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Post by trikesrule on May 22, 2007 10:08:53 GMT
I thought u guys over there called your machines boguns. In the US they use the name Soapbox. Here in Tassie we call them Billycarts. Soapbox is the class that the little kids race........trikes
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Post by MarkSimpson on Jun 7, 2007 14:48:32 GMT
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_cartThe above link MAY clear up any confusion.... lol ;D I believe the name "Gravity F1" was mooted back in the late 90's too as well as "Xtreme Gravity Racer" (XGR), up until last year.
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Post by TomW on Jun 13, 2007 6:47:41 GMT
Hi Trikes, I guess the overall generic title we would use is "Soapbox" or "Gravity Racer". Incidentally - In the UK, Building and racing Gravity Racers is now part of the national curriculum! Kids at participating schools can earn points towards a variety of formal qualifications by designing and building gravity racers. Check out the website here: www.formulagravity.co.uk/Formula Gravity is the brainchild of a guy called David Akroyd, who has worked hard to get the project off the ground. With 40 participating schools in this year alone - the soapbox racing scene in the UK is set to explode! As you can see from the website - these cars are by no means basic, some of these teams are using wind tunnels and F.E.A. techniques in the development of these machines. I attended one of their "Brooklands" courses earlier this summer, and was completely blown away by the levels of technical expertise that these kids are showing. Also, it is amazing how so many different designs are being developed from the same simple basic formula - a testament to the creative minds of the young students involved with the projects. What kind of youth / schools participation do you guys see down in Tazzy Trikes? would'nt it be great to hold a Schools World Championships at some point in the future - how about a race down Mount Fuji or something? I'll bet those Japanese kids could build some awesome gravity racers.... Ride hard, Stay safe. Tom W.
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Post by trikesrule on Jun 13, 2007 10:09:53 GMT
Hi Tom and hello to Mark. I applaud both of u. Very informative. The UK School initiative is fantastic. We have displays and I am invited to attend engineering class's at high schools as a representative of the Southern Tasmania Billycart Group occasionally. I always have the fastest cart in Australia and a common Soapbox with me. Last year our cities Education Department had a small program of simple Billycart Building where the kids under 9 built very simple machines from timber / lawn mower wheels and rope steering for push purposes only. The building of these soapbox carts was celebrated at a Festival called World of Wheels. About twenty five schools participated. But we have nothing like what your schools have and I reckon it's the most exciting thing I've read in over ten years. As far as an international schools challenge I reckon thats absolutely fantastic idea. And yep I reckon your right those Japanese would build some wicked machines. I wish I was a kid again!
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Post by trikesrule on Jun 13, 2007 11:08:29 GMT
I just read the biggest load of crap ever. Follow Marks link then click on the 119 Lotus. Sorry who wrote that rubbish thats just not possible in the real world. Infact when I read or hear of outlandish statements like that I just shake my head. Obviously someone forgot to factor a thing called aero drag into the equation......trikes PS I'm still stunned
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