"American Style" speed sulkies

[NormanS]

I read here http://www.harness.org.au/news-artic...?news_id=17844 that another Sulky , this one "The Razor Sulky" has been approved. There are now quite a few different types of US style sulkies going round the tracks.
Lets face it, every horse in the ID final was in one of these style of sulkies. I still have my regal offset. How does this compare? Does anyone have any opinions or experience with any of them? How they differ in racing performance. Which would be better for Heavier / lighter drivers. Would you use the same at Menangle and Newcastle. How about around a Half Mile track like Penrith or Bathurst?

Advantage Sulky - has a facebook page and website under construction
Spyder Sulky - Luke M's design
The Razor
The Tsunami Sulky / Tsunami Stinger
Aussie Eclipse
Challenger Force
Tom Harmers Evolution Sulky

If there are more, be kind and list them and your experience with them. And thanks to everyone who chooses to post.

I would like to ask the same question about the wheels. There are that many of them out there now. How they effect rolling efficiency etc. Are the carbon fibre spokes better that the aluminium billets cut spokes etc

To the mods, if i've posted this in the wrong area appologies and i'll understnd if it gets moved to another location

[Greg Hando]

No answer's Norman i to was interested in comparison's between the new sulky's and tyres.

[Triple V]

My experience with various race bikes is that they ALL work exceptionally well when something smart is hitched between the shafts.

[NormanS]

My experience with various race bikes is that they ALL work exceptionally well when something smart is hitched between the shafts.

Thats a cool answer, and i am working on that part as well (so far without great deal of success).

But The question is with so many variations of the same thing out there how do you find out which is going to give you the best advantage (if even the slow ones can be improved a touch). And if im racing mostly away from Menangle, is there any advantage?

I like my offset. Its a very comfortable seat. And as im about 20kg heavier than my regular driver knowing how weight affects the drive is important as well (imo)

[Danno]

Thats a cool answer, and i am working on that part as well (so far without great deal of success).

But The question is with so many variations of the same thing out there how do you find out which is going to give you the best advantage (if even the slow ones can be improved a touch). And if im racing mostly away from Menangle, is there any advantage?

I like my offset. Its a very comfortable seat. And as im about 20kg heavier than my regular driver knowing how weight affects the drive is important as well (imo)

G'day Norm,
my personal opinion ( which is NOT based on science) is that each and every horse has it's own optimum "balance" requirements in the sulky area and these can change from racing surface to other track characteristics such as the radius of turns, shape of turns, length of straights, the person sitting in the bike, etc.

as stated, not science, but I have seen many horses display an ability to ignore science.
Cheers,
Dan

[Triple V]

I'd agree with that. Horses for courses, bikes for tracks.
Shoeing is the same.
So many different track surfaces here in Oz...same set of shoes every time.

[strong persuader]

Perhaps others had noticed the following item, http://www.austrotforum.com/weblog/a...tion_to_a.html

It references Terror To Loves efforts in a sulky design of 70+ years still made the same way it was all those years ago.

As Jaimie said, the best way to get a fast sulky is to put a fast horse between the shafts!

[Greg Hando]

Perhaps others had noticed the following item, http://www.austrotforum.com/weblog/a...tion_to_a.html

It references Terror To Loves efforts in a sulky design of 70+ years still made the same way it was all those years ago.

As Jaimie said, the best way to get a fast sulky is to put a fast horse between the shafts!

Can you still race in an all wood sulky in NZ ?

[Danno]

Can you still race in an all wood sulky in NZ ?

Yes greg, the Kiwis are not as easily duped as us silly bloody Aussies.

[NormanS]

So to answer my question, While at Bathurst I asked a couple of trainers their opinions. 1 trainer had just ordered an "Advantage Sulky" as after discussions with a well respected Bathurst trainer (who has the advantage and evolution), he said that the Advantage was worth as much as 2 seconds over the mile. Another trainer has ordered the Evolution (after trying most bikes on the market) as it has the highest "lift factor" - it reduces the weight the horse is carrying the most (And he prefered the ride). And after all his training drives the evolution was the bike where his stopwatch showed a difference and he could Feel the difference.
Although I wont name them, these three trainers would all be considered top trainers.
The other things i found interesting watching the stabling and parade ring at Bathurst was how many trainers had an Advantage and an Evolution sulky And that most didnt use the carbon fibre or Aluminium billet wheels with these bikes but the spoked rims (except LMc with his spyder bike and rims). On the Bathurst track they prefered the thicker/wider tyre.