Hello everryone. Just thought I'd post a little info on a bit of a sail I had today at lunch time (I couldn't resist 30+kmh winds, although 40 degrees is getting a bit warm).
I ended up bending my fork and the two rear axles, both 30x30x2.5mm. Proud of me? 
This said I can't say it was a normal session, I was using the Epsom-Huntly sports grounds carparks and road. Nearly all the turns under power had the wheels screeching and leaving black marks behind, needless to say the only way of turning in so little an area was to skid around a lot My first sail where I had to shuffle up the seat all the time to get enough mass over the front wheel.
With the wind as it was I it was impossible (for me) to make all the turns, and therefore went up over the angled concrete gutters a few times (read many times). My back has a resonably severve twinge in it at the moment, got a funny feeling that has happened before actually. May have to get some better seat foam.
Anywaaaaay, back to the moral of the story. Lefroy minis are not designed to be sailed over gutters too often, at highish speeds or you will bend them
Not that anyone should think that type of sailing might be ok 
P.S. Still on the search for a good sailing venue locally, preferebly something like a big clay-pan. 
Pretty Please...
Now is when we tell you about sacrifices! To get good wind conditions, in fact to get good 'anything' conditions one has since the beginning of civilised people, had to make sacrifices usually in the form of virgins preferably female.
So, either stock up on suitable sacrifices or run the risk of damged vehicles or no wind days [}:)]
'tsa madda you Lachy?? Try looking around Lake Tyrrel or just past Horsham only a coupla hundred K's as the Crow flies.
Looking at that Box Section in your Steering It appears to be a little on the Light side to me. What is it?? 1.5 to 2mm walls? I think I would go for 4mm and also close in the end to give it a little more strength.
So what did you finish up calling you machine and I'm not asking the temporary ones you might call it if it Spits You out on the Bitumen
.
Ron
Tarmac is GOOD fun eh?
Like an old mate used to say to me "Let's take your yacht out sailing and see if we can break something."[}:)]
Yeah! Well a Bloke I knew used to say a very similar thing--------Only he was offering a fight.. "RIGHT! Out there where the Concrete is nice and Hard"[}:)].
How do you guys get on with Front tires?? I think I will wear the Walls out before the central Tread.
Ron
Yes, I know beggars can't be choosers when it comes to sailing conditions and venues. The damage itself doesn't worry me (wont take long to fix), just thought I'd let anyone interested that the venue is a bit hazardous for sailing in high winds. It would be fun in low to moderate winds though Tarmac is good fun but not sure I can afford the tyres for it
I've been to lake Tyrell and sad to say it was very soft and is fed constantly with groundwater. The only time it may be ok is during a very hot summer, Im not sure what its current state is with the flooding in that area. All the Horsham area lakes are full so will have to wait quite a while for them to dry out 
The front forks were to the lefroy mini plans,ie: 30x30x2.0mm (sorry, earlier I quoted 30x30x2.5mm). I'm sure they would be ok for normal hard use, i was just pushing the envelope yesterday. And forgot to sacrifice a few goats before heading out 
No yacht name as yet, will get to it one day.
One of the reasons the front ends are not built heavier is that when some thing gives we would rather it be metal and not body parts. 3 times I have stopped suddenly with my front end and each time the shock to my feet and legs was uncomfortable but would most likely have been more distressing had not the front end given way in some form or other
Also keeps the weight down.
arn't you glad that the rear axles are just a little piece of cheap tube!. perhaps a piece of 25x25 into the fork to stiffen it it , maybe drill all the way through with one of ciscos hole saws i now have one maybe even a bit of that 25x25 in the axles.
ya must have flogged it
Flogged it is right! Went a bit crazy actually, not sure why I tried some of the things I did. Drilling all the way through is a good idea. Could also insert and weld a piece of flat bar diagonally into the warped tube to reinforce it.
This said I don't think anyone should do that kind of damage unless they crash.
If people want to sail over gutters/concrete objects, reinforcment probably is required (and thick seat padding)
Lachy,
I can't say as I would try it.. Don't think the Back would stand the Jarring Shock, I probably would finish up in hospital.. Let alone a Life Ban, from sailing, by "Her what must be obeyed"
Ron
I guess if the wheels weren't proven before then they must be now be considered toughies after that treatment 
I reckon they are a bit tougher than blokart branded wheels. Blowie wheels are brittle. Fallshaws have some flex.
I'd have to agree and say they look tougher, but they do feel fairly heavy. I sometimes think they could have some of the rim machined out and still be more than ok for mini use (especially the front). That said the little mass you would loose probably isn't worth the effort.
Lachy,
You can't leave a Child go unnamed and I just thouoght of a couple that may appeal;
1 Son O' Sam 666 (SOS)
2 Satan's Child
3 Beelzebub
Hey! Just a thought.
Ron
CAB (Crash And Burn)
But I can't talk, the first time I really opened up I lost control and hit a little puddle called the Pacific Ocean. But considering oceans cover the majority of the planet I feel it was unavoidable.
