21 replies to this topic

[carlt]

Just come across this
http://www.hyperracer.com/index.html
Very impressive
Now needs a Busa with Rotrex in the back

[GreenMachine]

Now needs a Busa with Rotrex in the back

Anything could do with more power, but there is (at least) one bloke who got badly bitten with that one - there are some nice photos of the wreckage from one of their track (try before you buy) days when some hero put it into some very solid scenery (from memory it was the first session (first lap even?), and the impact point was a metre or two above track level), the main damage being the car(?) - guess who got to take home an unexpected purchase . It seems the ROPS worked well at least.

One of the selling points is the cost of kart rubber - a blown 'Busa might need to upgrade that department, as well as the brakes, and the ...

[Todd]

Over 400 lbs and costing $30K makes it seem like not much of a threat to the shifter karts.

[gruntguru]

Over 400 lbs and costing $30K makes it seem like not much of a threat to the shifter karts.

There is a comparison sheet to a superkart on this page http://www.hyperrace...oracer/faq.html.

Sure, probably not as fast but makes a lot of sense.

[GreenMachine]

Over 400 lbs and costing $30K makes it seem like not much of a threat to the shifter karts.

Survivability is a plus.

However, the proof of the pudding - takeup seems slow. A number of people I know have looked at them, but no-one has even gone as far as coughing up for the tryout. It may be early days yet, but nothing I have seen suggests more.

Their best chance would be to do a 'spec series' on a buy or hire basis, and run their own races/sprints. They need bums in seats, and some good publicity, to crank up acceptance.

On re-reading their website, I see that they have already taken my advice ! Nothing on Natsoft though, so all we can say at this stage is that they have at least six competitors, at least two of whom are associated with the company.

[Woody3says]

so.........someone built a midget Atom.......

[cheapracer]

Yeah, nah, take away a brand new complete Yamaha YZ450 at $10,000 and tell me there $22,000 left of vehicle there .... (I don't know the cost of an engine but lets say $7K and $25K).

And the website has a few non-truths as well.

Don't agree with the tyre philosophy either, 10" Hoosiers are a dime a dozen in all kinds of widths and compounds and starts to look like a race car, as it is looks like a Kart - IMO.

It may be early days yet, but nothing I have seen suggests more.

My bookmark says early 2010 ..

http://www.autoblog....-a-bit-lardy-i/

I don't think even the stupidest of stupid are stupid enough to pay $32+K for one of those.

Edited by cheapracer, 20 February 2012 - 06:37.

[GreenMachine]

I don't think even the stupidest of stupid are stupid enough to pay $32+K for one of those.

That's a big call Cheapy ...

[desmo]

Massively overweight overengineered overpriced kart?

[HaydenFan]

Not much of an engineer (actually I'm a pre-law student), but having a little kart racing experience, wouldn't this "car" have a big risk of flipping? It does not have the wide track of a kart compared to the vehicle and the center of gravity is much higher than a kart, making this much more likely to send the thing into a big, expensive mess.

[Todd]

There is a comparison sheet to a superkart on this page http://www.hyperrace...oracer/faq.html.

Sure, probably not as fast but makes a lot of sense.

They're talking about a spec series with sealed engines. Why not do the same thing with shifter-karts? Replace the 125cc race built 37 hp engine with either a sealed 250cc 2-stroke or a sealed 450cc 4-stroke with a rev-limiter and you've taken the price difference to $15K and cut away the engine running cost advantage. I don't know about the claim of 2 seasons on a sealed engine either, as motorcross 4-strokes need valve adjustments frequently. Perhaps the rev-limit extends the interval, but it would stink to have the valve clearance change and be looking at a slow season before you're eligible to take the valve cover off.

Claims they make for tire life are interesting, as kart tires can't much care for the extra mass.

[cheapracer]

I don't know about the claim of 2 seasons on a sealed engine either, as motorcross 4-strokes need valve adjustments frequently.

I've been wondering why they run the enduro WR450 and not the MX YZ450 - I think you just answered that one.

[Todd]

I've been wondering why they run the enduro WR450 and not the MX YZ450 - I think you just answered that one.

The valve adjustment interval I saw was for a street legal enduro KTM 450. It was deal-breaker frequent for the bike and made the prospects of using it as a commuter absurd. Looking at motorcycle mechanic forums, it is every 10 hours with oil and filter every 7.5-10 hours. Thank the enviromentally ******** for hindering 2-stroke sales.

[cheapracer]

Thank the enviromentally ******** for hindering 2-stroke sales.

At least they are on the rise again, you can fool some of the people some of the time .....

[gruntguru]

The YZ450 and WR450 are basically the same engine. They probably use the WR because it has electric start. Valve clearance is usually pretty stable on cam and bucket, shim adjusted Yamahas.

[Engineguy]

The valve adjustment interval I saw was for a street legal enduro KTM 450. It was deal-breaker frequent for the bike and made the prospects of using it as a commuter absurd. Looking at motorcycle mechanic forums, it is every 10 hours with oil and filter every 7.5-10 hours. Thank the enviromentally ******** for hindering 2-stroke sales.

Even if 10 hour intervals ARE necessary (as opposed to recommended), that is a lot of weekends of track time for something as minor as valve adjustment, unless you're running some kind of endurance races.

2-strokes? Guys used to re-ring their 2-stroke bikes every weekend, I am told.

[Todd]

A friend that sometimes desert races just sold his old 2-stroke race bike. It had sat for years and he put new mixed gas in it and it fired right up. He rode it for a while and almost backed out of the sale. If you go back enough years, or look at racing engines tuned on the hairy edge of durability, everything needed comprehensive maintenance. If you read the engine management rules of the HyperRacers series, 10 hours would have to be two seasons before you're allowed to unseal the engine. That isn't much running for 2 seasons, further hurting the value proposition.

[carlt]

From another forum
yes it's a sales pitch but it answers some questions

"
From the designer of the Hyper PRO Racer.
Hi all,

May I introduce myself. My name is Jon Crooke. I am the co-designer of the Hyper PRO Racer, along with my son Dean.
I have been chatting to Robert Tonge over the last few days and he pointed me to this thread on your forum.

Firstly, let me thank you all for your positive comments regarding the Hyper PRO Racer. Dean and I have worked 18/7 for 5 years to bring a 'Wash and Race' racing car to the market. We can barely contain our excitement about the potential of the Hyper PRO Racer to change the world of motor racing. As some of the older steerers reading this will know, the idea of a 'Wash and Race' racing car makes the PRO Racer a game changing product. All the components have been designed or chosen for ultra reliability and to minimise running costs.

Can I take this opportunity to respond to some of the points made in this thread.

1. Cost of car.
The current exchange rate is hurting us all. Historically the rate from AUD to GBP has been around 0.40-0.45GBP. Currently it stands at 0.68 GBP. If and when it returns to normal level you should be able to import a PRO Racer into the UK (shipping, duty the lot) for under $15,000 GBP.

2. 450cc engine.
We chose the Yamaha 450cc engine because of it's reliability, simplicity and long service life (40hrs between top ends and 80hrs between full rebuilds). Do not underestimate the combination of the 180kg PRO Racer with the single cylinder 450 Yamaha engine. At the 2011 Australian Hillclimb Championship, the Hyper PRO Racer finished ahead of the fastest 600cc multi cylinder Megakart. In the rain the PRO Racer was the outright fastest car !!!!!

3. Tyres
I just wanted to clarify what tyres are supplied as standard. The are NOT go-kart tyres (on 5 inch rims). They are superkart tyres mounted to 6 inch rims. The choice of compound is limited with these tyres. Of course this does not matter if you run a 'Hyper Racer Only' class as we do in Australia. We even stipulate compound - medium slicks or wets - to level the playing field and reduce costs.

4. Ongoing costs.
The Hyper PRO Racer is built to very high standards using only the very best components. This kind of quality is not cheap and we make no apologies for that. Having said that, when you look at the long term costs of ownership, the PRO Racer is a revelation. Incredibly low engine maintenance costs, brake pads that cost AUD$25 a corner and last 5 years of circuit racing with no performance drop-off, 10-20 litres of fuel a day (circuit racing) and some chain oil. Our customer are running their cars for a fraction the cost of the go-karts they have just stepped out of.

5. Easy to drive.
In response to the comment "You need to be a Young-un I think"
Guys, I'm 60 years old. There, I've said it. Now you know, I can tell you that, as a geriatric that does no exercise, I can do 25 laps at a track in the PRO Racer within 0.5 seconds of Australia's top Level 1 drivers in the same car, and not raise a sweat. Much easier on the body than my Formula 2 car. As a comparison, put me in a superkart and I'm good for 2-3 laps at best and then it's straight to the paramedics for resuscitation. The Hyper PRO Racer's ergonomics and compliant suspension makes this car a 'seniors' delight.

Dean and I look forward to seeing the Hyper Racer in the UK in the future. We think you guys will love owning and driving this car, like no other.

Cheers Jon "

Edited by carlt, 22 February 2012 - 19:18.

[cheapracer]

2-strokes? Guys used to re-ring their 2-stroke bikes every weekend, I am told.

Nope, serious top field runners in 125 class would do that in the old 70's air cooled days but otherwise you might do it every few months and even then, so what - 1 hour tops.

Otherwise my air cooled big bores over the years (CZ 400, Husky 390WR, Maico 490, Yamaha IT 465 and 490) were yearly checks only because I felt I had to - never actually changed rings though.

All my water cooled MX'ers and road bikes (Yamaha RZ350, Suzuki TS250X) I never touched for generally the 2 to 3 year periods I owned them.

[Kelpiecross]

Just come across this
http://www.hyperracer.com/index.html
Very impressive
Now needs a Busa with Rotrex in the back

Nobody seems to have commented on the front suspension which appears to be just a simple swing axle arrangement - it would have been not a lot more trouble to make it conventional upper and lower wishbones.

I think I would prefer not to see single cylinder engines used (which don't really sound "right" in a car) but a 4-cylinder engine of about the same capacity - which do sound "right".

[cheapracer]

Nobody seems to have commented on the front suspension which appears to be just a simple swing axle arrangement -

Very minimal travel and vehicle roll and I would think it's there more for setup (corner weighting, chassis torsion etc) as well as to take the shock off the occasional heavier impact (pothole, tarmac edge).

[Kraken]

Maximum fun for minimum price and a power to weight ratio (which is what really matters) that puts it up with some formula cars you can't beat an Aixro XR50.