[Seven racer]

5th March 2022  is a historic day for UK Cyclekarts. Having just returned from the first meeting to formalise the status of the previously ad-hoc arrangements of events it marks the start of a new era for UK cyclekarting.
Particular thanks are due to the founding group of UK Cyclekarters, who have not only put the UK scene on a form footing, but inspired new builders like me with help and advice.

But that's not the only bit of history being made today, it seemed an appropriate time to break cover with my cyclekart build, as the part finished chassis was at the Gaydon meet today.

Starting on Wednesday, in the form of a build diary covering the last 9 months, is the weekly progress of my build to date, and hopefully all the way up to completion.
There's a brief prequel video on YouTube, to introduce myself, and the kart build, you are welcome to come and join me on the journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fblmtn3Bwd0

So wish me luck, the updates will be a week apart, on Wednesdays, I already have several months of video completed.
Next Wednesday I'm kicking off with an introduction, to give an idea of who I am, what makes me tick.

Peter

[Seven racer]

Having done a brief Introduction and idea of who I am, and where I'm coming from last week,

https://youtu.be/qI9dxM6QokM

I am introducing my 'Inspirational car' this week. If you do nothing else check out the Austin Motors footage from 1936 at about 14 minutes in, it's well worth a watch.


https://youtu.be/WJG9lWgFPjY



Peter

[Seven racer]

Week 3 May 2021
having established that I was going to build a cyclekart, I'm showing how I got the full sized plans sorted. Being a model maker first, and cyclekart builder second, means I have some conflict, as I want to make a scale model of my inspirational car, but I know I won't then fit in it, so there will have to be compromise, but hopefully not too much.

.https://youtu.be/R7ku7QCCmns

Peter

[RhysN]

Hi Peter,  was interested to see the JZR. I bought a very basic kit of bits from John Ziemba, shipped it to NZ and built it up to roadworthy an used it for a few years. It was then bought by a guy in Australia who messed with it, he installed a Harley, then wrote me an email to say he ad "stuffed up a really good car and made a pig". (Stuffed was not the word he used.)
Good luck with the 7.

[Seven racer]

I have done a few uploads of the build diaries since the last post, firstly almost a year ago, I had to resolve the issues of nowhere to build, nowhere to store, and no means to transport a cyclekart,

https://youtu.be/VLJxrWrgGrQ

and I'm happy to report that the solutions to build and storage appear to have been sorted

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Next up was to see if I could fit in such a small car,

https://youtu.be/diTlxgAf0ys

And then I finally pushed the button on some frivolous purchases to get some commitment.

https://youtu.be/SwVi_9uAfx8

And it's almost a year to the day that I have finally built one of those purchases into the nosecone.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Things are starting to move on the cyclekart now, with pretty much all of the front end resolved and getting assembled for the last time before I can get a rolling chassis tested.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

And don't get upset about the Suzuki 600 in the front, it's only for a dummy engine!

Peter

[Seven racer]

Well a year ago to the day I sat in the garage in a collection of scrap plywood, to see of an 80% scale twin cam was viable.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Progress has not been as quick as I hoped, but there was a major milestone achieved today, we have a rolling chassis.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

And  more importantly I can get in and out - just.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Peter

[Applejack]

Looking good Peter, like the front axle set up. How did you make the front grill.   Graham A.

[Seven racer]

quote author=Applejack link=topic=777.msg7112#msg7112 date=1656092533]
Looking good Peter, like the front axle set up. How did you make the front grill.   Graham A.
[/quote]

It's still a work in progress, but it's essentially a cake cooling rack. The problem is that it's a weave, but the pieces are only attached at the perimeter of the frame  so it tends to fall apart when you cut it up.



At present it's held together with a mix of cyno or solder at the intersections, but holding the grille in place is the current job. I've cut a thin plywood ring to fit in the cowl, but we're not quite there yet.

Peter

[Seven racer]

The cowl itself is glassfibre, from a plaster, foam and plywood buck, from which the nosecone was laid up.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Peter



Peter

[Chris L]

Well a year ago to the day I sat in the garage in a collection of scrap plywood, to see of an 80% scale twin cam was viable.

(Attachment Link)

Progress has not been as quick as I hoped, but there was a major milestone achieved today, we have a rolling chassis.

(Attachment Link)

And  more importantly I can get in and out - just.

(Attachment Link)

Peter

Well done Peter. A top achievement 

[StefanN]

It’s looking great, we’ll done.  I’m looking forward to seeing it “in person”

[Tinworm]

Hello Peter
Your build is looking outstanding!
Very light!

-all the best
Peter Tinworm

[Seven racer]

Fingers crossed on the weight front Peter.

I had a preliminary tot up of the bits last weekend, and  it's currently sitting at around 85kgs. To that I have to add the bonnet, side Dibond panels, fibreglass tail, engine mounts, and brakes, so I shouldn't be a mile over my 100kg target weight for a rolling chassis.

I'm currently trying to keep it all as low as possible, though shoehorning the engine in a tiny tail may mean I have to compromise and mount it above the axle rather than behind. - I did play with mounting it under the axle, but it drops the ground clearance to 'stupidly low'.

Peter

[Seven racer]

The day has been spent putting the cockpit sides together, complete with hinging flap as per the original.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

The blister on the other side will have to wait until I know I have a working rolling chassis, on with the greasy bits now.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]


I didn't want to get into engine mounting until I knew I would fit in the cockpit. It's tight, but workable, so I have now set the wheelbase, and can get on with the mechanicals.

Peter

[Seven racer]

A bit too warm to be working on the kart today, but another small step forward.

The steering column, which I was dreading doing, is more or less in. I had it welded up before I really had a chance to think through how I was going to fit it. Consequently there is a Pitman arm on one end, and a quick release boss on the other, so mounting it needed some thought.

A quick delve into the box of old socket sets has found a universal joint, and an extension bar, which was cut down to fit into the end of the shaft. The whole thing has been mounted onto the front cross member, and seems pretty solid, it will just need a grease every now and then.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

At the other end an old pipe hanger is just awaiting a small bush and a split collar to stop it all from pulling spart.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Just waiting for the collar and with a couple of rod ends I can connect the steering up.

Peter