Thanks!
Yep, these cyclekarts are quite fun. There's some pretty simple rules to the whole thing but that just makes em the fun, light-hearted things that they are.
Lots of people do this and there are groups all over the place.
If anyone's interested, the basics of what is a "Spec" cyclekart. (the reason for Spec is so when you attend an event, the race is equal.
Ultimately, you can do whatever you want... but if you want to race, you gotta follow the rules.
The basics: (taken from the cyclekart main site)
<<<BEGIN>>>
Cyclekarts are compact, lightweight, sports machines, home and hand made by their drivers for the pursuit of classic motoring sporting excitement. They're not built to be serious race machines or show cars. They're built purely for the personal satisfaction and fun and of driving a machine you've built yourself. As driving machine, the CycleKart formula loosely limits certain aspects of the machines to maintain good sporting performance without jeopardising the light-hearted nature of these machines and the people who build them.
CycleKarts and their builders don't like to take things too seriously, but do encourage good, sporting competitions for fun. The Cyclekart specifications allow for all the cars built being similar in performance, without strictly governing the rules.
Cyclekarts are generally not for sale, as they should be an expression of the owner's individual styling interests as well as sharing the pride in building one's own unique kart. Cyclekarts are built for the pleasure of the imagination, the design and the building of the kart. Cyclekats are based on the styling of 1920s and 1930s race cars to pre WWII. Making it look good is fundamental, performance is secondary in the Cyclekarting community.
Stevenson CycleKart Specification
A one-seat car using Honda 17" x 1-3/4" or 2" rims, 2.50" x 17" tires (2.75" have been used on the Alfa), a 38" track, wheelbase as close to 66" as the aesthetics of the car will allow (err on the shorter side for more abstract cuteness and general attractiveness), weight no more than 250 lbs, and powered by a 200cc, single cylinder, 6.5 hp Honda OHV engine (the GX200). A CycleKart should not cost more than $1,750 to build in 2001 dollars. This is to avoid "spending races" where people start hiring out parts and making things too nice; we're not making show cars, and an element of scrounging adds to the fun.
Measurements and Notes:
* Styling - 1920s and 1930s race cars, maximum pre WWII. Make it look good. Performance is secondary
* Overall Maximum Length - 98" (2490mm)
* Overall Maximum Width - 40" (1020mm)
* Wheel Base - 66" (1675mm)
* Track - 38" (965mm)
* Chassis Frame Rails – (2) 1" x 3" (25mm x 75mm) steel (1/16" thickness is sufficient)
* Body Work – 1/4" (6mm) plywood and 3/4" (18mm) plywood monocoque box, or metal work
* Body Width - 14" (355mm) wide at front axle, 20" (510mm) wide at seat back
* Front Axle – 1-5/8" (41.5mm) O.D. tubing, dropped to accommodate the leaf springs
* Rear Axle - 1" x 36" (25mm x 915mm) long axle
* Front springs - 24" x 1-1/4" (610mm x 38mm), 2 leaf, 1/2 elliptic
* Wheels and tyres – Honda 17" x 1-3/4" (177mm x 44.5mm)
* Minimum Weight – N/A
* Maximum Weight - 250 lbs (113.6 kg)
* Engine - 200cc, single cylinder 6.5 hp Honda OHV engine (GX200)
* Engine Location – Rear
* Drive - Comet TAV-30 (or similar) unit to one wheel only
* Drive Chain - #40 chain, 72 tooth main sprocket (#35 chain & such works too)
* Braking – Single rear wheel by mechanical disc. No front brakes allowed
* Variation – Adjust all or any specifications above as required or desired
There is no lower weight limit, as we feel that this is a perfect place to "cheat". Lighter cars will perform better, will also have better braking (using the same brakes) and the structure will be loaded less heavily: All good things. There's a natural lower weight imposed by the strength of materials used, but it would be fun to see what could be done. Lighter machines are more prone to breaking, so please make safety your priority, and keep in mind that you'll spend more time fixing things than others might. It's all part of the fun of CycleKart design.
<<<END>>>
https://www.cyclekartclub.com/
In all of that, they do really like it (and prefer it) if you have an "Inspiration car" you used to base your design off of.
Mine, was based loosely... on the GN Jap. (very loosely that is, with a little pre / wwII military styling thrown in... imagine that.)