Yes, they get to reorganize while debts are pretty much in limbo....this gives MGMT time to decide where to trim fat and/or eliminate unprofitable facets of the business, I have no idea all of what things they have their hands in, but I would have to believe that karting is near the bottom of their priority list...Don't accept this as fact, but my understanding is that chapter 11 bankruptcy allows a company to stay in business, with protection from creditors, until they can reorganize. It doesn't mean they're not going to go out of business, as far as I know, but we'll have to wait and see. You can't take is to the bank though, because I'm no expert on the subject. Not even close!
TheFact aka Dave ClausWho was the guy from Briggs who used to post on Bobs from time to time? I always enjoyed reading his comments.
I am up in northeast indiana and currently in my stable is 6 flatheads, 2 animals, and 1 clone( collecting dust). In my opinion the briggs engine hold up better than these clones. The clone i have needs updated and if you want to be competitive you have to have clones built quite more frequently than the briggs engines. I have a flathead built in 1999 that would still keep you up front. It is disappointing that briggs may close its doors which will make replacement parts harder to get as years go by.I thought almost everyone was already running clones. Here in southern Indiana we have had a good bit of flathead racing going on basically for old time sake because most all of us started racing with FH's years ago but for the most part its clones. We currently have zero classes at any of the dirt tracks around here that run an engine that Briggs currently manufactures. So Briggs going out of business will not affect my karting world at all.
As much as I hate to see an American company bite the dust it sort of serves them right for trying cram the Animals down our throats years ago. They should have NEVER done away with the flat head engine.
Parts for the flatheads are already hard to get , some are even impossible. Its the reason a lot of engine builders will not touch them any more. I agree that the Briggs engines seem to hold up better but they also still have the issues they have always had. The exhaust pipes and carbs coming loose more often, fuel tanks leaking , indexing the spark plugs, having to change the oil more often and I don't know what its like in your area but good fuel is hard to find in my neck of the woods which sometimes requires a trip to VP fuels in Terre Haute. . Plus a clone seems more racey to me which helps with the fun factor.I am up in northeast indiana and currently in my stable is 6 flatheads, 2 animals, and 1 clone( collecting dust). In my opinion the briggs engine hold up better than these clones. The clone i have needs updated and if you want to be competitive you have to have clones built quite more frequently than the briggs engines. I have a flathead built in 1999 that would still keep you up front. It is disappointing that briggs may close its doors which will make replacement parts harder to get as years go by.
You can still get a decent fresh clone for around 6-700. Just for comparison it cost me almost 900 each for a couple of big name engine builders flatheads. about 200 each for the cost of the engine and 700 to have them rebuilt. Had 550-600 in another one.You can blame EPA for the flathead. As far as the clone... how much are those $99 engines going for? How much has the animal went up? Don’t get me wrong the the clone has its place in karting. I’m just not a fan when a flywheel costs as much as the original engine does.
I can buy one fresh, not new , for around 700 shipped to my door and it will run with the big name engine builders. As far as them popping like popcorn I am not witnessing any of that. I have seen some engine failures in the past 2 years but not at a alarming rate.As much as I hate to see an American company bite the dust it sort of serves them right for trying to cram the Animals down our throats years ago.
I didn't see them cramming anything. We raced everything including the peanut butter metal clones. It was a hundred bucks and worth only a hundred bucks. Compared to the Briggs they popped like popcorn. We quickly dropped clones and went back to the Animal which in the end turned out to be best motor in the garage given the number of times we raced and won with it. kartracer_3,,,, were they so expensive that Briggs did you wrong? Is a National, and I say National motor worth $2k? I think so.
It's ridiculous to think that the absolute cheapest piece of peanut butter metal clone (of Honda and built by slave labor from a communist country), is the only answer for a kart racing motor.
Personally, I believe it is, just reward, that the top line racing clones are now $2k. Fifteen hundred to make them last and $.5k to make them fast.
DK