Things that made me go hmmm...

[yummi]

Maybe a poll, I don’t know. *

Just a general Saturday morning question to see what other folks think. *

So I have been reading and reading some of the past stuff from this board, and it dawns on me that I might be a little uncertain as to exactly what a “mini buggy” is. * Not really too important, I think there is good information on this board that can be adapted to any buggy. *

In my own mind, it seems to be a two fold process of exclusion and then inclusion. *That is, a LS 4 seat car – nope, not a mini. *In fact any LS car is out IMO. *What about a 2.0 liter Subaru? Should all four seat cars be excluded? *Hmm, there are 4 seat Busa buggies, and I think any motorcycle powered buggy would be a mini. *Old school 2 seater VW rail – nope – not a mini.

Some things that make it a mini by default would be the power plant. *Any motorcycle / snowmobile powered car would by default be a mini. *I also think any single seater would be a mini by default.

Total length criteria? *Hmm, hard to say. *Most on this board are under 13’ total by a long shot. But, there are a few that are pushing that tip to tail. 11’6” total max rule of thumb? *
Suspension criteria? *Well, a few have beam front ends. *Most don’t. *
Displacement criteria? *Most are less than 2 liters, but there is the occasional 2.2 Ecotech. *And, in my little mind, while 2.2 might work, a turbo 2.5 Subaru would be out. *
Total maximum horsepower criteria? *Hmm, some Busa cars have a big big number – don’t think that would work.
Lineage? *Seems as though some of the big car builders also build smaller 2 seat cars. *But, by default does a Sand Limo Squirt or other not qualify as it has bigger brethren?
Owner build? *Big emphasis on that here – that’s why there is such good info here I think. *But I think a Sinister (Please let me win the lotto tonight… * ) ForceTech, Tompro or Short would be a mini as they are Bussa powered. *

Again not too important. *Certainly not trying to be exclusionary. *Just curious if other have pondered this question? *

Hope the day is a good one.

[yoshi]

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

*But I think a Sinister (Please let me win the lotto tonight… * ) ForceTech, Tompro or Short would be a mini as they are Bussa powered. *

Again not too important. *Certainly not trying to be exclusionary. *Just curious if other have pondered this question? *

Hope the day is a good one.

Mine is a mindi rail ,above a mini, below a full blown rail. *My rail is 90" wide, 11'10" long, weighs 1400 pounds fully loaded with options, and is bigger than my stepside truck, as well as your typical VW rail. *The motor doesn't make it a mini, if I put a busa powerplant in a tatum sandrail, would that make it a mini?.....

[malder]

IMHO - a mini is just about size/weight. In my mind a mini is under 12' tip to tail and probably under 1200 lbs, (maybe even closer to half a ton?). A MINI buggy is exactly that - mini(ature). Engine size only matters in so far as it affects the weight and size overall. If you can shove an LS2 and keep it a mini - more power (literally) to you. If you can find some way to squeeze more than 2 people into a car that is under 12', then you probably live in some growth stunted population that probably can't afford to eat, much less build/buy a mini, but nonetheless, still a mini!

Like you said - not terribly important, but interesting still.

PS - Yoshi, your buggy (midi or mini) looks sweet.

[yoshi]

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

IMHO - a mini is just about size/weight. In my mind a mini is under 12' tip to tail and probably under 1200 lbs, (maybe even closer to half a ton?). A MINI buggy is exactly that - mini(ature). Engine size only matters in so far as it affects the weight and size overall. If you can shove an LS2 and keep it a mini - more power (literally) to you. If you can find some way to squeeze more than 2 people into a car that is under 12', then you probably live in some growth stunted population that probably can't afford to eat, much less build/buy a mini, but nonetheless, still a mini!

Like you said - not terribly important, but interesting still.

PS - Yoshi, your buggy (midi or mini) looks sweet.

I guess being 6'1", and having a 250 pound, 6' employee is considered grow stunted, lol. I'm prototyping a 4 seater that is under 12 foot, tip to tip, (114" wheelbase, 90" trackwidth) as pictured below with wheels.

This pics are a rough mockup, slapped together in a couple days, the final design will be a lot more fluent, and similar in looks to my current 2 seater...

[Jay1823]

I actually go a little smaller on the mini dimensions. I'd say under 10ft tip to tail. I believe mines around 8ft and only weighs about 450-500 lbs

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by Jay1823\";p=\&quot

I actually go a little smaller on the mini dimensions. I'd say under 10ft tip to tail. I believe mines around 8ft and only weighs about 450-500 lbs

450 to 500 pounds? *That's how much a quad weighs, i'd say closer to 800, although my first single seat mini rail which had a 103" wheelbase, 85" track width, and a 600cc powerplant, weighed 900 pounds........

[willie2]

I think a lot of "minis" are not, and your criteria are going to be hard to discern for what most consider minis, not that it means a lot to me, or what seems to be most that enjoy the hobby for that matter. *My first rail was a VW job and was 11'8'' tip to tip, and 73" wide. *The engine was a humble 1500, and it weighed in at 1228 lbs full of gas. *By your definition it falls out only because it was VW powered. *What if I put in an Ecotec and threw out one of the seats and went to center seating? *Does it now fall in because it is a single seat and non-VW power? *What is the difference if I run water-cooled VW power or an Ecotec (which is more cc's)? *The VW transaxle can't disqualify it because if you use that, then one of the up and coming FNR boxes will disqualify some. *So now what? *IF I were going to say "this fits and this don't", I would say anything larger than a Stadium Lite falls out. *Single seaters only need apply. *I know that excludes most, but that's my idea of a mini.

[Jay1823]

[quote=yoshi\";p=\"71189]

Originally Posted by "Jay1823\";p=\"71188":1ewtpclb

I actually go a little smaller on the mini dimensions. I'd say under 10ft tip to tail. I believe mines around 8ft and only weighs about 450-500 lbs

450 to 500 pounds? *That's how much a quad weighs, i's say closer to 800, although my first single seat mini rail which had a 103" wheelbase, 85" track width, and a 600cc powerplant, weighed 900 pounds........[/quote:1ewtpclb]

Yes 450-500, there's no way in hell mine weighs 800lbs or i'm a whole stronger than i thought i was. Here's a pic of it next to my project turbo car. If memory serves correct the Civic is under 12 ft long.

Don't mind the car tires in the rear, new rims on order . Motors a small Yamaha 440 sled engine, it can't weigh more than 80 lbs. The front end has no weight to it at all, it takes little effort to pick up and i can still lift the rear end to move it myself. So 800 no way, probably close with me in it.

[Bugpac]

were did you end up getting wheels jay?

[Jay1823]

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

were did you end up getting wheels jay?

Well i went the exspensive route. Found a guy out in Cali that's making me wheel adapters, 4x100 to 4x110. Cost me $170 shipped but there guaranteed for life. *I was gonna ask Jody if he could make some for me but he's always so busy so i didn't bother. Then i just bought some cheap ITP Delta steel wheels. Atleast i can test it now. I drove it around my hard today just for heck of it. Now that i welded the diff together my turning radius is tragic, haha i can barely make a u turn in my yard. Should make for better power delivery though.