LocostUSA.com

Hi all, I'm Tommy from Fox River Grove, IL (far northwest suburbs of Chicago). I'm 25, have no girlfriend or family or anything to worry about. I have no Locost but have been lurking here off and on for several years. I just finished a motorcycle build, so I'm looking to do a Locost as my next project. It's going to be a departure from the typical. I was very heavily inspired by Phil's LSx build, I think I'm going to build a coupe with simple gullwing doors. I typically ride year round so long as the roads are clear, so making a 7 a near daily driver is realistic for me while I have the stubborn willfulness of youth on my side. This is still a long way of though as I am still looking for a place with a garage and have to collect tools and so on.
This is my current motorcycle

Hi,
Just to introduce myself. I am building a Locost 7 Haynes roadster. This has been on my mind since the 70s when I first saw one at an autocross. I started out racing formula fords, and later sports racers with SCCA. Long story for another time. Just suffice it to say that been around english cars most of my life in one form or another.
I have been lurking, (reading all of the posts) for quite a few years.
At this point I have been working on the chassis for about a year. Like a lot of others I started out with the Ron Champion book. I bought and lost several copies of it over the years. Then I found the Chris Gibbs book. As time progressed started making plans for building the car. Used the McSorley plans and built a 1/4 scale out of brass to get an idea of how it should go together. later built a couple of 1/2 scale versions. One was a pedal car. Unfortunately did not get pictures before it went away with the exes grandchild. I still have a started 1/2 scale frame hanging in the garage with the full scale car.
The chassis at this point is 442 with the Haynes Saturn Mods. Obviously with a Miata donor. So far everything seems to be working out pretty well.
Not sure how to post pictures at this point I guess I will learn later.

1. Bodywork Nose, scuttle, seats and fenders purchased from Neil at http://www.kitcardirect.co.uk/running-gear.html
2. Shocks are Protech from Neil as well. He is a great guy to deal with
3. Header kit for a small block from summit. Good price and has all of the right bends.
4. Assorted bushings from Energysuspension. These folks have been very helpful. Came up with a great solution for the Upper Rear outer bushing for the Miata upright.
5. Motor from a 2000 Miata with trans.
6. A diffferent solution from the Haynes group for the steering rack using the Escort Mk1 Mk2 rack. Requires little modification except for adapting the miata TREs.
7. Most of everything else will come from the miata.

By the way, I own two Miatas besides the donor parts. 1. 04 Mazdaspeed with mods currently about 200 whp. 2. 99 Miata with parts left over from the Mazdaspeed. Not turboed though. Bought it in garage sale. Previous owner couldnt figure out why it quit. Turned out to be mice in the wiring harness.

Anyway so this was to introduce myself. There are some brilliant builders on here that have given me a lot of inspiration.

I am located in Carrollton Texas and have met a few people in person from this area. I look forward to meeting more.


As Stroker Ace said in the book:"Stand On It".

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What‘s red and smells like blue paint? Red Paint.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You wont live long enough to make all of them yourself.
"if you're ever gonna stand on it at all, stand on it now. the longer you wait, the slower you get".

Hey JD31, all we need is another JD. You can call me David.

I live just the 'tother side of Fort Worth and my son is at George Bush & Preston road. We are working on a sort of Stalkerish build. We should get together.

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mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Feel free to start a build thread JD31 or should we call him JD#2? If you have been around the forum you know JDK. hahaha

Welcome, look forward to seeing your build!!

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30 years old, not sure what I want to be when I grow up…

Welcome! I'll second the build thread. Especially for things you have worked out like bushings or whatever, I'm sure lots of people can benefit. Thanks for joining and the intro.

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Marcus Barrow - Car9 an open design community supported sports car for home builders!
SketchUp collection for LocostUSA: "Dream it, Build it, Drive it!"
Car9 Roadster information - models, drawings, resources etc.

Welcome to the forum, JD! This is JD... Uh oh... I'm confused already...
I'm looking forward to seeing your build. Keep us posted!


JD Kemp

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

Welcome aboard, and I'll third that motion for a build log. Gosh, only two posts so far and you can already teach us stuff, such as...So what is it? No, don't answer that yet, put it in your build log!

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Locost builder and adventurer, and founder (but no longer owner) of Kinetic Vehicles

Hi David,
Funny that, we have a place down in Granbury and a house in Carrollton. We should get together. Which part of Fort Worth? I ll be going that way later.

Hi JD, I have laughed with you and your antics. I am not as quick on the quips though. I can tell you that the local goat herder has heard of you.

Hi Jack, I will do that. I look forward to critique (can I say that?) of what I have done or will do or maybe might do.

Build log next.

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What‘s red and smells like blue paint? Red Paint.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You wont live long enough to make all of them yourself.
"if you're ever gonna stand on it at all, stand on it now. the longer you wait, the slower you get".

I am outside the loop kinda behind the actual Lake Worth just barely into Parker County. In other words within 30 minutes of virtually anywhere in Fort Worth at rush hour.

Yes, FW is a lot different than Dallas.

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Is that because you told him about me, or was it from some kind of Goat Herders secret "Wanted Dead-or-Alive" underground news letter???
I need to know, in case I decide to go visit Carguy. I might need to wear a disguise...

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JD, father of Quinn, Son of a... Build Log
Quinn the Slotus:Ford 302 Powered, Mallock-Inspired, Tube Frame, Hillclimb Special
"Gonzo and friends: Last night must have been quite a night. Camelot moments, mechanical marvels, Rustoleum launches, flying squirrels, fru-fru tea cuppers, V8 envy, Ensure catch cans -- and it wasn't even a full moon." -- SeattleTom

do you goat lovin' people have a secret hand shake or something similar

i used to live in florida and i did notice quite a lot of goats.

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this story shall the good man teach his son,
and chrispin chrispian shall ne'er go by,
from this day to the end of the world.
but we in it shall be remembered.

A smile on their face?

_________________
mobilito ergo sum
I drive therefore I am

I can explain it to you,
but I can't understand it for you.

Hey All! I've been "lurking" for some time now. No kit or car yet but I'm on a 10 yr. plan - hopefully much sooner though! I grew up with British cars - had a 66 MGB for 20 + years. Currently drive and Autocross an 05 civic si. I have a Triumph Thunderbird sport as well. I am looking for a "cheap" car... Unfinished Kit - garage find - restore - all options considered - hence the 10 yr. plan. My goal is a "street legal" autocross car. I'm currently learning to weld with a flux core MIG and will hopefully upgrade when the time/need arises. Dumb question - does anyone know the "secret question" to register at USA7s forum? I would like to stay as connected as possible to be able to "act" when the right opportunity comes along.
Thanks - Robert

I have been a visitor off and on for years but rarely find myself in a good spot to contribute.

I daily drive a '96 Miata and I love it.
I have a '74 v8 Datsun 260z that is in the works, but a low priority.
I have a '00 Kia Sephia LeMons/Chumpcar that is constantly in a state of engine changes
I have a '94 Mazda b2300 that I hope will soon dominate local SCCA rallycross events
I have a '12 Nissan Frontier that is the tow truck/work truck/dependable just in case daily driver

I do not currently have any traditional locost aspirations, but there is a good chance that in the next 2 years I will attempt to build my first car from the ground up. The plans I have drawn up so far look a lot like a 1930's-1940's indy car with a straight front and rear axle in a semi-streamlined shape. Beyond that I have some lofty long term goals in regards to building a nontraditional locost - high speed car suitable for both street and race use.

I have a corporate marketing-type job and a business degree, but I am doing aerodynamics consulting for some friends that are building some land speed vehicles (a roadster and a streamliner).

I live in Middle Tennessee. I'm 25 years old.

Hi all,

My name is Cody, I live in northwest Wyoming. I recieved my book yesterday and can't stop running ideas through my head. I have been cruising around here for a little while finding some answers and I'm sure I'll have many more questions when the build starts. I will hopefully be starting it in the next year, my current living situation won't allow me to build one.