cycar

Cy-Car TigerCat 3V2

Prototype construction

Chapter #19, Mile post #23 & 24

“Put a body on that thing, it looks naked”!

7-15-11

When we re-started the TigerCat project about a month ago we had decided to attend a local Hot-Rod show called the “Medford Show and Shine”. About 300 cars and owners come from Oregon, and Northern California to attend and have their cars judged for trophies. We have attended this show before and we always have a good time and the attendee spectators are all local people. Because the show is in a local city park and it is free to the public you always get a good mix of “lookie-loows”. The mix also includes automotive business people and hobbyist as well.

Our reason for attending was to determine if we were still on the right track with design and construction. This was a big question in our mines because the car had been in storage for almost two years and we wanted to know if the market was changing due to the economy and other factors. This would also be our first outing with the car when some body parts were installed. We would be in a rush to make the first body parts and get them installed in only two weeks.

We already had the body shape “plug” made on a CNC router by our friend Gene Mills in Fallbrook CA. The complete main body section from the firewall to the cockpit surround behind the seats was made out of hi-density foam. This plug was taken to our fiberglass man at Rick Fitzgerald’s AeroCraft FiberGlass here in Medford for the first parts to me produced. It was decided to only make the top ¼ of the main body so that the parts could be fitted to the chassis and make adjustments where required. Martins design for the mold included a 4” extra center section running down the center of the car and along the front edge behind the firewall. This would allow for proper fitting of the parts to the chassis and still allow trimming for fit.

#19-1   This photo shows the foam body mold being cut by  a CNC router.  It took 8+ hours to cut this one part mold.

#19-2   Here are the first photos of the top body parts being fitted by Steve. It is a good thing that Martin added the extra 4” of width to the mold in the center and at the front because when we fitted it all together the first time we only removed 1” from each side of the fiberglass center section. We even left the extra 4 inches on the front and used that as a ledge to fit behind the firewall surround. This action became a natural fit and the leading edge of the hood fitted well.

#19-3   After “Smiling Steve”  had the two half’s matched and fitted. You can see the trim lines we had put into the mold as a guide.
With the seat moved forward to the center lock point, Glen who has long arms likes this feel. We all like the longer hood look and would like to keep this if possible. When we install the steering column we could move the wheel forward or backward is we chose. Using Glen again because he liked the distance of the wheel we had him check the distance to the shift knob, and he said “it’s comfortable”. We can also move the hood and make it shorter because this maybe the longest it will get.
We then ask ourselves the next question. With the steering wheel in position where would the front edge of the “Scuttle” (cowling) surround be? In the pictured position we have used 100% of the length Martin put into the mold, how do you like the position of the wheel in relation to the Scuttle? At this point the steering wheel is 3.5” from the leading edge of the wheel to the scuttle at the 12 o’clock wheel position. It is 3” away at the 9 o’clock wheel position.

#19-4   Steering wheel to Scuttle edge seems about right for Mr. Average.  This shows a 13.5” dia. Steering wheel in position with lots of clearance.
The next day Steve will be joined the two half’s together. The other thing he did was to shorten the side rail (the body section that fits over the top chassis rail at the side of the cockpit) by what ever it takes so that the plastic fits neatly over the rear chassis top tube. This was done so that the roll bar (light bar) can be installed thru holes which we will need to cut into the fiberglass.
Steve still needs to install the fuel well and cap cover before the show (Note … it did not get done in time). When the windshield brackets are installed the fuel cap cover will be very close to the scribe lines in the fiberglass. We still think it will be OK
This firewall surround is the same one we used at the Hot Rod show 2 years ago but it fits right for the fiberglass. The new surround that I designed is at Rick’s fiberglass shop being prime painted. This prime will do OK for the show and we can make a mold later if everyone likes this design.

#19-5   The final fit of the top section of the main body and old firewall

#19-6   Some local Girls showing off the TigerCat ,with style.
Final question, how do you like the new design Firewall Surround with the parking lights installed into the upper corners?
Carl L Myers

Cy-Car TigerCat 3V2

Prototype construction

Chapter #18, Mile post #22

“This is white boards are for, company planning”!!

7-6-11

The object too much of our story is to show the works and vision of creating, forming and development a Company as well as the concept, design and development of a vehicle. This is why from time to time we will tell of the trials and tribulations of work that is not directly related to the TigerCat construction. This is also to tell bankers and investors that we know what we are doing (I hope).

In all good business plans there is a requirement for a company structure outline. These road maps of dots, dashes, triangles and little square boxes with names and numbers always look like a jumble of unreadable notes and letters.

When I worked at Bombardier on the original Can-Am motorcycle project, I had to take classes in developing what they called “Organagrams”, or charts to show who reported to who and what they did for the company. In that corporate world of positions and power it was important to fit people and job descriptions in the right place. You needed to be sure not to place one name higher on the chart than their correct “level”. It was bad news if I had a “Managers” name at a lower level on the chart than a mere “supervisor”. Review, Rewrite and Redraw again.

#18-1   Note … the misspelling and letter names were were hard to determine even a day later.  Lines crossing lines a no-no!
These diagrams and charts may look simple at first glance but they require a lot of thought and “deep” thinking.  There is a need to cover all functions of the company for now and into the future.  The number of people to complete all of the needs is always more that you at first wanted.  Then when the amount of money to do a five year plan starts to raise its ugly head you start cutting needs and people.  People start taking on more than one job and doing more than can be possible with the time and budget available. Back to the drawing you go with the eraser in hand over and over.  Funny thing is that when you are finished with the first draught you are back to the number of people you thought you wanted in the beginning.

For days the “white board” will be looking at you from across the office laughing and mocking all of your best efforts to get it right. All kinds of problems start to appear, like politics, budget, who, what, where when and always why.  It is much like writing a stage play with pictures and symbols. Functions that you never thought about in the beginning suddenly appear.  You sweep through your notes scattered across the table and desk to find answers and money to do everything without skimping on the wrong thing.

Then one day, weeks later, you look at the white board, covered with many colors of marking pen, and there it is peeking out of the confusion, “the answer”. Quickly you run to the board with camera in hand to get it recorded on film before it slips from your mind. With a hand full of colored pens in one hand and an eraser in the other hand you wipe away the hard work of weeks and people in tears.  Quickly you make broad strong strokes with determination and wisdom.  A little change here and there, and you stand back to view a thing of beauty. People in the right place and jobs outlined correctly with budget money and supervision in place.  The “Organagram” is complete.

The white board photo shown here was taken about half way thru the 1st week and would take about 2 more weeks to complete.  This photo shows how we would go from one itineration to another and record where we were with a photo.  The final structure was later put into the first draught of the Cy-Car Business Plan which we began to show to investors, local community and state leaders.

The sobering news is that we will visit this game over and over as we move along to product release and TigerCat production.  This is a mile post which will have many revisions.  Later in following chapters I will show the Organagram as it changed many time and you can see the development of the total plan. Stay tuned.

Carl