Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
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webby
Tumbler75
pete s
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Skid's :: Finished Works :: Race cars
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Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
So here is one of the two entries that I am entering in this weekend's GSL Championship in Salt Lake City. It is being entered into the "Replica" class, as this is a model of the off-road race car that I used to own. I was the owner, driver, chief mechanic and sole sponsor. Needless to say, this was time consuming. Class 9 is the "Formula Vee" of off-road racing. The class rules are very restrictive, and it is meant to be a driver's class, and affordable racing. The cars use many standard VW components, and modifications are very limited.
The model is mostly scratch built, with the chassis made from brass rod. It has a few basic parts for the Tamiya VW kit, but they are also highly modified. There are some turned aluminum parts (Fox shocks), but most of the fabricated details are plastic.
So here is a photo of the real car:
Here are a few photos of the model:
I made a second chassis for "show and tell". It usually draws a lot of attention. The wood master is for the vac-formed hood. It is hand made, and represents the inside of part surface. The hood was then cut out of the formed part.
Here is the engine area, fully detailed and plumbed. Exhaust was made from brass rod, in a fixture that I fabricated. The chassis also has a removable spare tire rack. I used this for longer races, but for shorter ones, where there was crew access, I left it off.
Anyway, it should be fun to show it at GSL.
The model is mostly scratch built, with the chassis made from brass rod. It has a few basic parts for the Tamiya VW kit, but they are also highly modified. There are some turned aluminum parts (Fox shocks), but most of the fabricated details are plastic.
So here is a photo of the real car:
Here are a few photos of the model:
I made a second chassis for "show and tell". It usually draws a lot of attention. The wood master is for the vac-formed hood. It is hand made, and represents the inside of part surface. The hood was then cut out of the formed part.
Here is the engine area, fully detailed and plumbed. Exhaust was made from brass rod, in a fixture that I fabricated. The chassis also has a removable spare tire rack. I used this for longer races, but for shorter ones, where there was crew access, I left it off.
Anyway, it should be fun to show it at GSL.
pete s- Intermediate Member
- Posts : 797
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 73
Location : Beaverton, OR
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
Stunning. Looks like a ball to drive. That Chassis is impressive.
Guest- Guest
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
That is some impressive craftsmanship! This rail looks awesome and looks like a blast to drive. Great job and good luck with it at GSL! 8)
Tumbler75- Intermediate Member
- Posts : 854
Join date : 2013-02-25
Age : 48
Location : Prosperity, SC
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
I'm going to give up model building.......this is a stunning build- and that chassis is a work of art.
Cheers,
Chris
Cheers,
Chris
webby- Moderator
- Posts : 2194
Join date : 2013-02-27
Age : 64
Location : Strathpine Australia. Built over WW2 airstrip
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
Beautiful work Pete. Nice one.
_________________
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Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
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Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
Nice work, Pete.
Great detailing !!
Great detailing !!
Geezerman- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3651
Join date : 2013-02-24
Age : 88
Location : Gulf coast of central Florids
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
Sweet mercy I wish I could go to Gsl just to see this bad boy... Looks so nice I love it. Your a true master
MotoScale87- New Member
- Posts : 208
Join date : 2013-03-04
Age : 37
Location : santa ana. ca
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
Thanks everyone for the kind words. The model was much easier to build when I had the real one just sitting besides the work bench. If I wondered what size something was, I just went over and measured!
The real one was fun to drive, but naturally underpowered. Required was basically a 40 HP, single port head motor, but with the cam wide open. The small carb was required, but could be re-jetted. Not sure where the HP ended up, but with the light weight, it did well. The suspension mods were limited, so with it's limited vertical wheel travel, it rode hard in the woops.
I finally sold it when they stopped racing locally here in Central Oregon. I tried a race clear down in Fallon, Nevada (near Reno), and it was just to far to go. I at least sold it for what I paid for it, so that was good.
The real one was fun to drive, but naturally underpowered. Required was basically a 40 HP, single port head motor, but with the cam wide open. The small carb was required, but could be re-jetted. Not sure where the HP ended up, but with the light weight, it did well. The suspension mods were limited, so with it's limited vertical wheel travel, it rode hard in the woops.
I finally sold it when they stopped racing locally here in Central Oregon. I tried a race clear down in Fallon, Nevada (near Reno), and it was just to far to go. I at least sold it for what I paid for it, so that was good.
pete s- Intermediate Member
- Posts : 797
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 73
Location : Beaverton, OR
Re: Dritrix Class 9 Off-road Race Car
What a cool build! That is a real rarity and your perfect rendering of the real thing is beautiful and an important bit of history. Thanks for sharing great fotos. You should do a tutorial here on building brass frames and connecting plastic parts, engines etc without having it look phony. Superior craftsmanship all 'round!
harron68- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3615
Join date : 2013-02-28
Age : 73
Location : MIDWEST
Skid's :: Finished Works :: Race cars
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