. Participated in the championships at Mickey Rupp's Dart Kart Speedway. Wow! Love this thread! The rule book date effective, 1/1/67
I thought I had one of the old temp gauges you mentioned. 600 degree Isspro gauge, belt, wires w/connector, and insulated wire w/sparkplug sealing connector. Yea it still works, it was reading room temp when I pulled it out of the box. Shown here with a Sept. 61 Karting World magazine. I even found the tool box with all the matched sprocket sets for my dual engined kart.
new but old looking one 18 gauge steel front engine rear drive ford style split wishbone front suspension
Too cool Bonzo. Update on the progress on my kart. A few mods and repairs and finally got some paint on it... PS, shameless plug here, but I am fabbing some aluminum Nassau Panels if anyone is interested (though most here could fab one themselves)
Another quick update Out in the sun for the first time And did some scallops and lettering on the Nassau panel I hope more folks find these old karts laying around, or dig them out of sheds....they are great fun to rebuild and personalize.....post'em up folks
Well its all done.....even made and sewed my own seat covers and pads. Just need to get me a real sewing machine and have at the interior on the roadster.....lol
That looks like a Simplex MkII Challenger, like mine. The straight bar on the steering wheel gives it away. It looks like someone added a Pontiac star to it though. It also looks like the rear was heavily damaged (like mine) and then stretched. It would have originally had 2 Clinton 2.5hp engines on it. Bring it out to the White Knuckle Scramble on July 25 and she what it'll do! A few MO minibikers are coming already.
Mike, check Vintage Karting Assn's site...someone on there will have or know where to get the tires you need....www.vkavintagekarting.com/ You might start with Jeff Brown from Detroit.....he'll know who has IF he doesn't....sorry I don't have his phone number, so Google him.....long time karter......Joe
Though...not truly vintage...I just built this little all aluminum kart from scratch. Took a few ques from the Xterminator and the Excalibur of the 60s, but mostly my own design and construction. Still needs a few refinements, and I have plans to build at least one more out of even thinner aluminum. This one is .090" and weighs 10 pounds less than my Rupp. Kept the vintage style narrow tires and rear engine layout....It handles really good so far.
Several sites sell those size, and one or 2 even sell "Firestone", but those will be pricey. If you just need tires, there are a lot of affordable Chinese-made tires.
This is my second hot rod that Dad and built in the late 70's. I need to get a motor in this thing again... Front nose is a tractor gas tank turned backwards, Aluminum body, cross leaf front, coil over rear... I remember using the Seagrams "7" as a reference for the number, and I drove it about 8 miles on back roads to an early Rod Run campout. It was powered by a Tecumseh 5 hp.
Over on YouTube I just heard a vintage guitar instrumental from 1965 called "Go Kart 209" by a group called The Sterling Guitars. The tune has a lot of Go Kart engine sound effects and fast paced guitars. The tune kind of grows on you and it's not bad at all. It's actually pretty good. The tune is on Sax 5th Avenue Records.
So are all your vehicles yellow so moose can see you coming and get out of the way? Nice looking cart no matter what color.