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#Post#: 4156--------------------------------------------------
A car for Brooklands. J G Parry Thomas Flatiron
DIR By: RhysN
Date: June 27, 2021, 5:45 am
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A little history first.
Before I immigrated to the UK in 2016 I had an exploratory trip
in 2015 (via Tieton) to see if we really wanted to come and live
here. One of the visits I paid was to Brooklands where I met
with some senior staff and we discussed whether Cyclekarts might
be allowed. They were enthusiastic, especially if some were
inspired by the cars that ran there way back when.
Subsequently I met with Wes Raynor of Mardave radio controlled
cars, who had also built the Darracq T700. He and Bill Alexander
were, to my knowledge the first builders of Cyclekarts in the
UK. Wes was very keen on doing something at Brooklands, so again
I contacted them. Although the circle of known Cyclekarts was
small they were keen, but asked if we could delay until there
was a viable group.
Thanks to Graham Appleyard and Stefan this long dreamed event is
taking place.
One of my dreams for Brooklands has always been a Parry Thomas
"Flatiron", or as he called it "Thomas Special 2", as the event
is the 95th Anniversary it seemed only right to me that I should
now do a build of his car. He had 3 entered for the event 95
years ago, only 2 were finished (in the week leading up to the
event). As might be expected they did not do overly well,
midfield at best, largely due to a lack of testing it's thought.
Sadly he perished when Babs crashed (no it's now proven he was
not decapitated by the chain). That meant the cars were never to
really get the fine development they deserved, although they
later were seen as good cars.
On to my build.
This is being built as a plywood monocoque, very limited steel.
The main body as in the photos is 9 mm ply (£23). Initially it
was going to be limited to 2400 mm long (as per the original
Stevenson suggestion on length) with the tail truncated some,
but as Adrian paid a rush visit the other day it as his first
comment was that it looked wrong, I will be making an extension
to more correct the long tail look. He we are 3 days in, front
axle done and ready to bolt in, rear axle made up and almost
ready, 4 wheels (thanks Adrian) prepared and ready.
The task today is to progress the body top at the front, How to
do this has been a sticking point for a long time. Current
method is to laminate in fibreglass the round edges and bond to
a top, wait and see! (At least I know how to fibreglass!) I
can't add the horizontal bulkhead nor the verticals, I'm out of
epoxy till Tuesday otherwise the structure would be complete
today!
#Post#: 4157--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: M.Z.Nahajski
Date: June 27, 2021, 6:26 am
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Very exciting indeed Rhys!!! Fast progress too. Brooklands is
going to be great event. I need to speed up my kart for that as
I believe a Delage 15-S-8 won the first grand prix there. An
interesting car to try and replicate and a good back story. Keep
us updated!
#Post#: 4158--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: June 27, 2021, 8:14 am
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To be clear, not REPLICATE, inspired by! Yes, the first winner
is the Delage gifted to the museum.
Well to be polite today has been a bit of a "Hands up". I over
bent the mould for the side rolls, and then ran out of polyester
as well. I need to redo the rolls. Bugger.
Must be time to start the humps!
#Post#: 4161--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: June 28, 2021, 11:57 am
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Well, I woke to the news this morning that I'm self isolating
again, as this time it's my daughter in law that has tested
positive, and we had a gathering last Tuesday. That does give me
time in the shed, but I can't go out to gather materials, even
when it's planned for collection.
Epoxy arrived, so the bottom seam of the tub is done, as is the
axle mounting area. That's all done with laminations of biaxial
glassfibre, and triaxial around the axle positions.
I made a start on hacking foam for the rear deck too.
Yes photos for proof will be forthcoming tomorrow.
#Post#: 4162--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: June 29, 2021, 12:11 pm
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More stuff bonded in, and a front "fairing" made.
Next step is to mount the entire front end.
There are complications! Right now I have to self isolate until
midnight Saturday. My daughter-in-law tested positive so as we
had a gathering last week we are on the "don't leave the
property" rules. I will run out of epoxy brushes!
Also the working space in "Grumpy's Garage is limited, The 1934
Morgan and 72 Peugeot 404 estate projects use up most so all I
have is about a metre by 3. Neither of those can be moved. Yes,
tight, but at least I'm showing you don't need a big workshop to
build a cyclekart :)
#Post#: 4167--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: June 30, 2021, 4:26 pm
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Today I was bit distracted as I had some real work (from home)
and did another task for the Beast of Hinckley. I did make up
all the bits to mount the front springs, axle and such. First
error discovered, but easily corrected as the holes for the tie
rods are in the wrong place. They are now re cut and fillers for
the wrong holes made.
If I could go out the gate I would be mounting the engine and
rear axle tomorrow.
#Post#: 4173--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: June 30, 2021, 11:56 pm
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Nobody has asked, but.. Why choose this method of construction?
My first CK was built in the true Stevenson method. Plywood
"tub" with steel rails bolted on the outside to fasten things
to, and was very stiff. When I first went to Tieton I was
immensely impressed by many of the builds, the ones with a
chassis and body bolted on didn't impress me as it was very easy
to see the structure twisting. One very impressive car was the
"Blower Bentley", totally 6 mm plywood with only very small
pieces of 16 gauge where loads had to be spread. On return to NZ
I started my Austin 7 build, for the "Great Austin 7 build off"
www.cyclekartclub.com › forum ›
the-great-austin-seven-cyclekart-build-off. As with a number of
my builds I had a visitor who asked if I would sell it, and yet
another of my unfinished projects left me. I don't know what
happened to it, although someone did say it was on display
hanging from a wall somewhere as "art".
I have tried all sorts of methods, in the case of the Flatiron
it's because I had under 7 weeks from start to the deadline
event, I can do this quickly, I don't weld, it's light, stiff
and I can do a bit at a time between work tasks (technically I
work 5 days, 4 hours per day but I'll answer phones, emails and
such 24/7 to keep the business as efficient as I can).
I'm not saying it's the only method, but in this case with the
large cross sectional area it's one that should work for me. If
it breaks after Brooklands so be it, it's only being built
primarily for the one event.
#Post#: 4192--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: July 3, 2021, 11:22 am
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Front end all mounted and working today. Yes the springing
method is a bit odd. There are reasons, ask if you want to know!
#Post#: 4193--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: M.Z.Nahajski
Date: July 4, 2021, 5:31 am
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For driving upside down ;) ? Tell us...
#Post#: 4194--------------------------------------------------
Re: A car for Brooklands.
DIR By: RhysN
Date: July 4, 2021, 5:46 am
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At least somebody asked Marek, I was wondering if it was worth
posting anything!
The springs are mounted that way (reverse arch) to get them low
enough. The shackles are at the front, I moved them from the
rear mount as when I flexed the springs I noted decreasing
castor. As I will start with not a huge amount the castor was
going to neutral, or maybe negative, and I don't fancy shopping
trolley steering characteristics.
If it gets the car running for Brooklands, "Ittledo"
This car is being built from "stuff" I had here which nobody
wanted. (Reasons of cost and to be able to move ahead, hence the
axle which was built for the unfinished Napier.)
As you can see the space issue is dominant. I now need to turn
it round to work on the motor and rear axle installation, I have
no idea at all how I'm going to get it out of "Grumpy's Garage"
except dismantle almost totally then re-assemble elsewhere.
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