I'm currently thinking of getting into the build-your-own trackday car, and the idea of one of these locost BEC's sounds good. Just on price/performance alone!

A.
But what are the pro's cons of the BEC compared to XFlow/car engine?
I just have the feeling that the BEC (locoblade) will be more reliable/replacable and lighter, but not eligable in the locost race season?

B.
I'm a beginner to DIY cars, and hoping this will give me invaluable experience in car maintenance and construction, as well as track-time without burning my pocket! are the costs really that low? (no pun intended!)

C.
Is there any BEC'd locosts around York who would take me for a spin and get me hooked (weather permitting!)!

D.
What kind of budget should I set for a complete build (buying in chassis, not welding it myself). I know this £250 thing is tosh!

Current beast: (heavy!) FTO with 100bhp NOS.

Thanks in advance

Gilesey

Hello,

In My opinion,

A. We used to have a 1700 x flow car and it was very slow compared to me new BEC. BEC's light weight and powerful. Engine and gearbox weighs under 65 kilos. Six speed sequential gearbox. Tunign will give good results (ask Jon Ison) Some people say they are not good for town and traffic, but I have driven though towns and traffic with no problem. Will tick over in sixth and still pull well. Some people complain about no reverse. I have done 1000 miles in mine and found it no problem. Light enough to push out of the parking space etc. As I understand there is a Bike engined car series run along side the Locost races.

B. If you make your own chasis then it is possible to build for under 2k. My MK cost 6k. So any where in between

C. Not in York but in Sheffield, so not too far away.

D. If buying MK , chasis is 1k. Quite a few extra bits needed. Mine as stated cost 6k but I think that was just me buying nearly everything. Some where 4k to 6k is the usual

Cheers

Jim

[Edited on 9/1/03 by Jim]

I'm in york too!!
I haven't got a car yet
I'm off to MK on Saturday though
I'll have to wait (and wait) far too long to get my ride
Boo Hoo

Hi. if your at Mk on sat chances are i will be there too, if the weather is dry i will 99% sure be in the blade, if you want a ride no prob, Martin will put juice in 4 me anyhow....

just a quicky on performance, well around the lanes NOTHING, and i mean NOTHING will get near you if you don't want it too, i only turn off n let the "supercars" by when the road as more than 130mph potential, under that you'l kill em all.

All good positive answers, I'm just looking at the extensive options for kit-cars now!

As far as I have read, a standard locoblade build should see me 0-60 in 4 seconds? is this wrong?

In general, the combinations of chassis/body styling and engines are quite numerous.

What would you recommend as a good 1st time build car/engine mix? Or is it more "get the best kit you can and worry about how to do it later!"

I've got the famous book on order and a few others, so I'll not sell the beast just yet! (or maybe I will, to re-decorate, heat, and re-equip my garage!)

Good thing about the 130mph argument against supercars or even tuned essex boys cars or jap beasts, is that I tend to stick to the speed limits on roads anyway, so the quicker I get to the limit the better. And having a top speed of 130 (not to mention the wind problem - ooer) will prevent me from killing myself or loosing my licence!

Thanks all, and hi to mdc124, hope you find something. I'll be going to autosports on saturday myself!

Gilesey

130 Mph is plenty to kill yourself 'specially if there are careless ba****ds coming the other way on the wrong side of the road

I agree about the principle though 0-60 in 3.anything seconds with a top speed of 100 would do me too.

now stop talking - get building and I'll have someone to play with
Who needs to do 150 on the A64 when you can do 0-100-0 in 400 yards (maybe)

quote:

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Originally posted by mdc124
130 Mph is plenty to kill yourself :

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quote:

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now stop talking - get building and I'll have someone to play with
Who needs to do 150 on the A64 when you can do 0-100-0 in 400 yards (maybe)

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If I remember correctly a self built Ultima starts at around £40000, a factory built one you're looking at about £65000 to £80000. Interestingly, it was originally designed by Lee Noble of Noble M12 fame.

Kingr

Well, at the show, it seemed a complete kit was £15,000 ish. + the engine + axles + upgrades if you want. See the prices section of the web site under GTR. I can imagine the price can escalate if you have the upgraded parts, bigger alloys etc.

Still as I said.. WAY OUT OF MY LEAGUE!

Imagine turning up to tescos for your shopping in that!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by kingr
If I remember correctly a self built Ultima starts at around £40000, a factory built one you're looking at about £65000 to £80000. Interestingly, it was originally designed by Lee Noble of Noble M12 fame.

Kingr

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James, was the ultima the one we gave a run for its money around donnington ???

infact did we not overtake it ???