The Fingertight Racing Sidecar Project

**Henk** · 11th March 2014, 19:28

Originally Posted by koba

That is quite scary!

Thanks though, couldn't have got

with your rig still going!

I'm not sure we would have won it without him having problems, he was making that thing proper wide for the first five laps or so.

**mr bucketracer** · 11th March 2014, 20:01

pumba getting it on with the sidecar

**Pumba** · 15th March 2014, 20:53

Well stripped it all apart today and there has been a shit load of force go thorough the frame as front engine mount is event a little bent.

Will get it all welded and braced and it will be up and running again in no time.

**Drew** · 16th March 2014, 08:35

Originally Posted by Pumba

Well stripped it all apart today and there has been a shit load of force go thorough the frame as front engine mount is event a little bent.

Will get it all welded and braced and it will be up and running again in no time.

After talking with Alan about his time on a bucket sidecar, I dunno if there's any point in following my earlier advice of a swingarm front end. He reckons they're all so shit and ill handling, there'd be no advantage.

**koba** · 16th March 2014, 18:28

Originally Posted by Drew

After talking with Alan about his time on a bucket sidecar, I dunno if there's any point in following my earlier advice of a swingarm front end. He reckons they're all so shit and ill handling, there'd be no advantage.

Yeah, at times it feels like springs may help but I think Karts are the example to follow for the application.

**Drew** · 16th March 2014, 18:53

I am still undecided what I'll build.

**Pumba** · 16th March 2014, 20:10

Thought out suspension has to be of some benefit, in particular on the rigs running the 10 inch wheels. For those that Brenton has built with the kart wheels and tyres I am not sure that you would achieve all that much.

I am still in two minds myself.

After what happened on the weekend, looking at some of the things that have bent, and observing the photos that Chris took their is some weird shit going on in the front end of my chair (I am sure no one is surprised by that statement). Add to that its age and the hard life I know it has had and I will admit I have lost a little faith in it, or I am over thinking shit (wouldn't be the first time). But it should be all good once it is fixed. Just not sure I am going to spend a lot of time or money developing it any further

I have a couple of solid idea for a new rig that I am going to out my efforts into. My plans revolve around sticking to the short bike format with the big wheels and a FXR motor. Plan would be to have it running for the GP next year, but I guess that will be very $ dependant, and time bit to a much lesser extent.

**NinjaNanna** · 17th March 2014, 19:41

Originally Posted by Pumba

I will admit I have lost a little faith in it, or I am over thinking shit (wouldn't be the first time).

weld the biatch back up and get on with it - oh yeah and lay off the pies

**jibberwobble** · 15th May 2014, 16:52

Hi all

I've been reading through this thread in odd moments for a couple of days and it's been quite entertaining to see that you lot are pretty much a carbon copy of we're doing over here with small chair racing and knocking stuff up in sheds with whatever comes to hand.

I agree with many of the theories discussed here and disagree with others (as anyone would I guess) but wont stick my oar in as I'm no expert myself. One thing is for sure though as far as handling goes, a chair cant be expected to handle symmetrically and rights are taken in a different way to lefts. Lefts are just WAAAAHHHHHH on my outfit, full gas and big smile. For the rights you have to get it squirming around on the brakes on the way in with passenger almost climbing across my back to get the weight on the front wheel. Before understanding the handling I was ending up pushing on and running wide in all the rights. Now we get our front tyre almost too hot to hold your hand on after 10 laps!

Brilliant thread though Pumba, loving the pictures of the more exotic creations.

What are your engine size limits again? ......... I guess this is where I need to go off and have a look for some rules!!!!!!

Not had a proper look around on here yet but will put a thread/pics/vids up hopefully later today which may (or may not) help on the fresh ideas front. Our units are in some ways more refined but in others more basic (and smaller) increasing the passengers influence even more. We are doing 100k's at the end of the straights on kart tracks though.

I also think you's may be able to give me a bit of advice about engine set up etc

**seymour14** · 15th May 2014, 17:18

This is our little gem, when it goes! May be starting a new one this year, Trellis frame all aluminium bodied.

Think the old sidecar is at least 20-25 years old, and from what I know, used to be a four stroke. Now TF powered.

Shown back in the day and stripped back in its current guise.

**Henk** · 15th May 2014, 17:21

Had a look at your sidecars on the web a while back and can't remember all the details.
Ours are quite a bit bigger than yours physically I think, engines limits are 100cc water cooled two stroke, 125 air cooled two stroke or 150cc filthy four stroke, which is what most are running.
For most of us running sidecars here they are a bit of a side interest as barring one or two teams we all run solos as well.
Huge fun.

**Bert** · 15th May 2014, 17:22

Originally Posted by jibberwobble

Hi all
......

Brilliant thread though Pumba, loving the pictures of the more exotic creations.

What are your engine size limits again? ......... I guess this is where I need to go off and have a look for some rules!!!!!!

Not had a proper look around on here yet but will put a thread/pics/vids up hopefully later today which may (or may not) help on the fresh ideas front. Our units are in some ways more refined but in others more basic (and smaller) increasing the passengers influence even more. We are doing 100k's at the end of the straights on kart tracks though.

I also think you's may be able to give me a bit of advice about engine set up etc

Choice, I've been following the uk scene for a little while now.

Our mini sidecars started back in the mid 80s and unfortunately died out early 2000s. But made a comeback this year.

Here is the GP from earlier this year.

Engine size.
100 water cooled two strokes, 125 air cooled two strokes (24mm carb restriction)
150cc four strokes.
Non-competition engines.

And again here's Pumba telling us how it went wrong for him

And an old school GP 1999

http://youtu.be/L2qhlwSEags

**Pumba** · 15th May 2014, 21:17

Originally Posted by jibberwobble

Hi all.........I agree with many of the theories discussed here and disagree with others (as anyone would I guess) but wont stick my oar in as I'm no expert myself..........

Not being an expert is even more of an idea to share your theories. Never know what you might learn that might change your opinions. Love to hear your thoughts at some stage.

Brilliant thread though Pumba, loving the pictures of the more exotic creations.

Thanks

What are your engine size limits again? ......... I guess this is where I need to go off and have a look for some rules!!!!!!

Think engine size limits have been covered. Full rules can be found here http://www.mnz.co.nz/docs/default-so...e.pdf?sfvrsn=2

I think our minimum sizes were just a bit bigger than your max sizes. I am looking forward to some photos (particularity of your rigs with there clothes off).

Originally Posted by Henk

Had a look at your sidecars on the web .....

Originally Posted by Bert

Choice, I've been following the uk scene for a little while now....

I too have been known to keep an eye on what has been happening in the UK. Looks like fun

**jibberwobble** · 16th May 2014, 04:28

Aye! thanks for the replies. That was a good watch, reliability robbed us of a good battle there. The chain of events that led me here started by seeing one of your vids that someone posted on a big sidecar forum, I then posted it on my regular forum after sometime later when one of the guys found this on ebay....

We all laughed at it to be honest and we (me included) had a chuckle at how in the vid I posted it almost looked like slow motion. Needless to say this rig went round and round and never sold. But realistically we in the uk need to take a step back and put it into perspective and whilst I'm here may I apologise for my initial reaction and being a dick! Our units must look silly and small to you? The vid above looks like a much quicker pace and is plenty fast enough by the looks of it to have a good scrap.

So it looks like there was some form of sidecar racing in the uk at some point that ran to a similar spec to yours at least. The uk sidecar folk that I know stared out racing minimoto's in the 80/90's I think and started a british championship with sidecars as a side interest like you guys. Minimoto's took off and the original gang ended up drifting over to sidecars as thier main racing interest. popularity has come and gone periodically since then with it being at a good level just now. There are about 12 or so active crews out there that I know of.

Our rigs started off pretty small and slowly grew, rules were amended a few years ago to allow slightly larger chassis which as it goes were not seen to be the way to go until recently. Power wise we can have up to 85cc 2 stroke and 200cc 4 stroke (road based) or 150cc 4 stroke (moto-x based). No tuning on MX engines at all. With us being lighter and smaller the 80 and 85 2T's are a perfect match to the 4T's which I guess is due to the torque not being so important.

At the end of the day the most important thing whatever the rules and speeds is that the machines are evenly matched to allow close racing. Adults in the UK still race slower aircooled minimoto's just because the racing is close and the fun factor is high.

Thread coming.............