End of a day update, feed up with drawing straight lines, thought i would mess with the chrome tools, need to get these side rails done, asap, virtually got all the bits to start building.

Some ideas on body work, using cardboard and cashew nut resin, with brown paper tape, all sponsors details will be show like postage stamps and postal marking, possible reuse some generic postal labels as well, fixing via dezure and split pins, should be ultralight and very strong.

Some images of the steering rack, although not cut to length, the main elements are in place, very happy with the steering arms, and the bottom pivot.

Got a load of bits today, a little peaved to say the least, the steering boss fits like a glove to the column and the wheel, but totally unsure of the bolting configuration to the column, also the boss had M6 holes, will drill out and tap to M8 and use dome hex for fixing, much neater than bolt,nut and washer.

The spacer collar for the steering tube, did not fit, not sure why, needed to drill that out. All said and done the front steering is nearly finished.

Got seat and front stub axles, need the bits for the rails next.....

Finished the front steering yesterday, have now got a complete, steering column, with knockdown part, the steering rods are attached and the need the steering boss and bottom bearing.

Really could do with the front spindles, i tried making some but they were'nt good enough, back to ebay i guess.

Need to get the other timber rail together then i can start dry assembly on the chassis, still not got the wheels, however i have sourced some good 20" ally rim wheels with disc for £45 posted. Need to get some back ones.

items still to get: kart seat, front spindles/axles, wheels,

Items still to do: assemble chassis, finish front end, machine rear axle, machine hubs.

Will load some images of front steering, need to think about suspension, or at least a way of softening the ride, cushion might be the answer.

Some bits arrived today, steering wheel and front steering damper, need to get the front frame sorted.

Need some left handed rose joints, bought all right!

Need to get some other tube for steerer and the plates cnc for the tie bars and the track rod ends.

The track rod ends are proving a little hard to get cheap, may need to make them, something i was hoping to avoid.

Too tired to type, kids are getting excited and doing some doodles for the body work.

started on the front beam

got some stuff done today, waiting for the van to come back from the workshop, started the front beam, made the tie bars and the steering bars, need some reverse nuts to weld to the bars..... changed the angle, need to redo the drawing to look at the lines.....

here you go...

The kids are taking over the blog, heard J talking to I regards to what Dads doing?

Any hows, got material cut, will start to finish the timber rails and get the wheels sorted, go the steering wheel and the seat done....

Kids want the earth and do so little, no really, J has got the solar PV and will connect to the battery's and inverter, then we will have free power to about 10A, happy days.

Tired going to bed..

Dad

Heloo son here, dad asked me to write what i think about this project and i think at first like everything it was just another idea but then he made this website and took pictures and made a vector works on it so i think he's a very clever man to do that and i don't think it will turn out exactly how he want it but it'll be fun now my feet are aching so goodbye!

Jacob(Son) ;)

Daddy

Said i must do this, thing, not sure why.

Anyway, we are building a go kart, or gravity racing thing, i like the idea, not sure about the speed side of things, still we have some bits, and when stuff is together, i might be excited.

keep posted, on Dads laptop

Imogen

Photos of the setup, now we have a jig though, these were to check the chassis and the wheel size, the height from the floor will be at the regulation height of 40 mm dead on, going to push the dims to the limit.

Still not sure on what offset the wheels should go, in line as its advantages, but wider front and tight back make for interesting look and we can style a housing to cover the rear wheels, only leaving the front un-covered, still not sure....

Starting to get some kart bits, asked a couple of bike suppliers for parts at cost, awaiting a response, may just buy direct from Cannondale and Hope UK, may even try HED.....

front steering

Spent a bit of time today, after lunch whist waiting the other machine to backup, working on the front steering, based on angles that are set up, it looks like i may need to bend the steering arms.

Arms are 12 mm dia, the main steering column is 25 mm dia and the steering plate in 3 mm plate, i have made an allowance for some adjustability in the bolting as well as rod ends.

Need to work out caliper mounts and cable route, i want most of the cabling hidden.

Need to start thinking about the body line as well, still not sure, need to play with some NURB shapes, and see what looks good.

Images of the model so far.

Spec and setting out

Current specs are as following:

Front wheels, disc brakes with either Shimano hubs or hope, with 14-20mm axles.

Rear Wheels, either Cannondale Lefty or Sturmey Archer recumbent hubs.

Tyres Continental slicks

Kart Steering wheel, seat, harness, track rod ends,

Body, un know style, but will be made from laminated recycled carboard over a time frame, may use eco resin, for that whole look, not sure on style, as aerodynamics are not at the front of our minds, again might be a hint of retro hotrod with some styling?

Tried the first of the glue lam beams, changed the profile to 120 mm high by 54 mm wide, jumped on the frame and there was no deflection, need to test again when the ladder frame is made.

Got a couple of lengths of ally tube, will use that for the ladder frame and the roll cage, the only bits so far i will struggle to make or do are the following, bend the front beam, bend and weld the ally tube, machine the front and rear spindles (although if i draw up in CAD will try and get CNC cut) and lathe or tapping work, but essentially i have design the frame to be knocked down and uses bolts were possible.

Set the kids up with an old bench and some wheels to get a idea of scale, found that are some basic guideline, eye height and height from floor which are very important at this point.

Gravity racer

Following a great day out at Newquay airport at the southwest regional heats of Green Power car championships, my kids persuaded by me want to build a gravity racer.

Not sure were to start, i go to the back of the garage and find some spares wheels, from a Mtb and a tagalong.

Looking like its a start, i take some basic dims, to set out the layout.I kind of like the way it looks, going for a contemporary twist on a classic design. Twin rails (in gluelam birch) with a front drop I beam and tie rods, the chassis will have hints of hotrod to it. Find enclosed the first images, only roughs, need to check the regs and the current guidelines.