Wednesday, January 11, 2012

tiny cars OOPS... Mobility scooters

It is useful to know the history of vehicles and the alternates to build something worth while. Sydney Australia is planning 40/k per hour speed limits. This plays into the hands of tiny automobiles being light weight and very maneuverable. The size of the engines needs only to be a modest 20 HP. With this comes safer roads as the vehicles would cause less injuries to people. The building of a small automobile must be thought out and the name changed to mobility scooter to circumvent insurance and government laws and take the construction from auto design rules and specialised auto engineers. Hybrid pedal and motor scooters could be used to save massive amounts of fuel.
There are going to be problems on the way as vested interests in cars will not like there profits and lively hoods taken from them. Then there will be the charges levied on us for not using the fuel similar to say management fees like the water and electric companies do now because we have become too efficient.
Solar cars are not far off.
Then as we drive these cars to the city they would be hoisted above the walkways on special racks built for the purpose solving parking problems.
I am dreaming of course and that is how things take shape.
I will treat you to mental stimulation and maybe get some thoughts from readers flowing in the design of our new cycle car...

Monday, January 9, 2012

Making small cars

I was dragged into making small cars kicking and screaming by my son who got what he wanted. Don't get me wrong he worked hard at what he did and was never recognised by the educational system which failed him and me. The only car that I built was the yellow car in a previous post. It was a real cycle car of old. It was even registered to drive on the roads of NSW in Australia. New friends and a load of opportunities were opened by this car. It won the experimental section in the Energy Challenge and transmission development award in the Shell mileage marathon. We beat some big names in the motor racing world along with some high end companies. Why am I going over this again? I really don't know maybe its the introduction to the new project a cheap gravity racer for the illegal gravity racing in Australia. My friend Ray helped in speedway by building and repairing and hopefully getting a drive which he never did, This will fulfill his ambitions to drive in a race because he will probably be better than I would. The new car started out as a home grown lawn mower by VICTA, and has seen better days bought for five bucks from a rubbish tip shop. I am having trouble downloading photos to blogger and will post them as I can. The mower has been cut down and will be stretched by a small amount to fit Ray. The colours will be red and yellow Probably fluro yellow so the oncoming cars will see it.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Foward and reverse gearboxes

Lawnmower gearboxes are good for home made single seat cars. Then there is the gearboxes from outboard motor legs that are forward and reverse and are about 110 degrees from square and are robust enough to put say ten horse power threw the box. The one I have comes from fifteen hp mercury. Using the outboard leg you can use a vertical shaft engine from a mower. This is a series and I will advise you as to what parts to look for and how to modify them.