Andy Mac

HEY! I just had a look at that Parastorm website and the photo they're using at the top is ME! Cheeky buggers. Was taken when Brian (I think - one of the guys that did some of the extreme stuff through the Gobi and the Antarctic) brought the first one out here (Still for sale) and I helped supply him with some wheels for a test drive.... Nose wheelies - no need for a brake if you have some solid shoes to stick in the front fork (Helmet might be a good idea though for early attempts). But - not to digress from the topic... Get a buggy! Large lake, high speed, maximum fun - see you have a request for a buggy and a 2.5m kite in other section - good choice

I like the fancy dress option - my 'backyard' couch is fitted for the slots on a PL axle and works nicely as a novelty trailer. Have only had it down the beach twice. Feel a bit of a weirdo walking down to the beach towing my couch! :roll: 6.8m Razor (I strap in or I would not have been able to hold onto it - was very powered up), two passengers, turned a few heads... Man, just checked out that site with the buggy tricks - that's pretty cool. Never did know what all those names were...

If we got 25 buggiers to the comp there'd be no-one left to sell the second hand gear to! All good in a perfect world - but we are more like Formula One (Or maybe some class of go-carts would be more accurate). Those with the cash or who place a higher priority on one hobby over another buy the good gear and do well. This is not a big budget sport and the chances of EVER standardising are slim. We're never going to be in it for the big bucks so relax and enjoy, learn off others to go faster and share the entertainment. I for one prefer the idea of competing brands and different gear, that way the manufacturers have to continue to impress us the customer. Check out some of the UK sites (One below - plenty of links) and see what all the guys are racing and doing well with over there - we have limited selection of gear (Even though it seems like plenty now) compared to these guys and sponsors in these events are not likely to support a one design race. Man - it would be great to have half the set up they have in Europe or the UK. Although I don't like their "bigger is better", with no seat belt approach myself. Can't see how that is any safer really.... just getting off topic.... http://www.bpsc.org.uk/bpsc_pages/bpsc_homepage.aspx

Tim, mwalker@ferntree.com Don't know details, I'm not going this year, but Mike Walker organised last years trip. That's his email above so drop him a line. As far as I know he is 'The Man' again and will no doubt improve the plan on what was a cool trip last year. Cheers, and welcome to the forum.. (Not been here long myself...)

Save yourselves re-inventing the wheel fellers - All this has been gone through before ad infinitum... Best contacts I could suggest on racing formats would be: Simon in SA - through AKFA website (Mick runs the website but info@kitefactory should produce a response from Phil or Annie in Adelaide) Simon also has a sailing background a came up with good racing formats for several years (Short course, Enduro, sprint, pursuit) at the Adelaide International Kite Festival. He's a bit dissillusioned after coping shit from the local boys over there (Their mob had a tendency to get ultra competitive... Didn't appreciate the Vic's coming over and stomping them each year either... ) Craig in Geelong worked with Goshen to set up the Vic Racing Series and there exists a nice little booklet on rules and stuff. Both these guys may be keen for a chat but not sure if Craig gets into the forum (Don't think so) Get Goshen to pass on an email address or something. We're a pretty small crowd is the main problem and your 'build it and they will come' approach would be excellent if it worked, just doesn't seem to be the sort of sport that attracts huge numbers. Tricks as part of an event haven't been included before here either apart from one brief trial at a Sandy Point meet - tricks tend to be subjective so it's a bit difficult to judge I guess, although same applies to kiteboarding comps. I'd have a go if it comes up Would come for a visit to Lake George too if I was around (Bloody work interfering with my hobbies again) - sounds like a good venue and would be cool to see the guys in NSW and ACT in action. To be honest, I like racing and all but it is more relaxing for all to keep it informal. People tend to get narky when the competition gets hot. Racing probably did nore to push people away in Victoria than anything else - trips away and long beach runs (Like Kingston trip in January) I reckon are the way to go. Set up a camp, take a BBQ, esky full of beer for the bragging session after hours, gather some mates with similar interests, go play. Most fun I had each year was the road trip across to Adelaide for the Kite Festival (Although Craig, Tim and I showing the SA locals some new gear, real racing pace, and coming home with most of their little trophies may have had something to do with it). Cheers, Mac

A phantom eh? About time you bought a new racing kite (No idea what a Phantom is but sounds good - assuming it's competitive) otherwise you could have left the twins behind and still called it a handicapped race based on the use of C-quads he he he.... Libre buggy and C-quad is a bit like having a Ferrari with a Corolla motor isn't it? Will be interesting to see how your gear goes if Craig gets to run his Nitro. That's a nice bit of gear and was very competitive when run up against the Razors. Size differences were about all that was in it. Enough wind to really motor the 4.5m Razor was just too much for him to hang onto the 4.9m Nitro - 1 or 2 knots less wind and he would pull away nicely. Keep us posted....

G'day - bored and have some experience so read on if you can be bothered! Seat height adjustment will affect how your buggy behaves under full power. Too high and you might get the rear wheel lifting or be inclined to be pulled out of the buggy sideways. The lower the better for buggy traction and for holding yourself in. 2 inches clearance is probably pretty standard for PL and good enough for a start until you want to work at getting more speed or hold onto more kite. Then wider axles, low side rails, low slung seat belts, all future mods you could consider, going by what I've ended up with over time. Also - as per some of the other comments - a bash plate is a must if you race along the beach. 1cm clearance might be ok for carparks and ovals but rocks flicked up from the beach by the front wheel at +50km/hr have the potential to cause some serious damage to parts you'd rather keep intact. I have a light (3mm - 5mm) plastic shield cut to shape mounted from the downtube to the rear axle pipes - mount it right and you can still pull the axle on and off without having to remove the bashplate. Good piece of mind! Highly recommend a back rest - get something comfortable enough to sit in when stationary and you'll enjoy longer sessions and longer runs without stressing muscles you didn't know you had. Don't make it too elaborate or large though or you'll restrict your movement for potential reverse manouvers and the like where you want to be able to shift your weight around. Water bottle holder isn't a bad idea and thought about it myself - but got a backpack for a spare kite on my backrest (For long beach runs - in case the wind drops or changes, an alternative kite size is a handy thing). Speedo is good for bragging rights and easy to fit. $30, make sure it will adjust to small wheel diameter. I don't carry spare bearings. My buggy is used on the beach full time and I give it a hose off with fresh water. Also, inside the wheel, in between the bearings, I've packed a good quality grease (I run PL black plastic rims with an internal spacer on a stub axle)and reasonable quality bearings see out long periods of use. I change them MAYBE once every two years! They don't spin perfectly but they do the job for that length of time. I've fully mangled bearings but the wheel has always managed to get me home - although if you travel far to buggy and don't want it to end your day then spares are a good idea. I walk too and from buggy sessions A mate covers his bearings with coke bottles to minimise salt water getting on them. Looks ok and guess it works (Too lazy myself...) A splash guard - can be incorporated with your bashplate - also good for the beach (Or wet grass). A good mudguard on the front wheel will have the same benefit. 2 ltr coke bottles work well if you go for function over fashion. That's probably enough eh, the best way to go is find what works for you and the conditions you buggy in. All the best and enjoy - however you set it up!

Nice sidetrack there Goshen Haven't had a peak at the site for a while so will check it out in a quiet moment. Will also be looking for news of Yakuzas..... Sorry Nige, you'll have to wait a while to beat me with your handbag. No cheating now - can't have you filling it with bricks...

Dammit. I hate missing out on the fun stuff. Hope the wind is good to you guys. :cry:

Better get onto that lot Nigel. I can picture a designer handbag slung over your shoulder as you cruise along in your shiny high end Libre show pony buggy You'll be all the rage in trendy Elwood.... 8) Fair dinkum - who lets these people advertise on a kite website??? I'm still tossing up whether or not I can justify advertising a static line kite train on an "Extreme - Kite" website (You'll notice it's not in here yet).

Buggy is still currently for sale - although I am working on a shipping price for a feller in PNG (Sorry! Still haven't broken it down and taken it in to weigh it). Same price without PL rim. The buggy is a pretty good bargain anyway but happy to take the rim off and hang onto it for a spare....

$500 - needs two wheels (Has a PL aluminium rim on the front). Can maybe supply two aluminium rims and wheels (Price negotiable). Buggy was imported from China pre-production and as far as I know is the only one over here. Designed in the UK and built by the same crowd that crossed the Gobi desert and attempted the North pole (Nutters apparently, but buggy construction is first rate). It's tubular alloy. Tough as hell and super light. Bought it to use it for jumping but find that I tend to just get the old PL airborne when the conditions suit rather than taking it out specifically. 2nd hand but used on the beach exactly twice. Can view at the Altona Kite Day this weekend (Sunday 22nd May).

G'day, Just popped on but wanted to let you know I have a Parastorm buggy for sale. More details in the for sale section - posted some time ago. If you let me know I can bring it down to the Altona kite day at the 100 Steps of Federation this weekend. Cheers

Enough interest would probably result in a freestyle event (I'm keen). Not that many of the guys spend a lot of time tricking in the buggys so it's only through lack of participants that there isn't one now I'd say. Nigel would be in it (Maybe not in that Harley Davidson Buggy), Dukey when his shoulders ok (Scary as he can be...), Craig can manage two wheels, Crowie in Pt Fairy loves 360's and might give it a crack.......

Hmm, maybe should have thought the price through a bit more. That's it - you can get your own wheels....

Hope this comes out in the right place - wanted to say to Meteor that we hear stuff all about buggying in NSW/ACT and I was interested to see some stuff on the site in the photos (I think). Would be keen to get up to any good open windy areas you guys have for a visit/roadtrip. Would also be excellent to see you guys across for racing in SA or down in Vic. It's a lot of fun and we all learn from each other so the more the merrier. Cheers. 8)

$500 - needs two wheels (Has a PL aluminium rim on the front). Can maybe supply two aluminium rims and wheels (Price negotiable). Buggy was imported from China pre-production and as far as I know is the only one over here. Designed in the UK and built by the same crowd that crossed the Gobi desert and attempted the North pole (Nutters apparently, but buggy construction is first rate). It's tubular alloy. Tough as hell and super light. Bought it to use it for jumping but find that I tend to just get the old PL airborne when the conditions suit rather than taking it out specifically. 2nd hand but used on the beach exactly twice. Can view at the Vic Traction Series finals in Geelong on the 13th of March (Advertised on this site by Goshen).

Hey Guys, My first venture into this site so forgive any errors etc. Had a bit of a read. Man can you guys waffle on.... Justin - maybe find a Subaru site? Going to be going to the Adelaide Festival buggy racing to defend the Victorian supremacy over there and just interested to know of any others going across. Doing the independant travel arrangements in case of work interference so can't offer anyone a ride sorry. Craig not coming this year due to his brother's wedding in Thailand (There's a bucks night I'd like to be invited to) so need other Vic buggy reps to help annoy the locals over there. Details: 23rd and 24th March, Racing at Lower Light Beach, camp overnight (Optional). 25,26,27th March - Adelaide International Kite Festival Semaphore Beach, Adelaide.