A Profile of The Hicost
Picture courtesy of Steve Jones Photography
Profile of the Hicost:
The original opportunity to build the Locost came with my HND. We needed a large project which to base many modules on. Since I can remember, I sat and watched racing on tv, always dreaming of being a racing driver. This project was my best opportunity to realise my childhood dream, and race!
Whilst building it, the project gained the Hicost nickname - in reference to the relatively large amount of money spent on the car, getting the details right as opposed to sticking to the original spirit of Locost.
The car itself is now a minor celebrity within UK club racing (or infamous), appearing several times in leading motorsport publications and has been chosen to represent the championship on display at the Autosport International Show at the NEC in January 2009.
The Hicost is primarily for racing in the 750 Motor Club Locost Championship. It is based on the book How to build a sports car for as little as £250 and race it.
To be eligible for this championship the car has to conform to tight regulations and in doing so, be able to pass an MOT test. With this in mind, I built it to take passengers on track days and be able to pass an SVA test which allows one-off cars to be road legal.
The Hicost weighs in around 550Kgs, has around 85bhp (roughly 150bhp per tonne, equaling the Lotus Elise S) with a top speed of around 100mph and has a front engine, rear wheel drive layout.
Picture courtesy of Nicola James
Technical Specification:
Chassis
Luego 1 square tubing space-frame chassis as shown in the book how to build a sportscar for as little as £250
MSA certified full roll cage and side impact bar fabricated by TMC Motorsport.
Front double unequal length wishbones with adjustable Avo shocks.
Rear live axle (MK2 Ford Escort) with twin trailing arms and panhard rod, vertically mounted adjustable Avo shocks.
Engine
Front mounted in-line
1.3 Kent crossflow as from Ford Mk2 Escort GT
Full +90 re-bore
Lightened/ balanced where allowed (basic blueprinting) by Brian Randall
GT induction system with weber carb
Custom free-flow side exit exhaust system
Transmission
4 speed gearbox (integral bellhousing) as off 1.3 Mk2 Escort GT
Custom propshaft, using single section donor prop from 1.1 MK2 Escort.
Body
Aluminium sheet panels, fibreglass wings, nosecone and scuttle.
All finished in a lovely aqua blue (by TKS Motor Repairs Ltd) as seen on late 90s Benetton F1 cars.
Braking System
Front disks as off Mk4 Ford Cortina
Rear Drums as off MK2 Escort
Front/ rear split system with bias adjustment at pedals.
Wheels (most important)
13x6 Mk2 RS
13x6 Compomotive ML
Tyres
Yokohama A539 (Road Spec.)
Picture courtesy of Steve Jones Photography