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Eircooled Soapbox Derby

Jaysus you don't hang around Trev! :lol3: It looks great. All we've got to show for our efforts so far is a lot of hot air, a few arguments and an agreement to steal a shopping trolley.
 
kobat79 said:
Jaysus you don't hang around Trev! :lol3: It looks great. All we've got to show for our efforts so far is a lot of hot air, a few arguments and an agreement to steal a shopping trolley.
Click to expand...

Why steal one, sure they're only a euro each in lidl....:D
 
jOLAvw.jpg


Love this.

Will there be many corners? trying to decide between bicycle wheels or something smaller.
 
I think bicycle wheels would be a liability, you're likely to pick up the odd bump or two from fellow racers, bike wheels look a bit vulnerable and are no good in cornering when used upright. The other problem with bike wheels is they have to be supported on both sides unless you can fabricate some kind of stub axle to do the job.

The large diameter is attractive in terms of reducing rolling resistance but I think the cons outweigh the pros.

That blue pedal kart above won't be used now (taken a different direction, so to speak!) so if anyone wants it, reimburse the tenner I paid for it and its yours. The wheels and tyres are worth more than that.
 
You lads are thinking way ahead of me here! I was going to go for a very simple machine here consisting of a few planks of wood and that. But sure feck it, if I'm in, I'm in. What I'll do is make a machine with an engine which the engine can easily be removed from. I've an old Briggs 275cc horizontal crank engine down in Wexford that's dying to get a bit of use!
 
no point in over complicating things Ross, it's just a simple gravity race.

But yours better be built with the best of aerospace technology...
 
so who's going to push the boat out and build a mini-VW as their soapbox?

here's some inspiration:

IMG_0694.jpg.w560h420.jpg


025352852-big.jpg


or a miniature something else:

DSC_0455.JPG


DSC_0452.JPG
 
I'm with you Trev, I have already started. spindles are looking good and full 1:1 body scale drawings printed. I'm getting carried away.
trev said:
so who's going to push the boat out and build a mini-VW as their soapbox?

here's some inspiration:

IMG_0694.jpg.w560h420.jpg


025352852-big.jpg


or a miniature something else:

DSC_0455.JPG


DSC_0452.JPG
Click to expand...
 
I'm wondering who will be the first to lower theirs on fuchs!

As for the engine, I'm thinking really simple. Solid rear axle with a pulley on it for a belt, pulley on the engine crankshaft, 3rd pulley attached to an overcentre arm which is used to apply tension to the belt and function as a clutch and away I go! Unbolt the engine and that's it. Back to a soapbox racer! I'm getting all these mad ideas now that I've gotten a taste for welding.
 
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