My Son's Kinetic Racer

[RebelGT]

So I haven't been able to work on my car in years, but I have time for my son of course. ha ha.

My 7 year old wanted to get into welding, so I bought him a hobby level stick welder (he wants to be an underwater welder so stick was a great option for him).
There's a "Kinetic Derby" (soap box derby race) and he wanted to put a car together.

Here's his progress so far.

[ccrunner]

Very cool Rebel-dad... his 7-year old stick welds are better than old-man mine!!

I love that you're supporting him to get out and build/ weld/ fab at such a young age... My kids never took an interest in these processes, which is of course fine.. It's very cool to see your skillset being passed on.. please keep it up

--ccrunner

[JAMADOR]

Very cool. I didn't glue metal together until I was in my 20s.
Definitely keep posting the progress, would love to see the finished build.

[Driven5]

Classic Ferrari's didn't have welds that nice. Nicely done! <--- Mugs of rootbeer.

You might want to revisit some of your suspension hardware though... What does the rule book say about No.2 pencils?

[RebelGT]

Thanks everyone!

He's been working hard.

We got the seat made and off to our friend's upholstery shop. My boy is trading work already, my friend is going to upholster his seat, and my boy is going to fix some broken welds on a piece of furniture.

Also, the steering is all hooked up now.

Now we just have to get the brake hooked up on the old bicycle wheel on the back.

[ohmite]

So cool!

Fantastic that he is interested in things mechanical and knows what he wants now. Also great that you can pass on the skills. And he is good at it. First welds I made were stick welds in Shop class when I was maybe 15, but 7, wow! And he’s good at it! (did I already say that )

Congratulations Dad and Son

-Eric

[RebelGT]

Little man and I got the side panels on the car. We managed to achieve a not so terrible amount of "oil canning" on the sides, it's only super thin aluminum flashing.

Now we need to figure out a cheap way to put a nose cone on this car. I priced out doing it in fiberglass, and it was going to be well north of hundred dollars in materials. So I'm trying to figure out more budget solutions if anyone has any ideas.

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

You could do papermache or fabric/vinyl over some ribbing (ala' velorex), chicken wire, or sanded styrofoam hot glued together.

[RebelGT]

Ready for this Saturday's race with time to spare!

We cobbled together a nose cone out of some scraps of aluminum.

We also picked up the seat from my friend's shop and got them installed, it's so plush!

[Miatav8,MstrASE,A&P,F]

Nicely done.

[rx7locost]

Very cool! Building that with Dad is something that he will remember for the rest of his life.

[RTz]

That is cooler than a penguins wallet!

[BostonWill]

I am very impressed and intimidated! That is some set of skills he is developing!

[RebelGT]

Little man had a great time! He had a great time for sure, we're definitely going to participate again next year.
We'll be doing some upgrades for next year, better wheels for sure would go a long way, and some better bodywork too among some other things.