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LIMERICK SOAPBOX GRANDPRIX 2015 May 24th

The Limerick Classic & Vintage car club finally got the go ahead & the appropriate insurance cover sorted for the Limerick Soapbox Grand Prix 2015...which will take place at Limerick Racecourse , M20 Exit 4 .
It will be held on May 24th & at the same venue as the Limerick VW Show

The racing will take place on a great new downhill tarmac track with a few twists to add "interest" !

Entry fee will be 20 euro per person .


Check out some homebuilt racers from Limerick...in 1978



Not many rules so far !

Entries taken on day 20 euro
There will be a scrutineer who will inspect the "vehicles"...if he says they're not safe or strong enough ,they won't race
Will need to have rigid steering (ie no ropes etc )
Shouldn't have any sharp or dangerous features
Will need to have a brake
Will need to have a solid floor in case a foot gets caught
Will need to have a solid & secure seat.
Should not have any mechanical parts to increase speed (ie no catapults,pedals or jet engines ! )

Minimum age limit 15 & will need parental consent....younger enthusiasts sometimes haven't developed a self preservation instinct
Team must sign a declaration absolving organisers from any & all responsibility.
Driver to wear sleeved top & a helmet



The main Limerick VW Show 2015 thread is here ;


viewtopic.php?f=13&t=14933&p=137301#p137301

That sounds like awesome craic. Fair play, I hope the day is a big success.

Will have ours ready for this, will have a good run at the Riverfest one for a test first hopefully. Any info on which hill in the Racecourse is being used?

Good stuff !
It will be on part of the new tarmac racetrack which was laid a couple of years back....all will be revealed

Thanks for your support....insurance was expensive ,so LCVCC hoping for a good turnout so the race can become an annual feature

Few details of a local Limerick budget build !

SOAPBOX BUILD-UP, PART 1

1) The ads on DoneDeal are a good place to start any project, search for 'kart' and buy the cheapest / strongest that you can find! (pic not actual kart)



2) Remove any unnecessary bits and pieces, pedals, sprockets ,chain etc. etc.



3) Lower seat to lower the centre of gravity and improve handling!





SOAPBOX BUILD-UP, PART 2 (making simple things complicated..)

Top level motorsport is all about testing and ongoing development ,so the racer was given a quick spin down our hill. Our test pilot returned looking a bit pale & shaken...he reported a "speed wobble"!





Some adjustments to the steering geometry were obviously required.
1) Caster Angle

-Kart didn't seem to have any ,so the main tube running front to back was veed & re welded , thereby adding some positive caster to help high speed stability!






2) Track and Camber
- the front track was narrowed and some positive camber introduced in order to reduce the scrub radius.





3) Centre of Mass
- lowering the centre of mass improves cornering, so frame modified at rear (body dropped 4" !) to lower the seat again , +ve castor angle was increased a bit more too ,as a result .







Off for another test run !

Much better

Those monoblock alloys are savage.

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/// Mk2 Volkswagen Golf 1.3 CL - Nürburgring Honda Edition

Ahem*

"Will need to have a brake
Will need to have a solid floor in case a foot gets caught
Will need to have a solid & secure seat."

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We used to have soapbox derbys years ago (30 odd yr back lol) and it was great craic, most cars were all wood with bearings as wheels, steering was done via your feet on the front "axle", the odd car had pram wheels with oil barrels as the body.

They've come on a bit since..

http://m.instructables.com/id/32-Sedan-soapbox-1/



http://m.instructables.com/id/Oh-No-not-another-flippin-soapbox/



Wheelie bins make great bodywork which is both strong and light, and the type of wheels available has increased a lot in recent yrs, its a great family/community day out.

They're the best craic. we organised one last year and was the most fun we had all year!

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That looked like a good fun day out.