BY-09 : Forward Thinking

Development of 'BY-09' began in the later stages of 2008. 
Soon after last year’s event at Murray Bridge, it was decided that the team would enter a 2009 team with the plan to completely re-design the entire vehicle. Original development was centered on the radical new drive system that would be required to lower the seat as close as possible to the ground.

Forward thinking :: Front Wheel Drive System

Amazingly, plans were put in place to develop a system that would put the lowest part of the seat within 50mm of the ground and still maintain high efficiency. The radical thinking required us to design a system that would drive the front wheels, such systems had been developed by teams before with limited success such as Flora Hill's 'N4Sir' in 1999 and Bendigo Senior's 'Moby Diff' in 1998. Our prototype is pictured here.

Obviously such a system would require almost every part to be constructed in-house, including

• hubs,
• swivel hubs,
• drive shafts,
• brakes,
• universal joints, and
• a central drive mechanism that would divide the power from the chain and deliver it to the two front wheels.

Easy, really!

An enormous amount of time and effort was dedicated to this task by Cal and we were able to get a prototype up and running around 13 weeks ago. (Cal is pictured early in our campaign working on the gig) Unfortunately the drive system suffered some technical problems that were considered too difficult to solve within the time frame that remained.



So,  rear wheel it is!
In the end, the backup plan was deployed: The same canopy, but a slightly higher centre of gravity with rear wheel drive, front wheel steer.

BY-09 – Piece by Piece:

The final vehicle features a full composite frame and seat, as well as composite steering components.

The driveline has a multi point roller setup as well as custom built, narrow-spec front wheel hubs, based around a Sturmy Archer setup.

The drive is delivered through ‘SRAM Red’ Cranks and Derailleur with a ‘double tap ‘ flat bar road bike shifter. Although it uses 10 Speed equipment, the cassette only has 6 cogs, this is to provide space for the fully enclosed rear wheel guard and because so many gears are unnecessary.

Anti-Fog Solution

The vehicle has been tested over the past 6 weeks with significant time dedicated towards the development of anti fogging systems. The final design introduces fresh air as well as removing used air with the use of a series of vent’s and high flow fans. Under testing situations, the screen was able to remain un-fogged through conditions that dropped below freezing and in steady rain. In both circumstances the rider clocked over an hour in the vehicle at race pace.

Daryl's final thoughts on BY-09 as a package

From BYR Inc 2009 Campaign

In the end, the resulting vehicle will have hopefully come a long way towards solving some of the many problems that have affected BYR in the past.

Many thanks must go to all the members of the team for producing what I see as an incredible vehicle.

Thanks must also go to our fantastic sponsors who have also helped out with the construction of the vehicle by supplying materials and parts.

See you all in a few days time

- Daryl King

Technical Director

Bendigo Youth Racing Inc