What is a digger?

 Before we talk about diggers, you may have noticed the name change. Another day in the bike shop was the name of my old blog. It came from the oft asked question, "What is going on"? I like it a lot. And a lot goes on in a bike shop besides selling and repairing bikes. Sometimes I want to talk about that stuff and that did not feel right under TheVeloShed( and I found another guy already using that name). Can you dig it?
     Right  around the corner from VeloShed Enterprises is the Kirby Derby and every year we talk about building a gravity racer for the Derby and every year we go for numerous bike rides instead. Well, thanks to the wonderful weather we have been having, this year gravity racing is a go-go. It also helps that we have our own little Dead Mans curve in the funness that is the section of House Creek trail between Meredith and Horton. A gravity racing test facility, right across the street.

     First thing you do, when you want to build up a rig, is go on the web and look at about a thousand pictures, hoping for a little inspiration. My initial plan was to build something fast with adjustable steering geometry for corner tuning, big disk brakes, smooth body work, deluxe interior. Then I saw this:

 

Out Law derby car made from a wheelbarrow.

 This was built by a guy that goes by Kenny P. on the H.A.M.B. forums. Scratch that high tech race rig. Lets build a rat rod! 

     First to put the word out for a wheelbarrow, Chuck is on a tight budget, don't you know. Then to dig around in the shed for some appropriate bicycle wheels(This is a bike blog, more or less). Finally off to work where I doodled frames and steering linkages until I got a response on a wheel barrow. Finally, I got the message. She was a little rusty(OK, really rusty) and in Hillsborough, but free is free. Thanks to Bob for that, and the project is underway. 

    

If you flip them on their back, they can't get away.

The second original plan, after tossing the original original plan was to paint this one up real nice, more a fifties look than a rat. But look at the patina on this tub. It is going to have to be rat all the way.
     Of course I had to continue looking at pics on the web for ideas and this led to looking at lots of diggers. What is a digger? It is a front engine dragster, the driver sits at the very back. They are also called slingshots and rails and had a reputation for grenading the clutch and chopping your legs off. This was the look I wanted. Also wheelbarrow,...digger, they go together.

Zorba's Ghost

A little(very little) bit of mock up. 20" skinnies in the front and 24" with 3" rubber in the rear.

 The tub is a little wide for this look and actually gets wider at the front (the front as I am building it). Need to narrow that baby up. Here is how that went:

Un-molested

Cut lines taped, the arrows are so you cut the correct side(Not that I have ever screwed that up)

All trimmed out

 

Bent and welded together, lip rolled.

    

There you have it. This took four inches out of the front and made it three inches narrower than the rear of the tub. The opening is pretty narrow but the look is just right. I also found, while welding the seam, that this is a little rustier than it first appeared. I was going to cut and fill the rusted out areas but there is not much to work with so some 1/2" plywood will be used for an inner base to take the load of the operator(idiot driving).

Idiot

Next time, assuming I can find something to carry 10 foot sections of pipe with, we will be laying out and welding up the frame