Over the 60 plus years that QMA has been sanctioning Quarter Midget racing in the United States and Canada, there have only been a limited number of engines allowed. When QMA was first created the Continental / Detroit Continental (Deco) model #s AU7R, 717, DE7R, and DE2R single cylinder engines were selected as the exclusive engines for all cars. The Deco engine eventually went out of production, and through years of racing, became a scarce commodity. For a period of time the Clinton model # 404-1164-320 motor was added to the list of allowable engines, however this engine was removed as an allowable engine around 1990. Around the same time that the Clinton engine was dropped, the Briggs and Stratton Model # 82352 was added. This Briggs and Stratton engine is considered to be competitive with, and races in the same stock class as the Deco block "Stock" engine. In 1994 the QMA Decided to add the Honda GX120-K1H2. The Honda engine has generated it's own separate classes with a $450.00 claimer rule. The claimer rule is intended to keep car owners from driving competitors out of racing through high dollar engine work - anyone spending over $450.00 is going to lose their investment for $450 or a brand new factory engine.
As told by our former engine builder Joe Isaac many years ago, the Deco engine was originally built for the navy to be used with an engine preheating system for the planes carried aboard ship. It is my understanding that when the engine was no longer needed by the navy, production of the engine came to a halt and has never been resumed.
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For more history on the Continental Motor click here
For a look at a Deco technical Manual click here
This page last modified May 31, 2001 11:45 PM