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Billy cart
A billy cart is a popular Australian form of gravity powered vehicle, often homemade and constructed for either recreational or competitive use. The name of the cart tends to vary regionally, with synonyms "go cart" and "hill trolley".
The first references to billy carts appear in the 1880s, with the term identified as originating from wooden carts pulled by billygoats, with these carts being a commonplace occurrence throughout Australia prior to the emergence of the automobile.
These carts were adapted over time to become both a tool and toy for children, featuring a design comprising primarily timber materials with four wheels and a front steering system which utilised a pivoting axle design. Rope was then attached to this pivoting axle to enable the cart to be pulled or steered by hand. This design was advantageous for kids who would scavenge areas for food, scrap materials and more, whilst also becoming a pastime wherein children would challenge others to see who could travel the fastest/furthest with gravity to assist in building momentum.
The early to mid 1900s are considered to be the time in which billy carts were most popular, as most Australians had become aware of the carts and due to the low cost and simple design were easy to construct. Many such examples were constructed either from scrap timber/offcuts or from wooden crates which had been used to transport goods such as produce. During World War II, billy carts were utilised by children tasked with collecting waste from the community as part of the war effort.
As automobiles rose to prevalence during this time there was an increase in incidents involving billy carts identified, this can be attributed to the fact that impromptu races organised by neighbourhood children were often run on the same roads as vehicles, without road closures, and as car ownership grew in suburban areas of Australia the risk of colliding with vehicles grew.
In 1952, seeking to aid his son's lawnmowing business, Mervyn Victor Richardson created a prototype lawnmower, utilising scrap metal and recycled household items, including wheels from a billy cart. Following the successful prototype Richardson created the Victa Mowers company, producing lawnmowers which quickly became an Australian icon.
The mid to late 1900s were seen to bring on the rise of organised competitions. This can be linked to the nostalgia of parents and grandparents who built their carts in the decades prior recognising the value of play and building cart to providing the same opportunity for their children. The immense popularity of Soapbox Racing in the United States is also likely to have encouraged race organisers in Australia.
During this time some competitive carts could be seen to adopt similar design cues to the American Soapbox, with an aerodynamic streamlined design, lay-down configuration and front pivot axle steering which was aided by a steering wheel to improve safety and control of the cart at higher speeds.
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Billy cart
A billy cart is a popular Australian form of gravity powered vehicle, often homemade and constructed for either recreational or competitive use. The name of the cart tends to vary regionally, with synonyms "go cart" and "hill trolley".
The first references to billy carts appear in the 1880s, with the term identified as originating from wooden carts pulled by billygoats, with these carts being a commonplace occurrence throughout Australia prior to the emergence of the automobile.
These carts were adapted over time to become both a tool and toy for children, featuring a design comprising primarily timber materials with four wheels and a front steering system which utilised a pivoting axle design. Rope was then attached to this pivoting axle to enable the cart to be pulled or steered by hand. This design was advantageous for kids who would scavenge areas for food, scrap materials and more, whilst also becoming a pastime wherein children would challenge others to see who could travel the fastest/furthest with gravity to assist in building momentum.
The early to mid 1900s are considered to be the time in which billy carts were most popular, as most Australians had become aware of the carts and due to the low cost and simple design were easy to construct. Many such examples were constructed either from scrap timber/offcuts or from wooden crates which had been used to transport goods such as produce. During World War II, billy carts were utilised by children tasked with collecting waste from the community as part of the war effort.
As automobiles rose to prevalence during this time there was an increase in incidents involving billy carts identified, this can be attributed to the fact that impromptu races organised by neighbourhood children were often run on the same roads as vehicles, without road closures, and as car ownership grew in suburban areas of Australia the risk of colliding with vehicles grew.
In 1952, seeking to aid his son's lawnmowing business, Mervyn Victor Richardson created a prototype lawnmower, utilising scrap metal and recycled household items, including wheels from a billy cart. Following the successful prototype Richardson created the Victa Mowers company, producing lawnmowers which quickly became an Australian icon.
The mid to late 1900s were seen to bring on the rise of organised competitions. This can be linked to the nostalgia of parents and grandparents who built their carts in the decades prior recognising the value of play and building cart to providing the same opportunity for their children. The immense popularity of Soapbox Racing in the United States is also likely to have encouraged race organisers in Australia.
During this time some competitive carts could be seen to adopt similar design cues to the American Soapbox, with an aerodynamic streamlined design, lay-down configuration and front pivot axle steering which was aided by a steering wheel to improve safety and control of the cart at higher speeds.