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Eircooled Soapbox Derby

walshe

Club Member
Club Member
August 3, 2009
569
1
athy
I don't think that would be a good idea Tony. Have you looked at any of the videos on YouTube yet? Be under no illusion that this will be dangerous! A dozen or more karts hurtling down a public road together at speeds in excess of 30/40/50mph depending on the gradient. Wouldn't think it'd be suitable for kids!

Also, because the races are mostly run on public roads the races are held very early (like 7am) on a Sunday morning in order to mitigate any chance of encountering other vehicular traffic on the roads. It is not legal to run a race like this on a public road, hence the "I" for "illegal" in the various federations acronyms around the world. Again, not suitable for kids (barely suitable for adults)...
Been talking with Tim? Lol
 

Kevin O'Brien

Club Member
Club Member
February 18, 2008
1,356
2
Dundalk/Dublin
out of interest, what law would be broken? If we were on bicycles, nobody would blink an eye at a dozen fellas hurtling down a hill. I don't think there are any laws against recumbent bikes but a dozen of those would draw some weird looks.

I would've thought it was the organised race on a public road without the proper permission that would be the questionable part? Hey, I may be wrong on this! If only there was a Garda we could ask...

It turns out the "I" for illegal in the San Fernando Valley lot's acronym is there because it's not governed by the "All America Soapbox Derby" crowd, not because it's actually illegal. So I was wrong about the reason for that :ROFLMAO:
 

kvinyl

Club Member
Club Member
February 20, 2007
4,708
9
Galway
I don't think that would be a good idea Tony. Have you looked at any of the videos on YouTube yet? Be under no illusion that this will be dangerous! A dozen or more karts hurtling down a public road together at speeds in excess of 30/40/50mph depending on the gradient. Wouldn't think it'd be suitable for kids!

Also, because the races are mostly run on public roads the races are held very early (like 7am) on a Sunday morning in order to mitigate any chance of encountering other vehicular traffic on the roads. It is not legal to run a race like this on a public road, hence the "I" for "illegal" in the various federations acronyms around the world. Again, not suitable for kids (barely suitable for adults)...

(y)
 

trev

*****istrator
Admin
November 11, 2007
13,987
1,710
Co. Laois
the steering is going to have to be more advanced than the plank-and-a-rope setup and here's why:



you can see from the video that a high centre of gravity coupled with a narrow track width and tall bicycle wheels all conspire to pitch yer man over all too easily...

same mishap here too:

 

trev

*****istrator
Admin
November 11, 2007
13,987
1,710
Co. Laois
tumblr_maimeun8W01qlp5qwo1_500.jpg


tumblr_m7zdk7ndX31qlp5qwo1_500.jpg


tumblr_m7pi0bi5SC1qlp5qwo1_500.jpg


tumblr_m7b0n6bVs71r977q5o1_500.jpg
 

Kevin O'Brien

Club Member
Club Member
February 18, 2008
1,356
2
Dundalk/Dublin
The centre of gravity on that thing was SO high! The car seat didn't help matters :D

I think bicycle wheels are fundamentally the wrong choice for this type of thing. They're fine in a straight line but impart any kind of lateral force on them and they fold like a deck chair. Wheel from a go kart, wheel barrow, hand truck or anything relatively short with a solid centre would be best I think.

I agree about the steering. Definitely needs to be along the lines of steering wheel, track rods, spindles, etc. I have very old plans for a basic kart from years ago that shows how to make all that from easily available stock. I'll try to dig it out and get it scanned. Otherwise 2nd hand go kart steering parts are available cheaply enough on eBay.

We're having our first team meeting tomorrow at the O'Brien Bros Speed Shop :) Can't wait to get building this thing
 
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trev

*****istrator
Admin
November 11, 2007
13,987
1,710
Co. Laois
I made a start on this today, collected this:

1fc1c1c2db5852e08ffc380475e26336cc2dda721824ff1ec4d3e894261a9dfe.jpg


from a chap after spotting it on adverts.ie .

4 good pneumatic wheels and tyres on it, shockingly poor steering but should be able to salvage some bits from it. Not bad for a tenner.

It'll be lowered, modified and enhanced but should be a good base to build from.
 

kvinyl

Club Member
Club Member
February 20, 2007
4,708
9
Galway
I made a start on this today, collected this:

1fc1c1c2db5852e08ffc380475e26336cc2dda721824ff1ec4d3e894261a9dfe.jpg


from a chap after spotting it on adverts.ie .

4 good pneumatic wheels and tyres on it, shockingly poor steering but should be able to salvage some bits from it. Not bad for a tenner.

It'll be lowered, modified and enhanced but should be a good base to build from.

Is that your first attempt in the background? :p
 

Rocky

Club Member
Club Member
July 10, 2008
2,370
142
North Wexford
0. wacker wacker
22. Kobat79 & Danzig
11. beag
13. trev
76(1). Tsar - Dirty1
666. Kvinyl
7. Riggsi
53. Ross (How am I the first to choose this number??)
100. Colin
999. Mikey.
64. Tony
66. rocky
 

trev

*****istrator
Admin
November 11, 2007
13,987
1,710
Co. Laois
ok, don't forget about the steel coffin. It's a pretty sweet piece of engineering, full suspension. Swish...

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this one's neat too

3205936768_67cb5c1ec4_o.jpg