Evening star., 1937-02-14
Steering Wheel, Barrel Stave Runners
Feature This One-Man Racing Bobsle(

A REQUEST from Howard and
n Bill Stonehouse, asking how
~ to make one-man racing
4 4 type bobsled with an automo-
bile steering wheel and with barrel
stave runners. brings you the de-
scription Of this popular type Of sled.
The sled proper is made from l-inch
lumber, cutting the top board, cross
bars and leg pieces to the sizes and
the shapes as shown on the sketch.
Nail the rear leg and runner assembly
securely in position and brace. Then
attach the front leg and runner as
sembly so the lower section Is held to
the top section with long bolt, which
allows the lower section to pivot to
the right or left. Attach a foot rest
bar to the underside of the seat board,
on which the driver rests his feet while
riding.
The steering assembly is made from
an old automobile steering wheel and
shaft, on which hard wood SPOOL
about 3 or 4 inches in diameter, has
been forced. and held in place on the
shaft which a steel pin inserted
through hole bored in the spool and
drilled through the shaft. Have the
shaft cut to length that allows 1t to
extend downward through the seat
board and through the top section Of
the front runner assembly, with suffi-
cient length to the shaft to allow the
wheel to extend abov2 the top surface
Of the seat board, as sketched.
TO HOLD the shaft in this position
have two holes drilled in the shaft
above and below the seat board, so
steel pins may be inserted. These pins
prevent the shaft from slipping up and
down. As the shaft extends in a slant
ing position. triangular blocks of hard
wood should be attached to the top
and underside Of the seat board, as
shown in the detail sketch, so that
the pins holding the shaft revolve with
it without digging into the wood. Pro-
tect the wood at these points with iron
plates.
Attach the ends of two short pieces
Of strong rope to the spool on the
shaft with wood screws. Two or more
turns of the rope are wound on the
spool, but in opposite directions. That
is. the end of one rope Is wound to the
right. The end Of the other rope Is
wound to the left. These ends are
then knotted in holes bored in the
upright Of the front sled runner. When
the wheel is turned, one of the ropes
pulls the sled in the direction in which
the wheel was turned; so be sure to
get the right rope on the right runner.
THIS is not a difficult arrangement
and If you have an old auto steer
ing wheel attached to a shaft you can
easily arrange it as shown. You may
have to have an auto mechanic drill
the necessary holes in the shaft for
you and supply you with the pins for
attaching the spool and the pins which
prevent the shaft from slipping up and
down.
Cover the front end of the sled with
pointed hood, made from light
weight strips of wood, as shown by
the dotted lines on the sketch. This
frame is then covered with canvas or
any heavy cloth to give the sled a
appearance, like racing
bobsleds used at Lake Placid and St.
Moritz
Paint the sled in bright colors. When
the paint has dried, you can take it
out to the coasting hill, where 1t will
be the center of attraction because of
its modern appearance and the auto
wheel type of steering gear.