Comments on: Kawasaki Race Car Body Found http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/10/kawasaki-race-car-body-found/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Fri, 25 May 2012 22:30:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: David Layne http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/10/kawasaki-race-car-body-found/#comment-274710 David Layne Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:31:22 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=5723#comment-274710 Ron Dahmes acquired the molds, etc. in the mid 70s, made some modifications to the chassis including fully independent suspension, installed Suzuki- built, Arctic Cat racing snowmobile engines and CVT. The cars were produced for Autocross, hillclimb and club racing. I'm not sure how many Ron built. I will try to find out the numbers. I owned one in the late 70s, autocrossed mostly, it resides in my friends shop in Valley Springs, Ca, partially dis-assembled, but intact. I won the SCCA Northern Pacific Division Autocross Championship with it, I believe the year was 1977. I have the original Suzuki engine, the car has a Kawasaki 900 4cyl in it now. Ron Dahmes acquired the molds, etc. in the mid 70s, made some modifications to the chassis including fully independent suspension, installed Suzuki- built, Arctic Cat racing snowmobile engines and CVT. The cars were produced for Autocross, hillclimb and club racing. I’m not sure how many Ron built. I will try to find out the numbers.
I owned one in the late 70s, autocrossed mostly, it resides in my friends shop in Valley Springs, Ca, partially dis-assembled, but intact. I won the SCCA Northern Pacific Division Autocross Championship with it, I believe the year was 1977. I have the original Suzuki engine, the car has a Kawasaki 900 4cyl in it now.

]]> By: jim http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/10/kawasaki-race-car-body-found/#comment-267335 jim Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:43:48 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=5723#comment-267335 the transmission is a kawasaki w-series from 1966 to 69 650cc i have some spare trans if he is going to rebuild the car. the transmission is a kawasaki w-series from 1966 to 69 650cc
i have some spare trans if he is going to rebuild the car.

]]> By: Jeff D Krause http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/10/kawasaki-race-car-body-found/#comment-267258 Jeff D Krause Mon, 30 Nov 2009 07:18:34 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=5723#comment-267258 OK, a closer look at the photo convinces me this probably IS the prototype's body. The paint scheme of successive bodies would probably not have retained the "1". Some of the Kawasaki stenciling might have been removed later after the project was privatized. My guess is the chassis was scavenged for the suspension components, brakes and racing wheels for some other project. They probably kept the body around simply because it was too beautiful to junk. Harvey Aschenbrenner's FKE carts are now fantastically expensive collectors items, so this body, which was also built by Harvey (with it's beautiful lines) might actually have more value as another of his creations even more than as an obscure part of Kawasaki history. To tell you the truth, I suspect NOBODY at KHI in Japan has any incling this car was ever built in the first place. I got the impression it was more of a local R&D expense covered by the minnesota engine division's budget. But keep in mind I was only 11 years old at the time :) I am giving permission to include my email address in this public posting: Jeff@Polyradial.com OK, a closer look at the photo convinces me this probably IS the prototype’s body.
The paint scheme of successive bodies would probably not have retained the “1″.
Some of the Kawasaki stenciling might have been removed later after the project
was privatized.

My guess is the chassis was scavenged for the suspension components, brakes and
racing wheels for some other project. They probably kept the body around simply
because it was too beautiful to junk. Harvey Aschenbrenner’s FKE carts are now
fantastically expensive collectors items, so this body, which was also built by Harvey
(with it’s beautiful lines) might actually have more value as another of his creations
even more than as an obscure part of Kawasaki history.

To tell you the truth, I suspect NOBODY at KHI in Japan has any incling this car
was ever built in the first place. I got the impression it was more of a local R&D expense
covered by the minnesota engine division’s budget. But keep in mind I was only
11 years old at the time :)

I am giving permission to include my email address in this public posting:
Jeff@Polyradial.com

]]> By: Jeff D Krause http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/10/kawasaki-race-car-body-found/#comment-267251 Jeff D Krause Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:28:18 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=5723#comment-267251 Hi, I was the source for the original article in Kneeslider. My dad Darrel was the one who commisioned Harvey to build the car for Kawasaki (based on a napkin sketch!). I can tell you that SEVERAL bodies were made, but likely NO additional chassis. A Race-car owner named 'Shorty Long' in Minnesota took over the project from Kawasaki and stored the parts for some time but he did not have the time to properly promote it as a new racing class, or to build additional cars. The body on eBay was likely one of the additional bodies pulled from the mold, not the one on the prototype. But still I'm very impressed this body survived. http://www.polyradial.com/Darrel_Krause.htm Hi, I was the source for the original article in Kneeslider. My dad Darrel was the one
who commisioned Harvey to build the car for Kawasaki (based on a napkin sketch!).
I can tell you that SEVERAL bodies were made, but likely NO additional chassis.
A Race-car owner named ‘Shorty Long’ in Minnesota took over the project from
Kawasaki and stored the parts for some time but he did not have the time
to properly promote it as a new racing class, or to build additional cars.

The body on eBay was likely one of the additional bodies pulled from the mold,
not the one on the prototype. But still I’m very impressed this body survived.
http://www.polyradial.com/Darrel_Krause.htm

]]> By: Tyler http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/05/10/kawasaki-race-car-body-found/#comment-238446 Tyler Tue, 12 May 2009 01:48:54 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/?p=5723#comment-238446 Doesn't fiberglass degrade over time, especially sitting in the sun? I hear people with Tracy bodywork on bikes from the 70's dealing with leaks and cracks more than anything. Still and all, cool concept, heck reproduce it for fun/profit for collectors. Oh and Kwak makes heavy construction equipment, also (Kawasaki Heavy Industries, ya know...) Doesn’t fiberglass degrade over time, especially sitting in the sun? I hear people with Tracy bodywork on bikes from the 70′s dealing with leaks and cracks more than anything.
Still and all, cool concept, heck reproduce it for fun/profit for collectors. Oh and Kwak makes heavy construction equipment, also (Kawasaki Heavy Industries, ya know…)

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