nice looking skeleton car. but how did you stop this thing?
i use a modified Randal truck with a floating diskbrake system from a MTB. With this braking device i can always stop perfect. And the Randal's are just perfect for this brake.
Hey Nico, I had a brake pad that was activated by pushing up on a lever with the back of my legs, it worked almost to good. My first run at Signal Hill I came through the speed trap at 57mph, in my excitement I got on the brakes too hard and lifted the rear of the car off the ground. The tail started to come around on me, so I got off the brakes and it settled right back down. Also if you stayed on the brakes too long the damn car would fill with little burnt shavings of tire tread.
The car was also equipped with a Simpson drag chute, which was mainly for show. I'd fill it up with baby powder so when I opened it...Poof a big cloud of white smoke would appear.
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting up with Craig Vetter, the sponsor of the skatecar. I think he dropped about $6K on it when we built and raced it in 1978. I hadn't seen Craig in more that 25 years.
i know the brake system used for this goped look-a-like. about 2 years ago, i met the designer of this item. He also designed the brake system for these things.
Together we came up with a new design using a Randal speed truck, using 2 mini brakes.
The units are from Magura and were originally designed for RC gasoline powered cars. Because of the very small size of this brake unit, it would be nice for usind into other applications, such as a skateboard brake unit.
I had to do some welding and milling on the hanger, my friend did the turning of the other pieces.
The result was very good. and the braking so far good aswell. But NOT for going downhill at high speeds above 40mph. When testing the brake in France, the oil inside this system started to get boilling and melting the thin hydraulic line on the right side of the hanger. Resulting in a "feet" stop.
Over the years, i was trying to make a good brake system that would even work perfect in very bad and muddy conditions. After some time trying out all sorts of designs, i came up with a very nice and solid design. Also using Randal streetluge trucks.
Instead of using small Rc brakes, i use solid MTB brake units. Usually Hayes or similar brands. Not Magura, due to expensive and too many plastic parts.
I only have to weld a milled piece on the hanger and a small support for the fixation of the unit.
I can even use the same floating axle, delivered with the hamger.
Mostly i use the system for skeleton boards. But for people who like to try out streeluge, speedboard or buttboard, i can installed the brake in 1 minute to such a board. Most people have the feeling to be running very safe when the brake is installed. I guess it is psychological.
Anyway, the units i use are really very good.
But i don't have thousands of dollars somewhere in a pocket to commercialise the brakes like some others trying to do. Like skatebrake or boardbrake.
I just love to make things
Re: butt boarding vs. skeleton carving
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