Step 1 Complete

We found a suitable go kart!

Here it is:


Here are the engines (that's right, plural):


6.5 HP may not seem like much, but with both it's plenty:


It's a little rusty but both engines still run great and we picked it up for only $900!

Now you're probably wondering: why 2 engines?
Well, that's one of the core ideas for the Hx2. As you may have just realized, the x2 in the name signifies this, but, I'll give you $5 if you can guess for what the H stands...

...That's right: Hayabusa. To this day the Suzuki GSX1300R a.k.a. the Hayabusa, stands as the most powerful production motorcycle in the world thanks to its incredible engine. In the 2008 model, the 1340cc monster produces almost 200 BHP and well over 100 lbs-ft of torque which is housed in a package that weighs less than 500 lbs. With all that said, people have been putting motorcycle engines (including the Hayabusa) in cars for pretty much as long as motorcycles have been around. And why not? They're small, light, powerful and will turn over many times faster than typical car engines. For these reasons they're perfect for an application such as the Hx2.

I realize I haven't really answered the question, and I'm not going to today. However, I will say, one of the modifications will be adding another rear brake, which will facilitate major surgery and the realization of the single most important aspect of the car. Remember, foundations.

Stay tuned for more in the days and weeks to come.

Initial Plans

Like most things, it's best to start small and work your way up, so that's exactly what we're going to do. We've decided that for all initial testing we're going to employ the help of one of motorsport's cheapest forms: go karts. While some may scoff at the thought of starting with a go kart, one must remember that beneath every car is an engine, transmission, suspension, chassis and wheels; everything else is immaterial. A go kart is just that. Nothing more, nothing less. No pointless electronics to deal with, no added bulk. Just the bare essentials. Because of the goals of this project, it's not just what's in the cockpit that matters, it's everything else that you don't see. Everything that you'll thank your deity (or lack thereof) is there, not only for exhilaration's sake, but also safety's. You wouldn't build a highrise without a good foundation, so, why build a car without one?

So, the plan is this:
Find a cheap (used most likely) go kart chassis and modify it to our needs.
Find an empty parking lot and test, test, test!

Our main goal is to prove some of our major ideas will work, but we're also trying to stay under $1500 for the entire thing. Including any electronic bits we add later on. The ultimate goal is to build a fully working prototype and get everything working in small scale, so when we build the full size version, all we have to do is scale everything up to match. Presto change-o, we have a full size car that feels as nimble as a go kart. We know it won't be quite that easy in the end, but for the most part things will transfer well.

We'll have another update when we find a suitable chassis.