So....I was reading the posts on KiteCrowd...and there was a new post...

So What make is the best buggy & Why ?

I watch the thread unfold for a few days, and enjoying every ones comments, but every one was avoiding answering the initial question.......WHY?, oh there were lots of good buggies being mentioned, but nobody was saying why they were good, so I had a think for a day or so and came back with this...

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Personally if we are talking race buggies like the last few posts...I would choose an Apexx....."why?" because Ruud has been building buggies for 21 years now, and top race buggies for 12 years, this guy is a perfectionist, as well as a very good welder, along side him designing is Ozzy who has the sharpest eye for detail, they are a perfect team imho. They take their time, they have spent many years researching, testing and developing the perfect buggy to race with...they have looked, they have listened, they have fine tuned, they are the leaders in their field, and all others follow. Ruud and Ozzy, live and breathe buggies, they know all the answers to all the question you could imagine concerning buggies. Ruud was the first to develop the side rails with the extra bend so you can lock yourself under the rails...how many of those do you see around now copied, the fully adjustable rear axle, to ride the perfect height for different wheel set ups, the fine tuning of the swan neck angles....most if not all of these came from Ruud and Ozzy. The Apexx buggy, with so many configurations, leaves all the other buggies out there looking rather "normal"...within the race scene who has everyone chosen to copy....answer the Apexx, yes you have to pay a premium price for an Apexx, maybe double than you would a replica or look a like, but there is a reason for that, and that is the amount, of time, plates, the extras, the development and craftsmanship that goes into that premium buggy. "But the replicas do look like an Apexx"...yes vaguely similar, they may do at first, there have been a few people copy the Dominator for instance, and at first glance you may well think it was one of mine, but I can tell instantly all the things that are wrong with it, and its the same principle with the Apexx copies, the difference between an original and a copy is like night and day. Seriously, you would not believe all the questions and measurements taken by XXtreme to have the buggy perfectly made for its owner, each buggy they make is unique, it is tailor made, to fit the pilot perfectly like a suit .....and....and this says it all, there are over 400 XXtreme buggies out there.....how many have you seen for sale....not one I bet...that answers everything really. I sound like an XXtreme salesman....well I am not, I do not sell their buggies nor take any commissions, I am just giving an honest answer. Freestlye, well Flexi have long been proven the weapon of choice, no arguing that one

Well that was an honest an answer I could possibly give...other people during the thread had said some of my buggies, so it must of seemed weird, when PTW is bigging up someone elses work.....well I went one step further than that, I actually put my money where my mouth is and bought one...and it arrived this week. I was lucky enough to have ridden Coolbreezes Apexx at NABX, and it was no secret that I thought his buggy in particular was my favorite in buggy camp, so I had already had a taster....I will say though, it went no faster than the Hero buggy I had taken there lol.

Anyway....there you have it, an honest answer backed up by hard cash out of my pocket.



The number on the buggy was my number at NABX GBR 313



Of course I had to have a little fun, as there was no wind



I also had to inspect it from every angle....lol






Does this mean I will not make any more buggies..? Hell no

Does this mean all I will ride now will be an APEXX..? Hell no

Does it seem kinda strange you actually buying a buggy..? Oh yes....dead strange

Will I lose credibility as a buggy builder because I have bought from another stable....? I hope not

What do you want to get out of this..?...inspiration, ideas, and experience, riding an Apexx will only make me a better buggy builder. I have always said I will not compromise and copy someone else, although I have no problem builders copying me...I encourage it in fact, it is a compliment as far as I am concerned, but I will get ideas and put my own take on it.

Oh and by the way....the Apexx was a perfect fit....as good as if I had built it for myself

Great pics but I can't believe you have TWO sheds!

I think you will lose no credibility as a builder at all. I think you buying an Apexx shows just that you are a humble and secure-in-who-you-are kind of guy. While proud of the work you do and the buggy designs you create, you've never thought as much of yourself as you deserve to. While at the top of the heap in the world of custom buggy builders, you have always been the student, looking for ways to make it better and expand what a buggy is supposed to be. I know there is a mutual admiration between you and Ruud for good reason. I'm anxious to see how riding and owning this Apexx gets your creativity flowing at a higher pace than it ever has.

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Originally posted by markite Great pics but I can't believe you have TWO sheds!

sorry......I have three

All this and 3 sheds too! A man needs a place to keep his stuff I guess. I've got the garage but I've been trying to talk the wife into a shed for years.

Three sheds = one garage and neither can compete with a shop.:bigok:

Thats alot of popeyes.

There was a sale on spinach. :o

ATB,
Sam

I say good on you little pop. You could have very easily copied a apexx, but you gave credit where credit is due In my eyes that is about as honorable a person can be.

People do not understand when they support a copy all they do is take money out of the original designers pocket. If the original brilliant designer can not afford to continue their quest and follow their visions then what happens?? Nothing will progress further because all that will be left is the copy cats and they do not have any original ideas .... progress will stop!

Now that's what I call a dedicated designer with an unquestionable love of the sport. And when you retire, there will be a place for you at some fancy fashion magazine doing amazing work with photoshop !!! I laugh and take my hat off to you all at the same time.

I think the Bro's need names.......

I think it is an amazing time to be involved in the buggy world.

Only a few years ago if you wanted to go fast you had one choice and one choice only in North America. Now I see 5 or more buggy makers out there that are up to the job. Libre has never been sitting on it's heals but the influences from other proven makers is really advancing things fast now.

One question. You refer to people copying the Apexx? This is the 1st I have heard of this?
Are you saying that somebody out there is doing an actual COPY or that other makers are copying effective ideas like the articulated side rails? I see that more as acknowledging a better idea?

I am proud to be riding a Poppeye inspired machine ! Not because it is the best buggy out there but that it is inspired and made by 2 amazing guys with big hearts!

Bob I talked my wife into a shed. But she got out.
You all were thinkin it. I just said it!!

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Originally posted by rocfighter Bob I talked my wife into a shed. But she got out. You all were thinkin it. I just said it!!

Touche' ! Didn't see that one coming. Heaven forbid I get my wife in a shed somehow.

Cool deal Carl! that says alot about em too!

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Bob I talked my wife into a shed. But she got out.

Lol!!

I got a new Shindaiwa chainsaw for my wife.....

sure was a good trade.....

Sorry, Carlos...I'm straying a bit off topic here....

Dear Carlos,

Like I also mentioned on FB, I am just back from the European champions ships, and reading all posts on the different foras,....man,....what a lot of "popeys"I see around that Apexx....
We hope you will like it and we hope it gives you lots of inspiriation of creating more of your fantastic designs.

We build the Apexx with passion, all is hand crafted like you do, besides of the laser cutting and CNC bended sidebars, is the rest custom build. When you have a Apexx, for most people it will be the last buggy you will drive in, as its a most perfect fit at all times. But .... I think, this will inspire you, and the evolution of the nowadays racebuggy will continue !

Good winds, have fun with it !!

Jeroen "Ozzy"Potters
Xxtreme