Dune buggy? or mini sand rail

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by K-fab\";p=\&quot

So is an Echotech or Honda VTEC powered Tazcar a Minibuggy?

I believe so...

ok, i'll bite, where's the line?

[Rorty]

Originally Posted by K-fab\";p=\&quot

So is an Echotech or Honda VTEC powered Tazcar a Minibuggy?

I believe so...

Come on M8...they're big mutha desert racers! *

[Gene]

My wheelbase is about 114 but I need to verify that. So at this point the largest mini (on this site) is undetermined.

[desertracer543]

okay any replys on "my topic"?

[Rorty]

Originally Posted by desertracer543\";p=\&quot

ok so im trying to make up my mind.

Dune buggy you can fit two people and have more power but a mini sand rail can have more agility etc.

Which do you prefer?

Well, the name of this forum might give you an indication to most people's preferrences here.

Don't kid yourself, there are plenty of two-seater mini buggies around with higher power-to-weight than the likes of the yellow dune buggy in your pic. You could have a single or even two-seater mini and be able to unleash some whup-donkey on the car-engined buggies - even some of the really big V8s.

[nutnbolt2002]

I think it's a 1000 lbs. anything under is a minibuggy.

[FRANCO]

Our mini-sandrail is 120" long. We make if 66" (trails) and 76" (sand dunes)wide depending on the customer's preference and where they are going to ride it. The most important thing that the customer cares about is whether or not the mini-sandrail will fit on their trailer or in their toyhauler without removing the wheels. The size of the engine really determines whether it is call a mini-sandrail from what I have observed. The Hayabusa 1300cc is the most popular engine for mini-sandrails. Most mini-sandrails are also around the 1000lbs to 1200lbs for two seat models and 450-650lbs for single seat mini-sandrail. Therefore weight is something that makes mini-sandrails different. The power to weight ratio is what gives some mini-rails their edge and agility over the larger full size sandrails. Just my 1 cents.

Sean

[Rorty]

I always understood a mini buggy to be one that's not powered by a car engine. In other words, any motorcycle, Odyssey, quad, snowmobile, jet-ski etc. - just about any toy if you think about it. They are traditionally light and small as a result of most early ones used relatively low-powered engines and had to keep the size/weight down.

The TORC Hand Book states:

ENGINE COMPLIANCE:

i) Engines may be either single or multi cylinder, but must be from an Odyssey, Pilot, or chain-driven motorcycle, commonly available from an Australian retailer.

In Australia, when racing minis came about, we weren't allowed to race with the "conventional" buggies because they were considered to big and dangerous for us to be around and we were considered to be too slow and would hold the bigger cars up. Well a joint meeting one weekend soon put that last theory to rest! They were disgraced!

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by Gene\";p=\&quot

My wheelbase is about 114 but I need to verify that. So at this point the largest mini (on this site) is undetermined.

hmmmm,..what's your track width and total weight? *I'm sure you'll have me on weight as well with all that tubing you went with. *Lemme rephrase that (just in case, * ) *I have the biggest mini rail on the market....

Originally Posted by desertracer543\";p=\&quot

okay any replys on "my topic"?

mini rail. *Given the right powerplant, a mini rail is lighter, faster, more nimble, cheaper to maintain, alot more reliable, cheaper on gas, cheaper to haul to the dunes cause it's lighter, easy to replace a motor or tranny since it's one unit if anything goes wrong. *I have a stock busa powerplant with a pipe and powercommander. *My rail weighs 1300 pounds dry and I hold my own with 500 HP V8's in the dunes, they try to loose me, it's no use, MC powered rails are like porsche's and V8's are like old school camaro's. *They may have bigger motors, but i'm quicker, lighter, and have a higher reving engine. which would you rather have on the street at a race track, '69 camaro, or '06 porsche?

Originally Posted by nutnbolt2002\";p=\&quot

I think it's a 1000 lbs. anything under is a minibuggy.

So I guess I don't have a mini rail huh?

[K-fab]

Originally Posted by yoshi\";p=\&quot

My rail weighs 1300 pounds dry and I hold my own with 500 HP V8's in the dunes, they try to loose me, it's no use, MC powered rails are like porsche's and V8's are like old school camaro's. *They may have bigger motors, but i'm quicker, lighter, and have a higher reving engine. which would you rather have on the street at a race track, '69 camaro, or '06 porsche?

I agree fully!!! * It's fun to outrun the big, cumbersome sand cars in the dunes. *Yea, they (big ones) may go quicker in a straight line, but I'm not a drag racer...