My basic design goals are to have the lowest amount of rolling resistance, while still making a car that can corner well. According to the rules, the car must have at least 3 wheels, weigh less than 500 pounds and less than 4 feet wide.

There are 2 basic kinds of trikes, depending on whether you put the two weels in front, or in back. In the US, two in back is what everyone thinks of when they think of trikes, but it's perfectly valid to put the two wheels in front and steer them like a car. This configuration is better under braking, because weight transfer shifts to the front wheels giving better traction. It also steers much better at speed (anyone who's ridden a two in back tricycle can attest to the fact that they steer like a pig.)

Aesthetically I wanted a car with the lines of a 50's english sports car, like a TR-3 or an MGA. I wanted to find either 20" bmx bike wheels, or the largest motorcycle wheels I could find.

Drawings

July 6, 2006
 

Click here to see drawing at correct aspect ratio...

 

I'm using Inkscape to draw up the car. It's not really designed to do CAD, but I'm pressing it in to service, because I can never quite get the hang of cad programs (something I will learn one day, just need the time and motivation. It's just another learned skill...)

There's some stuff you can't see in the picture above, I have all the bulkheads planned out, and the floor, and basically how the steering gear will go in (I'm going to buy a steering rack at a local junkyard, this weekend, more details to follow...) I'm thinking about maybe making up a set of plans for someone to build the car if they wish, but only after I've tested it to make sure it works properly, get all the kinks out etc...