Nov./Dec. 1994
Upcoming events in April at Monte Petrano, in August at Porto S. Gregorio, and the Italian Buggy Cup in Cagli August 9-31, 1995 in Urbino, Cagli.
The Buggy Pilots International is an informal organization dedicated to spreading the fun and glory of Kite-powered Buggy-riding around the world.
The common ground of wind-powered traction kiting transcends all boundaries except those of wind, gravity and drag. BUGGY OR DIE!!
Winds will probably be sea breezes in the mid-day (11am till 4:30pm) swinging northeast or southwest in the evening depending on the position of the nearest frontal system. The beaches are buggy-able in most any wind condition at low tide.
Lodging: The hotel of choice is Beacher's Lodge at 6970 A1A . Call 800-527-8849 for reservations. Mention Phillip Chase and the buggy event so they know you're part of the group. During our stay, they have a special in which you get three nights for the price of two. Rates run from $49/nite to $84/nite depending on size and upstairs/downstairs preference. Auto campers may want to check out Bryn Mawr Ocean Resort 25 miles north. Call 904-471-3353 for reservations.
If you cannot get a room at Beacher's, there are many hotels 4-5 miles north. Try La Fiesta Oceanside Inn at 904-471-2220 (800-852-6390) or the Ramada at 904-471-1440. The Bryn Mawr has reasonable daily rates on a trailer.
For more information, contact Phillip Chase at 904-378-6893 Fax:
904-392-3760. Send mail to PO Box 15146 Gainesville, FL 32604 USA For
the best service, send e-mail to
El Mirage is about 3-4 hours on the interstate from San Diego, near
Victorville. There are no flashy casino/hotels glittering in the
distance. This is a different kind of High Desert experience.
The terrain is different too. Off-road travel is encouraged in this
part of the desert. Many moto-cross type trails criss-cross the area
surrounding the lakebed. Ground cover in the desert is sage brush about
2-3 ft. high, and the occasional Joshua tree. Stay on the trails and try
to miss them.
The El Mirage at 22 sq/miles, is slightly smaller than Ivanpah's 35
sq/m. The long cross reach at the top end where we sail is about 1 1/2 - 2
miles. Still, big enough.
Accomodations are in Adelanto (10 miles E), Victorville (20 miles E) or
Palmdale (40 miles W). We must carry everything we need with us.
Details on rooms and food in a future issue of Buggy Newz. Stay
tuned.
BUGGY NEWZ is an independent operation.
Non-profit as it happens.
The purpose is to spread the word around the world of the Kite Buggy and
the people who ride them. Conceived, Founded, Written, Edited, Published &
Distributed by Corey Jensen.
The ultimate responsibility for facts and errors, for truth and fallacy,
for all the things you find enjoyable, and because there is no-one else to
blame, for the things you disagree with ... Falls on only one pair of
shoulders. Contact him or me in care of: Windborne Kites 585 Cannery Row
#105 Monterey California 93940 USA Work / Kite Shop # 408 373-7422 Home #
408 372-7922 Fax # 408 373-0688
Competitors from around the world (or at least the part that
freezes), including Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand,
Finland, the Baltic Republics, Russia, and the USA are planning to
attend. A variety of racing technologies will be on display and in use
including the inflatable UpSki ventable canopy, the KiteSki, the ParaWing,
quad-line foils, the FreeSkate, the SkimBat, adapted wind surfers (which
proved fastest on the snow last year), and a variety of home-made rigs.
All are welcome to participate.
Contact Steve at 414-241-8862.
The 10th Annual Valentines Day Kiteski & Kitefly on Presque Isle Bay in
Erie, PA on February 11-12.
Described by organizers Lee Sedgwick and Sue Taft as "a good time for
all - no competition, just good honest kiteskiing fun and learning for
those who want to use kites to ski with."
Contact Sue at 814-864-0511
The inaugural Great Lakes Sport KiteSkiing Competition will be held in
Michigan the weekend of February 25-26, 1995. Organized by the Mackinaw
Kite Co
Call Steve Negen at 616-846-7501.
Much of the above information was shamelessly copied from a sidebar
in the Winter 94 issue of American Kite. Thank you. To them.
Play where it is appropriate. Respect others. Set a good example
to the public. If you teach others, wait for the right conditions.
If you are a retailer and plan on selling the buggy... Take the
time to become proficient before setting customers up with this sort of
powered craft.
The organized part will most likely take place March 5-7, the early part
of the week, to allow anyone on their way to New Zealand's International
Kite Festival, to stop along the way and enjoy some High Desert Buggy Fun!
Accommodations are available at the Prima Dona Hotel/Casino at the
top of the lake bed. Seriously. A bright light honky-tonk casino shining
it's neon lights as a beacon across the desert. A nice place with very
reasonable rates. Cheap food and lots of it. Quite a contrast with the
stark barrenness where we buggy, about 6 miles south along the dry lake.
If you haven't experienced the High Desert from the seat of a
buggy, you don't know what a buggy-gasm can really be! Make plans now!
Call Fritz at 215-662-5469 or e-mail him at
Buggy Instead of Study! Fritz Gramkowski
Get comfortable with the kite before jumping on the buggy. If the
kite crashes, get off the buggy and point it downwind before relaunching
the kite. Trying to relaunch without pointing the buggy downwind can pop
you out sideways. Keeping the kite overhead and dropping it into the power
when you want to go lets you apply power gradually. The bottom lines of
quad-foils only brake the kite, not the buggy. The result is slack lines
and wrapping them around your axle (The Bryan Brake). A set of 4'-6'
dacron leads from your handles saves your spectra lines should this happen.
There are three ways to stop the buggy: 1. Steer the buggy into the
wind with the kite overhead. 2. Drop the kite behind your direction of
travel for a moment then bring it back overhead. 3. Spin a quick 180
turn with the kite overhead.
The surface you are buggying on is a consideration as well. Hard-pack
dry lakes and pavement need less power, while sandy beaches and grass
fields require a bit more for the same performance. Winds 8-16 mph
and a really big place (100-200 yds minimum) with a clear area downwind (in
case anyone has to release their kite) is acceptable. The bigger the space
the better. Add power a bit at a time. Use the larger kites for lighter
winds. Smaller kites can go faster (less sideways drag).
On quad lined kites, 50' - 75' lines offer the best compromise between
control response and power. Long lines (> 75') allow the kite to develop
more power, but drag increases significantly.
Share this with other beginning buggyers.
Once you know where to look, any good road map will get you there. The
sites are scattered, Stagecoach being on Rt.#50 just east of Reno and
Carson City, while Edwards and Smith Dry Lakes are 60-80 miles or so
further east on Rt.#50. The Smith Lake area contains a 10 sq/m pucker
bump field.
White and Flanigan are north of Reno up Hwy#395. Adobe and Bluewing
are reached off Hwy#34 /#447, which is the best route north out of Reno to
the granddaddy of the Nevada sailing sites... The Black Rock Desert.
The Black Rock Desert, fabled in story and song, offers a variety of
terrain and vast wide open spaces for every level of rider. Alkali flats
stretch out to the horizon, their barren whiteness glaring in the
relentless sun. Carry water.
Damn cold in the winter, the winds come out of the mountains and send
every living thing scurrying for protection from it's freezing effects.
Few if any services in this part of Nevada. Lots of unpaved roads.
Plan ahead. Be careful at the end of the day as darkness quickly follows
sunset.
Take pictures when you go and share them with the rest of us.
Preliminary schedules have the buggy races as a pre-event. We will
probably start the weekend before the main convention. Perfect... the
fields to ourselves. Let them just try to kick us off! We were here
first!
Contracting with an outback safari group allows us a freedom to explore
some beach buggying along the Indian Ocean coast southeast of Adelaide and
buggy some salt lakes up north into the Australian deserts.
Reservations are now being accepted. There are a limited number of
positions available. Don't delay to get your name on the list. Plan on a
5-7 day trip. Estimated costs are $50-$70 a day (including meals). Ground
transportation within Australia is included. Airfare to Australia is
extra.
Naked Buggy Rides are extra.
Membership in NALSA is by organization. Buggy Pilots International
will be the member club.
Most racers will no doubt be on standard three-wheel buggys like we are
familiar with, but soon someone will remove the mast on a land sailer and
power up a big Peel and gain a stability advantage in high winds that will
send many pilots back to the drawing board. Eventually, different
designations within Class 8 will probably be necessary, but just getting
buggyers to attend and race should be the first goal.
The advantages are obvious. All the infrastructure needed to
organize and hold races is already in place. Necessary liability insurance
is established. With the limited number of buggy pilots, we can keep more
racers on the course instead of in the scoring tent. More events, more
opportunities to play on our beloved buggys. A variety of buggyists
demands a variety of chances to try the buggy different ways. Going around
a course is not heaven to all riders. The more ways we can play with the
buggy, the more reasons there are to buggy.
Next year the Olympics!
While not able to take it for a spin, Pierre reports the design to be
stable and comfortable. It is not too cumbersome (easy to pack in a car
trunk) and quick to assemble and break down.
The designer, Jean-Phillipe Krischer, is a well-known land-yacht
designer and constructor. Prototypes are available as the design process
continues. Costs are about $500 US plus taxes and shipping.
For more information, contact Seagull Chars-Voile, Statue de la
Liberte' - 56880 PLOEREN (Vannes - France). Tel: 97 400 600 Fax: 97
400 637
Ask for it! I write and publish Buggy Newz when I can. So far, 4
issues a year. If you wish to contribute to the cause, you may. In fact I
encourage you to.
Current format (8 pages w/ photos), printing & postage run me about
$250/issue.
Windborne contributes some background support (computer, scanning
time, envelopes, etc.) but this is my baby and I pay.
Dan Rubesh converts my Mac files and shares Buggy Newz (without the
awesome illustrations and outstanding photography) via the INTERNET on
Reprints are encouraged (with proper credit) Please be kind and send a
copy for the Buggy Newz files. Making copies of Buggy Newz to share is
cool too.
Using different metals or bicycle parts are options too. Remember,
bikes generate mostly up/down forces while buggys make more side-to-side.
Stress fatigue can be a hard-learned lesson.
No other land-sailing craft (except the kite-skates) packs so
compactly. That convenience is very important. Maintaining the structural
integrity of the buggy while providing that feature alone was the result of
much experimentation.
Do you plan to embark on your own series of prototypes as you perfect
your original design? Perhaps you assumed the first try would be the
perfect model?
Logic says to copy the Peter Lynn design. Are you a skilled enough
engineer to know which aspects of the PL design are the most important to
copy accurately? Or do you plan on guessing? By the way, if planning on
building a copy of another's design, did you first ask permission?
When your butt is 4" off the ground and you're scooting along at 30-40
mph, how much confidence does any savings in cost instill in you? The
motives to embark on building your own buggy have to go deeper than saving
money.
Get off your wallet and onto a buggy. If you spend half as much time
practicing kite/buggy skills as you do worrying over money, you'll be a
great buggy rider inside of 6 months!
If spare parts on hand is a concept you agree with, let me list the
pieces I have: Complete Frame (no wheels, bag or seat) $ 300 Red PL Buggy
Bag - $45 Rainbow Web Seat - $ 30 Rear Axle $ 70 Seat Tubes $ 30/pr.
Tandem Hitch $45 Skinny Spoked Front Wheel, Tire & Hub (w/Bolt) - $75.
Peter Lynn Video - $7.50 Rear Axle Bolts - $2.50 Front Axle Bolt w/
spacers - $7.50/ea.
Call or fax me at Windborne Kites,
Top Speed Memory is the most wanted bonus feature. There are many times
when looking at a tiny readout is not how you should be spending your time.
Usually a cyclocomputer must have 7 or 9 functions before TSM is
available. Also, check that the unit can be programmed to a 16" wheel size
because our wheels are smaller than the usual bicycle wheels.
Ultimately, any of these features are available to those willing to pay
the price. Wireless infrared cyclocomputers are already available.
The challenge is to get the necessary functions and pay $25 or less.
Wait for an end-of-season sale or the January retail doldrums. Ask around
the local bicycle shops, maybe you can find last-year's model and they
might give a discount for
Mounting Tips:
Wheels: Check the magnet (sender unit) for how it attaches to the
wheel. For the Fat Tire plastic rims: GOOP can be used to affix it to the
rim or a hole can be drilled through a rib. Skinny Tires use the standard
spoke mounts.
Forks: Our fork tubes are large. Look for variable length adjustments
or add a longer screw to join the two ends of the bracket. Too long? Vinyl
tubing may be used as a spacer.
Frame: There are as many ways to mount the computer to the buggy as
there are buggy riders. Here is a simple and clever way. Cut the bottom
out of a 35mm plastic film can Strap the mounting shoe around the film
can. If the strap is too short, slit the film can and compress it until
the strap fits. Wrap the velcro strap around the downtube (between the
seat and front fork) and through the film can. Cinch everything tight.
Wire can be wrapped around the frame to keep it from hanging loose. Tape
in place to avoid being pinched by the fork hitting the tube or catching on
the rider. Readout can be moved along tube (to the limit of the wire) to
adjust for individual preference.
Remove computer and clean & dry after each use. Corrosion is not our
friend. Change your batteries once in a while. Always wear clean underwear.
If you have a computer and have not yet accessed an online service,
get off the fence and join in the most exciting thing to happen to kiters
(and others) since the invention of ripstop.
Low tide, and usable hard-pack beach for buggys, was shortly after
sunrise at the beginning of the week, but into the afternoon by the final
Sunday and Monday.
Early morning,, we met at the buggy tree and trekked out to the beach.
Soon the sky would painted by these big, brightly colored foils as they
made their way up and down the beach.
On Monday we had wind at 90 degrees to the beach and that was offshore.
Many times we passed unlucky souls who were dragging water-soaked bags out
of the ocean.
Most times we had a quartering wind and getting upwind took time and
dedication. Most stayed near the end of the beach where the convention was
to happen, but you could often spot a quad or Peel far up the beach,
working their way around a little point and further into a long upwind
reach to a rock jetty that blocked further progress.
The TV show Beyond 2000 was there filming Dominique Scholtes and
Phillip McConnachie for an episode to air in March or April.
Mike Greenholz brought some funny helmet covers as this was an AKA
event. The beach was soon covered with pigs, devils, sharks and dinosaurs
as we all got into the spirit of the event.
Saturday saw gale force winds 25-35 mph and only a few hardy souls
with small kites busting through the windblown dunes. What a Buggy Week!
Full range of sizes. Sail is 1 oz. ripstop, the bridle points are
reinforced at the sail and balanced nicely as the sail has few wrinkles.
The QuadTrac-3 turns quickly and accelerates smoothly across the
wind. Power is good at the edge and response on short lines is impressively
precise.
Cross-vented end cells are available on request.
Bob-ski plays the pillow for the Sliceman (r) and Mr. Benson (l) as
they take a well-deserved break after a solid afternoon of buggy stuff at
the AKA convention in Wildwood New Jersey. [rogue caption for one of the
awesome illustrations and outstanding photography that's conspicuous by
it's absence] (windwiz)
By the way, Dean Jordan likes to see his name in print. But in this
issue... That's all he gets.
The Tidelog presents the tides and currents graphically (over M.C.
Escher's "Second Day of Creation"). You see the whole week at a glance! I
find the information greatly enhances my ability to plan my buggy time.
If you live or buggy on the East Coast (pity) there are books for No.
New England (Massachusetts, N. Hampshire & Maine coasts), So. New England
(Narragansett Bay, Buzzards Bay, Block Island Sound, eastern Long Island
Sound), Mid-Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, western Long Island, western
Connecticut, coastal Delaware and Virginia), Chesapeake Tidewater
(Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore, Washington & the Tidewater area of Virginia).
If you are fortunate enough to be out here in the west, there are books
for Puget Sound (Puget Sound & north into the San Juan Islands), No.
California (S.F. Bay and Delta, south to Monterey and north to the Nehalem
River in Oregon), and So. California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Catalina,
south to Manzanillo, Mexico and north to Carmel).
The 1995 Tidelog is only $ 12.95 Write to Pacific Publishers, Box
480, Bolinas CA 94924. Phone orders with credit card: 415-868-2909
I have used the Tidelog for the last three years and find it
invaluable. You will too! Tell them I sent you... It won't help, but
they're interested.
A 10 Commandments of Kites:
Note: There are other instructions for good flying, such as "Wear not the
wrist straps lest thy wrists be crush'd and painful" and "Buggy not into
the sign inscribed 'Fly Safely'" but the Kite Oracle would have you learn
these 10 first.
BUGGY BOOGIE THANG II:
In January 1996, the KTA is having their trade show in San Diego and
immediately afterwards, we plan to gather at El Mirage Dry Lake and have
ourselves another fabulous Buggy Boogie Thang!!
Windborne Kites
A complete selection of top-quality
Buggys and Power Kites.
Complete parts & accessories.
Call or write for our FREE Kitealog
Windborne Kites
585 Cannery Row #105
Monterey, California 93940
Toll-Free Orders: 1-800-234-1033
Fax: 408-373-0688
Shop: 408-373-7422
WORLD WIND SKIING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Steve Shapson of Force 10 Kites fame is bringing The 15th Annual Snow
& Ski Sailing World Championships to the USA. Specifically to Madison,
Wisconsin's Lake Mendota on February 16-19, 1995
WINTER KITE-TRACTION EVENTS:
SAFETY STUFF:
Always play it safe and wear appropriate clothing (long pants, heeled
shoes, gloves, eye protection, helmet).
FRITZ'S BUGGY FEVER:
Fritz Gramkowski, perhaps America's hottest buggy rider, will be
maintaining his enthusiasm by heading to Ivanpah Dry Lake (outside Las
Vegas) over the Turkey Day holiday, and again next spring during his Spring
Break from college. Dates for the Ivanpah Buggy Blast are March 4-12,
1995. Fritz and his dad were there last year and had a blast! They invite
all other buggyers to join them on the lake bed, and they hope to have some
little bit of organization, enough to allow some pursuit racing and
perhaps a circuit race (following the rules of the Argyle Park Buggy Racing
Club of New Zealand) The emphasis (as always) is to have fun! (with as
few rools as possible.)
THE REGULAR HOW-TO-BUGGY ARTICLE:
The first rule to learning the buggy is to use the smallest kite that
will work and medium winds. Don't let anyone (or yourself) talk you into
more than you can handle. Work the kite to gain power and learn to steer
the buggy to turn the power into speed.
NEVADA BUGGY SITES:
For buggyers with a desire to explore new buggy worlds, there are a
number of suitable sailing sites in north-western Nevada within an easy
drive of the S.F. Bay area. Nice to have a map. It is a rather desolate
region.
1995 AKA BUGGY IN TULSA:
Buggy the Great Plains at the 95 AKA convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A
trophy sport this year, buggy race winners will be honored with trophies
during the annual convention banquet.
BUGGY PILOTS OF AMERICA
Cloisonnne' Pins Silver on Black $6
Paint The Sky Kites
Portland, Oregon
Ph: 503 222-5096 Fax: 503 222-5034
BUGGY-ROO DOWN-UNDER:
The World Cup is going to Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia in
November 1995. Buggy riders are invited to participate in various buggy
opportunities during the week of the festival. Immediately after the World
Cup, a group of Buggyers will depart on the Buggy Safari into the
Australian outback.
BUGGY RACING IN NORTH AMERICA:
The North America Land Sailing Association (NALSA) is in the verge of
creating a separate class for kite-powered sailing craft. A solidly
addicted wind sailor, Scott Dyer, has been working for the formation of a
Class 8 racing schedule that would be included with any of the NALSA events
already taking place.
SEAGULL BUGGY FROM FRANCE
Loyal reader Pierre Fabre from Paris forwards this shot of a new
buggy. The Seagull debuted at the Paris "Salon Nautique" (Dec. 5-12,1994.
16' & 20' BANSHEE PEGASUS
Serious Power Kites
Curved Leading-Edge Delta
Single-Surface Battened Wing
Custom-built for the Serious Kiter
Available through Windborne Kites
How To Get Buggy Newz:
BUILD OR BUY?
Did you buy a copy of Stunt Kites II for the buggy plans and figure you
can build one cheap yourself? The joy of building is in the doing. Hiring
someone else to do the metal-work is an option, but often expensive for the
quality work.
BUGGY PARTS:
Judy at What's Up is no longer importing Peter Lynn Buggys and I have
purchased all her Buggy parts from inventory. Now I offer them to YOU!
MOUNTING CYCLOCOMPUTERS:
This is not about the sex life of bicycle-crazed dos-heads. The
ability and desire to know how far and how fast goes beyond sex. Buggy
riders are pleasured by the heightened sensation of speed while cruising so
close to the ground. Still, many w ant to know: How fast? How far? Not
just any cyclocomputer will do. There are certain desirable features and
even a challenge involved. Speed, Distance and Time are basic functions.
COREY GOES ON-LINE:
Yes, it has happened. I have an account with America OnLine
AKA - WILDWOOD '94:
We came to the Jersey shore after the season had ended. Even the late
season was over. Everything was closed except for a few gift shops, two
restaurants and a bar. We managed.
QUADTRAC:
Ted Dougherty is with Skynasaur in Colorado and they are producing the
new QuadTrac foils. More elliptical and sporting a trick adjustment
feature in the main bridles, the QuadTrac takes the next step in efficiency
and power for traction user
TIDELOG:
If you buggy on coastal beaches, you quickly learn a respect for the
power of the sea, and you learn the importance of tidal conditions on your
buggy fun.