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#Post#: 14064--------------------------------------------------
GN Minx Special
By: uncantim Date: November 21, 2025, 3:49 am
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GN Minx Special
So, here we go again! This hobby is seriously contagious.
I’ve had the idea of building another kart for a while, but
after my daughter Romilly came to Oulton Park and loved driving
the ERA, it was inevitable that the next one would be for her.
As much as she loves the cars though, she is a Karter and is
less interested in the looks and more interested in how it goes.
With this in mind, it had to be a GN Special. We wanted it to
be able to compete with the quickest out there and handle like a
go-kart, which is what she is used to.
I spent a lot of time looking for an inspiration car but
struggled to find something to tick all the boxes. So I decided
to base it on another Cyclekart but add bits that I liked from
other karts. I eventually found a kart in the US, built by
Kelly Woods, called Little Red (picture below). I’m assuming
it’s called that, because it’s little…and red? We liked the
simplicity of the whole thing, which is important to me as I’m
not an engineer, but it's still different enough from the ERA
for me to find it challenging.
There is quite a difference in height between Romilly and I, so
the car will have an adjustable seat and pedals so that I can
get in it
The car is mainly for Romilly, so it’s going to be named after
her. When she was diddy, her nickname was Little Minx, so
that’s how we get GN Minx Special.
Watch this space
#Post#: 14065--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: Andy Dunn Date: November 21, 2025, 5:50 am
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It's definitely contagious Tim ,I'm thinking of building
no.3,with the engine in the front this time,probably something
like the model T bobtail,after all what else is the winter
months for
#Post#: 14067--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: Ian F Date: November 21, 2025, 10:56 am
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Good luck with the build, Lil Red will match Romilly's red and
black Minnie the Minx outfit beautifully ;D
#Post#: 14069--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: PredHughes Date: November 22, 2025, 8:56 am
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Love that one Tim, all the best
#Post#: 14173--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: uncantim Date: December 15, 2025, 7:06 am
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Quite a bit has happened, so I will update here in stages.
The chassis is as standard as they come, so it was easy to put
together. It does taper to the front, but not as acutely as the
ERA, and it’s also slightly shorter by a couple of cm.
I wanted to make my front axle myself, but I knew the geometry
would be difficult to achieve. My ERA uses a Gemini axle setup
and works really well from a camber and Ackerman perspective, so
I decided to replicate this using Gemini yolks, kingpins and
stub axles, but use my own axle.
This meant I had to make the brackets for the springs and notch
the axle at each end to 16’ to accept the kingpins from Gemini.
I built a rig on my drill press to notch the axle. This was
quickly abandoned after the whole saw bit into the piece, the
axle broke free and smacked me across the head…so I went and
bought a proper notching tool.
To be honest, the axle really tested me with the cutting,
welding and keeping everything totally square (and keeping my
head out of the way). In the end, I made it twice.
The springs are from the rear of a Morris Minor, cut down,
bolted and clamped to the chassis. I wanted these to be
adjustable.
More to come shortly…
#Post#: 14175--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: uncantim Date: December 15, 2025, 7:58 am
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More…
Next up was the steering linkage at the front of the car.
My ERA suffered early on from unwieldy steering partly due to
the steering arms not being level enough. Coupled with this, my
welding on the steering linkage bracket was a bit crap, so these
two issues were rectified early, and I took the opportunity to
reposition the bracket to help. It's not perfect on the ERA,
but it's ok. I wanted this to be better on the Minx, and the
steering column also needed to clear the pedals.
Please don’t judge my welding! It’s not welding really…it's
more metal glueing.
#Post#: 14176--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: uncantim Date: December 15, 2025, 9:49 am
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…and again!
The floor, seat and pedals this time.
I didn’t want to have any wood in this build as I always seem to
be conscious of it getting wet, but it didn't quite work out
like that. The challenge was this…Aluminium was too expensive,
and steel was too heavy, so I opted for 12mm ply.
The floor sits on 25mm x 3mm angle welded to the chassis and
bolted in place. I chose to weld the angle as I didn’t want
bolts through the chassis. There are also straps across the
bottom to add strength where the seat and pedals bolt in place.
The ply will be painted and sealed.
Both the seat and pedals are from the donor kart, and both are
adjustable. The pedals are spring-loaded “fliptops”, and the
seat is mounted on adjustable runners so that it should suit
drivers of different heights (I’m quite a bit taller than
Romilly).
That’s it for now, on to the rear axle and engine...and don't
judge my welding!
#Post#: 14402--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: uncantim Date: January 27, 2026, 4:15 am
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So…
The Minx is going to use a layshaft, which is a first for me. I
looked at various designs and bought an off-the-shelf layshaft
from eBay. The quality however, was terrible, so I’ve ended up
having one made. £32 cash...thank you very much. I have all
the sprockets, one of which will have to be made to fit the
shaft, as it's too small.
I have fabricated some brackets to make the layshaft adjustable
to keep the chain tension right. I may have to offset the
engine to the right by about 100mm or so to get this to fit
where I need it. Is having the engine off-centre a terrible
idea? Please let me know.
I’m still waiting for the keyway to be cut, so all this will
have to wait for now.
It was a relief to get the wheels on for the first time. The
proportions are all on paper and theoretical until you see it
for the first time with the wheels on. Ride height looks good
at just under 100mm.
I have started on the body framework using thin-wall 19mm round
and square tubing. I opted for round as it’s easy to bend in my
tube bender, and I can also notch the ends with my notcher for
butting the joints (all the gear and no idea). Sorting the
steering wheel position was a bit tricky, as the seat and pedals
are adjustable, but I’ve managed to get it so it’s not such a
compromise in either position.
The steering wheel will be a 12” laser-cut number from 4mm
aluminium, very similar to the ERA. I find the smaller wheels
more reactive and take up less room in the cockpit.
I’m hoping to get all the parts for the layshaft so I can start
fitting this weekend.
Let me know what you think of the off-set engine?
#Post#: 14403--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: uncantim Date: January 27, 2026, 4:25 am
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Also...
I don’t know about you lot, but I’m a skip raider! I can’t walk
past a skip without having a rummage…and that’s how I found the
fake fuel tank for the Minx.
I saw an old hot water geyser and knew it would have a copper
tank in there. So I appropriated it (I asked permission) and
stripped it down. The tank was covered in expanded foam that
was awful to remove, but after hours of scraping, wire brushing,
sanding and polishing, I think it looks pretty good.
The real fuel tank is going under the bonnet over the pedals, so
I’ll have to fabricate some brackets for this one to sit over
the engine.
What do you think?
#Post#: 14411--------------------------------------------------
Re: GN Minx Special
By: Ian F Date: January 27, 2026, 6:41 am
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I would never dream of rummaging through a skip, have you no
shame :D ;)
Its looking really good :)
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