The most advanced production buggy on the Planet (2012)

The Concept

To design a full size buggy that could be assembled and disassembled within a matter of minutes without tools and eliminate the need for trailers or buggy racks on the back of your car’ and for this reason the rear axles were designed as they were and not as an integral part of the chassis which would have been actually been simpler in terms of tooling.

We believe it will be the stiffest chassis on the market eliminating the side tube / goose neck bracket and with the rear shocks pumped to around 250psi (300psi max) it is an incredibly stiff configuration.  One thing you could not see from the photo’s is rear axle triangulation – forward 340mm which also increases rigidity to the rear axles.

The ridged seat shape does however provide an easy platform with which to shape additional foam to your size to provide a snugg fit.  After consulting with other Australian buggiers we have instaled a lap belt with an optional hard wire capabiliy.

Pilot – Dave Hobbs – this was the first time in action – jumped in after a mate who is a little shorter hence the forward seat position and needed more pressure in the front shocks

Buggy Dimensions

The buggy will be manufactured by McConaghy Boats (China) a world leader in grand prix race yachts

The most advanced production
buggy on the planet!

Chassis – Hollow one piece carbon fibre the manufacturing technique is the same process used for aerospace / formula one etc

Front Suspension – twin fully adjustable air shocks mounted to a solid carbon fibre swing arm, this removes shock and vibration to both foot pegs and chassis

Rear Suspension – twin fully adjustable air shocks

Quick Release Appendages – aerospace quick release pins allow for rear wheels – rear axles – front end assembly to be removed from the light weight chassis / seat assembly – assembly can be achieved in under 150 seconds without tools and dis-assembled in 90 seconds.

Seat – Ergonomically shaped race car style bucket seat with formula one inspired fairings

The Hobbs McConaghy Buggy

The prototype buggy has taken over a year and a thousand hours of labour and would have been unbelievable without the support of McConaghy’s.

CR Buggy

Who is behind this project?

An English Ex Pat Dave Hobbs who now lives in Sydney Australia, a mad kite nut and engineering designer and builder who just happens to work for a world class yacht builder.
The website will launch on the 1st November From the 3rd November the buggy will be at extreme kites speed week.

The ‘Hobbs Kite Buggies’ website as mentioned will launch on the 1st November www.carbonkitebuggy.com and e-mail sales@hobbskitebuggies.com

PTWs Critique of the buggy from the initial three photos only HERE

Sand Yetis Critique of the buggy from all the photos  HERE

Post Speed Week testing

Clive

Well speed week is over, or should I say slow week.

The wind was very unproductive, we did manage an hour of good wind this morning only to have it die off completely.

The carbon buggy got a run, cris Italy had a few passes, so some video footage will be coming at some stage. David brought the buggy down for us to have a run in and get some feedback, given he didn’t put a price on it and was reluctant to do so could indicate he expected further development was needed, and the consensus was yes it does.

Obvious to some was the suspension setup, further revision and even removal would be needed. Padding to the edges of the seat required some revision.

Dave took onboard our kind, and possibly unkind comments, you have to give him credit for trying and being open with everyone down here, he is going to do further work on it, he’s not going to give up and I look forward to seeing an improved version.

My wife had a look and said where do you put your spare kite and stuff…… Can’t fault her thinking as we often do long runs and getting left out or stranded due to a wind velocity change can be frustrating, plus a break for a snack and a chat is always good.

The carbon buggy will no doubt reappear soon enough and I wish Dave all the best with his project……. And feel free to let us have another look next time too

Source PKF

John Holgate

Well, the wind didn’t exactly cooperate down at Sandy Point over the weekend.  Cris managed a few runs in the Carbon Buggy, but none of us did the km’s we were hoping to. 

In the end, we gave David a fair bit to think about (and probably a few grey hairs!).  A few minor modifications needed here and there and the suspension showed it’s shortcomings under load – it may even be removed the next time we see it. 

A few changes to tolerances and materials to be made also.
Managed to get a bit of footage which I hope will show it better from a few different angles. 

BTW – the brackets underneath loosen to slide the seat fore and aft.  Seat is actually quite comfy and has plenty of room to lean back for upwind turns too.  John Holgate – source PKF

Comments from Dave Hobbs

Hi Carl,

After plenty of good feedback from speedweek the buggy will now undergo some revision before its release to the market. Most
noticeably to the suspension which as many have commented on did not perform as I would have hoped.

I believe that it generated to much traction which although great on straight runs made power slides incredibly difficult even in the hands of Cris Italy. The other issue with utilizing a fully adjustable suspension is ‘set up’ together with to many variables ie pilot weight, surface etc.

Modifications to be made will include

Removal of suspension and a standard style front end assembly
manufactured – this will reduce weight and cost

One size fits all seat – This will be replaced by manufacturing seat hip / leg size mouldings for different sized bodies that will be
bonded to the inside of the seat during manufacture.

Attached is a photo of a proposed rear axle strut which will require extensive destructive testing prior to release.

Material – carbon fibre aerofoil shape – weight 420 grams

Many Thanks for the hospitality and support off all who attended
Extreme Kites Speedweek including Joel, Cris, John, Nigel and many more!

Kind Regards Dave

Carbon rear aerofoil strut

Dave has had criticism from around the globe about his new buggy, and to be honest with a claim “the most advanced production buggy on the planet” the buggy was always going to get extremely eyeballed from everyone….and rightly so with such a bold statement.

What has come out of all this is certainly from me anyway, a great respect for not only trying to take the kite buggy to the next level, but more so the way he has listened to constructive criticism and taken it all on board, and now heading back to the factory to rectify problems and issues, and come back stronger and better…..he has not even once defended himself vocally on the forums which I know he watches, which is extremely difficult to do, everyone wants to defend their baby right…

So yeah, respect to the guy, and I am looking forward to see whats next.