Jason Mitchell, Seismic Nationals 2007, Hybrid Slalom.  Photo by Greg Fadell Northern California Downhill Skateboarding Association
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Skatecar (180 Posts)
Topic Info
Skatecar race
On 2/26/2004 Kludy wrote in from (198.81.nnn.nnn)

Talk is all good but we need to race .Bring me one to barret race and we will do it .
LETS RACE THE THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
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give me lift !
On 2/23/2004 Duane wrote in from (165.121.nnn.nnn)

Within reason, I'd rather have lift. Downforce is a double penalty, it increases drag as well as normal force on the wheels so you get more bearing and tire friction. Don't think we'll see any Mercedes-like LeMans quadruple flips at our speed. It really isn't easy to measure lift or downforce generated, but it will affect your drag coefficient big-time. If you make the height of the rear suspension adjustable, you can tune lift or downforce by adjusting up and down, and testing times on the same hill.

 
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Shaping
On 2/23/2004 PSR wrote in from (24.53.nnn.nnn)

Duane,even though you say the shape of the Powerflex Skatecar isn't what you'd want,it does have more virtues than vices.I agree that you cannot keep air out from underneath entirely,but the (too)long,and acutely angled nose isn't a bad idea.Downforce is certainly preferable to Lift!The tail,by way of that upsweep,means that air that does get under will exit by means of laminar flow,and also not produce Lift.Yeah,the drag penalties could be high with this combo(they are on my Luge),but I'd definately want downforce drag than lift-induced drag. The best likely shaping would be to push air more to vehichle's sides,and try to maintain a clean laminar flow,being more careful about exit vortices and the drag they incur.An Albacore-Hull(um,minus the conning tower,but somewhat like the Sub's profile) shape,given enough flat underneath to provide a stable wheelbase/track,with a slight upward lilt to the tailcone would be my ideal.If extra stability were needed,I'd go with as little 'fin' sticking out as possible for directional aids.

 
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Powerflex car
On 2/17/2004 Duane wrote in from (165.121.nnn.nnn)

Looks cool, but aerodynamics are poor. Downforce on the front, and suction under that rear lifted area, big time. A good example of what you don't want to do: try to keep air out from under (you can't). Might be faster backward

 
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PowerFlex Skatecar
On 2/17/2004 alec wrote in from (81.132.nnn.nnn)

Just came across this on eBay.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3661068188&category=16264

Mmmmmm, nice

 
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randal
On 2/13/2004 hc wrote in from (68.125.nnn.nnn)

hughR,

randal got a very nice skate car hanging in his garage,
he made it for the sand hill challenge.

maybe you can convince him to take some pics for you page.

 
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turner
On 2/13/2004 hc wrote in from (68.125.nnn.nnn)

http://www.badasskate.co.uk/photos/Old%20Photos.html

simon, thx for those pics, very cool..

hughR, have you heard anything about a Bodrods streamliner,
i read about it on streetluge.net quite a while back..

hc
http://www.geocities.com/sk8sanjose/luge.html

 
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Turner
On 2/12/2004 Simon Gunning wrote in from (62.190.nnn.nnn)

http://www.geocities.com/sk8sanjose/turnerluge.jpg


If you want to see more pics of this - I took photos when I went to see Bob Turner in the eighties

http://www.badasskate.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=news;action=display;num=1017161167

 
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Most comprehnsive skatecar site on the net
On 2/11/2004 hugh r wrote in from (24.48.nnn.nnn)

www.skatecar.homestead.com


HR

 
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links
On 2/11/2004 FL wrote in from (65.119.nnn.nnn)

I think hc at The San Jose Dh Sk8 site (on the links page here) might have some pics . Also Craig Vetters website has some pics ..FL

 
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Skatecar
On 2/11/2004 FL wrote in from (65.119.nnn.nnn)

Generally speaking , a skatecar is a faired , lean steered laydown . Some had metal frames , some wood .Some were headfirst , some were feetfirst . There was a 100 mm (4") max on the wheels ..FL

 
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What the hell is a skatecar?
On 2/10/2004 Alex Maier wrote in from (207.6.nnn.nnn)

What is a skatecar? any links?

 
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Skatecars
On 2/9/2004 Bob wrote in from (68.48.nnn.nnn)

Now this is a skatecar... actually.. a pair of em

http://sauron.alphademon.com/albums/misc/skatecar.jpg

 
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Braking Systems
On 2/5/2004 FL wrote in from (65.119.nnn.nnn)

You guys might check out the Patent Office database for interesting designs .Hell , I think one of my anti-dive linkages is there ....FL

 
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Rules
On 2/5/2004 Jackie Lee Smith wrote in from (207.114.nnn.nnn)

Hi Folks...

I am trying to line-up a couple of different race venues. One of them being Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio.

Rules soon...promise!

Jack

 
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Where are you Jackie Smith!
On 2/4/2004 hugh r wrote in from (68.232.nnn.nnn)

Hey Jack Smith!! Hows abouts some rules??!!

:) HR

 
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Parachutes
On 1/29/2004 GBJ wrote in from (69.140.nnn.nnn)

Let me begin by acknowledging that I am not a skatecar driver, and haven't even seen one in person, but I was a fan of all that skatecar stuff back in the '70s. I seem to recall that parachutes were attempted at the last big Signal Hill race, the one where so many people got hurt. I even have a recollection of the Silver Streak car with its' little parachute door on the rear popped open and the chute out. If I recall correctly though, it was suggested in the coverage of that event that the parachutes were tending to jerk the car, often to one side or the other, as they deployed.

 
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parachutes
On 1/27/2004 hugh r wrote in from (68.232.nnn.nnn)

While not being necessairly extemely areo... I am thinking that a design that allows you to foot brake in a pinch is something to consider from the safety stand point.

I don't think that I could economically build a braking system that will stop as quick or consistantly as my tire clad feet!

Also, even though they could end up being a menace in head to head racing... parachutes would certainly be 'crowd pleasers' at the finish line!

HR

 
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rack & pinion
On 1/27/2004 Duane wrote in from (68.15.nnn.nnn)

Strokers are pretty close, thay have the "rack" but no pinion. I suppose you could get closer to true rack & Pinion by putting a gear in the center to translate lean into tie rod movement, but that would probably be more mechanical-feeling than the strokers. I think a wider stroker arrangement is a very legitimate way to steer a skatecar, probably the best way if you want flat profile wheels. Use of elastomers like urethane foam to dampen the steering movement would help a lot for stability, or theoretically, a damper could be used. Adding a little suspension is also a nice trick, if the course is bumpy / cracked that will pay off big, smooth is fast. I wouldn't want to see too many rules here, I think a width maximum, wheel size (and number, four), and body lean steering are enough to keep them "skateboards". There should be a maximum total weight, light guys, go get some lead.

 
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turner luge
On 1/26/2004 hc wrote in from (68.121.nnn.nnn)

nevermind, yup feet first...

 
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turner luge
On 1/26/2004 hc wrote in from (68.121.nnn.nnn)

btw, It not I ..

GBJ, thanks for the info.

but somehow it looks like a kneeboard to me, maybe I will be convince if someone have a pic of a rider laying on it.

 
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assisted lean steering
On 1/26/2004 hc wrote in from (68.121.nnn.nnn)

duane, exactly...

I doesn't seem like anyone tried it before..

speaking of rack and pinion,

a while back, I met this guy at vans, (he is a machinist not a skater), he made a rack and pinion skateboard truck! He asked me to test out the truck for him, but he never called me..

 
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Terry Nails and Tommy Ryan
On 1/26/2004 GBJ wrote in from (69.140.nnn.nnn)

Just a quick note to answer inquiries by Shane and HC. Shane, the aluminum skate car you're referring to was driven by a guy named Terry Nails, who is probably more well known for his musical affiliations than his downhill skateboarding background, and definitely seemed to be a Stroker-backed effort. Terry Nails was the original bassist for Tommy Tutone and later played with former Sex Pistol Steve Jones and on Ozzy Osborne's No More Tears album.

HC, If I'm not mistaken, the fibreglass, body-form-fitting, luge-style Turner thing was produced for and ridden by Tommy Ryan. It is clear that Bobby, Tommy and the rest of those that produced this "board", did so with the ice luge in mind, as evidenced by the pronounced turn-in of the feet.

 
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Easy aeroshell
On 1/26/2004 shrox wrote in from (165.247.nnn.nnn)

An easy skatecar! Just use this as an aeroshell.

http://www.thuleracks.com/thule/images/largepics/675.jpg

shrox

 
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Try that again
On 1/26/2004 Duane wrote in from (68.15.nnn.nnn)

OK that didn't make any sense. Imagine laying down on a skateboard with Randals in the front. If you attached arms to the ends of the truck hangers sticking straight up, you could grab them with your hands. If you pulled back with your right arm or pushed forward with your left, you'd pull the end of the hanger towards you, thus steering right without moving your body position, save for your arms. Note that with a slightly more clever arrangement, this action could be geared down to give much more precise movement. I think modification of this sort should be allowed and encouraged for safety's sake.

 
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