The Fingertight Racing Sidecar Project

[Moooools]

You all seem to have really great ideas and technical know how, build something and show us how it should be done.
Like Henk said we just want bums on chairs and to make 8 laps with out subjecting our swingers to the joy of pushing a rig from the far end of the track, that's it.
This should be the year bucket sidecars come back from the dead, I hope to see you all on the track

I would absolutely love to build one. I have a spare FXR engine and access to a full workshop. I just don't get time and end up playing racecar far too much so I thought I would leave my musings which inadvertently started a shit storm. My apologies.



Also on the monocoque thing why not carbon fibre? Just make a big flat sheet that folds up to the right shape with aluminium bungs where things get bolted in. No harder than ali just a little bit more expensive.

[Drew]

Also on the monocoque thing why not carbon fibre? Just make a big flat sheet that folds up to the right shape with aluminium bungs where things get bolted in. No harder than ali just a little bit more expensive.

It's been done for a full size long bike overseas. Mr LCR himself is reported to have gone over to have a look. He was then heard to say, "It's very pretty, but not necessary". Or words to that effect.

[koba]

I'm thinking about a larger diameter tube rolled from sheet, say about 200-250mm dia. Where anything is bolted to it there would be a section of heavier gauge rolled section fitted inside.

I was thinking along similar lines, kind of like how an old Volkswagen Chassis is constructed in my mind, although implementing that in a sidecar would end up with something totally different.

The Griffiths one is built out of old driveshafts.

[Kickaha]

It's been done for a full size long bike overseas. Mr LCR himself is reported to have gone over to have a look. He was then heard to say, "It's very pretty, but not necessary". Or words to that effect.

Windle built 3 ( I think) Alloy is more fixable, crash a carbon fibre one and you throw away the whole tub, alloy one you just replace the munted section

Basically harder to build, more expensive to fix and harder to repair

[swarfie]

Cheers all sort of confirmed what I was already thinking. I was already looking at the Yokohama as a new tire option. Mooools interesting info on the Hoosier slick. I am a bit afraid to ask what the cost may be based on the price list I found on the US site. Gazzza I also found the info on the AMS tire and agree it looked like an option. Didnt look that hard at where one cold get one though.



Not surprised at all. I would imagine this tire was old when that happened. I found a part number on the rim that dates it back to the 1960's or 70's.

What are peoples thoughts on the side wheel? My feeling is for what we are doing it is not going to make a huge difference if there is a 25 year old cross ply, or something more modern. Side wheel is stock mini 3.5x10, so my option will be real limited anyway.

Also found a spacer for my left overs container that seems to fit the front wheel nicely, so after cleaning up all the burred metal faces, and giving the disk a tickle up with the flapper disks on the grinder and then giving it some treatment on the concrete drive, as well as the pads (first dirty marks on the new drive, strangely satisfying that was), I think I have solved that issue and probably made the front end a bit stifffer as well.

Just discovered this thread...I have a 10" 165/70 Yokohama Advan 032R sitting in my garden shed that still has some usefull tread. Missus wants it gone from HER garden shed...Hahaha. Was on the Beemer when Jo and I were racing it. Whats more its free to a good home if someone wants to come and retrieve it. PM me if anyone is interested

[Pumba]

Just discovered this thread...I have a 10" 165/70 Yokohama Advan 032R sitting in my garden shed that still has some usefull tread. Missus wants it gone from HER garden shed...Hahaha. Was on the Beemer when Jo and I were racing it. Whats more its free to a good home if someone wants to come and retrieve it. PM me if anyone is interested

Pick Me! Pick Me! Besides I am probably the closest to pick it up any way. PM being sent.

[swarfie]

Pick Me! Pick Me! Besides I am probably the closest to pick it up any way. PM being sent.

Haha...that didn't take long...you're welcome..PM replied

[Grumph]

I was thinking along similar lines, kind of like how an old Volkswagen Chassis is constructed in my mind, although implementing that in a sidecar would end up with something totally different.

The Griffiths one is built out of old driveshafts.

Google or find info on the Renwick built outfits from the mid/late 70's. The Boret bros one with a Koenig was probably the most successful. Large tube - 4 inch OD - with wishbone front ends. They were the direct ancestors of todays long bikes although they were all short layout. Relatively simple to fabricate.

[Kickaha]

[Kickaha]

Something a bit more Bucket sized,all hand built including the motor by Alain Zurcher



Weighs in at 135kg and runs 6inch Kart wheels

[Gazzza]

Is there anything in our rules to say we can or can't run two wheels at the front?

[haydes55]

Is there anything in our rules to say we can or can't run two wheels at the front?

Like a can-am spyder layout?

[Henk]

Like a can-am spyder layout?

I think Gazza means two wheels at the front making four all up. Two at the front can am style is illegal. The four all up I'm not so sure about.

[haydes55]

I think Gazza means two wheels at the front making four all up. Two at the front can am style is illegal. The four all up I'm not so sure about.

Well 4 wheels would be a quad bike, not a sidecar.

I haven't read the bucket sidecar rules but at speedway, the rules start by saying "a sidecar is a 3 wheeled speedway motorbike..."

[Pumba]

Is there anything in our rules to say we can or can't run two wheels at the front?

Hmmm, well my interpretation is that our rules talk but front, rear, and side axles with no mention of wheels. I see nothing stopping having more than one wheel per axle. As long as it complies with the realities dimension rules.