1999 Challenge Report

By Wayne Kotzur

The event went well. There were thunderstorms both Friday and Sunday nights but the weather apart from gusty conditions was good. Sea Scout food was excellent as usual. Lots of good fun and hardly any significant accidents - only one hospitalisation (observation) for a unicyclist. The usual suspects plus more partners. Only three women entered, about five juniors and about 40 regular/open competitors.

Some of best things were:

  • Ben Goodalls fully faired trike (no4) which looked great
  • A nonrider who showed up, like harry gordons nearly unrideable front drive front steer low bike and took it in quite a few events - i assume ignorance was his excuse
  • The post event flooding of the skid-pan to let the trikes have some cool fun while the scorers were getting hot under the collar
  • Having all the scores done on time and actually be able to give away all the medallions before people left the course
  • serious talk about having a record speed attempt subcommittee to establish a national record with lots of attendent publicity
  • Possible venue change for Challenge if we can get the states or a regional centre and subcommittee to grasp the nettle

Duncan Cleland was computerising the final points tally and producing a spread sheet. See the full results (pdf) or time trail results (pdf).

Greenspeed runs 1st and 2nd at Canberra.

By Ian Sims

At the National HPV Championships at Canberra, Australia, November 13 & 14th, Greenspeed trikes won 1st and 2nd places overall.

This event consists of a number of races held at the Sutton Rd. Driver Training Ground. The 2.5 km circuit has a long main straight followed by a bend which progressively tightens and climbs at the same time until it gets quite steep, and reaches 180 degrees. It then drops, through a water splash, has a tight left hander, followed by a right hand hairpin, and winds around, up and down, to sweeping down hill bend back on the main straight. Points are awarded for each race that a rider competes in on the same machine, the idea being promote the most practical machines.

The races are:

  • 25km road race
  • 2.5km time trial
  • 200m sprint
  • 200m drag race
  • 200m slalom
  • Off road race
  • Criterium
  • Shopping race

This year Paul Sims decided to use a modified GTR touring trike.

It had a lower seat, by using the dropped GTS frame, in light gauge tubing, but retained the more upright 40 degree seat position of the GTR tourer. Ground clearance was improved over the GTS by compressing the steering.

To improve the aerodynamics of the more upright seat, he used a cut down Bullet nose cone, which was cut off at a rearward sloping angle, just in front of the front wheels. It allowed easy entry and exit, full body lean to each side, and was easily removable.

Performance was better than expected, with an estimated 5kph improvement in the road race, time trial, and sprints.

Without the fairing, and a knobby rear tyre, he also performed quite well in the off road race, being the 1st recumbent home in this event!

Thus he managed to amass enough points to edge out Ian Humphries on his Greenspeed GLR race trike, who was faster in both the road race, and the time trial.

Congratulations to Paul and Ian and all who competed.