Hyper PRO Racer - HyperRacer.com

Hyper PRO Racer
www. HyperRacer .com
Fast • Safer • Affordable • Sustainable
Hyper PRO Racer
Fast • Safer • Affordable • Sustainable
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Hyper PRO Racer
The Hyper PRO Racer is a game changer - a breakthrough
in fast, safer, affordable and sustainable racing.
Designed as a ‘Wash and Race’ category, the Hyper PRO
Racer is ideal for the ‘one man race team’ who wants to
race year in - year out, on a modest budget.
Now you can race a real race car, with real performance, on
real race tracks, without having to win the lottery.
The Hyper PRO Racer fills a huge gap in the motor racing
world. With serious performance at affordable costs, we
call it motor racing’s ‘Missing Link’.
“If I were the owner of the last drum of fuel on earth,
I would put it into a Hyper PRO Racer.”
Jon Crooke
Fast • Safer • Affordable • Sustainable
Contents
Introduction
Contents
The Idea
10 Years On
The Missing Link
Fast
Safer
Affordable
Sustainable
3 Key Components
The Drivers Office
Driven to Design
The World’s Lightest Racing Car
“This thing is nuts”
The Chassis
The Body
Testing Times
“Handling . . . incredible”
One Man Race Team
Getting There
The Corporate World
Specification
People Power
Project Timeline
Blood Lines
A Good Idea In 1946
“Game Changer”
The Driving Force
The Idea
Jon Crooke makes the first 'napkin' sketches of
the Hyper PRO Racer. It’s 1998 and the racer is a
concept he has had floating around in his head
since the mid-eighties. Jon has a vision to produce
a small racing car for long circuit racing. It will be
an affordable step up from go-karts or superkarts
and will incorporate safety features unheard of in
karting.
10 Years On
Traditionally, the first serious step into racing cars
has been Formula Ford. Originally designed as an
affordable starter class, the current high cost of
this category has stopped almost all kart drivers
from making the move up. As a result, the real
racing talent, generations of potential National and
World Champions, have melted away into the
suburbs and obscurity.
“Why don’t we build this?”
The Hyper PRO Racer is an affordable turn-key
product that will provide a 'real' solution to the
current class gap. Jon calls his concept "The
Missing Link".
Only now, Dean was a race car design engineer
and fabricator.
His first sketches feature design concepts such as
the exo-skeleton space frame with the inside-out
cockpit, swing-arm rear suspension, exposed
mono-shocks front and rear, the longitudinal
cockpit intrusion bars and the tube hugging body
details - all features that will make it through to the
final design.
But Jon is a designer engineer, not an engineer
fabricator. Unable to find an engineer fabricator that
shares his vision and passion, Jon pins an artists
impression of his Hyper PRO Racer to the wall of
his study and puts the project on the back-burner.
Dean Crooke was pointing at the artists impression
on the wall of his fathers office. Dean had grown up
glancing at the sketch from time to time, while
practicing the art of karting and motocross. Jon’s
‘Missing Link’ racer was as valid now, as it was
when he first imagined it a quarter of a century ago.
And he shared Jon’s vision and passion - to build
the world’s first fast, safe, affordable AND
sustainable racing car.
They locked themselves in their workshop and a
‘skunkworks’ project was born. Days turned to
weeks - months into years. Slowly an object of
breathtaking beauty emerged. A racing car that
satisfied their high standards of engineering quality
and aesthetics. A serious toy - no compromises.
And when the car was finished?
They opened the workshop doors ..............
and let the sun shine in.
The Missing Link
For as long as most of us can remember, it starts in
go-karts - and it ends in go-karts. The dreams of most
aspiring young race drivers are shattered when they look at
their next step up the ladder of motor sport and ask "How
much ?".
Traditionally, the first serious step into racing cars has been
Formula Ford. Originally designed as an affordable starter
class, the current high cost of this category has stopped
almost all kart drivers from making the move. With few
exceptions, only the SORF's (Sons Of Rich Fathers) can
compete at the top of this category. As a result, the real
racing talent, generations of potential National and World
champions, have melted away into the suburbs and
obscurity.
Then there are a myriad of categories from the Lambos,
Ferraris and Porsches for the rich and famous, down to the
lethal Superkarts, Formula Vee’s and the old sports sedans
and historic Formula Fords for the rest of us.
But a modern Formula Ford 'type' race car at less than
Formula Vee or Superkart prices? It was nowhere to be
seen. Anybody that is involved in motor sport will tell you
that it has been like that forever. And since forever, the
market has been crying out for a fast race vehicle, that
provides a safe racing environment for the driver and that
above all is affordable and sustainable.
The Hyper PRO Racer provides the solution. Fast, safer,
affordable AND sustainable. We call it ‘The Missing Link’.
Fast
“The Hyper PRO Racer is powered by a 450cc single
cylinder engine lifted from Yamaha's dirt-bike inventory.
From inside the car it sounds like someone hog tied a lion
and gaffa taped it to your back.”
Colin Fink
The Hyper PRO Racer features a state of the art, race bred,
environmentally friendly, Yamaha 450cc water cooled 4stroke engine, 5 speed sequential gear box, 4 wheel crossvented disc brakes with billet milled 4-piston aluminium
brake calipers, Ohlins aluminium bodied race shocks,
perfect
45 / 55 weight distribution and a 185 kg feather weight
design.
All this adds up to lap times that compete with the big
boys.
200kph
Safer
"The wealthier you are, the safer you are."
Never was a truer word said when it comes to motor
racing. Top level racing cars are fitted with every
imaginable safety feature. However, race at the bottom of
the food chain - say, in a superkart - and when it comes to
safety, you get zip.
At the budget end of motor racing, safety is a conveniently
forgotten subject.
That was the 20th century ... welcome to the 21st century
and the Hyper PRO Racer.
The Hyper PRO Racer provides the safety features of a full
size race car and then some ...
at an affordable price.
“It all adds up to safety never before seen at the affordable
end of motor racing.”
Dean Crooke
F.I.A.
Affordable
“For as long as most of us can remember, it starts in
go-karts - and it ends in go-karts. The dreams of most aspiring
young race drivers are shattered when they look at their next step
up the ladder of motor sport and ask "How much ?"
Jon Crooke
Looking for the biggest 'Bang for the Buck' in racing?
Every Hyper PRO Racer is a ‘one design’, fixed
specification car. A ten year design freeze means that the
car you buy now, will be identical to cars manufactured in
the future . . . . a built-in guarantee that your car remains
competitive and retains its value. Engines are sealed to
prevent enhancements and a car entered in a Hyper Racer
series must be as it was when it left the factory.
The Hyper PRO Racer provides the driver with a level
playing field, the emphasis being on driver ability, not the
driver who spends the most money.
Sustainable
“Karters can now afford to move up to the real deal.”
Dean Crooke
The Hyper PRO Racer is a break-through in fast, safer,
affordable AND sustainable racing.
With a set of tyres costing around $360 and lasting up to
two race meetings, long engine life with modest re-build
costs, brake pads, clutch, chain and sprockets lasting
‘forever’ thanks to the feather weight design, bodywork
and mechanical components designed and placed to
minimise potential damage and repair costs, and the ability
to transport the vehicle in a small trailer behind a small car
or in the back of a van, the Hyper PRO Racer makes
sustainable racing a reality.
The Hyper PRO Racer has been designed as a ‘Wash and
Race’ category and is ideal for the ‘one man race team’
who wants to race, year in - year out, on a modest budget
Formula 5
3 Key Components
The first step in the design process was to select the
components to be used. The design of the Hyper PRO Racer is
based around three major components - driver, tyres and engine.
DRIVER
Racing car designers all agree that the driver is the one
component they would like to eliminate from the racing car
design package. No other component introduces as many
inconsistencies into the performance of a racing car. But the
reality is that the driver is the one component that can’t be
omitted. The goal of the Hyper PRO racer designers is to
build a cockpit that can accommodate drivers up to 110 kgs
and 195 cm in height. As the intention is to build the smallest
racing car possible, the cockpit will have to virtually shrink
wrap the largest driver with no excess space.
TYRES
The biggest consumable cost in motor racing is tyres. Tyre
costs can break a club level drivers budget. For these drivers
it's the difference between racing and staying home for the
weekend.
The designers at Hyper Racer thought long and hard about
the specification of the tyre and concluded that the only
choice was a 6 inch tyre designed for the FIA Superkart
category. These tyres are 'state of the art' racing design and
are rated to very high speeds. They are readily available
world wide and, at around AUD$360 per set, are a fraction of
the cost of larger tyres as used for example on a Formula
Ford. They also have the advantage of being very light.
And 'light' equals speed.
ENGINE
The engine had to meet a set of criteria which included;
manufacture by a mainstream engine supplier,
environmentally friendly 4-stroke, state of the art race proven
technology, affordable consumables and modest re-build
costs. Yamaha technology was chosen, specifically the
450cc WR engine. This engine is fitted with electric start,
eliminating the need for a push start buddy.
The Drivers Office
After component selection, the next step in the design process was the drivers office.
The Hyper PRO Racer features a Formula One driving position with ergonomically positioned steering
wheel, sequential shifter and pedals. The chassis combines the cost effectiveness of a space frame
safety cell with the smooth driver friendly internal surfaces of a monocoque design.
The cockpit can accommodate drivers up to 110 kgs and 190 cm in height. As the intention was to build
the smallest, lightest racing car possible, the cockpit virtually shrink wraps the largest driver and
mechanical components with no excess space.
To succeed in this packaging challenge, six 3D CAD models were made of a 60 kg through to a 110 kg
driver in the optimum driving position, ie foot to head horizontal distance as short as possible and eye
height as low as possible and still clear knee height. The CAD designer then literally wrapped curved
tubing around these 3D driver models.
The chrome-moly chassis features curved main rails for added lateral impact strength and cross braces
in the middle of the chassis and behind the driver for immense crush resistance and torsional strength.
Zig-zag chassis tubes down each side are positioned to follow the line of the drivers body and create a
lateral protection shield. The drivers heels are positioned behind the front axle line. The drivers head is
protected by a comprehensive protection system comprising of front and rear roll bars, longitudinal
intrusion bars ('Henry' bars) that ‘flip-up’ to aid driver extraction, and a rear and lateral head restraint
enclosure. And in the same way that crash helmet design protects the head, the Hyper PRO Racer’s seat
cell is lined with a ridged compressible foam seat insert. As added protection the seat cell and head
restraint incorporate compressible crush domes at all strategic mounting points.
Combine this with the Hyper PRO Racer’s other safety features - lower body skid rails and intrusion
plate, foot and leg protection, a jointed collapsible steering column, a six-point safety harness, an
isolated fuel tank and an onboard fire extinguisher.
It all adds up to built in safety never before seen at the affordable end of motor racing.
“The first ‘hard point’ of the design was the driver. Like an F1 car, the PRO Racer is shrink wrapped around the driver.” Jon Crooke
Driven to Design
“Great car design is the successful synergy of two major elements - function and form.”
Jon Crooke
Johannes Collopy
With the basic design for the chassis and the component placement resolved,
two separate design teams were established to take the project forward - a ‘lead’
team and a 'youth' team.
The ‘lead’ team, Jon and Dean Crooke, addressed the overall design - chassis
engineering and bodywork styling.
The 'youth' team were three final year automotive design students, Johannes
Collopy, Matt Lewis and Mat Blythman. Their brief was to look at the product specifically bodywork styling - from a youth perspective, a large part of Hyper's
target market.
Matt Blythman
The ‘lead’ team provided the ‘youth’ team with a strict design brief that included a
3D CAD model of the rolling chassis, restricted areas for bodywork, fixed
component areas within the bodywork as well as the need to include essential
specified design objectives within their designs, such as keeping the tube frame
exposed, exposing the shock absorbers, incorporating a front diffuser and small
farings over the swing arms, to name a few.
Several ideas from the ‘youth’ team sketches were incorporated into the final
design. Jon and Dean continued to develop the bodywork over the course of the
project with ongoing input from Johannes Collopy.
Mathieu Lewis
“ This thing is nuts ! ”
Bang, into second. Wide open throttle.
Bang, third. This thing is nuts!
Hang on, I don't know this track very well,
where's turn three? Okay, here it comes, I'll start
to pull up pretty early by stepping on this peda...
WHOOOOAAAA Battleship Missouri!
The car has come to an almost complete stop.
If there had been anyone within 200 metres of my back
bumper, I would have been wiped out completely. These.
Brakes. Are. In. Sane.”
“I never got used to the braking, which is literally so
phenomenal that in many cases you're actually well on the
way into the corner before hitting the pedal!"
Colin Fink
God alone knows how good the brakes are because I don't
and it would take a very brave hombre to out-brake the
Hyper Pro Racer.
David Morley - MOTOR
“At first sight, it's guaranteed to put a smile on your face. It
looks like a spider on steroids. Anyone with an interest in
motor sport will love this thing.
There is nothing boring about the performance of the
vehicle. It’s really great blasting out of corners, easy precise
gear changing, upshifts and down shifts are fantastic, great
high speed stability, brakes amazing, excellent precise
steering with neutral characteristics, all these factors
working together with rock solid chassis stability, to
produce superb all round abilities.”
Wayne Armstrong
The World’s Lightest Racing Car
”Low weight is the holy grail of race car design.”
Jon Crooke
The natural enemy of speed is weight. And weight, or the lack thereof, is the
Hyper PRO Racer’s secret.
The negative effects of weight in a race car are compounded by movement,
because inertia - the reluctance of a car to change its speed and direction becomes THE issue. A lighter car requires less power, so the engine can be
smaller, reducing weight. The lighter car requires less braking effort, so the discs
and calipers can be smaller, and the critical unsprung mass is reduced. The small
discs in turn allow the use of smaller diameter wheels and tyres for even less
unsprung weight - and a smaller wind cheating frontal area. A light car, having
less inertia - contrary to popular belief - can be made to crash better. And so it
goes on. Lightness begets lightness, just as weight ushers in more weight, for the
reverse of the reasons above.
To get ‘light’, the designers made a smaller vehicle, they eliminated unnecessary
components and they made the major component - the chassis - serve multiple
functions.
The 3 Key Components - Driver, Tyres and Engine.
All the major and ancillary components on the Hyper PRO Racer are mounted
directly to the main chassis tubes, eliminating mounting brackets. The bodywork
has been rationalised, minimised and mounts directly to the chassis tubes, and as
the bodywork is non-structural, it is made feather light. The safety cell also does
double duty as bodywork.
In the weight culling process, some major components- such as a differential were deemed, for a number of reasons, unnecessary and were eliminated from
the design package. 6” inch diameter rims and tyres were chosen to reduce
frontal area and weight ... and importantly running costs.
So how ‘light’ can you make a real race car, with full-on safety features and big
boys performance?
All up weight ready to race, without driver ... 185kg.
The Chassis
“The design of the PRO Racer is more revolution than
evolution.”
Dean Crooke
At the affordable end of the racing world, the space frame
chassis is a cost effective design reality, and if well
designed, will provide the driver with a very strong safety
cell. However there is a downside. The inside of the
traditional fibreglass or aluminium skinned space frame
cockpit, presents a hostile impact environment to the
driver, in the form of exposed chassis tubes.
The solution?
Put a compressible body shell structure on the inside. And
that’s exactly what the Hyper PRO Racer designers have
done.
We call it the ‘Inside-Out’ chassis.
The designers also addressed the issue of component
damage due to any on track biff and bash, by enclosing
almost all the major mechanical components within the
confines of the chassis. No more vulnerable radiators in
side-pods.
The Body
The designers rationalised and minimised the bodywork.
Less bodywork equals light weight. And 'light' equals
speed.
As 'real' sponsorship at club level racing is a figment of
most peoples imagination, large expanses of panel surface
for signage was deemed unnecessary. It was decided to go
for the ‘naked’ look. Small panels, cheaply and easily
replaceable, with enough room for your major sponsors
logo - in most cases the name of your own business and
an oil or tyre sticker.
To minimise the chance of race damage, the nose cone has
been designed with minimal overhang and adequate
ground clearance so that unplanned excursions into sand
traps at uncontrolled angles of attack should simply result
in an uneventful drive back onto the track. In the event of a
damaged nose cone, it has been designed as a separate
part which can be quickly and cheaply replaced between
heats.
At club level racing you will inevitably come into on-track
contact with other drivers. Apart from the nose cone and
the swing-arm spats, all of the bodywork is mounted high
or within the chassis envelope, so a competitor should be
able to expect to compete without running up a large
bodywork bill.
Testing Times
A two stage test and development program was
implemented in August 2009 and conducted using the
Eastern Creek, Winton, Calder, and Bryant Park motor
racing circuits in Australia.
The first test stage consisted of a rigorous and exhaustive
two year program. Our development race drivers subjected
the prototype Hyper PRO Racer to over 1800 punishing
laps in all weather conditions.
Stage two focused on a three year ‘long term’ durability
program, with customer cars monitored and owner drivers
feedback analysed.
Lap times were competitive with the Aussie Racing Cars.
Top speed at Eastern Creek Raceway was over 200kph.
“The Hyper PRO Racer’s massive torque curve makes it a
very forgiving race car in the hands of beginners.”
Dean Crooke
“I never got used to the braking, which is literally so
phenomenal that in many cases you're actually well on the
way into the corner before hitting the stop pedal!"
Colin Fink
”Every aspect of the Hyper PRO Racer feels so sorted, so
integrated, so solid, that you’re instantly at one with it. Driving
the Hyper fast is the real deal. It’s no hang-it-out sideways slider.
The Hyper is driven F1 straight. Drifting - sure. Power sliding out
of corners - with talent, absolutely. But always F1 straight.”
Jon Crooke
“ Handling . . . . . . . incredible ”
The late Allan Simonsen, International Le Mans racing
driver, had this to say after driving the Hyper PRO Racer.
“What a fantastic product. Handling and braking are incredible. The car is extremely
responsive and would make the perfect stepping stone for drivers on their way to
Formula BMW, Star Mazda or the like. The designers have done a beautiful job on
the component packaging and ergonomics - and the car looks stunning.”
Allan went on to say . . .
"Up until now there hasn't been an affordable stepping stone category for drivers
coming out of karting. The Hyper PRO Racer fills this gap perfectly. The motor
racing world has waited a long time for a product like this."
Tragically Allan was killed at Le Mans in 2013.
One Man Race Team
Karters can now afford to move up to the real deal and a
safer world, with the minimum of fuss. Their racing
infrastructure including tools, trailer and garage space
remains unchanged.
And car category drivers can get their life and budget
under control, by moving across to the financially saner
world of the Hyper PRO Racer.
Getting There
At 185kg all up, the Hyper PRO Racer is a breeze to tow.
Hook it up to your small hatchback, fold the rear seats
down and throw in your race gear, a small tool box and a
fuel container ...... and go racing.
The trailer pictured has built-in ramps and an optional jack
platform to facilitate maintenance. On race day, the trailer
becomes your ‘race work station’. Drive on and off the
trailer in your pit bay between races. The trailer weighs
225kg (including ramps and spare wheel). With the PRO
Racer loaded the total towed weight is 410kg.The PRO
Racer can also be transported in a standard 6’x4’ trailer or
the back of a Van.
The Corporate World
The Hyper PRO Racer is the perfect product for the
corporate rental market. At 30% of the cost of a new
Formula Ford, minuscule running cost and modest storage
and transport requirements, the Hyper PRO Racer provides
a real racing car experience for the enthusiast within a safe
and cost effective environment.
Engine and drive train
• Environmentally friendly factory spec
Yamaha WR 450cc 4-stroke engine
• Electric start
• Gears - 5 speed sequential
• STM slipper clutch
• Vortex ignition system
• Straight axle (No diff)
• Final drive - chain and sprockets
Suspension
• Front - Independent wishbone
Pushrod / bell-crank / inboard shock operation /
mono-shock Ohlins coil over aluminium damper
• Front swaybar
• Rear - swingarm mono-shock Ohlins coil over
aluminium damper
• Adjustable rear swaybar
Brakes
• 4 wheels - 160mm cross-drilled discs with
4 piston billet milled anodised aluminium calipers
• Twin split system master cylinder
• Cockpit adjustable brake bias
Chassis
• Chrome-moly with Gloss Black powder coat finish
Wheels
• Front - 6" dia x 6” wide rims
• Rear - 6" dia x 9” wide rims
Cockpit
• Unique ‘Inside-Out’ driver safety cell
• 3-way head restraint
• Full safety cage
• F1 style steering wheel
• Sequential hand shifter
• Shift light
• Hand operated clutch behind shifter
• 2 pedals (throttle and brake)
• Full 6 point harness
• Fire bottle
• Racing mirrors
• Isolated fuel tank
Dimensions
• Dry Weight - 185kg
• Race weight - 275kg (incl 90kg of driver and ballast)
• Length 2300mm
• Length 2410mm with wing
• Width 1420mm
• Width 1150mm with transport wheels
• Height 940mm to top of roll bar
Options
• Starter Motor Automatic Protection Device
• Quick release F1 style steering wheel
• Rear wing
• Dash / Logger
• Custom body paint - solid or metallic
• Anodised wheels
• Custom graphics
• Custom seat expandable foam kit
Body
• Gel-coat finish with a choice of 7 colours
White, Black, Yellow, Orange, Red, Blue, Green.
• Hyper PRO Racer graphics
Consumables
• Tyres - Dunlop medium compound
Performance
• Top speed 200 kph
Specifications
People Power
Many people contributed to the development of the Hyper
PRO Racer. Their advice, labour or financial assistance was
invaluable.
Profound thanks to
Margot Trewhella, , Brad Bond, Chris Jewell, Wayne
McLaughlin, Tony Bennett, Wayne Armstrong and Daryl
Steel who believed in the vision and have been
instrumental in the birth and success of the Hyper PRO
Racer project.
Also
Shaun Trounson - Composite Technician
Johannes Collopy - Design Stylist
Richard Muurling and Howard Brooke - Ignition
Steve Dent and Phil Silcock - Brakes
Steve Cramer - Shocks
Adam Wolfenden - Engine
Rupert Rodrigues - FIA Compliance
Also
Jerome Baxter, Matt Blythman, Colin Fink, Wayne Horswell,
Luke Klaver, Mat Lewis, Les May, Chris Mays, Aidan
McConville, Paul Moorcroft, Dave Stewart, Russ Tyrie and
the many others who believed in the vision and put up their
hand.
James Crooke
James - Winner first race 1904
Aspendale Park Race Track
Peter Crooke
Peter - Winner Sun Rally 1953
Jon - Australian F2 Champion 1986
Jon Crooke
Jon - HDT Bathurst 1987
Peter’s 1953 Maserati 250F
Dean - Australian Champion 2008
Blood Lines
In designing the Hyper PRO Racer, father and son
designers Jon and Dean Crooke, drew on over 70 years of
racing experience between them, and a family racing legacy
dating back to the beginning of motor sport.
JAMES CROOKE
On 12 March 1904, on the horse racing track at Sandown
Park in Victoria, James Robert Crooke won Australia’s first
motor race.
In 1905 he built the world’s first purpose built motor racing
track at Aspendale Park in Victoria, Australia, two years
before Brooklands race track was built in the UK.
PETER CROOKE
Dr Peter Crooke was a successful rally driver in the 50's,
winning the 'open class' in the 1953 Sun Rally, the blue
ribbon event of the year.
In 1971, Peter attended the annual meeting of the FIA in
Milan. There he introduced a raft of measures that set the
medical standards for motor racing safety that the sport
enjoy’s today. In 1982, Peter was awarded CAMS highest
honour, the Award of Merit.
JON CROOKE
In 1986, Jon Crooke won the Australian F2 Championship
and in 1987, joined Peter Brock as a Group A Works driver
for the Holden Dealer Team. Nicknamed “our Ayrton” by
the motor sport press, he retired from motor racing, the
highest win-to-start rate driver at national level in Australian
motor racing history.
DEAN CROOKE
Between 2006 and 2009, Dean Crooke dominated
Australian Superkart racing in a vehicle of his own design
and construction, winning three State Championships and
the 2008 Australian Hyper Racer Superkart Championship,
against the best racing vehicles Europe could produce.
When a good idea in 1946
..is a good idea today.
The motorcycle engine powered small racing vehicle has long
been a favourite with amateur drivers. It started with the 500cc
Formula 3 cars of the 50’s. The "500" movement began in 1946
as a way of encouraging cheaper forms of motorsport using
500cc motorbike engines instead of the larger capacity engines
that prevailed prior to the war. The idea caught on and was
adopted by the FIA as a new Formula 3 in 1950. Many well known
names were involved with 500s including Stirling Moss, Ken
Tyrrell, Ivor Bueb, Jim Russell, Les Leston, Peter Collins, Don
Parker, Stuart Lewis-Evans and a young chap by the name of
Ecclestone!
One of the most famous 500cc F3 cars was the Kieft CK51/52. It
featured a rear swing axle suspension arrangement using aero
specification rubber bands and large amounts of negative camber
with wishbones at the front suspended by rubber in torsion. The
driver was placed well forward in the triangulated frame giving a
distinctive bulbous appearance to the nose, Borrani alloy Rudge
type wheels were used and steering was by rack and pinion. The
car proved highly successful with wins for Moss, Parker and
Charles Headland and resulted in a full order book for Kieft. Moss'
car used a Norton engine, production cars were offered with a
JAP engine at £800 plus purchase tax or without engine and box
for £700.
FOOTNOTE:
In researching the history of the F3/500cc cars, the Hyper
designers where intrigued to discover how many similarities there
were in the design of the 1950's 500cc cars and the new Hyper
Pro Racer.
Sixty years apart, both design teams started with a blank sheet of
paper, yet they ended up producing cars that, apart from half a
century of technological advances, could have been designed by
the same team. Both designs feature rear mounted motorcycle
engines in a triangulated box chassis, chain drive, a central fuel
tank, wishbone front suspension and rack and pinion steering.
It just goes to show that a good idea 60 years ago, is still a good
idea today.
Kieft CK 52
Game Changer
“The Hyper PRO Racer is a game changer.
From the amateur racer’s point of view,
it’s arguably the most important
development in decades.”
Jon Crooke
The Driving Force
Dean Crooke +61 (0) 432 037 190
design engineer/stylist - constructor/fabricator - development driver
Jon Crooke
+61 (0) 418 547 150
conceptualist - design stylist/engineer - marketing
email
[email protected]
web
www.HyperRacer.com
Racing Cars International Pty Ltd
Manufacturers of the Hyper PRO Racer
2 Davey Road
Mount Evelyn
Victoria 3796
Australia
Concept and Design Copyright © 2013 Dean Crooke - Jon Crooke
www.HyperRacer.com