[Eff-1]

The go-karts of the recently closed F440 track in Tsawwassen will be auctioned in Surrey next month.

The Nov. 3 event will involve a TV crew shooting scenes for The Liquidator, a show on the OLN network that follows the daily deal-making of Jeff Schwarz.

Close to 70 go-karts will be auctioned at the former Teak Marine warehouse, at 19052 26th Ave., along with supplies and equipment from the closed yacht-building business.

The F440 track recently closed to make way for a shopping mall in that area of South Delta.

"The track had been running for a long time and there are a lot of good cars from there, despite a few scuff marks and some dirt on them," Schwarz said. "When something like that has been in operation for close to 20 years, some people just want to buy a piece of that history. We hope so, anyhow."

Schwarz's huge Direct Liquidation warehouse in Burnaby is where most scenes are shot for the TV show, now in its second season.

The East Vancouver-raised Schwarz, who now lives in West Van, got his start in the liquidation biz after he bought the contents of his wife's great aunt's house for $500. Fifty pickup truckloads later, he went about selling all the stuff at weekend flea markets.

To gather material for the TV show, a camera crew follows him around for eight to 10 hours every day.

"As we speak, they (the camera crew) have left me alone, but they're following me today, yeah," Schwarz told the Now. "It does wear you down a bit sometimes. I can lie to you and tell you it's all perfect. At the end of the day, it takes a bit of a character to do this kind of thing, and in a typical day I deal with a motorcycle club one minute, have lunch with a rabbi and then dinner with a priest. And that's true - my life. Every day is something completely different, and that keeps it interesting."

The auction on Nov. 3 in Surrey runs from 9 a.m. to noon.

Read more: 'Liquidator' rolls out go-karts (http://www.thenownewspaper.com/entertainment/Liquidator+rolls+karts/7431369/story.html#ixzz2AHXKUfI1)


Wonder where these will end up.

[kcl38]

RS group buy?

[ThatKoukiKid]

takin the kart to the streets - YouTube

[N8]

^ lol that guy is nuts, good watch!

sucks about F440... anyone know of any comparable karting facilities in the lower mainland? not the indoor 35km max ones...

[AVS_Racing]

I've heard F440's karts are TBC's old karts I wonder if its true, would be fun to have one to rip around at night :lawl:

[k3lv]

Exhil and I went to F440 in early september and the owner/manager seemed to be taking a lot of calls back then for the karts already. I think we heard him say that for 25-28 karts he'd let it go for $30k

[falcon]

The majority of those karts are garbage/bent/broken etc.

[nns]

^What he said.

When I went there, no one told me which cart was mine, there was no talk about safety or what to do if your cart gets stuck, cart had no working seatbelt, etc. It was just really unorganized. I tried 3 different carts. Various speeds, various conditions. All had the same theme: near garbage. Couldn't adjust the seats. Helmets smelled awful too. Which cart is mine? What was my lap time? Who the hell knows.

I've been to TBC a handful of times. Every visit has been consistent. Clear safety procedures, what to do if cart gets stuck, etc. I felt reasonably safe. Sure, it's a smaller track, but i'd trade track size (and maybe some fun) for not having to worry if I'm going to injure myself in the process like at F440.

[Manic!]

He is selling them individually now. I was there in September and he wanted $800 each I think. Sucks it being torn down for another shopping mall.

[twitchyzero]

based on the experience of going to F440 a few times...most of those carts aren't even worth $500 IMO
a real shame the track is closing down though.

[truong]

The junior karts with 9hp engines (jb karts) was TBC indoor racings first fleet of karts, we switched to sodi karts afterwards and never looked back.
F440's "gt" series are the same sodi karts but were purchased in California(to my knowlegde)

As for the "35km" indoor speeds, your more then welcomed to come with a radar gun to clarify what speeds you hit on the back straight.
But seeing how majority of drivers who walk through the door struggle to keep control, I'm extremely hesitant to change the gearing to up the top end speed
Posted via RS Mobile

[truong]

There are a total of 3 karting tracks remaining at this point,
1. TBC (Richmond)
2. Richmond Karting (Richmond)
3. Greg Moore raceway (chilliwack)
Posted via RS Mobile

[SumAznGuy]

As for the "35km" indoor speeds, your more then welcomed to come with a radar gun to clarify what speeds you hit on the back straight.
But seeing how majority of drivers who walk through the door struggle to keep control, I'm extremely hesitant to change the gearing to up the top end speed

Haha, last time I was there, I managed to have the slowest and fastest laps of the group. My cart stalled twice. :okay:
But the new carts are awesome when you let off the gas and hear the exhaust pop right beside your ear. :woot2:

[N8]

The junior karts with 9hp engines (jb karts) was TBC indoor racings first fleet of karts, we switched to sodi karts afterwards and never looked back.
F440's "gt" series are the same sodi karts but were purchased in California(to my knowlegde)

As for the "35km" indoor speeds, your more then welcomed to come with a radar gun to clarify what speeds you hit on the back straight.
But seeing how majority of drivers who walk through the door struggle to keep control, I'm extremely hesitant to change the gearing to up the top end speed
Posted via RS Mobile

Thanks for the clarification, been a years since I've been to TBC, will check it out again.

[falcon]

There are a total of 3 karting tracks remaining at this point,
1. TBC (Richmond)
2. Richmond Karting (Richmond)
3. Greg Moore raceway (chilliwack)
Posted via RS Mobile

Greg Moore can not be compared to TBC or Richmond. Also, there is SIMA owned and operated by Italian Motors in Sumas. I am purchasing a membership there. Unlimited access 5 days a week with my kart. Show up and drive.

[truong]

Greg Moore can not be compared to TBC or Richmond. Also, there is SIMA owned and operated by Italian Motors in Sumas. I am purchasing a membership there. Unlimited access 5 days a week with my kart. Show up and drive.

The question was if there are any other tracks in the lower mainland. Suma's is located in the states.
Posted via RS Mobile

[falcon]

But is closer than Greg Moore and open 5 days a week/6 days in the summer, has rentals (real ones) and GM does not. Still a great track, if you are racing in a series.

[quasi]

My friend bought one of these from the auction, $250. The cart itself is beat up but the motor is pretty much brand new. I'm not sure what he's going to do with it but he's an airplane mechanic and likes to tinker.

[Gridlock]

The question was if there are any other tracks in the lower mainland. Suma's is located in the states.
Posted via RS Mobile

Let's be real...with the level of development, and the nature of the Lower Mainland's pretty much anti-car culture, I don't think the idea of going south of the border for this type of thing should be so unusual. It may just be the answer.

[SumAznGuy]

Let's be real...with the level of development, and the nature of the Lower Mainland's pretty much anti-car culture, I don't think the idea of going south of the border for this type of thing should be so unusual. It may just be the answer.

The anti-car culture is alive and strong in the US, not just the lower mainland.
Yes, going down south for track days has been something that has been done for a long long time, and isn't something that just popped up.

A lot of tracks are getting pressured to close up or put up strict noise limits because of pressure from the neighbours. :okay:

[falcon]

Obviously you don't know what you're talking about. Greg Moore has a very low sound limit, SIMA does not and is a world class facility. New kart tracks are popping up all over the USA and in a week they are meeting in Las Vegas for the SKUSA Supernationals, which has the highest entry count since starting 15 years ago. There are multiple tracks all within a few hours drive from the border.

I chose a membership at SIMA over GM because of the team that runs it (Italian Motors) and the fact it's actually closer than GM to Vancouver. I cross at Aldergrove (coming from Surrey) and it takes me 30mins to get there.

My kart,
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/36553_4223354675604_248807321_n.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I8i_-NvdORo

[SumAznGuy]

Obviously you don't know what you're talking about. Greg Moore has a very low sound limit, SIMA does not and is a world class facility. New kart tracks are popping up all over the USA and in a week they are meeting in Las Vegas for the SKUSA Supernationals, which has the highest entry count since starting 15 years ago. There are multiple tracks all within a few hours drive from the border.

Not sure who you are replying to, but I can tell you that the anti-car culture is definately alive and well in the US. While there are tracks being built, they are being built out in the boonies as you well know. Tracks that are located to the heart of a city, have low tolerance and limited hours of opperation due to noise by-laws and complaints.

[twitchyzero]

A Few Laps Around SIMA - Leopard - Scott Hargrove - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I8i_-NvdORo)

damn that looks so fun...looks like it's even better in the rain
how much does a used entry-level kart go for and how much is membership at sima?

[Phil@rise]

Not sure who you are replying to, but I can tell you that the anti-car culture is definately alive and well in the US. While there are tracks being built, they are being built out in the boonies as you well know. Tracks that are located to the heart of a city, have low tolerance and limited hours of opperation due to noise by-laws and complaints.

The boonies is where the automotive culture is most prevalent here as well as south. Big over populated cities are never the hotbed of gearing activity for a multitude of reasons.

[falcon]

Membership is $500 for the year unlimited track time 5 or 6 days a week depending on the season. Entry level karts can be found used with spares for around $3000.

[abdulclamwacker]

Newbie quetions... Falcon, I'm also interested in getting membership at GM and getting the whole kart package, gear, membership and storage.

It's interesting to say that you're going to sima to do all of this. Do you tow your gear all of the time, or just store it there?

Do you ever goto GM at all?

About the sound noise at GM, from my understanding not many mods can be done anyways, so why is noise an issue at GM?

Feel free to PM me.

Thanks!

[falcon]

I tow across every time, no issues. The Sumas border gaurds are very used to kart guys coming acrss. I chose SIMA because they are a proper buisnuess not a "club" and are open 5 days a week (winter) and 6 days a week in the summer. Basically drop in anytime and go.

[abdulclamwacker]

are you part of any club, or you just go yourself and just do laps? do you do laps with anyone else? do you join events there?

[falcon]

There are race series. With a membership I can show up anytime and hot lap. Usually it's pretty empty during weekdays and I have the track to myself. It's great. My membership to SIMA is basically membership to a club.

[abdulclamwacker]

You're not getting bored of doing it by yourself?

I'm trying to decide wether to buy some old van to drive it around..

Storage seems to be around $300-500/year, and for $1500 I could get some minivan AND lug to the states... hmm..

[GabAlmighty]

Wait, Falcon do you drive a red miata?

[falcon]

Yes.

[GabAlmighty]

Yes.

Do you tow your kart with your miata? If so I think I saw you on the highway eastbound last semester by 200th street.

[falcon]

Yes., that's me. Trailer prob. swaying in the wind aggressively, right?

[GabAlmighty]

Yes., that's me. Trailer prob. swaying in the wind aggressively, right?

For the love of christ that thing scared me, get a longer tongue man haha.

[falcon]

Haha, yeah it scared me too. I've since fixed it, moving the axle back a bit and bringing more weight onto the tounge.