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I also took time to install a couple foot rests. Having the heals of my feet sitting atop the center pivot front axle was a little unsettling for me. Now I can rest my heals on these nifty little brackets I bolted to the bulkhead. One of the ideas in Dennis' original design was in the case of catastophic steering failure the driver could guide the front axle and direction of the car with his feet until he could get the car stopped. With the foot rests mounted in this manner that emergency action is still possible, although I'd rather not have to find out if it works!

I also moved the front brake pedal over about 1 inch for more clearance from the left side foot rest.

This morning I acquired roughly 400 pounds of lead in the form of used car wheel weights to use as ballast in the gravity cars!

A special thanks goes out to Nolan's Point S Tire & Auto Service in Gresham!

http://www.pointstire.com/nolans

I am so lucky to have a good friend like Chris Kouba who allows me to use his shop where I am totally spoiled having every power machine and tool (except for a freaking VISE!) available to me to build cool stuff! Thank you Chris!

I had almost forgotten you can actually make metal parts without the use of power tools!......And then I remembered, why would you?

Case in point - Mounting bracket fabbed at my place for the Flyer's hand lever operated rear brake:   

This is the completed installation of the battery in its new rear location:

With help from Beau and Rico we successfully completed the registration process of all 3 gravity cars this morning. Our 500 A.M. arrival time put us in the number 9, 10, and 11 spots in line. The car/team numbers are drawn randomly and for a three car team we did very well. The Scuderia Kouba MKI will be car # 2, the MKII will be # 21, and the Hawsbill Flyer will be car # 12. Pretty cool draws huh?!

After registration we went out to The Stagecoach for breakfast and some bench racing. Then we came out to my place to do some work on the Flyer. Again with Beau and Rico's help we were able to get the installation of the rear brake completed and relocate the battery to the rear of the car just ahead of the rear axle.

I'd like to thank Beau and Rico for all the help today!!!

I like the idea Doc, but I am up to my eyeballs in MESS! I just don't think I can pull it off. I have 12 days to finish packing up my crap in my upstairs mess-o-leum, and the stuff in my garage which includes TooBad Motorplex!

Sorry guys.......

========Bill

Unfortunately I need to tear down the track before we put our house on the market and we want to get our house on the market ASAP!

The realtor said the track would be too distracting. He said the guys would forget about the house why they were here.......

Here's how I modified the pedal.

TooBad Motorplex is now listed for sale on Craig's List and Ebay.

I am planning to disassemble TooBad Motorplex next week. This week will be the last chance for a buyer to test run the track before purchase, and be part of the tear down.

I hate to see her go, but it is time for us to get moved.

===========Bill

I mounted a second brake mount in the rear of the car just ahead of the rear axle, again securing it with 3/8 inch grade 8 bolts. Thankfully Dennis thought of this before he completed the car and left provisions for it to be mounted in this location.

So here she sits, gutted like a fish! But it feels good to finally get some wrench time in on her!