Tips On Choosing Cyclekart Books

Cyclekarts generally use very similar mechanical designs, many examples of which are available on the internet. Their largest differentiators are the wheels, bodywork styling, and cockpit.

Therefore, we recommend that potential Cyclekart builders select books that focus on five areas: Vehicle handling/dynamics, metal working/fabrication, wood/foam/fiberglass fabrication, interior upholstering (if you are inclined to be artistic!) and grand prix history books for examples of pre-war cars.

Basic vehicle handling/dynamics books will teach you how race cars handle based on their design. While this is certainly not essential to building a Cyclekart, this knowledge is useful in understanding the machine you are building or any race car for that matter.

Books on welding, cutting and forming metal are useful as you will need to fabricate the frame/chassis and suspension components. If you are particularly motivated, sheet metal can also be formed to create bodywork, but many builders focus on using wood, foam and fiberglass to create the car body structure which supplements the frame to some extent.

Fiberglass/composites are useful as a method of creating bodywork. Various books include information about forming wood or foam as core materials or bucks, which falls in line with building curvy stylized bodywork. To get ideas for body styling or accents, you can use grand prix history books which provide photos and information about pre-WWII GP car designs.

For those who want an extra touch of class in the seating and cockpit area might look into books on upholstery techniques.