![]() The bubble is the main element of the bodywork, it looks a bit scary to produce but in fact is relatively simple to make. In my real job, it has eliminated the need to build prototypes as well as producing pretty pictures for quotes, handbooks etc. You can build 3D assemblies and animate them to allow you to turn pedals and check knee clearance or move the handlebars and see where the wheels end up. It is a powerful 3D CAD package of which I probably only use about 10% of its features. Solidworks is my weapon of choice for the design work. Although the two machines look quite different, they will both use 406 size wheels and can share a lot of common parts, in particular wheels, brakes, steering components and structural materials. ![]() The new school design will look something like this CAD image. I have based my new design on the bubble type machine which was easy to construct and quite fast. This was achieved partly by the elimination of battery charging during the event and insisting on a head out cockpit rather than bubble canopies. Not surprisingly, the organisers had to change the rules to try and reduce speeds. Unfortunately, some other teams then went the same way and the result was that quite a few inexperienced 11 to 16 year old pupils were racing in machines capable of 50mph. We achieved this largely by employing the aerodynamic principles we are all familiar with in HPV racing. We had some success in 2003 and became national champions in 2004. I decided that a fully faired trike was the way I wanted to go as I want to go fast but have not got the balance or bravery needed for a bike.Īnother consideration in my design choice was that our company helps out a local secondary school with building and racing 4 wheel electric cars in the Greenpower series of races around the country. This is now a finished account of my Trike build that I raced throughout the 2009 season.
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