The Barney Hogan Kart
| 14 March 2016 |
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Having raced in the mid-1980s, first as a junior, then as a senior, Vas Filips returned to the sport a couple of years back, and is now a regular on the vintage karting scene. A while back, he was re-united with a machine that held great significance to him - the Barney Hogan Kart. This is his story.
Above: Barney's kart, fully restored - but with just the one engine
pic - Filips
by Vas Filips
About 14 months ago I got a call from a good mate of mine, Barney Hogan. Barney, for those non-Victorians, is a true legend of karting, racing from the late 70s through to the late 90s.
In the early 90s, fed up with messing about, he decided to buy the best chassis he could and engines to match. From the International meet at Oran Park he purchased from the Tony Kart factory team the kart used that race meet by the soon to be World Champion Johnny Mislijevic. Soon after he was lucky enough to find this ex-factory Jarno Trulli engine along with some others.
The kart was raced for a short period of time as a single before Barney built it into a twin.
Many may remember that beast, twin Vortex engines mounted piggy back style on the right ride. The kart was insane, being clocked at almost 150km at Geelong and went on to finish 2nd and 3rd at the Aust Championships.
The kart was then returned to a single for a few races before Barney retired from karting.
The kart sat in his shed rusting away for almost 20 years before he asked if I could restore it for him. I was a little shocked as even though we are great friends in all those years the kart was never mentioned and I had no idea he still had it.
Above: Many years of dust and rust
Anyhow, I went to Barney's and sure enough in a little shed covered in crap was this kart, not in great condition, but when I saw the engine and the story of the thing I realised that this was a piece of history.
Growing up, Barney was like a father to me, racing most weekends, as a family friend he looked after me like a son. I dont think I ever raced without Barney around. For years he did this and its something I will never forget, the best days of my life. So the oportunity to restore the kart for him was an honor.
I hope you guys enjoy the kart, it is something else. In a final twist, after seeing how much time I had put into the restoration, and in true Barney style he gave me the kart. It will now live next to the DAP in the lounge, never to be used and remain a tribute to a great man and karting legend. :)
Above: The kart survives today with the ex-Jarno Trulli 100cc Vortex rotary valve engine fitted. Vas says he is about to restore the engine mount that allowed this rocket to run as a Twin Super 200 with two engines mounted piggy-back on the right hand side.
I would like to thank the following people for sevices, parts or just good advice involved with this project: Mark Vukusic, Steve Ikin, Bob Uhlhorn, Graham Powles, Glenn Davidson, Toby Hopton and the Euro Crew. Special thanks to Neil McAuley for looking after the engine. After 12 months work, I hope you guys think it was worth me being a pain. The aim was to restore it as raced by Barney, while preserving it former history. My personal aim was to complete the kart to the highest standard.
Above: Original 'Trulli' marking from way back. "I was worried I would lose it when I had the engine hydro blasted" Vas said. "Luckily, Neil (McAuley) made a tight fitting patch to cover it and it worked a treat. That is still the original writting, I have not done a thing to it. I was bloody happy after removing the patch and seeing it still as it should be! I did do a sketch in clear paper just in case."
