[axman88]

This came into my U-Tube feed, and I thought some folks here might find this interesting, so I'll share it here.

Way back when motorcars were young, there was apparently a thing called Cyclecars, which were small, light, low powered vehicles, generally with 4 wheels and motorcycle sized engines.  These bridged the gap, both in capability and price, between motorcycles and full sized automobiles.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclecar

The Cyclecars had a short life, made irrelevant by Ford's ability to deliver a full sized vehicle at a price that put many motorcycle companies out of business.

Now, there is an even smaller vehicle form, the CycleKart, which seeks to recreate classic vehicle's character in home-built, low cost four wheelers that use a 6.5hp engine, motorcycle wheels, and minimal tech, with minimal rules.  These guys build their vision, then take them out and race them.    This looks like a heck of a lot of fun for not much money:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njkoZLWx74Q

https://www.cyclekarts.com/
https://www.cyclekartclub.com/forum/
 

[zimmemr]

This came into my U-Tube feed, and I thought some folks here might find this interesting, so I'll share it here.

Way back when motorcars were young, there was apparently a thing called Cyclecars, which were small, light, low powered vehicles, generally with 4 wheels and motorcycle sized engines.  These bridged the gap, both in capability and price, between motorcycles and full sized automobiles.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclecar

The Cyclecars had a short life, made irrelevant by Ford's ability to deliver a full sized vehicle at a price that put many motorcycle companies out of business.

Now, there is an even smaller vehicle form, the CycleKart, which seeks to recreate classic vehicle's character in home-built, low cost four wheelers that use a 6.5hp engine, motorcycle wheels, and minimal tech, with minimal rules.  These guys build their vision, then take them out and race them.    This looks like a heck of a lot of fun for not much money:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njkoZLWx74Q

https://www.cyclekarts.com/
https://www.cyclekartclub.com/forum/
 

Motorcycle engines were also very popular in TQ class midgets during the 30's and onwards. Bike engines are still run in mini sprints and I believe some of the midget and legend cars.

[Karl Childers]

https://www.cycleworld.com/yamaha-flirts-with-dirt-track-racing-with-yzf-r1-powered-r1dt-prototype/

[zimmemr]

https://www.cycleworld.com/yamaha-flirts-with-dirt-track-racing-with-yzf-r1-powered-r1dt-prototype/

Very cool, kind of a mini dirt-modified, and very affordable. thanks. 

[Stanley]

The postwar racing of cyclecars had the side effect of inspiring custom bikes based on the Featherbed frames discarded by Norton car builders. John Cooper and John Surtees were cyclecar racer-builders. The Morgan 3 and others used J.A.P. singles and twins. Cyclecars evolved into today's Formula cars.
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/columnists/doug-nye/2019/8/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-single-seater-cooper/

[axman88]

CycleKarts that conform to the club standard, use the Honda GX200 utility engine, https://engines.honda.com/models/model-detail/mid-gx   

I've also seen posts and pages of Karts built with clones of that engine.   Drive trains includes a go-kart variable ratio torque convertor

Cyclecars are rather a different animal, in my view.   The Karts appear to be designed more after full sized period vehicles and racing cars of the post Cyclecar era, although this seems to be pretty wide open.

Here's a spec. i cut from the CycleKart club site forum:

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
* Braking – Single rear wheel by mechanical disc. No front brakes allowed
* Variation – Adjust all or any specifications above as required or desired

[richard211]

 I want one so badly. I can see myself tearing down the road in one of these cyclecars.

[NVDucati]

I've wanted to have a Legend Car for a long time. The issue was (and continues) to get it street legal. However, I see more and more registered golf carts on the streets. Maybe it is just a "branding issue".
https://www.uslegendcars.com/start-racing/cars/legend-car/

[Karl Childers]

I've wanted to have a Legend Car for a long time. The issue was (and continues) to get it street legal. However, I see more and more registered golf carts on the streets. Maybe it is just a "branding issue".
https://www.uslegendcars.com/start-racing/cars/legend-car/

 

Those are very cool! When I was a little kid and my father took me to the stock car races they still were driving the old modified coupes that looked like that, at that age I was fascinated by them.

[Richard230]

 

Those are very cool! When I was a little kid and my father took me to the stock car races they still were driving the old modified coupes that looked like that, at that age I was fascinated by them.

I always enjoyed watching the figure-8 demolition derbies. 

[Karl Childers]

I always enjoyed watching the figure-8 demolition derbies. 

I never saw them live but ABC Wide World of Sports would broadcast them a couple of times a year!