Okay, it doesn't look like much yet, but you are witnessing the birth of the long-promised 'Fruit Loop'. You'll be able to tell your grandkids "I remember when that kart was just two trollies and a wheel in the driveway".
Pretty impressive angle grinder work though...
The first offical race of the AIGRF has been run and won. The 'Death Machine' did in fact kill us. Five starters lined up in perfect conditions, cheered on by a further eighteen pit crew, camera operators, radar gun shooters and general hangers on. Special thanks must go to the man on the corner who moved his truck off the course than sat with his family out the front to watch the action and the WWII veteran checking his mail who entertained us with his recollections of racing billy carts along the deck of an aircraft carrier during the war.
First race is trophy race, with results as follows:
Superkart 3000 went on to win the second heat and got second in the third heat despite starting from the second row of the grid. That kart flies!
The three karts built from Supercheap trollies suffered from supercheap bearings, especially 23, but they're dialled in now, so look out come race two!
Check the action here.
Weighing in at 28.5 kilos, the Blue Bandit is a force to be reckoned with. With only a steering wheel and brake lines between it and it's completion, this marvel of engineering excellence will dominate the AIGRF circuit.
Sporting a sleek tubular steel construction and...
...chrome tipped exhaust, this blue beauty will surely turn heads.
Manufacture Date: 09/09/07. Current Top Speed: 1 kph.
Just testing the brakes, and what better time to do that but at night in the rain. Then you know if they really work.
The body's off for the moment and this is how it looks. You'll notice the brake is on the wrong side and doesn't have much clearance to the ground. This will sometimes happen when you make stuff up as you go along and weld upside down. All fixed up now though and goes unreal.
A mere taste of things to come. It may not look like much at the moment, but this is destined to be the fastest thing on four wheels with no motor.
Again using the classic SuperCheap $19.95 hand trolley chassis.
Still to come are brakes, a floor, body attachment, a cool keg for the front and, of course, a flamed paint job. Watch out.
Introducing 'Number 23', a two seater billy cart for twice the fun.
Work is already quite advanced, with only a few minor tweaks required.
The passenger seat will hold the co-pilot/camera operator.
Two $19.95 hand trollies from SuperCheap = 4 wheels and a chassis.
Steering is sorted and also virtually bulletproof.
Brakes are a requirement, but aren't expected to get much use.
Details, details. Hand made chain steering wheel.
Go-faster lucky dice valve caps.
Bask in its glory!
...you can never go back.
'Death Machine' has undergone speed trials and handling testing at a top secret location. Not only does it look unreal, it goes bloody fast! Driven by multiple test pilots, it averaged speeds of 55km/h.
But, when the Illustrated Man got behind the wheel, he managed a tarmac blistering 65km/h!
Very excite!
