Quad Pedal Car - 2025 late Xmas/early Birthday present ?

[Dale Rider]

I'm sure there are a lot of subliminal variables - Surface condition (drier / wetter), atmospheric pressure (breeze?), temperature (wheel grease thicker / etc

Make sure the brakes aren't rubbing too. Just a slight touch could do it, makes a difference.
Might be worth using overlap rods as a setter, sure you've got something to hand.
Just need 2 pieces of wood half wheel height to act a centre height.
You will see toe in/out easily.

Counting down for blue screen.... .

 

[stormbird]

So made a start on the body work [ heavily chopped down ]

This side is not yet taped on as I need it for a pattern to finish the other side , there is no tail on the car yet.

View from behind as you can see inside looks ugly compared with body shot.

Currently front is still full depth as bought , ok for racing however using it locally it may need reducing in height to give some clearance for
street work. It is actually to deep as heals do not graze it when pedaling.

if the weather holds and I have the time I may try the mothers/training run just with the front on and the side frames , however it is now very
hard to get into. Couple thoughts:-
a) MORE PRACTICE !!! could be the answer
b) light but strong support between bend in chassis and upper body frame
c) cut some of the bodywork away in front of the seat , can you see where the current to low windscreen is ?

A taller better windscreen would certainly be nice for local trips ?
Paul

 

[undertoad]

Are you going to end the body at the rear with a squared off shape, or rounded / pointed?

however it is now very hard to get into

The short answer is to bring a little step stool with you to the races, and only stop next to the stool
What about making a removable, or hinged door in the side? Maybe, a cut-away area by the seat, with a snap on fabric side curtain?
I realize, we may be talking about the same thing, here .......

 

[DannyC]

If it was meant to be easy, everyone would be doing it I guess.
It is the sport of true heroes therefore.

 

[stormbird]

Are you going to end the body at the rear with a squared off shape, or rounded / pointed?

Tapered yes to miss the brakes , if rounded i think aesthetically it would look good mimicking the curve on the front but smaller radius.
If not then not really a point more like this . it would also be nice to carry a few tools and a little shopping.

Which remarkable looks a dead ringer for my car ! yet it's Italian !!

The short answer is to bring a little step stool with you to the races, and only stop next to the stool
What about making a removable, or hinged door in the side? Maybe, a cut-away area by the seat, with a snap on fabric side curtain?
I realize, we may be talking about the same thing, here .......

having tried again this morning and remembering Popshots answer was to cut a flap in the top when I said I did NOT want to stand on the seat to get in. Having found the above picture I realised it would then look like the car above , so a hinged flap would allow for more top above your body for rain protection and a windscreen much closer to your face.

So a plan emerges , all due to your many helpful comments , I do appreciate them

Paul

 

[undertoad]

The aero wheel discs are a nice touch

 

[undertoad]

Hate to say it, but the blue is back for post #342
At least I saw it yesterday

 

[stormbird]

Hate to say it, but the blue is back for post #342
At least I saw it yesterday

Over 24 pictures in my album have their original title and these blue images and an expiry date of 4k days , wonder if the site is being hacked ?
I have found almost nothing looking on Google for an answer.

Paul

 

[stormbird]

So out today with some body work , well the front and frame

It is now very noisy with the clear stuff drumming badly on most surfaces , hopefully it will quieten down when sides added.

View from seat shows clear stuff not doing much with reflections .

Seat was originally lower , however still not low enough for this view under the reflective part.

Now this view is worth a bob or two , local Sainsbury's after a spot of shopping , so I need seat lower to get more advantage from body and look how tall windscreen would have to be to shelter behind it.
However it has given me an idea for the rear I need to investigate.

Forgot to record
Mileage to date 113.85 miles [ ish ]

Paul

 

[stormbird]

So body access hole increased to make ingress/egress easier

Started the cardboard tail

Taper to severe and probably needs to be about 2" longer to make some usable space.

For a laugh the old tail , it was maybe a couple of inch's further forward and of course wheels not 7" closer to front.

Paul

 

[undertoad]

Looks like that duck is in the target zone

 

[stormbird]

Not really sure how this has happened ?

Now I have the seat about 3"- 4" inches higher that first picture , however look how much of my body is exposed !

Bit disappointing really , although lowering the seat is on the Between Races Improvement List or BRIL as it is know in the one man skunk works .....

Paul

 

[undertoad]

however look how much of my body is exposed

How much taller than the original owner are you?

 

[Popshot]

That fairing looks very low under the heels. I doubt a mouse could squeeze under. Will that survive road use?

 

[stormbird]

That fairing looks very low under the heels. I doubt a mouse could squeeze under. Will that survive road use?

Round the homestead it only drags on the floor IF I raise the back to manouver it about , no issues yet riding it.

Still can't make my mind up , I have a small window of opportunity to raise it by 1" to 1.5" it can't go much higher without my heels scrapping on it ?

Or just truncate it further up the curve , I was hoping if I kept it as long as possible there it would help keep the cold air out of the cockpit [ then some t*t cut most of the top off for access ]

Yes a cover is in the pipeline however sides need fixing on first , the sides of course need trimming IF I alter that front slope .......

Paul

 

[stormbird]

So now burning the candle at both ends and if I am lucky in the middle !

need to test increased ground clearance to see if my heels strike the inside body work.

So disconnected the bottom and added two blocks of wood to raise it about 1.25" then took it for a ride....

Success my heels only rub when my feet are deliberately made more vertical than when I am pedaling and now the front of the car can pass over a roll of duct tape laid flat on the floor.

So hopefully today after breakfast at the cafe and finishing the ' honey do ' shelves I may have time to get this done properly and at least 1 of the sides re-trimmed and mounted

Paul

 

[stormbird]

How much taller than the original owner are you?

Same I though

Paul

 

[stormbird]

So I have had to put a lot of thinking into how to mount the sides , I want them taped to the aluminium frame so the whole body becomes one piece however how could I line up the sides on my own whilst the uprights have ' live ' double sided tape ready to join them both together ?

My volunteer assistant decided it was a good idea to head off to London this weekend leaving my on my own , so I came up with a 2 part solution.
1st the double sided tape is the short white strips on the 3 verticals then on the outside I taped thick corrugated card so when I first held the side in place it could not stick. It was then just a matter of getting it in the right place and taping it across the top front middle and back with a piece of duct tape 2" x 2"
2nd once taped the corrugated card could be removed and the side pressed down against the uprights.
Next up short lengths of red duct tape were applied all around the edges where the correx met the aluminium , trimming as I went .

So now Cinderella has a gown and can go to the ball !
Still need to add numbers to the front and right side , some PC1 class markings and the correctly proportioned Z for ' Solo ' driver.
then the front main body will be done

Next up a front hatch and some rear body work would not go amiss !
I have mastered getting in :-
Approach from right and grab front right wheel [ stops it rolling away ] as you can put all your weight on that if needed.
Put left foot inside car to the left of the chain in front of seat.
Put left hand on front left wheel and place other foot in car
Sit down then swing legs over cross member and onto pedals

Looking good , now I can see a car again.
Still got problems adjusting brakes and gears STILL poor however it could race if someone took it to a meeting.

Paul

 

[undertoad]

I have mastered getting in :-

I think we need a video

 

[Popshot]

Yet more blue squares.