NYB 2008 - We're Back
2008 was the second year of our gravity racing challenge. This time there was even a trophy!!
The trophy was of course expertly crafted by Oliver from a go-kart drive sprocket mount, some studding, used Pilbeam spherical bearings, go-kart steering mounts and a plastic scrumpy bottle. He had even taken care to properly adorn it with last year's champion.
During some of the pre-event build-up, images and even a movie were released to tease us all.
Rich produced this amazing effort: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uj18X3SgbJQ
Which was countered by Hew who wrote: "Our exclusive teaser pictures reveal some highly competitive technology that will be revealed on this years' "kart". The Team Evans Racing engineering team based in Surrey, England have been working hard during pre-season to develop and test a world-beater for what is rapidly becoming known as the Grand Prix event on the Usk international downhill circuit. With such attention to detail, race tuned performance and wet-weather expertise, we expect Team Evans to outshine their 2007 kart by some way."
Hew also managed a little tantalising poster:
The course was extended for 2008 with an upper section allowing a run up to a small jump in the gateway. Which The Stig can demonstrate to us:
Talking of The Stig - he was looking pretty damn good this year, especially from behind:
And so to the racing..... there were nine karts for 2008, each unique and only 3 of them made by Oliver! All nine were of such genius that they each deserve their own review.
1. The Roman Chariot
I'm pretty sure that Em is showing us a look of total shock that she hasn't yet been impailed by her own kart. That came later..! I believe it was made without any tools whatsoever, ok perhaps maybe a carving knife was used on the wood sharpening. With some real thought having gone into the steering mechanism, the driver's weight being used to offset the stunning flowers. Em ended a perky 8th out of the nine beauties.
2. The Flying Bogey
I don't think Hew stopped grinning all day - even when it tipped him out for the umpteenth time and wiped his face in some more sheep sh1t! Sadly it didn't quite have the panache of 2007's blue tractor and it lacked Hew's personal touch without a little horn. But it made us all laugh hard!! I'm told we are to watch this space carefully as Team Evans were seen with notebooks and photographs of competitors karts. Having outdone us all with their team t-shirts, 2009's kart could be something special! Just so we don't forget, here's a pic of Hew upside-down again:
With all his tumbling around and playing to the gallery, Hew finished a galant and poop-covered 9th......... out of 9!
3. The E-Dammer
Here we see the E-dammer in low-drag skinless mode - all that welding of brackets and it goes better with the body off!! Well, it really is two mountain bikes welded together with a plastic garden chair slung in between them. A bit of magic on the steering and with the brakes operated by foot, it's a really beauty. The champion of 2007, but beaten in '08 by a bath tub - Ali was gutted! It has a propensity for flipping after the finish and for buckling wheels. It isn't an easy ride! This year he was 2nd, by 0.6 seconds!!
4. The Zebra Coffin
Well here's me in my effort. A pile of plywood, some wheels from a trolley, an e-bay disc brake and a lucky smile! Oh and some underseal as black paint. Bad move - I was covered in tar by the end of the day. I ended up a petulant 5th and cried foul, but got ignored. I'm going to invent some better rules for next year so that I can win!
5. The Terror Tub
Well I'm very proud of this one as it won! We built this in Mark's back garden. Only to find that we couldn't get it out! So it had to go over a 7ft high hedge. It's made out of 2 mountain bikes, 1 bmx, 1 bath tub and 5 plastic ducks. We thought it would be good when a little shove down the garden propelled it very far and knocked all our beers over! It had no rolling resistance, a really low CofG and simple steering geometry so there was no scrubbing on lock. Beautiful! With it being the winner of 2008 its design is now frozen for 2009 with only minor repairs being allowed.
6. The Monster Tractor.
The two best words to describe this are "Holy" and what Hew was covered in! I was frightened (and I was standing at the top of the field with it heading away from me at the time!). Construction of this was genius. A tiller, disc brakes, comfy seating and a tweed jacket for the driver. It made the best squeaking noise and Adam drove it with what I can only describe as gay abandon!! Death or Glory! It didn't pick up speed too well, but once going it was unstoppable! This takes the prize for the "Oh crap, what have we started" award !! I think it was two dumper truck tyres, each reputedly weighing 60kg. All up, we estimated a quarter of a tonne romping down the field. Just stunning!!!
7. Lastminute.com
So named due to the late nature of its construction... again! This is a 2nd hand seat, the steering from a go-kart (very twitchy!) my front wheels from '07 and Morgan's rear wheels from '07. With the twitchiness at the front and the flexing at the rear, it was an amusing ride! After Amy had stopped flapping, let him remove his hat and returned to squeak encouragement from the side-lines, it went rather fast, ending up 4th. He's a potential winner, but can he construct a kart to achieve it????.....
8. Stig's Westfield
A beautiful piece of construction - if it was dark and my eyes were closed! The welds broke twice, but it eventualy turned into a rocket-ship. It was also accompanied by a gentle clanking soundtrack, which was amusing. His 3rd place finish didn't tell the true story as this thing was fast. Better through the corners than most, even lifting an inside wheel such was the grip (and flex of the chassis!). Believed to be in a state of rebuild, 9 months before NYB 2009!!! This boy is serious.
9. Hot Gravy
A look of determination on Ben's face, just before he flattened the photographer!! As Em and Adam, this was his first attempt at NYB. Using a sack trolley, two wheel barrows and a huge chunk of ingenuity he created a beast. The tiller was cunning, but I think the fact that shifting it left caused the kart to turn right made it a bit of a challenge to drive.
The Results
And so to the final results of NYB 2008 as recorded by Steph.
The Videos
And so to the main reason we fling ourselves down a Welsh valley in various lethal constructions - so we can watch the videos on YouTube. Hopefully, they will all appear below in an easily viewable format. I'm not too good at this internet thing, but I think you will need scripts available to view them. If it doesn't appear, then search YouTube for my user name 99greenmen and ignore the vain videos of me in racing cars.
And also Mark's videos with some onboard and some rude comments!
So long gravity racers. Until NYB 2009.