drt
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| posted on 11/6/25 at 11:12 AM |
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Racing a Jedi
***If better suited to other forum, please feel free to migrate it***
Gents,
It's been many years since I was on the forum, so long that this could go into the 'welcome back section'.
So, a nearly finished locost Atom I sold off because of a passing and ever since I've been without my workshop/tools/lathe etc.
Living in a little flat. (on the ground floor, so occasionally the bike graces my living room for a service). But anything else is barred....
So last december I took the grown up decision that I really needed a track toy!
A terrapin/Jedi hybrid was smiling at me from the classifieds for months. And December 20th I jumped.
It was a good price, and I'm still convinced I bought it from someone on the forum (T9 designs).
First the car was going to be near Coventry, but ofc it was moved even further away in some rotten borough; Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury.
I was hellbent on not spending more time than needed, so I booked a calais ferry for the early morning of the 20th... and the return one for the
afternoon on the 20th, ofc.
1240km, 2 calais crossings, buying a track toy all in a mad 2-day-no-sleep dash. What could possible go wrong.
As always, I spoke a bit too soon. While we were driving down it was shared that the trailer was a tad shoddy and the Jedi was missing parts,
didn't start and so on. Joy oh joy.
We were early, so still had time for some unplanned breakfast.
Arriving early in the morning it dawned that indeed the jedi wasn't in the best of nick.
Worse still was the trailer, god, what a farmer-grade-bodge-job.
It was made up from matured-in-a-hedge girders with some stub axles welded to it.
... So no suspension in case you're wondering. No wheel covers, half the lights.
The trailer almost shook itself to pieces at 30 and 60mph 
And if the constable saw it, he would pop.
With no time to really stand around we agreed on a lower price and took of.
Trip back was a bit more traffic but we made Dover with time to spare.
Home, the trailer was promptly binned for scrap iron and now I needed one. A big issue since,
*needs to be max. 750kg gross.
*Needs to be braked
*JEDI is 380kg with a CG near the rear axle.
*I live in a flat with just a public car park for space.
With nothing commercial meeting all this, again a project was needed.
I won't bore you with all the iterations and design choices. But everything passed the review.
A birdcage style trailer, sheet steel, car loaded reverse way,...
I found a trailer chassis that had the correct payload, working brakes and the axle near where it would be suitable. So that was fortunate
And more fortunate was that a relative was redoing (practically rebuilding) a house, so I could use the building site a few days to do the biggest
parts.
The rest was done piece by piece indoors. Luckily I have a TIG, the weld splatter of a MIG or MMA would make this impossible.
And when I was sure I couldn't get caught, I worked in the public garage.
Currently, I'm drilling all the holes in preparation of getting it galvanized.
And after that, we can finally take a look at the Jedi itself.
Progress is a bit slow as I have 2 jobs, thus work 7/7
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shindha
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| posted on 11/6/25 at 06:16 PM |
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Very interesting and look forward to your write up on the Jedi
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 12/6/25 at 05:14 PM |
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Tbh I'd rather be using it on the road, not sure how long I'd keep my licence for though 
[Edited on 12/6/25 by Mr Whippy]
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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bi22le
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| posted on 16/6/25 at 09:35 PM |
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Thanks for sharing, please remember to write up any updates!
I built my own chassis, I had to think a little more out the box though as I didnt have a welder. Everything was nut / bolt. Had it 12 years now and
completely problems free.
T9Designs is on here. I am sure he shared the build of this.
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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drt
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| posted on 17/6/25 at 07:02 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by bi22le
Thanks for sharing, please remember to write up any updates!
I built my own chassis, I had to think a little more out the box though as I didnt have a welder. Everything was nut / bolt. Had it 12 years now and
completely problems free.
T9Designs is on here. I am sure he shared the build of this.
Bi22e, will do! Could you share if you built the trailer of the car, having trouble deducing it from your mssg 
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drt
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| posted on 20/6/25 at 09:45 AM |
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How many times do you see do you see someone weld from his window on the street corner... well there is a good reason for that.
Now all the holes for lights and rivnuts etc have been made, and little welds I missed have been done, she's now ready for galvanising.
Probably Monday.
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