The city of Finlay in Ohio is known as Flag City USA; however those that have knowledge of the early days of American kart racing know about Findlay for a totally different reason. Findlay was the city where SAE karts were originally built beginning towards the end of 1957 in premises located at 305 Taylor Street.

Article and Photos Frank Weir except where credited

ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF KARTING

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Solt Automotive Engineering or SAE for short was first and foremost back in 1957 an automobile repair garage operated by Russell Solt a gifted engine builder. Russell and his son Jerry first tried out a kart in 1957. After that kart ride the Solts were converted to the new fangled motor sport sweeping the country at that time. They decided to build a kart but thought that they could make something a little better than the model they had driven. One of the initial modifications made by the Solts to their kart was to install a axle despite the fact that they were told that it would not work; but as history has confirmed it of course did. The rear end modification that the Solts incorporated into their kart made them the first at far as they were aware to use a live axle, certainly in their area.

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1. SAE dirt model, note the corner weight altering device on the left front wheel, remember it is left turn only (LTO) on the dirt.

2. SAE serial number indicating that the kart was number 24 made on August 12, 1961.

3. Solt Speedway located at the home of SAE karts in rural Ohio. Photo: SAE Speedway.

4. Jerry demonstrating just how comfortable his 6 feet 4 inches frame fits in the SAE; note the way the engine crankshaft is positioned behind the rear axle centre line.

5. Lightweight SAE swing mount post 2015.

Building one kart led to another and then another and by early 1960 the Solt family were in the kart manufacturing business. The automobile repair garage that Russell Solt had operated in Findlay since 1946 was transformed into a kart manufacturing facility producing SAE karts.

In 1953 prior to becoming a kart designer and manufacturer Jerry Solt was a student at the General Motors Institute of Technology in Flint Michigan now Kettering University. Jerry declined an opportunity to become an engineer at Cadillac and went home to Findlay to start making karts.