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#Post#: 13705--------------------------------------------------
ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: Mike Date: August 28, 2025, 7:45 pm
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hi all,
pleasure to be joining the cyclekart GB community.
i've had a few years building up my workshop armoury building
various carpentry projects. I came across cyclekarts a few weeks
ago and became enamoured with all the awesome different builds
and creativity on display.
I was initially planning on building a wooden chassis as that's
the tools I have and my competency. However, I came across a few
builds that use a ladder as the chassis. And as I have two
3000mm x 340mm aluminium ladders I thought that would make a
really good frame that avoids welding. I plan to bolt them
together to make 3000mm x 680mm then trim down the length to
around 2400mm.
One final crease to this is that I am planning on building a 2
seater cyclekart, because I think it could be amazing to drive
my first cyclekart at my upcoming wedding.
I've had a read through the materials available (including
Adrian's building guide), and watched plenty of videos but still
will have many questions. I will be journaling the build here.
Main questions:
Whether to redesign the chassis to better accomodate two seats -
or just place them side by side. I thought about making a wood
batten triangle and slot inbetween the ladders to create a
taper. I don't know whether that's overdoing it and potentially
creating a big weakness area
steering kit design and purchase? how to have steering wheel on
left side as two seater, but also adhering to ackermans steering
rule is key to avoid slippage
The rear axle - i've had a look at a few online i understand i
want 25mm - but i'm not sure how much clearance to have from the
frame and the different types of rear axles (some have sprockets
and other stuff attached, some are plain).
Do all 17inch rims fit 17x250 tyres?
Can someone explain the difference between all the 5 options for
the front axle on geminikarts please
Any advice or previous builds on how to build a custom axle
ideally without welding
Thanks for all help and advice
Excited about road ahead!
#Post#: 13706--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: NewbieNick Date: August 29, 2025, 12:25 am
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Hi Mike, what year would that be?
#Post#: 13707--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: Mike Date: August 29, 2025, 2:51 am
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in what way? year of the car design i'm aiming for?
#Post#: 13709--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: NewbieNick Date: August 29, 2025, 12:14 pm
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Hi Mike, I’m only asking because I thought Ferrari/Vanwall was a
1950’s car. Cyclekarts are typically pre war normally 1920’s
1930’s or earlier.
Regards Nick
#Post#: 13714--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: Mike Date: August 29, 2025, 3:35 pm
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Hi Nick,
Thanks for the reply. There's these two cycle karts I found on
the forum that I'm basing around (attached). I couldn't pin down
the exact types but the Ferrari 625/vanwall matched quite well.
Any thoughts on my questions?
#Post#: 13716--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: Jimr1999 Date: August 30, 2025, 12:10 am
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Please read our rule book Mike, I think Nick is just trying to
nudge you towards this in as nice a manner as possible.
In our club we organise events which by necessity, need insuring
for third party risk. We therefore had a need when we set up to
define what a cyclekart is. We based this upon the American
definition at the time which included that the cars needed to be
"Pre-war" - before the outbreak of WW2.
This ethos has served us well in getting the venues we have as
they often run vintage themed events.
The two cars you show, which we all admire, were built in the
states and appear on the U.S website. They do not conform to our
rules.
As yet, the U.S. has no set rules, just guidelines as their
events are insured differently.
There is nothing to stop you building anything you want, it just
may not be insurable at our events without a renegotiation with
our insurers. The club at present is not inclined to do this as
we do not feel a need.
I love the idea of driving something you build at your wedding.
The way to do that within the law is to insure it for third
party risk somehow. A road legal, insured, heavy quadricycle
made and tested under the MSVA system could be one option.
our rules can be found for CKGB builds here...
HTML https://static1.squarespace.com/static/626000e949932f46034394bf/t/685bbf342d0f2f0a00eda23b/1750843188732/CKGB+Handbook+20250624+v04.pdf
Good luck with your project.
JimR
#Post#: 13736--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: RhysN Date: September 1, 2025, 1:35 am
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The 2 cars in the picture you posted Nick, were built , and
owned by a good friend of mine Dave Dupaquier. He wanted to go
with the lovely shapes of the Ferrari (the first he built) and
then the Maserati. He sold them and is currently building
another. His posts appear under "Post War persuasion" on "The
Cyclekart Club" which is the oldest worldwide forum for the
cyclekarts. When Dave first proposed the post war there were
many who didn't like the idea, eventually moderated when he
pointed out the "tall skinny wheels" were an imperative. GB is
the only country in the world that I know of that has absolute
rules, elsewhere the guidelines have worked well.
Jim mentions insurance as being the GB reason for the need for
rules. I know that rules , as such, are not needed elsewhere.
Obviously CKGB has researched that well.
#Post#: 13738--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: NewbieNick Date: September 1, 2025, 11:54 am
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Not posted by me Rhys,
#Post#: 13751--------------------------------------------------
Re: ferrari 625/vanwall w152
By: RhysN Date: September 7, 2025, 2:54 am
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Sorry Nick, I should have looked more closely, Mike did.
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