Another year at the local soap box cart race. Last years cart (middle) was refreshed with improved steering, this years cart was finished just in time and we also managed to borrow a tow vehicle to get us back up the hill as well.

Despite a mega push from my body builder brother in law we were pipped to first place (same as last year) by last years winners. To put that in perspective, the racing is timed with professional equipment with the top three times as follows...

1st @ 11.87s (last years winners)
2nd @ 11.92s (me)
3rd @ 11.97s (new entrant)

The closest time after that was 12.93s

Both our carts did 10 runs and held together perfectly over a very bumpy course.

Plans are already afoot for next year to build a completely new cart with two push handles, a much lower CoG and better KPI on the steering.

Ooooo!! Any tips for my build?! I'm hoping to enter the 'Soap Dodgers Race' as mentioned here:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/forum/16/viewthread.php?tid=192208

That sounds like a good weekend!

Best tips I can give are tall skinny wheels for low rolling resistance, low CoG, proper steering with caster, camber, kpi and ackerman (sp?) geometry. If it's a push start, then also think about who you've got to push and where they will push on the cart.

All good points!! I'll have to have a rummage to see what bits I can find.

PPCintPark is always a good day/weekend and with the added Retro Ford day, it should be more gooderer!