David Willam Martin

DMD BearCub | Exterior: front 3/4 - This is a Stripped down road going Light weight Sports Car. Called the BearCub, it is a spartan "track car for the road" based around an aluminium tub style monocoque, the car uses Honda CRX VTEC running gear.

DMD BearCub | Exterior: rear 3/4 - The styling aims of the BearCub were twofold. The aesthetic had to convey a sense of functional minimalism and yet have a enough style to appeal to both young men and women. This car is intended as an introduction to real sports car ownership, without being intimidating to those who had never owned a sports cars previously.

DMD BearCub | Exterior: Front view - The BearCub is a car for everyone who loves to drive. The car is designed to be equally easily used by ladies and gentlemen: the only requirement being a passion for driving hard!

DMD BearCub | Exterior side view - Although primarily a drivers' car, the BearCub should be equally at home in the urban rat race and will not embarrass the dedicated follower of fashion in the high street concours d'elagence.

DMD BearCub | In action - The BearCub in its element... what better place to really stretch the “tack car for the road”, than on the track? With its simple, light weight construction, mid-engined layout and easily replaced exterior panel work, the BearCub is the perfect, forgiving on-track companion. Confidence inspired by a strong, reliable drive train and general ease of repair, should you have a spill.

DMD BearCub | CAD: Body Break-Down Orthographic - The BearCub's structural configuration is designed for speed and ease of access to any part that might require maintenance during normal road or track use. Both front and back bodywork consist of PTE clamshells for resilience, lightweight and resistance to corrosion. The rear clamshell also incorporates a quick access "bonnet" section to allow for routine checks and simple fixes.

DMD BearCub | CAD: Mechanical Package Orthographic - All of the elements of the aerodynamic package are integrated into the body to keep the outward styling as clean as possible. An adjustable nose vane incorporated into the front section which also serves to ventilate the radiator. An adjustable tail spoiler works in conjunction with an under floor Venturi-duct to reduce rear end lift. The exhaust also exits into the Venturi-duct using the scavenging effect to release top end power from the exhaust system at higher speeds.

DMD BearCub | CAD: Vehicle Ergonomics Orthographic - Although intentionally a tight package, the BearCub is designed to be equally easily used by anyone from 6 1/2 foot Rugby players to ladies of far a more petite stature. All should be able to find the controls instinctively and be allowed space to use them freely, all while given confidence by a clear view of the road, or track ahead. The simplistic interior is designed to almost totally symmetrical, and provides plenty of emergency grab handles should your passenger "think" they need them!

DMD BearCub | 3D CAD: Front 3/4 - All of the elements of the BearCub's aerodynamic package are integrated into the body to keep the outward styling as clean as possible, for both aesthetic and safety purposes. An adjustable vane is incorporated into the nose section which also ventilates the radiator. An adjustable tail spoiler works with an under-floor Venturi duct to reduce rear end lift. The exhaust exits into the Venturi duct using the scavenging effect to release top end power from the exhaust system at higher speeds.

DMD BearCub | 3D CAD: Rear Overhead Interior View - The BearCub's interior is spartan, carrying nothing that is not needed for it to make its way up the road quickly (except for a passenger!). The symmetry of the cabin is designed to minimise cost by reducing the component count. The trim is symmetrical both from left to right of the car and left to right of each occupant cell. The same components trim the central tunnel and the inner doors. Even the handbrake, central grab handle and door grabs are symmetrically mounted.

DMD BearCub | 3D CAD: Rear 3/4 - A small parcel shelf with restraint netting serves as stowage space or mounting area for auxiliary gauges or telemetry equipment. The shelf also acts to strengthen and stiffen the BearCub's Aluminium tub structure, helping to provide a sound platform for the suspension to function from. All standard instrumentation is given via the customised steering column mounted Stack pack. This position means minimal body/tub/trim component changes for RHD to LHD conversion.

DMD BearCub | 3D CAD: Side Overhead Interior View - The seats in the BearCub double as rollover protection. As the seat will always be adjusted to and therefore (along with FIA 5 point harnesses as standard equipment) dictate occupants' location in the car, it is best suited to provide tailored protection to that occupant. Air passing through the car is a critical element of this car's function for cooling high-speed lift prevention. Overall drag co-efficient has been sacrificed in favour of cooling to promote reliability over outright pace.

DMD BearCub | 3D CAD: Side Overhead Ghosted View - The BearCub is a very tight package. The bodywork is wrapped tight around the mechanical components. The bespoke rear suspension and engine package, derived from the 1595cc VTEC (168bhp) unit from a Honda CRX, is mounted into a tubular space frame which is attached via points intended to feed loads properly into the central monocoque section. The front suspension is mounted to the monocoque after the same fashion.

DMD BearCub | 3D CAD: Chassis Package - The BearCub is suspended from the ground via all-round rose-jointed double-wishbones and inverted coil-over spring damper units. These components would ideally be carbon composite for minimal unsprung weight, but could easily be fabricated in steel for economy and on-road durability. The geometry is designed to contain all, roll, pitch and dive without the use of anti-roll bars. The rear hubs, via under length toe-control arms, induce passive rear wheel steer, under bump, jump and roll.

DMD BearCub | Concept sketch: Rear 3/4 1 - An early Sketch concept of the rear styling of the BearCub: All the form and expression of the car had to be conveyed by the end sections as the middle is dictated by the arbitrary shape of the extruded metalwork.

DMD BearCub | Concept sketch: Rear 3/4 2 - A more slightly developed sketch of the rear of the BearCub: These sketches really show how tightly integrated the form and the function of this car are. Mechanical elements like the Venturi duct and the cooling vents form the basis for the styling and graphic treatment of the car.

DMD BearCub | Concept Development sketch: front 3/4 - This was the final concept sketch before starting the CAD Model. The interior was fully designed by this point, but the matte black rub-protection had not yet been added to the design. Considering the there had only been flatwork up to this point, the 3D model ended up very similar to the sketches, so the form development must have been pretty good.

DMD BearCub | Interior Concept Sketch: 1 - An early concept for the BearCub interior: At this point, although highly integrated with the structure of the car, I hadn't really decided how bare the accommodation should be. The parcel shelf idea was already in place, but included an in-built sat-nav which was later removed. The seats and some sort of grab handle were also in gestation. The symmetry was still undeveloped. Note the early instrument binnacle that is styled in keeping with the headlamp pods.

DMD BearCub | Interior Concept Sketch: 2 - Another early BearCub interior concept: In this sketch the symmetrical theme is really beginning to take hold. The similar part for central grab handle and door pull can clearly be seen at this point. The parcel shelf would later move back the idea in the previous sketch. The instrument pod would later move off the shelf and on to the steering column. The over all feel is now about as stripped as it would get, yet there is still a fair amount of equipment installed.

DMD BearCub | Interior Concept Sketch: Details - These interior detail sketches show the finer points of what would be the final interior scheme. All the shapes and configuration are as per the CAD model. The custom stack unit and even the branded key fob are shown in full detail.

DMD BearCub | Hardtop Concept Sketch: Front 3/4 - This sketch of a BearCub fitted with a removable hard-top (although well developed with, Targa panel, integrated release and wiper mechanisms) was drawn almost as a joke, but the sketch shows some better finished features such as the reworked door pulls, better resolved side intakes and the aerodynamic dive-planes on the lower front quarters.

DMD BearCub | Initial Concept Sketch: Overhead front 3/4 - This is a very early conceptual sketch for the BearCub, before it became the BearCub. For a long time I had been drawing shovel-nosed sports cars resembling legless Koolasuchi... so, I decided to excorsice that little demon. Should lay off the cheese before bedtime really! The basics for the package are there, but this version is a bit overtly racy for weekday road use without being jeered by the nosey neighbours... Not ideal for the targeted demographic.

DMD BearCub | Initial Concept Sketch: Rear 3/4 - To appeal to the demographic described earlier, all the race car bits have to be properly integrated to be taken seriously. Bolt on aero add-on's should not form the basis of a standard design. The aggressive expression of the rear end treatment is "over the top" for what intended to be an entry level design.