For sure, last week’s release of rules changes for the 2016 season came closer to the first race than anyone wanted. But given how few and minor the differences are between the old WKA rules and our new AKRA/TAG USA rules, three weeks should be plenty of time. But that’s not to say we haven’t heard your feedback.

New Front Brakes Rule Delayed Until Race 2
The biggest rule change is the ban on front brakes for all classes but TaG Masters and Shifters. Compliance will require a bit of work and maybe a few basic parts. So we’ll delay full implementation of the rule until NHKA Race 2/IKS Race 1 on May 14th in Loudon. This means anyone still needing to remove front brakes on April 30th in Canaan will be allowed to race, but required to have the brake bias set all the way to the rear with the adjustment dial over-tightened to disable on-track changes. This will be checked in pre-race tech and confirmed at the scales.

TaG Masters Exemption Weight is Now 210lbs
We have decided to halve the change to the TaG Masters weight exemption. So now, for a driver under 32 years old to be exempt they need to weigh 210lbs with suit but less helmet. (Not the 200lbs of previous years. Not the 220lbs announced last week. 210lbs – Got it?) The intention is to take away any physical advantage a young exempted driver might have against a field nearly twice his age. However, upon feedback and further discussion it was agreed that a 20lb increase was just too much.

Aftermarket Non-Performance Parts Still Allowed
Another topic that’s come up is aftermarket parts. Nothing has changed. Generic versions of non-performance wear items such as driver gears, brake pads, batteries, starters, hardware, etc. are still allowed so long as they match OEM specs and materials. Conversely, all performance-related parts, including internal engine parts, clutches, drums, carbs, exhaust, ignition, etc. must be OEM, as always. Here’s another thing that has not changed: OEM parts or OEM specs are required to minimize wear and breakage which maximizes safety, reliability and parity/competition and fun for everyone.

This is club racing. Making sure everyone has fun is the goal of everything we do, that includes the rules. We work hard to strike a balance… Not constantly treating competitors like suspected cheaters, while providing enough enforcement for honest racers to know that when they lose it’s fair and square. We need rules that are strict and specific enough to keep everyone on the same page, but we also want the flexibility cut a well-intending racer some slack, like we all need at times.

Please keep the questions, concerns and suggestions coming, about the rules or anything else.

Mike Camarra
Race Director/Co-Owner
MikeC@nhka.net

Rulebooks: NHKA has switched from WKA to AKRA as our core rulebook. We wish it was as simple as it sounds. The AKRA book directs some classes to follow a different organization’s rulebook. Sometimes that other rulebook offers solid engine guidance but only a few specs for the rest of the kart, which leads you back to the AKRA book or yet another book. Further complicating matters, most rulebooks leave driver’s age, weight and other key specs up to us, the club. And yes, sometimes a spec in one book conflicts with the same spec in the other. To resolve these conflicts use this three-tier hierarchy:
       1. NHKA Rules
       2. Engine Rules
       3. Kart Rules
Engine Rules prevail over Kart Rules, and NHKA rules prevail over both of those.

Here’s the good news: You only have one class to worry about. So while we wrestle all these rules into a single NHKA Racing Series handbook, the list of links below should lead you in the right direction. But if anything is unclear after you familiarize yourself with your class’ rules, just shoot your question to MikeC@NHKA.net

*Rotax Parts: There will no longer be an FR125/EVO weight split. All unaltered Rotax-made parts of any
vintage are permitted but must be configured as directed by the US Rotax MaxChallenge rulebook.

Weights, Spec Gears, Etc: We’ve updated weights, gearing and engine restrictions for several classes to maintain alignment with major sanctioning bodies and the F1 Outdoors Club Series.
       ROTAX: Juniors 320lbs, Seniors 365lbs, Masters 405lbs
       TAG MASTERS WEIGHT EXCEPTION: 220lbs (raised from 200lbs)
       BRIGGS 206 KID KART: 3.35 gear ratio, long black slide (#55656728), 4,150 RPM black ignition (#555725),
       and MaxTorque clutch (#555727).
       BRIGGS 206 CADET: 275lbs, red slide (#55656733)
       BRIGGS 206 JUNIOR: Yellow slide (#55656741)

Onboard Cameras: AKRA and TAG USA have banned helmet-mounted cameras. Kart mounted cameras are still permitted but now must be installed for approval in pre-race safety tech. Any cameras that come off a kart on track may be retrieved on EBay.

Front Brakes: Following the lead of most major sanctioning bodies, front brakes are now only legal for TaG Masters and Shifters. If a TaG Masters driver wishes to race the same kart in TaG Seniors, and it has front brakes, it must be raced at the Masters weight.

Mini Max: USRMC rules require 6” rear tires and either a cadet chassis (1010mm wheelbase only) or a full-size chassis. (Comer 80cc and Briggs 206 Cadet racers are required to race a Cadet chassis.) Also, Mini Max competitors may now choose 13/82 or 12/76 gearing.

IAME X30: X30 drivers must now run the 31mm header, not the previously approved 29mm.

4-Cycle Fuel: All World Formulas and Briggs 206 karts must run 93 octane race fuel or pump gas. Race fuel offers no performance advantage, but has none of the additives or ethanol of pump gas, so it burns cleaner and isn’t as prone to clogging carburetor jets.

World Formula Silencer: The RLV-4108 silencer is no longer allowed. The RLV-4110 is now the only approved silencer, and already used by 99% of our racers.

World Formula Tire Sizes: As a point of clarity, the rear tire size remains at 7.10. While we are still considering allowing 6” rear tires in the future, more testing is needed to confirm that the smaller tire would offer a useful tuning option but not a must-have competitive advantage.

Click here to download a printable version.