Sharing details and photos from my cyclekart build. Inspiration is the Austin Seven 'White Rabbit', a special which was rebuilt from the wreck of a prior racer in the mid 1930's and went on to (believe it or not) race at LeMans in 1937 or so.
Build page for a 1930s Amilcar inspired Cyclekart. First time builder so the learning curve is steep.
The inspiration for this build is the Blower Bentleys of the early 1930's. One of the most iconic car of the pre-war racers. The Blower Bentley was developed to replace the Bentley six, a huge and heavy car which Ettore Bugatti once famously referred to as "the world's fastest lorry"
The addition of the blower to the 130hp 4 1/2 litre engine, increased power to a massive 240hp, easily besting the power made from the Six but with a fraction of the weight. But whilst the power was formidable, it came at the cost of reliability. Bentley’s Racing Manager, Nobby Clarke once said: “The Blower eats plugs like a donkey eats hay”.
AC/DC singer and car enthusiast Brian Johnson cited the 4½ Litre Le Mans as the best car he'd driven: "The first time I saw it, everything went north on us, except me jaw – that went south. I just had to have it. That car, I think, is a masterpiece… It was ludicrously expensive – I mean, just crackers."
My second Cyclekart build and another Brooklands era boat-tailed car. There's just something about those sleek lines.
The fist thing I noticed about the Alpha Romeo P2, apart from its classical stance, was the way that the chassis rails follow the aerofoiled body while remaining flush with the outer skin, even as chassis bows up and over the rear axle.
I decided to include the original car's chassis design into my Cyclekart design. which may or may not be a wise decision for a first time builder. Not that I don't have any fabrication experience. My shed is full of half finished project that my family would love to take you for a tour of if you tell them I'm starting a new one.
The CKP2 will be construct of an original steel chassis which will hopefully be rigid enough to pass a torsion and beaming test (a 100+kg man jumping up and down). If strength needs to be added I will add some space frame elements hidden within the body.
The wheel at this stage will be 17-1.60 Chinese pit bike rims with 17-2.50 trail type tyres. I will upgrade these later if they don't cut the Mustard (or if they don't corner and run straight through someone's picnic lunch and accidently do cut the mustard).
The seat will be dropped slightly through the chassis rails and I have enough space between the chassis rails to achieve this.
At this stage I'm thinking a live rear axle driving both rear wheels with no diff, which is a a deviation from the original Alpha Romeo P2 but this is not set in concrete. (so only part Italian then??).
The body skins will be formed aluminium unless it gets too hard. In this case some sections may be fibreglass formed over a shaped foam form.
Anyway better get to work on it. I'll keep this page updated as I go.
Cheers
working with Inscape FreeCad and LibreCad trying to work out size and wheel base very generic nothing set in stone my main issue will be width and length it trial & error time
Hi all.
Been a long time coming, and a couple of years collecting parts, but I'm finally ready to start on my first Cyclekart. I have enough parts to make 2, but I'm hoping to make 4 so we call enjoy them. I may start a YouTube channel for this build, I'll see how I go. Just pics for now.
I'm in Sth East Victoria. Anyone local wanting to get together and give each other a chop out here and there, and talk shop, drop me a line.
Well you’ve piqued my interest.. Heading down the rabbit hole of research and resources..
Have some images.. And a few ideas..
Cheer’s Tim
My Cyclekart is nearing completion. Pretty well only need paint and upholstery . I will start uploading build photos to show what I've been up to.since June 2023.
I'm interested in meeting with any NSW enthusiasts. It would be good to get a few of these Karts together
I have built a cyclekart. I would like to meet or at least have contact with other members. I have a paddock which may suit while the group is small. Cheers Swifty
Just finished exhaust made from plumbing pipes cut off the joining pieces and melted together with a soldering iron a little bit of builders bog coat of paint
