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2006 brings us into a new year, the holidays are behind us and the
focus now is on racing. Looking back on 2005,The TAG world
championships in New Castle we saw the first run of TAG expert,
fresh off his big win at the Rock Island GP, Caleb Loniewski and
Margay were on top of the podium. The Supernats and Cascade Locks GP
saw Italian motors David Jurca take his Italkart to the top of that
podium. Regional racing was just as exciting with clubs and
organizations around the world.
2005 saw TAG with some ups and downs; we had the Leopard cylinder
dilemma, some product changes due to failures as well as engines
trying to find better parity. The struggle of trying to get all
organizations on board using one set of rules. Northern California
well they have their own thing, but after the kart-sport GP I think
they to are a great group of people that just want to have fun in
TAG, even if they have their own rules.
Well back to 2006,this year we have three World Qualifiers going
into the TAG world Championships, Willow Springs Motorsports Park in
Rosamond, California on January 26-28, Oklahoma Motorsports Complex
in Oklahoma, and the Rock Island Grand Prix on September 2-3.with
the big one The 2006 TAG™ World Championships at NCMP on October
5-8, 2006.
TAGUSA is pleased to announce that CRS, VORTEX, PCR, ATK, have
introduced new engines for TAG expert and VORTEX, and Maxter now
have their 60cc engines for Cadet TAG. There has also been some
product updates to the Motori- Seven, IAME Leopard, PRD, Italsistem.
The Technical side of things has seen changes also, rules are a
little more detailed and some new specs have been added.
Trivia Question:
#1 I am about 90mm high, I have two of one thing and three of
another, I am a__________
#2 I have seen a lot of broken parts, I drive people crazy, I take
on some tuff competition, and I’m on the internet-I am _____________
What would a newsletter be like with out a comment from Mr. Doug
Welch, by the way he has a new chassis out
www.shockwavekarting.com
By Doug Welch
2005, what a year it’s been.
The year started with a bit of uncertainty regarding engine packages
and weights. Starting at the very first big TaG test at the WKA
Daytona race, right through the final SKUSA SuperNationals, Tag
racing was right at the forefront in karting. TaG racing in general
enjoyed big fields and at times, big controversy. From regional to
national level racing, TaG had it all.
Weights were the big issue all season. With so many different
engines with very different power characteristics, it’s not
surprising there was controversy. The more knowledgeable wags
predicted this controversy right from the start but that still
couldn’t prevent people getting all wigged out about it. However,
over the course of the year, things settled down a bit. TaG USA made
adjustments just as they said they would when large discrepancies
were found. Some track owners made further adjustments for their
tracks, some fair, some not so fair. But by year’s end, most of the
baring of teeth and torn garments had died down. Some engines have
slight advantages here or there but for the most part, it is driver
and setup that determines who wins and who loses.
There was also plenty of controversy when new engines were added or
changed without notification to the sanctioning bodies. Some of the
performance advantages were real, some imaginary, but the perception
that TaG was out of control was real. For the most part, that too
has died down a bit. Once the engine manufacturers/importers found
out that the sanctioning bodies were serious about controlling TaG
development, and more importantly that they were united, most of the
issues were dealt with fairly.
The biggest single thing I think TaG accomplished on the political
front was the formation of the TaG Advisory council. For once in our
lifetime, karting did manage to get all the major sanctioning bodies
to agree on something! At the beginning of the year, TaG was really
being pulled from all directions and could have very easily become
as splintered as every form of racing in karting. The fact that it
didn’t happen is nothing short of a miracle. Everyone agreed the
engines should stay stock (except for our friends in Nor Cal). That
one fact is amazing considering all the pressure from certain
quarters to start blueprinting them. Blueprinting would have killed
the class, and I’m grateful that wiser heads prevailed on this one.
One thing I had hoped for that didn’t happen was for the engine
manufacturers/importers to change the paradigm they work from
regarding engine performance and customer satisfaction. Some got it,
but some didn’t. The ones that didn’t are hurting. TaG is all about
low maintenance, dependable engines at a reasonable price. Some of
them clearly are not very dependable. One great thing about free
markets is that customers vote with their wallets. Those engines
that do not hold up will fall behind in sales. Those that offer
great customer service and low maintenance will dominate. We already
see that movement occurring. Some engines are much more common that
others, and it has nothing to do with brute power. It has to do with
dependability and price.
Those that are the most dependable with the best price are the
engines that are moving to the forefront.
Overall, 2005 was a year of maturing for TaG. Once the initial bull
settled down, things really moved along quite well. For the most
part, the on track racing was quite good. In our local area as
expected, certain engines did better at certain tracks, but for the
most part, the better drivers with the better handling chassis are
the ones that won. Fields for the most part are the largest in our
program and offer the best racing. The culmination for TaG this year
was the SuperNationals in Las Vegas. As expected the racing was good
with several different engines packages up front. There is still
some room for tweaking, but for the most part what we have right now
is pretty darn good.
That is not to say that TaG can rest on its laurels for 2006. On the
contrary, there are many things both internal and external to Tag
that will present challenges and opportunities. Several
manufacturers are introducing new engines, and of course they want
to play. New engine packages and updates of existing ones must be
carefully examined to see if they really represent the essence of
TaG. While the free market will decide which engines are low
maintenance, we can’t let one engine dominate on track. TaG must be
careful not to add too many engines too quickly. To do so creates
uncertainty in the market and hurts the class.
TaG also has to keep the advisory committee intact. This is critical
for TaG. If we can keep the sanctioning bodies united, it gives TaG
a unified voice when dealing with manufacturers and importers. If
not, then it is the old divide and conquer strategy and it won’t be
long before TaG becomes just another class of light, medium, heavy
and sumo with built motors all around and 3 kart fields.
TaG must also be cognizant of costs. New engine package prices are
already rising to dangerous levels in some cases. By that I mean
other engine alternatives are starting to look good for TaG
consumers. For example, spec Honda classes offer many of the things
that TAG does, only faster. A spec Honda can be purchased for little
more than most TaG engine packages and for less than many. With the
addition of front brakes in Rotax, a new shifter package with a
stock Honda is about the same money as a Rotax with front brakes
package. Not good for Rotax. Give an American a chance to shift
gears combined with the Honda name synonymous with quality and
dependability, and Rotax and TaG will have a problem.
That’s not to say there won’t be a place for TaG in the future.
Actually, if everyone stays focused on the big picture, on the
betterment of the sport, TaG fills a very necessary niche in
karting. It gives the newer racer and the experienced veteran alike
an economical place to race. The low maintenance inherent with TaG
is very attractive to many racers. Let’s hope that 2006 sees bigger
fields and better.
Thanks
Doug Welch-Shockwave
karting
By Peter Dell
Hello Tag drivers USA,
Here in Australia 125cc Tag racing is just about to start. Its been
a long hard battle to get interest in another class because Rotax
has had such a hard grip on 125cc water-cooled classes that no other
engines have had much of a look in. Now in 2006 we finally have a
beginning. Now all other engine importers can get behind the sport
and promote a class which is back to the grass roots of karting were
drivers compete against each other but have a democratic choice of
what engine they wish to use. Here in Australia we have watched
you’re racing and learned from your strict rules to control the
class. This year will be maiden year and small changes will be made
as the year goes on to tires used and weights the engines will have
to carry although we do have a good starting point from your past
years. Are aim is to hold a competition with the winners being
sponsored to a major race sometime in 2007. Enjoy your racing
this year and I will come to watch some of the races this coming
year.
Cheers
Peter Dell
Sydney Australia
Thanks to Mr. Welch and Mr. Dell
See ya in
Willow Springs, California
Marty Casey
TAGUSA / TAG International
Willow
Springs Entry Form
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