CycleKarts - Anyone heard of them. - Would you like to see GRM add a monthly column about them

Having built my 74 MK1 Capri Perana inspired car to a point where it will not occupy all of my shop time next year I started poking about online last fall for a project that would meet the following qualifications

1 - Not too Expensive - (Directive from she who must be obeyed) 2 - Would allow me to express my creative juices and Build stuff. 3 - When done would allow me to connect with a group of like minded individuals 4 - Would be fun to drive.

With these four points as guide posts I finally happened on the Cyclekart phenomenon. Cyclekarts are relatively new in North America but have a huge following in Britain and continental Europe.

The FAQ section of the www.cyclekartclub.com forum sums up the entire hobby as follows....

"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 jeopardizing the light-hearted nature of these machines and the people who build them"

As the name implies they are karts that use Motor Cycle wheels and are powered by a Honda 200CC 6.5HP air cooled engine or clone thereof. The engines are usually "hotrodded" with a kit of standard parts and modifications to put out about 10HP. Unlike a go Kart, Cyclekarts are hand built by their owners and are patterned after 1920's to 1930's race cars. In the North American experience there are a loose set of specifications which guide the builds. A partial list includes the following points.

Maximum build cost $2500US Max Length 96" Wheel base - As close to 67" as the inspiration car allows when reduced by 50% Track - 39" Max suggested weight 250Lbs.

Additional suggested guidelines can be found on the Cyclekart Forum at http://www.cyclekartclub.com/phorum/read.php?1,8100

Youtube has hundreds of videos about the Karts and the events put on to showcase and race them. Do a search for "Cyclekarts" on Youtube to see what the hobby is all about".

I am currently in the design stage of putting together a cyclekart based on a 1937 Alvis Speed 25 Special and have attached a photo of the inspiration car as well as my preliminary drawing to give you the idea.

It occurs to me that Cyclekarts are precisely what GRM is all about, being motorsports that are fun, affordable and provide an opportunity for wannabe racers to participate in a lowcost, safe and fun environment unencumbered by a myriad of rules and regulations as would be the case with heavier, faster machines. (Top speed on a Cyclekart is about 40-45 MPH).

That all said, Have a look at the youtube videos and www.cyclekartclub.com and let me - and by extention GRM know if you think a Cyclekart column in the magazine would be appropriate.

So, like a street legal, GRM $20xx Challenge Legends race car?

I have looked at these a few years back. Looks like a ton of fun and totally on my bucket list. Definitely watching.

It's the alfettina that trips my trigger more than the cycle karts. 600cc single seater with skinny tires. What legends cars could have been. But I bet the cycle karts are a hoot if you have somewhere to run them

I believe we had a member here that was building one several years ago. I don't remember who it was or if they finished it.

This needs more build thread.

Seriously tho, thanks for sharing, I never knew this was a thing. Now I'm having terrible thoughts involving sport bike motors about something straddling the line between this and a locost.

I've always heard them referred to as cyclecars, not karts. There's a 300-some page thread about them over on the HAMB board, lots of interesting photos. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/lets-talk-cyclecars.226791/

While neat, I wouldn't spend THAT much money to make something like this and then not drop in a motorcycle engine.

Trackmouse the car you pictured is indeed a cycle car which is what the Cyclekarts are patterned after. Typically they are downsized 50% and all use the same Honda or Honda clone engines which keeps them competitive and evenly matched. The whole cyclekart movement is more about having fun than serious competition.

It is not for everyone, but those who like It - like it a lot!

I really love the concept, and it sounds like fun if it got off the ground and there were a decent number of venues to use them.

As it is, and for my use, a bare-bones budget Locost build seems like only a little bit more hassle and expense, but you end up with something you can register and drive on the road, drive to a show/meet, and use for motorsports events. If there was an active local club with a place to drive them, or I had a buddy with a big field we could tear up it might be a different story.