Home made Billy-cart Horror stories.

[AlexS]

My most aggressive one was a 'war cart' with 2" thick wooden spikes all around (these spikes were triangles 10" or so wide at the body, and extended about 12" out from the cart. The front wheels were pretty standard billy cart, but the rear were again the bearings - made it very easy to flick the cart into whatever orientation needed for maximum damage to the other vehicle.

Lady Boadicea's chariot had scythes upon the wheels
That made the stoutest hearted Romans turn upon their heels
But the the thing the Romans hated most,
And which gave them such a fright
Was the way she put her left hand out
Then charged off to the right.

[malb]

Local scouts used to hold a Billy Cart Derby each year at Foster (Vic Prom country). The boys of one enterptising family built one Monster cart. Steel space frame with roll bars, 500cc or larger motorbike back wheels (with brakes (independant) wheel steering, and pump up ag machinery wheels up front, between wheelbarrow and car size.

They first time that they fronted up with it they won every run that it had. After that, they brought it along for a few more years but it was limited to solo 'demo' runs.

Course was about 1/4 mile pasture downhill with a couple of curves along the way, this thing would go across the line at 60mph + still accelerating. made the pram wheel people seem a little tame and scared the out of a few younger kids.

[Stuart]

We had one like that... from what I remember it was more like skiing than driving a cart. ...great fun

The other good thing about the cart with bearing wheels, was when you used them at night the sparks gave you a spectacular light show


cheers
BD

Forgot about those - thanks for the memory jolt!

[AlexS]

BD & Stuart, have we met on a steep hill somewhere in the past?

[fenderbelly]

Excellent thread this i have really enjoyed the read.

I mentioned it on another forum and a member there put this link up. Another really good read. Some of you may even recognise the place names.

http://www.geocities.com/pheonixwrit...m181001cg.html