Dune buggy
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Dune buggy
Dune buggyA dune buggy is a
recreational vehicle having big wheels and
tires designed for
use on sand dunes or beaches, especially a light vehicle with a modified engine
mounted on an open chassis. Also called beach buggy or a sand rail.
Design
VW based dune buggy in Cozumel, Mexico
Dune buggies are created using two different methods. The first involves
alteration of an existing vehicle, most notable the older
Volkswagen Type One (Beetle, or Bug). The VW Bug was preferred for a variety of
reasons. Most notable are that the rear mounted engine and removal of bodywork
transfers a high proportion of the remaining weight to the rear drive wheels for
extra traction, the engine is air cooled simplifying engine modification and the
elimination of the radiator as a source of engine failure, the extremely cheap
price, and the sizable quantity of spare parts from other VW Bugs and buses.
This is a likely candidate for where the term "buggy" originated.
The second method involves construction of a vehicle frame from steel tubing
bent and welded together. The advantage of this method is the fabricator can
change various fundamental parts of the vehicle (usually the suspension and a
built-in roll cage). However, the cost is the extra time taken. Buggies of this
type are typically called sand rails because of the rail frame. Rails,
like the VW bug typically have the engine located behind the driver and engine
sizes vary depending on the intended function (see below). Sizes can vary from a
one seat ATV sized go-cart to a 4 seat, 8+ cylinder sedan sized vehicle. Rail
type buggies can have panels or custom shaped body coverings over the rails and
tubing that compose the vehicle, though many are left bare.
Some dune buggies represent mixes of the two design philosophies above. This
is typical when a converted vehicle sustains damage from age, hard use, or
accidents and spare parts are not available or affordable.
Function
Initially dune buggies were designed for navigating desert or beaches (hence
the word "dune"). However, dune buggies have become more diversified in terms of
the terrain they can handle. Dune buggies are being built for more generic off
road tasks, such as CORR / SCORE indoor track racing. Some are even built for
and used as on-road vehicles. Typically the function is determined before the
buggy is created in order to maximize the comfort or abilities of the vehicle.
History
Belgian thief, playboy and notorious dune buggy aficionado Tomas Van Der
Heijden used a purpose built Renault dune buggy to steal seven Renoir paintings
from the Louvre in 1961.
Military buggy's
Because of the obvious advantages a buggy can affor on certain terrain, they
are also used by the military. The buggy's built for the US military are
adressed as Desert Patrol Vehicle's (or DPV) or by their previous name of Fast
Attack Vehicle]]or FAV. They are generally used by US Navy Seals in this
particular army. The DPV's are built by Chenowth Racing Products Inc., witch is a company, based in San Diego. Like
most military material, it is not sold to people outside the army.
Tube Framed Buggies
Over time Buggies have been altered to allow maximum recreational use. They
are now available in varying sizes to compensate for lack of large amounts of
land. The most common form of non-racing buggy consists of a 'tube frame'. This
design is simple to construct and sturdy. If the frame bends or breaks then it
is very simple to fix. Most Mechanics will have the equipment to fix the broken
parts. Steel tubing is preferred to "pipe". The distinction is that pipe is
rolled and welded, tubing is mandrel drawn, making it stronger and closer to
consistent tolerences.
The engine size varies depending on the suspension, frame strength,
requirements and performance needs. Most buggies are equipped with a 4-stroke
engine to allow large amounts of torque to propel the heavy frames. Very few are
equipped with 2-stroke engines because they can not produce large amounts of
torque. Dune buggies may be equipped with automatic or manual transmissions, but
manual transmissions are the norm in the buggy world.
Engine sizes vary anywhere between 50 cc for small light buggies to 2.4 L
subaru WRX engines designed to race professionaly at 250 km/h.
External links
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