stumac30
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| posted on 28/8/13 at 10:23 AM |
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Handling
Hi
This is my first post although I have been browsing the forum for years. I have been interested in kit cars for a long time and bought the original
Ron Champion book when it first came out but was heavily into motorbike racing so never took it any further.
I have finally committed to building a car (no more bikes!!) and although I have done a lot of research I still have some queries. I want to build a
car primarily for track days with the possibility of doing some racing with it in a few years.
The engineering/building side interests me just as much as the driving and I would rather build the chassis myself which leads me to my main query.
Can you make a Locost/Roadster handle as well as a high end kit, I know the Locost race cars handle well and post good lap times but to be honest I do
not know how they compare.
I am hoping that with an accurate chassis with adjustable suspension geometry you should be able to set up a homemade chassis just as well as a
professionally made one.... or am I just dreaming??
Thanks Stuart
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 28/8/13 at 11:40 AM |
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Hard to answer that really
Can you weld? Most of the variables are actually down to your ability
The original Ron 7 is a bit dated now to say the least, have you got the later sierra based book?
I don't think competitive and budget go together in racing tbh not unless you want to be at the back
[Edited on 28/8/13 by Mr Whippy]
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bi22le
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| posted on 28/8/13 at 11:53 AM |
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There is certainly potential to build something in your garage and be competative. 95% of the manufacturers of this industry use tools and processes
that would be accssible to any serious home builder.
The key is skill level of manufacturing and knowledge of race car chassis to build in neccisary changes.
THe book chassis are very different and far from a competative chassis but making changes as you go to design in good changes will make a big
difference.
Procomp used to make LA Gold chassis using nothing more that stuff available in a well kitted garage but their knowledge and skill level is up with
the best.
If I was attempting to do what you want to do then I would search hard on this and other forums to find the main problems with the book chassis. Then
redesign them faults out, then start building. I would heaviliy consider buying a made chassis and modifying that. If you enjoy the driving as much as
the building then you will want to see some fast progress. I would guess most people that start to build from scratch never finish. If you buy an off
the shell chassis there is still plenty of work to do and mods to add that make it your own and a better car.
Off course, once its finished, you need to be able to drive it at race pace!!!
Good luck.
Biz
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Please read my ring story:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/13/viewthread.php?tid=139152&page=1
Me doing a sub 56sec lap around Brands Indy. I need a geo set up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHksfvIGB3I
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stumac30
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| posted on 28/8/13 at 12:09 PM |
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Thanks for the replies, that is pretty much what I was thinking. The reason for building myself is not down to budget but because I really want to
build it myself, I can weld but have never tackled anything like a chassis before though.
I was going to buy a Spire GTR kit and go down that route but I keep getting drawn back to 7's. I had considerd buying an Aries or a Procomp kit
which may be the best option for me in reality.
It is pretty much going to be used mainly for trackdays and hillclimbs, maybe in a few years I will look at circuit racing if I can get myself up to
speed.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 28/8/13 at 12:50 PM |
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Simple answer, yes.
Build it right and it will turn on a sixpence and on track days you pass almost everything with a decent engine.
Go for the original chapman, its smaller wind resistance really affects these.
[Edited on 28/8/13 by mark chandler]
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JimSpencer
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| posted on 28/8/13 at 01:12 PM |
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Hi
Just to throw a swerve ball into it..
I would buy something built, IVa'd (even if you, at the time, have no plans for it to see a road again.) and of a brand with a proven track
pedigree*, with a specification of basically the right size and type of engine for what one day you're thinking of doing with it
- take it out and give it a couple of runs, and spend lots of time looking at what other people have done - learn from their mistakes
Then about October time, strip it right back to a bare chassis and rebuild it how you want - by about March ish
(you would be amazed how much quicker it is to re-build a running car than start from scratch  )
But you'll still have really 'built it yourself' by the time the rebuild is done.
Run it for 6 months.
Repeat the last two bits above a couple of times
NOTE
* This bit is tricky to explain, but i'll have a go.
If you're thinking of doing Hillclimbs and for the car to be raod legal, then One off's or scratch built chassis's can be a real
PITA,
The rules for kits are encompased within 'Specialist Production' - there needs to be somebody commercially making the car, even if
it's in very limited numbers (20 p.a. I recall).
People have 'got round' this a few times but it can. and has, caused difficulties.
Plus if you then come to race it rollcages and the build / homologation (in some areas) of them can come into it.
Plus - there's a lot less people you can ask for help..
Purchase a brand of chassis that other people have been using for years and all of the above goes away as the meeting secretaries / scruitineers have
seen the make and model before and hence know what it is and what to expect.
Hence I would look at Westfields, Sylva/Raw Strikers, MK's etc myself (especially the middle one for hills, but I'm biased!)
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b14wrc
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| posted on 29/8/13 at 11:22 AM |
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Although it will take a lot longer to build from scratch, I think there is more satisfaction that you have made the whole thing yourself and knowing
its completely a one off! That’s what drive me on. Depends on your skill level and what you think your capable of doing. I would say nothing is
impossible.
Do agree that people probably never finish as the list of jobs never seem to end when you’re starting from scratch…. Rob
20vt powered rear engined locost
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Slimy38
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| posted on 29/8/13 at 12:45 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by b14wrc
Do agree that people probably never finish as the list of jobs never seem to end when you’re starting from scratch…. Rob
I swear I'm one step away from having a full panic attack whenever I look at the whole job and work out how much more I've got to do...
Doesn't take much to break it into half day or even half hour tasks, and each one adds up.
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stumac30
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| posted on 29/8/13 at 12:54 PM |
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Thanks for all the replies.
I would really like to make my own chassis but I can see how it would take a lot longer than planned. Obviously I would like to get on the road as
soon as I could so am thinking that a kit or as suggested a completed car that I can rebuild are better options.
Lots to think about......
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