Eircooled Soapbox Derby

[Kevin O'Brien]

Jaysus you don't hang around Trev! 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.

 

[trev]

I'm only messin, that's not mine at all!!!

some more inspiration here:

http://www.downhillmisfits.com/id14.html

 

[beag]

Jaysus you don't hang around Trev! 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.

Why steal one, sure they're only a euro each in lidl....

 

[Kevin O'Brien]

I'm only messin, that's not mine at all!!!

Ah, I thought the wheels looked like the ones off that donor you dragged home the other day! Plus it seemed entirely plausible to me that a man of your skills would have knocked that up on a Sunday avo.

 

[Kevin O'Brien]

Why steal one, sure they're only a euro each in lidl....

Fuck that, we're on a budget.

 

[colin]

Love this.

Will there be many corners? trying to decide between bicycle wheels or something smaller.

 

[trev]

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.

 

[RattyOval]

how long is it Trev. might be interested

 

[trev]

http://www.pedalcarshop.co.uk/ferbedo-air-runner-ar-1-go-kart-red/p373

Go-Kart: L102cm x W58cm x H64cm

 

[RattyOval]

http://www.pedalcarshop.co.uk/ferbedo-air-runner-ar-1-go-kart-red/p373

Go-Kart: L102cm x W58cm x H64cm

Sound. I'll grab that from you.

 

[kvinyl]

I'm only messin, that's not mine at all!!!

some more inspiration here:

http://www.downhillmisfits.com/id14.html

ahh, can I take back my 'like' so...

 

[Endfloat]

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!

 

[EvilMonkley]

Where we're going we won't need engines.

 

[trev]

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...

 

[wackerwacker]

there is some pics of the vee i took
yesterday

it is about 3 miles long and a layby every mile or so

 

[trev]

that'll do nicely!!!

7AM on a sunday morning there shouldn't be too many cars on the road

 

[trev]

so who's going to push the boat out and build a mini-VW as their soapbox?

here's some inspiration:

or a miniature something else:

 

[kvinyl]

I was planning on setting my sights a little lower...

 

[Tony]

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.

so who's going to push the boat out and build a mini-VW as their soapbox?

here's some inspiration:

or a miniature something else:

 

[Endfloat]

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.