ZIP KART
The Zip kart story began in North London when Mark Hines (Martin's father) used his demobilization money from WWII to start a bicycle shop. In this shop he built bicycle frames some of which competed in the famed Tour De France race. Later, Mark Hines purchased all the assets from a local kart shop that was closing business. In 1962, Martin Hines got his first kart, a Tab Kart powered by a 100cc Clinton engine. In 1964, Martin entered into a business partnership with his father under the name Mart's Karts. From this point they set out to acquire rights to a kart design and begin manufacturing. They found a man by the name of Alec Bottoms who built a kart chassis that was known as the Zipper. Martin persuaded him to transfer the production rights and Zip Kart was born.
To my knowledge, Zip Karts were first imported to the United States by Manteca Motors Sales (Jerry Knapp, former IKF governor & president) in 1972. That year at the 1972 IKF Grand Nationals Zip karts won B Open (Lake Speed) and Stock Appearing Jr (Dave Knapp). Later that competition year MMS started developing a chassis closely based on the 72 Zip Californian, it was called the Invader kart.
In approximately 1980, the bothers Doug & Greg Mayr operating as Franklin Motorsports started importing Zip road race karts that pretty much kicked off the 125 shifter craze in the USA. FMS also imported the full range of Zip Karts in addition to the road race superkarts.
To my knowledge, Zip Karts were first imported to the United States by Manteca Motors Sales (Jerry Knapp, former IKF governor & president) in 1972. That year at the 1972 IKF Grand Nationals Zip karts won B Open (Lake Speed) and Stock Appearing Jr (Dave Knapp). Later that competition year MMS started developing a chassis closely based on the 72 Zip Californian, it was called the Invader kart.
In approximately 1980, the bothers Doug & Greg Mayr operating as Franklin Motorsports started importing Zip road race karts that pretty much kicked off the 125 shifter craze in the USA. FMS also imported the full range of Zip Karts in addition to the road race superkarts.
