What's crazier than racing bikes on the Isle of Mann?

Possibly, 250cc shifter karts on the Isle of Mann.

In the rain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYjQpEO0RM&feature=youtu.be

My first thought when I saw the thread title was "nothing", then I watched that video....I was wrong.

Holy crap!!

The Isle of Mann events are just about the craziest things ever. Maybe a close second would be some of the World Rally Car events but damn........that's insane!!

It always amazes me to see things like that in other countries. Can you imagine, I mean just imagine anything like that ever taking place in the States??!! Of course not! The course would be lined with lawyers frothing at the mouth waiting for anything to happen so they could sue the city, the tire manufacturer, the cart maker, the driver, the guy who paved the road, the place where the driver had breakfast that morning and...........well you get the idea. The States are so litigious.

I think I would rather lay down a bike than crash one of those carts...

"What's crazier than racing bikes on the Isle of Mann?"

The 'monkey' on the side car....

Drinking with the Hongs at the Challenge

Man, that's like prison. You think you've met the craziest guy in the yard, then this dude shows up

I like racing, but I don't think I would do that. Give me acres of cage.

I've always thought these guys are lunatics on a whole other level. At least with asphalt or concrete, the racing surface remains constant. On water, you have no idea one lap to the next what you're getting into. Hit one wake at the wrong moment and it's all over. But yeah, shifter karts in the rain is pretty awesome.

I know the Isle of Mann was old, but didn't realize it was still in black and white.

Personally I would rather crash a kart then a bike anyday. Never see karts high side and spit a man 10 feet into the air. Even a small crash on a bike can hurt.

Btw, there are some Irish street races that makes the Isle of Mann look like it has F1 levels of safety standards.

In reply to Woody: a companion video for comparison. Those carts look INSANE!

http://m.wimp.com/motorcyclerace/

What's up with the middle pedal, separate pedals for the front and rear brakes?

clutch? They are called shifter carts for a reason. I know they flat shift them.. but you do need a clutch when braking hard, stopping, or getting going from a stop?

Clutch on my shifter kart is a lever on the steering wheel, which is normal for 125cc shifters. I don't know if 250cc would be any different...

I'm guessing the center pedal is front brakes, and the left pedal is rear brakes. That's based on how the driver is using them.

I've driven 125cc shifters before and they all had a hand clutch. I've also used a hand brake for the front brakes on a TAG kart, but since you can't do both on the wheel I'm thinking the middle pedal is the front brakes, too. A friend of mine races 250cc super karts but has the same setup as a normal 125cc.

I have never driven a shifter cart... but in thinking about it.. you are probably right. He was constantly feathering the left pedal, but only used the centre when braking hard

the racing looks like fun. The crashing not so much .

I think the left pedal is an Aero enhancement (changes wing angle?)

I did quick search and couldn't find it. I can't believe they woulda have separate front and rear brake pedals, what would the point be? An adjustable bias valve like f1 maybe, but they look like they would be busy enough in the cockpit to have to mess with double brakes.

But that in car didn't have any front aero.

Rear wing, think airbrake + downforce

Was I the only one waiting for the cart that was leading to drop a banana peel?

I don't think that those guys are crazier than the bikes, but they are definitely in the large marbles class.

Yeah, boats are way crazier than either.