Desert Stadium Lite (Fronts a Roller!)

[TutTech]

After going to Micky Thompson races back when I was a kid I have always wanted to build a Stadium lite.
So me being who I am and needing a project I figured why not this is a good time
to at least start on my Desert Stadium Lite.
Because I mostly race in the desert it will be a desert lite with all the same type looks and parts as my big desert car just smaller and lighter. Actually it must weigh less than 1,000 pounds which is about 60% lighter than my big car! So ya smaller and lighter by a lot!

I will be building it per the actual rules that are still being used by Protodie and others.
I live about 45 minutes from Glen Helen's race track so that will be a great place to race this car not to mention like I said in the desert where I like to run.
It will probably be the biggest car on the track as this car will be built for desert running first and stadium second so a dual sport if you will.

I was thinking of setting them up for others as a very cost effective alternative to building or buying one. I also have the designs done to build this in a two seater.

OK so going off the rules I was out mocking up a frame that could be like I said cost effective and use a lot of the same parts as my big car so I don't have to buy a ton of new stuff.
Plus the parts are common, cheap and easy to find even at local junk yards and back yards to save cost.

Well here is what I mocked up or set up today after doing everything at least twice if not more to get what I think I want.

Front looking down through the car.


Back of the car


Driver side


Passenger side and in the back you can compare it to the larger size race car.


The car at the moment is only 5 foot total length. I am guessing I will need
about 36 inches to mount a motor and sprocket? Then 6 more inches for bumpers.
So the car looks like it will be 9 feet long. Wheel base is unknown at this time but will be under 90 inches to be able to race officially with the rules.

All the rest is going to be worked out over time.
I am setting it up cheap and just able to go run it. I will then switch out parts at a later time for better parts etc. when I have money or break stuff. As this car is using front and rear trailing arms I am clamping a front beam on that will allow me to be a roller right away. Then as I race it and drive it I can upgrade to actual race parts. As the beam and parts are automotive grade parts on a car that is this small and weighs less than 1,000 pounds I think the parts will hold up for a little while until I can upgrade.

This project will probably take me some time to finish but I just had time today
and have worked on my plans/design for it for awhile now so it was fun to
actually bend some metal and try out my ideas.

Thanks for looking.

[fl250driver]

Nice! looking good
so will this car be taking over for your other race car?

[TutTech]

No, nothing will take the place of my race car. When the time comes as the frame is getting old and really stressed from racing I will make a new lighter frame with upgrades etc.
Then I can change to probably an Ecotec and race in the Desert Lite class against the other Fusion, XV-18 cars etc.
But no my desert car is perfect the way it is and the class and size of car is getting really popular
as others are buying them and racing them now. So I will race it for awhile. Plus my wife would kick my butt as she has just taken over as driver of our race car and her first race is in 2 weeks!


This is going to be a fun car in addition to my race car.
If I ever get the chance to build a new desert car I want to build an arm car with a motorcycle engine and race that in the desert against all the other motorcycle guys as there is no class for all the motorcycle guys I am working on getting a class for them.
So that would be my next serious race car for desert racing but it would be bigger and much wider with big parts again.

This guy is smaller able to run on tracks and not cost a lot.
With the ability to upgrade as you gain both experience and money you can upgrade to better parts
over time. The frame will stay the same but you can get better shocks, arms etc.

I will keep a close eye on cost but a lot of the first parts will be free and come from back yards and junk yards. The frame is the most expensive part of the build.
With things costing to much I am trying to find a buggy you can race for as cheap as possible, yet still have fun and not just through it away as a cheap race car. It is a good car with basic parts with the ability to upgrade is what my design is all about.

This is just another one of my ideas.
Thanks.

[sicksand]

Tut I could always bring down my pilot and you could go off that if you need to?I think they are still the car to beat on short courses.The drakarts are fast but Alain isn't building them here in the states anymore.Noone has built any kind of stadium lite for a long time but I think everyone can agree that it seems to always be the most popular class to watch?Like I said if you need my pilot to go off of let me know?The down side is that I need more hp and more travel,that 20 year old suspension beats you in the longer races,lol....

[David M]

looks like it should be fun to play with

[Jay1823]

Tut do you have ADHD, do you sleep, do you know what the inside of your house looks like. Damn your a busy guy.

[TutTech]

House? I live in my garage. Saves time. Sleep? When would I get anything done if I slept?


I appreciate the offer of bringing the pilot but I am looking for something a little bigger like
the lines of the Drakart. They are around 9 feet long correct? Bigger and beefier correct?
This is more what I am trying to build. That way I can eventually upgrade to some good
suspension and take it to the desert etc.

With what desert racing costs if I can race this for 100 bucks, some gas and the track is only
35 minutes from my house I don't need to sleep there or take a bunch of stuff.
It would be a lot lower cost racing.

I may not win but racing is about the challenge. If I loose it gives me more motivation to work
harder and come back and try again and again and again...

A desert style Drakart.
Ya that's what this is going to be like. Exactly.


What class does your Pilot run in I am building this for the open class with 1,000cc motor.
So it will be big and with the 1,000 it should move. I am guessing a wait of around 700
and something pounds but no matter what I have to come in under 1,000 per rules.

I will use some heavier more stock parts at first just to race and play and maybe as things progress
I will buy some better lighter parts to make me faster. Not to mention upgrade suspension also.

Well cool thanks for the input I can't wait to hopefully get the roof on tomorrow.
Had to work out of the city today so no working at home.
Oh well I will get back to it ASAP.

[sicksand]

You should build one to race in our class,the motor could vary from a stock fl 400 to a 600 cc street bike engine to a 800 cc sled engine.Our class is a kind of run what ya brung to a certain extent.I can't wait to see how it turns out,I would love to have a drakart to take place of my pilot.I know of one forsale in Oregon for around 14,000 and its a 2007.I just need money now,lol...

[TutTech]

What rules do you use? I am using the same rules as Protodie, etc.
In those rules is the SR class I believe it is the open class. Motor size etc. is big but
that will give me the ability to cross over from desert to stadium. Plus get the long travel.
Your class has some restrictions on shocks, wheelbase etc. right?
Hmm I will think on it but because of this guys little bigger size I was thinking I would
need the bigger motor and run in the open class?

So that is why I want the open class.
Or am I wrong as I have never raced just reading rules.
Can you give me a link to the rules you use so I can see if they are the same??
Thank you.

[Bullnerd]

I know what i would do if i were you.

But only if you feel like building a lot of them,because every one will want one!