Building Manxter DualSport to Race NORRA Mexican 1000

[Iguana]

Wow what a week, it started quiet enough and then I got the new I had been waiting for ... the NORRA Mexican 1000 Rules where release for 2015 and we had a new class.

Category VMeyers: Genuine Meyers Manx vehicles

This category is for any model of genuine Meyers Manx vehicle. Meyers Manx vehicles of any age (including new) may enter this vintage category.

After reading it with glee a few quick phone calls where made and the decision was made to enter in our first Mexican Offroad Race. I say our as it wouldn't be much fun without my mates along for the ride.

Looking around the shop I had a collection of Buggies to choose from but they were all lacking one thing or another. Then an idea began to form, with the new class aimed at making it easier to Meyers Manx Owners to Race and enjoy the experience maybe we should do a ground up build using all the Meyers Manx Parts including one of their New DualSport Pans.

A few more phone calls where made and a deal was stuck, we where going to build a Manxter DualSport Kit from start o finish and get it to Tech Inspection on 24 April 2015.

Ordering a Meyers Manx Kit was is an easy process, I filled in some paperwork, selected the options I needed to make it happen and handed over some $$$. The DualSport Kit should take 6 - 8 weeks and I will post a copy of the purchase agreement when I get it back with dates and serial tag number etc.

With time ticking it was kit ordering day today so I went and visited the nice people at Meyers Manx. Ale was hard at it working in the office but managed to stop long enough for a quick chat and to take my first piece of official path to Norra Paperwork, yep my Manxter DualSport Kit Order.

[madmitch]

Let me be the first to wish you good luck on the adventure from start to finish.

[baja5]

When are you going to finish the Blue car?

[tikotiko]

This is cool. Good for u bro. Good luck

[TimS]

I'm both happy for you because you are on a mission, and happy for us because we get to follow along. God's speed, mate!

[Iguana]

When are you going to finish the Blue car?

Which one lol. The A-Arm, one has hit a glitch and was pulled down to give parts to several other projects. It should go up on the shelf this week for a future date and idea.

[Iguana]

Thanks for the words, just so there is no confusion I am not in this on my own. I am in it with a great bunch of guys and gals who will do everything within their ability to make it happen.

Stage 1 and Stage 2 are pretty boring to watch as they are the design and order of parts. Stage 3 will be worthy of a view as that is where the bits get put togeather. The majority of my team arrive at the Shop on 3 April so that gives us 2 weeks to build it and get testing. Prior to that we will be sourcing parts, confirming details and documenting what our sponsors get up to taking care of their bits and bobs.

It will not be a traditional sort of build in that it will be done entirely from off the shelf parts and there should be very minimal if any modification or fabrication required. Of course there will be some but the aim is that by 24 April we will have a going Manxter DualSport heading south for the Mexican 1000 with a build list and costings from an off the shelf experience. This will allow anyone else who wants to do it to either copy our formulae or at least use it as a guide.

We are using the extensive experience we have available to us to get the parts we need right first time and hopefully avoiding the pitfalls of using crappy stuff to save a dollar up front and spent it track side.

I am also trying to avoid overspending on items that don't need it. For example I am currently testing some Latest Rage 4" over arms and combo spindles. Running 30 x 9.5 x 15 tires and handing amount a significant amount of abuse I have yet been unable to break them. I will be pulling them off in the next few weeks for testing to ensure there is no issues inside.

[Leatherneck]

Interested in all the stages. Beginning to end they are all important. Thanks Iquana

[bajaherbie]

window nets and safety harnesses required by NORRA?

[Iguana]

All the safety stuff is required unless you are vintage and have raced pre 73 I think. We will be vintage new so to speak meaning we have to have a beam front end and comply to all current safety regulations such as fuel cell, seats, nets, roof etc.

[883]

I'm with Leatherneck.

Interested in all the stages, especially design and reasons for the chosen design.

[kyle_pc_75]

Awesome. None of the stages of the build will be uninteresting. Go, go, go!!!

[Iguana]

Cheers guys,

Got my Build Number Today it will be 31 and it will be the first Baja Edition which is what we will be calling the DualSport Buggies that are sold as a rolling kit on one of the new Manxter DualSport Chassis.

The Baja Edition will be supplied with a heap of cool stuff which will not only make the build quicker it will also allow those who aren't 100% on what they should be putting in their build see what Meyers Manx suggests and test drive the exact configuration.

Full Details will flow over the next month or two as we finalise suppliers and finish our testing on the suspension components to get the 12" plus of travel we require.

This will be the same combination which is run in the Mexican 1000 just to show we are confident in what we have put together and the quality and support is there to finish a race such as the Mexican 1000.

[DesertGuy]

Will there be a complete redesign of the rollcage?

[Iguana]

Will there be a complete redesign of the rollcage?

The Manxter comes with a Roof Support System not a Roll Cage. Organisations such as SCORE and NORRA choose to recognize the Roof Support System as meeting the requirements of their Roll Cage Section.

We have had a Manxter race in the Baja 1000 under SCORE Rules with several modifications to the stock Manxter Roof Support System ( with 1020 DOM Upgrade). The Baja Edition will have similar modifications to those which where required for the SCORE Race but we will be keeping in mind that we need to be able to retain the rear seat after the race. This will mean that some of the supports will be bolt in using approved fitment systems such as cone locks and camburgs which in some areas SCORE does not recognize..

To Race NORRA there is no Cage design requirements as such only definition and suggested material and the onus is put on the driver and their teams to enter a vehicle which they feel is up to the task. I expect to see the Manxter DualSport Baja Edition in race trim weigh in at under 2000 lbs.

The Manxter Baja Edition will NOT be SCORE Compliant in my opinion ( and no doubt any tech inspector that sees it) due to some of the rules such as not being allowed to have bolt in sections. We do not suggest it is SCORE Compliant. If someone wanted to be SCORE Compliant they would need to sacrifice the ability to have a rear seat and this would be against what we are trying to do with a DualSport Manxter.

I hope that makes sense, I understand that roll cages in particular are a very passionate subject for many and one I am more than happy to discuss but I don't want anyone to think for a moment I am suggesting the Manxter 2+2 or DualSport Roll Cage is SCORE Compliant.