IndianaOpenWheel.com Sprint Car & Midget Racing Forum
Forgot Password?

Reply  Indiana Open Wheel > Indiana Open Wheel Forum > What happened to the Honda thing?
Thread Tools
4/8/14, 4:00 PM   #1
What happened to the Honda thing?
Revolution Racing
Revolution Racing is offline
Member

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 222
 

I rarely stop in to check these days but was wondering what ever happened to the new Honda spec motor? I don't see any out here, and don't seem to hear about any running anywhere. Anybody know if that program is still alive, or what the prospects for the focus / Ignite / Honda midget series are?
 
2 members like this post: DAD, jdull99
4/8/14, 5:19 PM   #2
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
DAD
DAD is offline
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,955
 

Revolution

You must be pretty bruised up by now. It is kinda of hard battling the powers that be when they have a mind of their own and a conclusion of their own also. You Are On To Something. I think The platform is good for 400 horsepower+ with a stock block and cylinder head and still be a very reliable engine. If I had the money I would love to invest in a billet crank, Ti rods and valves, a set of good pistons, a good port job combined with a properly sized for expected Horsepower Engler-Electronic injection system. I think it could be done for less than $15,000.00. and be much more than competitive with any National Midget motor being built today. On top of that it would be much cheaper to maintain and race.

Your mind is in the right place, keep on thinking ahead of the curve and someday you just might slip one past the gate keepers.

Honest Dad himself
 
1 member likes this post: Revolution Racing
4/8/14, 5:26 PM   #3
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
Revolution Racing
Revolution Racing is offline
Member

Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 222
 

Appreciate the encouragement, but I have lost interest in dealing with certain aspects of the job related to getting your nose all browned up. Doing other, more rewarding things these days but still building a few "specials". We'll see how it goes, but was just wondering if the little spec Honda is ever getting off the ground or if... lets just say now that the checks are all cashed, interest has waned.....?
 
3 members like this post: DAD, hoosiers47404, ossuks
4/8/14, 5:58 PM   #4
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
DAD
DAD is offline
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,955
 

Revolution

Research and development is an occupation onto itself. Bull $hit and brown nosing is another endeavor all onto itself. My son an engineer likes to say a salesman can say that anything is possible to the client and then after he sells it he gives it to the engineer to figure out how to make it happen in less time than it took him to sell it. It is very hard to wear both hats. Honda can afford both types of people.

We don't hear much about the little Honda on IOW, probably a publicity snafu on the behalf of USAC. The Honda sound like a good little motor, if Honda has anything to do with it it will be reliable, and a little pricey also. I have a 25 year old Honda push mower that I paid $600.00 for back then, my friends thought I was nuts. Well my wife can still go out to the garage pull it out> pull it once and away she goes cutting her little back yard.

I for one appreciate your work, and am very sorry more did not come out of your efforts.

Honest Dad himself
 
4/8/14, 11:38 PM   #5
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
spicoli
spicoli is offline
Senior Member

Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,817
 

Your wife cuts the lawn???

How does that happen?
 
3 members like this post: bandres21, DAD, ronmil
4/9/14, 7:05 AM   #6
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
jjones752
jjones752 is offline
Senior Member

Race Count This Year: 19
Race Count Last Year: 22
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,259
 

USAC has only just now updated the Rules section on usacracing.com, changing out the old Appendix "E" for Ignite Midgets with a new HPD Midget section. Of note is the fact that Focus engines are still legal (not unexpected; I'm sure there will be a grandfather period although I didn't see one listed), and the fact that the Rules regarding the Honda K24 engine are still incomplete. My guess is there are still R&D issues to be resolved; I had heard from someone involved in some of the testing late last year (who shall go unnamed because he made me swear I would maintain his anonymity) that they were experiencing overheating issues on the Ignite fuel, which may be one of the reasons that Focus engines are now required to run straight methanol and the K24 is mandated to burn VP C85 ethanol.
__________________
Jim Jones
Midwest Thunder Speed2 Midget #97
 
4/9/14, 8:11 AM   #7
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
DAD
DAD is offline
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,955
 

Spicoli

You gota make a few sacrifices when you race, don't you. We got a few acres of land I cut most of it with a tractor. She has all of her flowers and stuff in her little back yard and when they said "Finish Mower" that is what they mean it finishes everything that gets in it's way. I have been accused of finishing off a few trees with that thing, and it would probably be true.

Jim? Overheating huh we had the same problem running on Gasoline fixed real easy with aftermarket cooling fan, about $75.00. Ethanol just don't seem to make good racing fuel DOES IT, Since USAC is going so green they need to talk to them guys in Ohio about Electric Midgets, no mufflers required, there goes a little more business I guess.

You know, OLD E.T. Morris used to run his Sprinter off of straight from the barrel un-cut 200 Proof Ezra Brooks whiskey, and I don't remember any problems, just a little better smell than methanol. Wonder if that 15% additives mostly gasoline could be the culprit. Has any body tried 100% Ethanol?


Honest Dad himself
_________________________________________________
Last edited by DAD; 4/9/14 at 9:29 AM.
 
1 member likes this post: spicoli
4/9/14, 1:18 PM   #8
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
mac miller
mac miller is offline
Member

Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 240
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by DAD View Post
Has any body tried 100% Ethanol?
Honest Dad himself
Actually, to use 100% ethanol, you would need to own a state liquor license. That's why they add gasoline ..... so you can't drink it.

mac miller in INDY
 
4/9/14, 2:10 PM   #9
Leohr46
Leohr46 is offline
Senior Member

Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 777
 

Dad. Not knocking your son for being a engineer. But I do deal with them on a daily bases. So when the engineer gets done scratching this head because the salesman has sold a "great idea". He goes and finds a machinest to make it happen. Lol
 
3 members like this post: DAD, sprintracer82, timmanis2000
4/9/14, 2:16 PM   #10
Re: What happened to the Honda thing?
DAD
DAD is offline
Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,955
 

Mac

Things was a little more lax back in the 50's and early 60's. E.T. ran a distillery in Frankfort Ky. I know it came out before the federal stamp went on the barrel, and he probabulay used a denaturent but not 15% gasoline. That seems a bit much.

Us kentuckyians invented this device known as a "still" it does a good job of getting rid of that gasoline mixed with your shine.

What I am trying to say is Revolution was on the verge of a revolution in the Midget racing industry. With more funding and support he was going to singlehanded make midget racing both cheaper and better. Honda has the funds to convert their little motor to whatever fuel they desire and the additional funds to grease their way right into a very small nitch market, that should prove not to be much proffit for them, but some marketing value I guess. The racer on the other hand is left with a rather expensive yet anemic little motor to race.

Honest Dad himself
_________________________________________________
Last edited by DAD; 4/9/14 at 2:42 PM.
 
1 member likes this post: Revolution Racing
Reply Indiana Open Wheel > Indiana Open Wheel Forum > What happened to the Honda thing?


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 6:48 AM.


Make IndianaOpenWheel.com your homepage
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2005-2024 IndianaOpenWheel.com
Mobile VersionLinks: Dave Merritt - Chris Pedersen - Carey Fox - Carey Akin - Joe Bennett - Brandon Murray - Dave Roach - John DaDalt - Racin; With D.O. - Jackslash Media