Title: Le Minz race of endurance - AU-
Description: ...KYMCO SUPER9....
Description: ...KYMCO SUPER9....
obxbiker - September 10, 2007 12:03 PM (GMT)
THIS is a far cry from the Le Mans 24-Hour race with its powerful, expensive, fuel-guzzling machines racing around the famed 13.6km French circuit.
The Le Minz 24-Hour 50cc Scooterthon at the Gold Coast this weekend will instead feature cheap and frugal scooters buzzing around the Parklands 500m go-kart track.
While Audi's Le Mans-winning diesel-powered R10 has twin-turbos and 12 cylinders pumping out 650 horsepower and a multi-million-dollar price tag, the single-cylinder, two-stroke 50cc scooters have about five horsepower and cost less than $3000.
The only modifications allowed on the scooters is to remove the centre stand so it doesn't scrape in corners and the mirrors so they don't break if the scooter is dropped.
Up to 50 riders will be trying to break the Guinness World Record set in January by Julio Languiller of Melbourne riding a Honda Today scooter a total of 1084km in a 24-hour period.
One of the teams competing is Team Scootopia from Brisbane which, instead of a million-dollar race machine, will enter a Bug Super 9 that costs just $2590 and is expected to use only three litres of fuel an hour.
Team boss and head mechanic Jason Tester of Kedron said they hoped to retain the team trophy they won last year.
"Then we'll celebrate with lattes, rather than champagne," he said.
He will be supported by Paul Hallett of Oxley and Rob Holloway of the Gold Coast riding 90 minutes at a time.
The third annual Le Minz starts at noon today (September 8) and spectators are admitted free.
Organiser Mark Petersen said the profits would go to the Autism Association of Australia and the event would go ahead regardless of rain.
Super 9 Scooter
The Le Minz 24-Hour 50cc Scooterthon at the Gold Coast this weekend will instead feature cheap and frugal scooters buzzing around the Parklands 500m go-kart track.
While Audi's Le Mans-winning diesel-powered R10 has twin-turbos and 12 cylinders pumping out 650 horsepower and a multi-million-dollar price tag, the single-cylinder, two-stroke 50cc scooters have about five horsepower and cost less than $3000.
The only modifications allowed on the scooters is to remove the centre stand so it doesn't scrape in corners and the mirrors so they don't break if the scooter is dropped.
Up to 50 riders will be trying to break the Guinness World Record set in January by Julio Languiller of Melbourne riding a Honda Today scooter a total of 1084km in a 24-hour period.
One of the teams competing is Team Scootopia from Brisbane which, instead of a million-dollar race machine, will enter a Bug Super 9 that costs just $2590 and is expected to use only three litres of fuel an hour.
Team boss and head mechanic Jason Tester of Kedron said they hoped to retain the team trophy they won last year.
"Then we'll celebrate with lattes, rather than champagne," he said.
He will be supported by Paul Hallett of Oxley and Rob Holloway of the Gold Coast riding 90 minutes at a time.
The third annual Le Minz starts at noon today (September 8) and spectators are admitted free.
Organiser Mark Petersen said the profits would go to the Autism Association of Australia and the event would go ahead regardless of rain.
Super 9 Scooter
- Engine: 2-stroke air-cooled, single 49cc cylinder
- Power: about 5 horsepower
- Top speed: 75km/h
- Weight: 95kg
- Brakes: disc (front) drum (rear)
- Economy: about 3litres/hour flat out in race mode
obxbiker - September 10, 2007 12:30 PM (GMT)
Adifferent 24 HOUR race.....
