I once built a go cart

MPH.

Long ago, in a galaxy far far away I built a hover craft for the son of a neighbour as a project linked to the Neighbourhood Engineers initiative of what was then the IEE.

To be strictly accurate I built the transmission, my neighbour's son and his sixth form buddies built the hull and the rudder mechanism.

It was the type of hovercraft which uses a single engine for lift and propulsion, about the size and looks of a rubber dinghy with a tail fluke. It had a Suzuki 250 cc bike engine coupled to a big Breezamax fan, with about a quarter of the resulting draft directed down into the skirt. The mountings for the fan and engine with a chunky toothed belt drive was the bit I contributed.

My principle recollection of it was that I took the responsibility of the initial trial, so I revved up the motor and it lifted off the ground and set off. Letting off the throttle caused it to sink immediately to the ground, whereupon it threw me out of the front as it came to a direct and very abrupt stop.

But the main difficulty I had with it was I never got the hang of the steering - or rather the lack of steering. We had the use of the local school's football field to play with it - imagine a completely flat grass field of about 4 acres, with rugby posts at each end. Try as I might I could not escape the magnetic and overpowering attraction those goal posts had for the front of the hovercraft. I think I collided with one or other of the goal posts three times.

There are clubs who race these things over land and water - and my neighbour's son had his heart set on joining in. I left him to it!

Ho Hum

Simon

Old Mart,

This link shows the classes in the UK at the moment. Rather more than just 125cc!

**LINK**

Alan

Way back in 1959 I was working as trainee instrument maker and one of the staff was a big shambling guy called 'Big' I used to chat with him as he was an interesting person to talk to, very friendly and used to turn up on the most interesting bikes, usually with side-car. Some days a big Velo and sometimes an Indian four-in-line.
One of his hobbies was supporting his two sons with their karting endeavours and I was invited to meet them and perhaps join them on an outing.
Not only did he have the Velos at home but also a Brough Superior and a Scott Squirrel, he wouldn't let me ride them though.....
We went to Tilbury kart track and I got some driving in for a few months until his sons moved on, not sure of the kart make but fairly basic with a Clinton chain-saw engine. Wow, that was a revelation after the James Cavalier.
DaveD

Wow some rare bikes there. Scott squirrel 2 stroke. I always liked them. Not seen an Indian-four-inline. I thought they were all V twins. Nice collection, worth some money now.

Steve.

Long time ago but I used to race karts. Started in 100 International whilst I was based with the RAF in Germany (mid 70's). Zip chassis with a Parilla engine. Racing was good but the drinking was better (afterwards I hasten to add).

Once posted back to UK, I moved up to 250 International; Zip chassis with a Yamaha air cooled twin, reversed barrels, stuffed crankcase & 32mm Mikuni carbs. Sounded awesome and went like a bat out of hell. Raced in the Yamaha Challenge at various circuits around the country (3 Sisters, Little Rissington, Snetterton, Fulbeck, Kimbolton) with a small modicum of success. Even managed to get it flown out to Akrotiri in Cyprus for some demonstration runs; the first time such a beast had been seen on the island. It got a lot of interest from the locals.

All finished when the Rotax in-line twins appeared and it got too expensive for me. Still miss the thrill of doing such speeds with the backside 1/2” off the ground.

Iain

Were your engines the YDS3 variants, that reved to 15,000.

My dad was a speedway rider in the war. Won lots of cups in Italy where he was posted. It's strange I always knew how to tune an engine for performance but never knew how I was able to.

Steve. .

Fantastic model cars (this a model engineers forum). Love to see the full size one. (LOL)

Paul

It was a long time ago but if memory serves me correct, yes. Don't know about the 15k though. It had a rev counter fitted but I rarely looked at it whilst racing. Things were happening too fast.

Iain