Let's Talk Cyclecars

Yes - going by Wikipedia, the "thing" is not a Baby Blake ... but the question is - might it be something else from the same (Mr Blake's) drawing board.
Can't find anything in either Georgano or David Burgess Wise to help: will delve into the substantial shelves of my car club library here when next I am there.
BTW - the print/copy of that article is such that I'm amazed you can deduce so much from it, although the belt drive seems to be obvious enough...

 

Ha ha, I have a very good eye for this sort of thing having spent a good deal of my younger years building my own sidecar outfits and generally being spanner in hand around aged motorcars. Thanks for checking further into the 'Blake' and if you can find out anything more I will be very grateful

God bless you too Herb, - it's good to be back

 

Something intereting I found.

 

Popular Mechanics: The boy mechanic makes a car.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/woodworking/4294988

 

From Shelsley Walsh.Graham Little pics.

 

More Shelsley Walsh from Graham Little.

 

After studying the plans for this car I was amazed to discover just how big it was. It has a 7 foot wheelbase, a 3 foot 6 inch track and uses 28 inch bicycle wheels. I would imagine that homebuilt cars like this would get taken out and used on quiet rural back roads too. Different times (sigh).

 

Great link. Can't believe I missed it the first time. The dimensions are very close to what I've planned, for now, though I will have front and rear suspension of some sort.

I have sourced a motor, tranny, and rear end for my project. Next step is to get my frame rails milled.

Charlie

 

Motorvation

 

The Burrell.

 

Ooooo that's nice, - I really like that

I'm glad that link was useful Charlie, I really like old plans and drawings from back in the day.

 

On Rick Scaldwells V-8 J.A.P. GN, the frame rails look to be constructed with 2" x4" lumber with two stacked on top of one another starting at the cowl and moving to the rear. Do y'all know if the frame is notched or how the frame is modified at the rear? I haven't been able to find any pics that show the rear suspension setup.

I appreciate all your help.

 

Did you see the thread here on the HAMB? search using the words "totally insane". You should be able to find the thread.I don't think i have seen any other pictures of that car that were not on that thread.

 

Thanks for sharing that collection of pics.Looks like the kind of day to have a couple of fishing rods and cooler full of refreshments and find a quiet spot to relax.

 

If I were to use 'real' wood (not manufactured) I would lean to something that can be easily renewed, like linseed oil.

Anything built with a wooden frame these days is not going to be seeing a lot of weather. I would not worry much about water or bugs.

 

here are couple of GN suspension images.Keep in mind this is a highly modified machine.They are not,however,of Rick Scaldwell's machine.Images courtesy ModelAKeith.

 

I have a number of detail shots of the v8 jap

http://rides.webshots.com/album/549337443YKVcIx?vhost=rides&start=36

 

Many thanks gentlemen.

 

I don't know if anyone has posted it before but I just found a cyclecar forum. It is fairly new but interesting. http://www.cyclekartclub.com/

 

I guess that should have been "cyclekart" forum.

 

Here is a link to the video thread. http://www.cyclekartclub.com/phorum/read.php?2,9,page=1

 

Chuxx,in answer to your question about the frame being notched...no it is not.The frame runs quarter eliptical springs.The frame is straight.They use different methods to achieve ride height.Lowering blocks is one.With no driveline passing through the driver's legs,it's easy to get these pretty close to the ground.

 

Thanks Rusty Karz.It's been awhile since I looked at cyclekarts.It looks like the group has improved the design from their beginnings.They started in NorCal then moved to Texas.

 

I've also looked at that. It didn't quite take because they aren't very amenable to theoretical speculation and bench-building, activities which, though not immediately physically productive, I consider both enjoyable and useful. I find the restriction to a single basic design oppressively limiting, especially as that design is questionable from both technical and historical viewpoints. Then, the idea that these things ought to resemble specific Vintage-era grand prix racing cars in miniature seems a bit of a non-sequitur: they're called "cyclekarts" but however clear, that is where the connection with cyclecars stops. There is an unaccountable visual jump from the language of a 1921 GN to that of a 1924 Delage, and an even greater technical jump in the opposite direction.

I found one of the projects leading up to the definitive "cyclekart" much more appealing, this miniature Alfetta (or "Alfettina") powered by a modern liquid-cooled 600cc motorcycle engine:

 

I think cyclekarts belong in this thread just fine.Cyclekarts fit the mold of the intent of the original poster, in that they use a form of a motorcycle engine in a four wheeled contraption. Refer to post #1.

 

Would be a blast to build one of these with the gsxr 750 engine I got takin' up space in the shed Damn you guys for putting ideas in my head!

 

Glenda Stewart ca. 1930 in a Morgan

 

Driver McMinnie and passenger F. Thomas.Winners of the 1913 GP for Cyclecars.