ottocycle

Hello everyone. For what it is worth I would recommend a material called "Grip tape", available from marine suppilers as a way of increasing traction on slippery surfaces. It is like a self adhesive wet and dry sandpaper available in a number of sizes. I faced the problem of trailering a lightweight car a few years ago and designed and built my own. I could not see the sense in using a 2,000lb. trailer to tow a 1,000lb. car. I used a torsion axle rated at 2,000lbs. and ended up with a pretty lightweight unit. I would prefer to have a 3,500lb. axle as it would enable me to carry a wider range of cars. It is worth considering a heavier trailer for that reason. (come to think of it, maybe not--everybody will be asking for your services!!!!). Having built one, I too have a number of ideas I would like to incorporate in a re-design. I would like to enclose it. It would effectivly give me another garage bay which I need badly. I am thinking of building the cover out of foam and thin marine plywood covered in glass fiber cloth. Most trailers out there are over engineered in that they often use heavy 1/8 "(or more) box section steel in a ladder frame design and get their stiffness and strength as a result of material mass. Think spaceframe!! On a laterally related note, I am interested in getting a new tow vehicle. I am interested in a used station wagon or minivan. I am looking for recommendations. Like everyone else I am looking for something that has plenty of room and power, gets 1000 MPG, is reliable, has all the bells and whistles, was owned by a little old lady who only drove it to church, and is cheap!!! I drove a 2001 Volvo turbo wagon last week and liked it but think a minivan would carry more stuff. I had a Chevy Astro before but found it had lousy build quality. The engine and trans were fine but things like door handles switches etc. were crap. I need to loook at at an Odyssey, Previa etc. Any suggestions guys? I'm sorry I missed the TOD run. It looks like you guys had a great time. I was involved in the "24 hours of LeMons" in California. Google it or check it out on U Tube. Altamont never had seen such action since the Rolling Stones came to town! Mazda, I hope to make your September drive. Sounds like fun. Thanks all, Dermot. Fury/Hayabusa. Bethesda, MD.

Hello all, Just to add my 2 cents worth. I too have a 1 piece driveshft. I have yet to drive the car at speed (only up and down driveway to check clutch action and leaks etc.) but hope to be able to put it on the street in a few weeks. I did things a little differently in that I have a rear weight bias (my thinking was better traction under power and weight would transfer under hard braking), so my driveshaft may be a little shorter than others. My question is this: Is there a way of determining whether a driveshaft problem is length related or pinion angle related. Mine was professionally balanced and built using new UJ's. -Dermot. Hayabusa/Fury.

Mazda, Sounds perfect. I should have known you guys would have figured out a way of documenting such a wonderful event. I look forward to the coverage. Cheers, Dermot.

Hello all, Unfortunately I will not be making the trip for the 7 7 7 event and wanted to ask if some of you would be so kind as to document the event with photos and perhaps post them here or mail them to me. I am compiling ideas for the best trailer design and I bet you will see some cool ones down there. I am particularrly interested in the best modern interpretation of the seven design ethos and photos of elegant design details and engineering solutions. Perhaps, Mazda, you might put a section together after the event where people could post their photos? I wish I could make it, but a prior committment screws things up. Just a thought. Have a great time and I look forward to reading peoples impressions after the event. Cheers, Dermot. PS: Does anybody know of a high back Caterham seat for sale?

Hello all, I am new to the site and would like to start a discussion that might help me understand things better. We all know that chassis stiffness is critical for good handling and chassis tunability. What I have never heard discussed is chassis stiffness versus car weight. In other words will a 3,000 lb. car have the same dynamics as a 1,500 lb. car assuming they both have a ridgity of 3,000 ft. lbs. degree (all other things being equal as much as possible)? Also as we try to minimize weight as much as possible it seems to me that the influence of unsprung weight to sprung becomes more important. What is the impact of this? I have been a fan of lightweight cars for years and while not an engineer I would love to learn more on the subject. If anybody knows of a source of further information that is not too math heavy I would love to hear about it. It would be interesting to hear of rigidity figures quoted as a multiple of vehicle weight. I hope I am making myself clear. Cheers, Dermot.

Hello everybody, I am looking for a lightweight, cheap and functional muffler about 24' long with a 2.5" i.d. Used is OK, dents/scratches are OK (it will be covered up). Any ideas? Cheers, Dermot.

Hello again, Thanks for the positive words guys. I bought my Fury in the UK. It is a factory built brochure cover car with a Rover V8 and a live axle and a more agressive hood bulge to accomodate the Rover's induction system. It went like S*IT off a stick but had no legroom and it got real squirrelly under heavy braking due to weight transfer issues. (I am curious how the V8 Rotus guys deal with this, I think their wheelbase is a bit longer and they have the engine further back). I extended the footbox 11" and biased the engine to the left. I have yet to choose a shifter but I like the idea of a system that I can use for both up and downshifts and blips the throttle on the down. The car is in primer now and I still have to fill holes in the body from the old side exit exhausts. I am hoping to have it painted in about 3 weeks. When I get it painted I will get some photos. I am out of town next week so I will not get to work on it, but will get back on it ASAP. I want to get it out on my local track, Summit Point, and make sure I am heading in the right direction. When I get the bugs out I would to take it to VIR. "R1 Seven", how often do they do trackdays down there? I am looking for a Caterham high back seat if antbody knows of one. Thanks, Dermot. Fury/Hayabusa, Bethesda, MD.

Greetings all, I hope I am within a month of getting my Busa engined Fury on the road (similar to a Ginetta G4). Thats my current thinking but budgets and timeframes are made to be broken. It will not be finished (I doubt it will ever be finished, there will always be improvements, redesigns etc.), but I want to drive it, do some trackdays and make sure I am headed in the right direction. Bear in mind the last 10% takes 90% of the time! On another matter, is anybody interested in a "Trickshifter". Perhaps we could put a bulk buy deal together. With the dollar on par with Charmin toilet paper it might be too expensive but it is worth a shot. Also, I am a fan of lightweight cars and an interested in collecting designs of "modern sevens" (Atom, LCC Rocket etc.). I would love to get some photos, drawings. Thanks, Dermot.

Hello, I am looking for a high back Caterham seat or similar. Condition not important, I can repair any chips and dings. If you know of one let me know. Also I am interested in 4 lightweight 6x13" wheels. Thanks.