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The Build
Turbo Taxis
Luckily for expert Pete, the Turbo Taxis are all bike and trike nuts so the concept of a three-wheeled snowmobile seemed straightforward. They planned to marry the engine and drive wheels of a car to the front forks of a motorbike, which should make for a stable trike-style snowmobile.
They leapt into action with Captain Herman bending the rules, sneaking out of the bay to steal an old MZ motorbike. He and Pete cracked on with the bike, happy to have something to get their teeth into.
After a couple of false starts, scavengers Matt and Dink found a diesel van that looked ideal. The only problem being it was upside down in the middle of the 'heap and took serious time to dig out.
Then, once they got it back, they found another potentially serious issue. Dirt had got into the fuel injectors and it wouldn't start. Matt had to spend a frustrating hour tearing the injectors and cylinders apart before they heard the reassuring roar of the engine.
Herman and Pete shaped box section steel into skis and welded them to the forks. It wasn't pretty but it helped give them a decent turning circle. With the motor running they ditched the rest of the van, hacking off everything but the drive train.
With the bodywork gone and the wheels off, the machine dragged on the ground – not part of the original plan. Ever resourceful Herman removed the suspension and inserted a long solid piece of pipe, gaining the clearance they needed. It made for a bone-jarring ride but it was way quicker than trying to find some longer shocks.
Di and Matt were grinding for England, fitting out the wheels with the angled steel that bit into the snow. With time almost up, they welded the chassis to join the bike and car and then looked around amazed. A trike snowmobile had appeared – on time and with very little stress.
Cement Mixers
Captain Everton's unique management style took a lot of getting used to, but fortunately he went with expert Iain's idea of a conventional looking snowmobile – trying to use a motorbike to drive a single rotating belt.
So priorities for scavengers Mark and Sam were a bike, a seriously strong chain and a rubber belt. Soon they were wishing Everton couldn't radio them – with nothing in the build bay he got seriously frustrated. Worryingly, they decided to make the drums that tensioned the belt from scratch, rather than use old wheel hubs – a decision that costs them serious time.
Out on the 'heap Everton's minions found a beast of a bike to power their snowmobile – a 750cc Kawasaki. Shortly after, they uncovered some rubber cleating from a quarry machine, which chopped about a bit it provided serious grip on the snow.
Now with major parts, the Cement Mixers should have got cracking, but like proper British builders they sat down for a chat and tea – lots of it. Eventually Mark was banished to the 'heap to look for bearings that would support the belt drums, leaving Everton to put his money where his mouth is and get on with the belt support frame.
Mark eventually came back with the bearings and they could begin the laborious process of building their snowmobile belt drums. From scratch!
The drums couldn't be perfect cylinders. The team knew that as a snowmobile turns, the belt wants to walk off the edge of the drum, so they made sure that the drums angled down from a wider central position, which forced the belt back towards the middle. The ridge is a clever idea but it's not simple and time, as ever, was ticking.
One stroke of luck came their way when scavenger Sam turned up the bumper from a goods van. After a couple of quick chops it made an instant front ski.
With time running out, the Cement Mixers mounted their mono ski and got the drive to the drums, but only draped the rubber belt around. Tinker time was going to be vital.
