Parade Buggy

Had a great day at St. Pat's Day parade in Morristown, NJ!
The Morristown event has been held since 1890, so it's huge and has a great history. My students have been working on a "parade buggy" for the last while. The idea was to have a "stand-off scale" replica of a 1902 Curved Dash Olds. Runs a 5.5 HP Techumseh with a lawn tractor trans/differential. This buggy has really been built as a "test bed" for alternate powertrains. We are hoping to add a bio-diesel and/or hybrid powertrain as time goes on.
We have just finished our FIRST Robot (it's in SC right now waiting for the regional event in Columbia), so we've been busy at County College of Morris for the last six months.

Me and lab coordinator in the staging area (with classy Port-A-Johns in background).


Doing skid-pad testing our little rhd roadster before adding finishing details.

What, no knock offs on the wires?
Nice job, Nial. Looks like fun.
Good luck in Columbia.
Jeff

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(with classy Port-A-Johns in background).


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Potential alternate power source? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

with matching hat and jackets - hehehehehe

Handles just like a Midget - right?

- Doug

St. Pat's Day Parade Buggy

....Potential alternate power source? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif....

eeeeeeyuooooo!!


Anyway.....we've just put together a webpage about our parade buggy with some build-pictures, etc.. It's here:

https://liverpoolmotorclub.tripod.com/buggy.html


Someone with a camera-phone just e-mailed this to me.

Re: St. Pat's Day Parade Buggy

Needs some oldsmobile logos - hehehee

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Runs a 5.5 HP Techumseh with a lawn tractor trans/differential. This buggy has really been built as a "test bed" for alternate powertrains. We are hoping to add a bio-diesel and/or hybrid powertrain as time goes on.


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I'm working on a project to design a biodiesel plant right now. I'd like to see a hybrid powertrain with a biodiesl or ethanol IC engine as the charging / extra power source. If you want to go alternative, then go all the way.

cool project. thanks for sharing.

Chris: I would like to use a true fuel-cell hydrogen conversion (to make electricity), but too much money right now.
In my opinion, hybrids are only as a stopgap stategy that will help us all build a better knowledge for modern electric powertrains. As much as I love IC engines, I think they are on their way out.
Meanwhile, we just got a mini-grant so we will be buying a Hatz 5 HP diesel and converting to bio-diesel...should smell like french fries when it's running!

Not surprisingly, there is a whole world of parade-buggy stuff on the 'net, such as HERE.

For our next project, we are thinking of doing a HomeBuilt Segway or a "Cyclekart" (these were in Road & Track a few years back):
Cyclekart info:
https://www.stevproj.com/Carz/CycleKartGallery.html

Bugatti Cyclekart

I was just about to suggest you build an MG TD cycle cart....heck, I might be coaxed into sponsoring it if I can come get it when its finished!