Hi: My son is currently doing karting with the WKA and is interested in possibly moving from roadracing to circle track. I think there used to be a great variety of engine types used in midget racing but what is the current situation. Is it predominantly Ford Focus power plants or are there others?

We are purchasing several VW engines and are wondering if there are other applications beyond Super Vee.

Thanks,

Len
South Bend, Indiana

Len, I appreciate your question, as I had the same one, many years ago, when I decided I had probably ran too long with WKA, not that the fun was gone, but I had passed the time to move up, if I was going to. Being in S.Bend, I'd steer you more toward either a Sprint car, or midget, when I made my move, I went with a TQ midget, they were very popular, and that was when full midgets were in limbo, about where thay were running. If you make the choice to go with a midget, the "dub's" might work, especially indoors, but for all around use, an "EcoTech" might be in your range, or if you have deep pockets, a Ford, a Mopar, a Chevy, Esslinger, any of the hi-output 4 cylinders might be in your budget. Again, being in SB, you do have some opportunities to run, not too far from your "base Circle", and, if you choose to go with a sprint car, you have about the same tracks, that run them. Depends on how much you want to travel, I know with WKA, if you are like us, we ran the 7 or 8, big shows, in Florida, Wisconsin, New York, and Georgia, and wherever they decided to have the Nat's, so at the time, traveling wasn't an issue, now if a trip to Shelbyville, Rushville, Madison, Brownstown, Columbus, doesn't seem out of the question, then a TQ midget may be in your mirror, there will be a TQ race in your neck of the woods, come July the 10th, at LaGrange Cty Fairgrounds, the King of Indiana TQ's will be racing, might be one close enough for you to ck them out. Good luck with your decision. Bob!

We run a Kenyon Midget. Grant has never raced anything before and we are having a blast. You can get a race ready one from Don and Mel for I think around 7K. Great setup to get your feet wet in midgets. And the travel is close, Anderson, Indianapolis Speedrome and Logansport for 3 dirt races this year.

The Montpelier Motor Speedway in Montpelier, Indiana (East Central Indiana) has full size midget series scheduled for 2012. The class has a variety of engine choices, and we have had VW powered midgets and Focus in the fields this season. These powerplants receive an unlimited weight break which has seemed to even up the field so far.

You can see our rules at:
http://www.montpeliermotorspeedway.com/MidgetRules.htm

Another avenue to look at from your location would be 600cc Micro Sprints. There are two tracks within an hour or so from South Bend to race at, that are completely different shapes, but with the horsepower to weight ratio they have, make it an ultralight, ultra fast car. You can run them winged or non-winged, and have a great time doing it, and will be MUCH cheaper than karting. I grew up in southern Michigan racing at MRP, Ravenna, East Lansing and all those places, and we spent half the money we did in karting.

Tracks are in Peru and Logansport, and also there is one in the south at Linton, and another that just started up in Plymout (inside the pavement oval).

Or if your heart isnt totally set on a midget you could go with a minisprint. Almost identical to the midget, 13 inch wheels so it handles alot like a midget also. A stock 1000 will last a long time and is pretty economical to run. The other nice thing is that they are self starting. Comes in handy if your short of help.

I'd spend some time looking, before I made a decision, how much do you want to travel, what's running where you want to run, cost to get in, how much payback, ain't anything better, then buying something you can't run within your preference for drive time, how many cars actually run, how much do they pay back, how many "goofy" rules do they have, are they friendly, and helpful, is what you're buying, something you can do yourself, how much machine work to make "special" parts, lot's of things to look into, and, now is a good time to look, not spend, winter time will be soon enough to do that, after you've satisfied yourself, YOU can do it. Bob!