Rhys and I are building ‘The Beast of Turin’. I know what your thinking ‘Are they trying to build the biggest cyclekart on Earth’?
Using one of the many side views available on-line and a side elevation plan (also on-line) I enlarged the side elevation drawing so that the wheels were 24” in diameter, the O/D of the 17” Honda wheels.
What resulted was a surprise, the wheelbase was just 66” so we could get a fairly scale like appearance, in proportion to the wheels, the originals being very narrow too.
OK, it's a bit tall, but sitting in a wooden tub bolted to the inside of the chassis rails you should just about see over the bonnet. It looks a real character!
Unlike my GP Renault this one was going to be very simple. (apart from the fact that its chain driven and we want the outside sprocket and chains on show).
Handling is the primary focus of our attention, in particular accuracy of steering. No more under-steer and easily induced and controllable over-steer when it’s wanted are our main aims. Smooth and controlled drifting around the bends is what we are after, both on and off the tarmac. 7.5hp is not a lot but we might tweak that up to ten or 12.
Engine and transmission are going to be very important. Acceleration, instant response to throttle and a competative top speed are the goals. Thanks for the offer Anton but we won’t need the Nitrus Oxide. (just joking).
We are trying a new basic chassis design using much lighter (20 X 60 X 1.5 RHS and three 35mm diameter round tube section cross members.
Six mm ply will form the tub and all the bulkheads with as much material removed as possible to maintain the shape and rigidity. Body panels will be very thin aluminium sheet and the tail cone will be plank on frame like model boats hulls.
Actually, I started drawing this up ages ago and unlike with the Renault, I will be keeping this thread up to date with lots of piccies and all my drawings and our thought-processes in the design and build.
I will include the bits where you make it up as you go along too. We’ve had some of that already of course.
Right then! Off we jolly well go.
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