The Unique Rack Story

I race bikes most weekends, and drive the Elise to them. The Unique Rack is a perfect mount for racing bikes, and other jobs. I even raced the Elise with the rack on (bike off!), over 130 mph. No wind noise or rattles with the bike on or off (at high speeds).

It took months to design The Unique Rack. I started as an Elise owner who needed a rack. I partnered with David Cooper, whose company Cooper Technica, Inc. restores Bugattis and other vintage automobiles, and can build anything from scratch. We reviewed dozens of designs that would not work, conferred with Lotus engineers, and developed multiple prototypes. We cheered when it finally worked.

The Unique Rack comes in three versions, left or right only, and both sides. The left or right side rack will hold a bike and two wheels. With both sides installed, we add two cross-bars onto which you can mount standard rack accessories (for bikes, skis, luggage, surfboard, sailboard, etc.) from major rack manufacturers (ThuleTM and YakimaTM compatible).

The Unique design is elegantly simple: it attaches to the roll-bar and frame, is quick to install, and easily detachable. Two small body holes are easily covered. No cables or straps on wobbly body parts. Rigid, firm, aerodynamic, and handsome. Our long hours of design and development are now available for others. Patent pending.

We are currently building racks on a semi-custom basis, so let’s discuss just what you want. Prices: aprx. $1500 for one-sided, $2500 for both sides.

Terry Clark and David Cooper, Cooper Technica 1385 N. North Branch St., Chicago, IL 60622; tel. 312-440-0711; fax 312 440-0723; dbcooper@rcn.com; www.uniquerack.com; www.coopertechnica.com. So does the hard top need to be on for this or not? So does the hard top need to be on for this or not?
Wow. Drilling into the rear clam required, correct?

Is there a reason you rejected the rear, under-bumper hitch-style design? This might be done with no permanent modifications to the body... I guess it's too late for your design now...

'Greg The Unique Rack Story

I race bikes most weekends, and drive the Elise to them. The Unique Rack is a perfect mount for racing bikes, and other jobs. I even raced the Elise with the rack on (bike off!), over 130 mph. No wind noise or rattles with the bike on or off (at high speeds).

It took months to design The Unique Rack. I started as an Elise owner who needed a rack. I partnered with David Cooper, whose company Cooper Technica, Inc. restores Bugattis and other vintage automobiles, and can build anything from scratch. We reviewed dozens of designs that would not work, conferred with Lotus engineers, and developed multiple prototypes. We cheered when it finally worked.

The Unique Rack comes in three versions, left or right only, and both sides. The left or right side rack will hold a bike and two wheels. With both sides installed, we add two cross-bars onto which you can mount standard rack accessories (for bikes, skis, luggage, surfboard, sailboard, etc.) from major rack manufacturers (ThuleTM and YakimaTM compatible).

The Unique design is elegantly simple: it attaches to the roll-bar and frame, is quick to install, and easily detachable. Two small body holes are easily covered. No cables or straps on wobbly body parts. Rigid, firm, aerodynamic, and handsome. Our long hours of design and development are now available for others. Patent pending.

We are currently building racks on a semi-custom basis, so let’s discuss just what you want. Prices: aprx. $1500 for one-sided, $2500 for both sides.

Terry Clark and David Cooper, Cooper Technica 1385 N. North Branch St., Chicago, IL 60622; tel. 312-440-0711; fax 312 440-0723; dbcooper@rcn.com; www.uniquerack.com; www.coopertechnica.com. The Unique Rack Story

I race bikes most weekends, and drive the Elise to them. The Unique Rack is a perfect mount for racing bikes, and other jobs. I even raced the Elise with the rack on (bike off!), over 130 mph. No wind noise or rattles with the bike on or off (at high speeds).

It took months to design The Unique Rack. I started as an Elise owner who needed a rack. I partnered with David Cooper, whose company Cooper Technica, Inc. restores Bugattis and other vintage automobiles, and can build anything from scratch. We reviewed dozens of designs that would not work, conferred with Lotus engineers, and developed multiple prototypes. We cheered when it finally worked.

The Unique Rack comes in three versions, left or right only, and both sides. The left or right side rack will hold a bike and two wheels. With both sides installed, we add two cross-bars onto which you can mount standard rack accessories (for bikes, skis, luggage, surfboard, sailboard, etc.) from major rack manufacturers (ThuleTM and YakimaTM compatible).

The Unique design is elegantly simple: it attaches to the roll-bar and frame, is quick to install, and easily detachable. Two small body holes are easily covered. No cables or straps on wobbly body parts. Rigid, firm, aerodynamic, and handsome. Our long hours of design and development are now available for others. Patent pending.

We are currently building racks on a semi-custom basis, so let’s discuss just what you want. Prices: aprx. $1500 for one-sided, $2500 for both sides.

Terry Clark and David Cooper, Cooper Technica 1385 N. North Branch St., Chicago, IL 60622; tel. 312-440-0711; fax 312 440-0723; dbcooper@rcn.com; www.uniquerack.com; www.coopertechnica.com. It works! hmm, you know we already saw this twice, you are going to get in trouble if you keep posting the same thing over and over.

Moderators don't seem to like that Threads merged

Kiyoshi Thank you I've been looking for a bike rack solution, but like other after market things for the Elise this is overpriced. My Saris rooftop rack on my VW doesn't even cost this much.

You have to drill into the side? Nice work! That's a really clever solution. Do you think it's possible to put 2 wheels on one side rack?
It would be convenient for racers to carry tires around.

Solo2Elise TNClark, what kind of racing do you do?

Cool rack, I dont know that I'd drill the side of my car but I dont have to carry bikes on my elise. Is that a hole and rubber grommet or a suction cup of some kind?

If it's a hole, drilling into the side of the clam is unacceptable, IMHO. According to the site, they tie into the rollbar, so that is a hole and grommet. barf. innovative, yes. ingenuitive, yes. am I going to drill holes in my sportscar? No. Although it is certainly cool to be able to carry a couple bikes on the elise, I think more people are looking for a way to carry 100+ lbs worth of racing rims and tires... how about you tackle that problem next?!

-=cixel Although it is certainly cool to be able to carry a couple bikes on the elise, I think more people are looking for a way to carry 100+ lbs worth of racing rims and tires... how about you tackle that problem next?!

-=cixel
Cixel is right. Also please no hole on the body.

Solo2Elise Although I know that the windshield is not structurally strong, I wonder if the existing points that the softtop currently hooks into could be used somehow ... perhaps with a bracket that utilizes the rollover hoop? Although I would never cut holes in the fiberglass of the car, I could see modifiying a softtop to allow something else to fit over/around it ...

-=cixel I've got a better idea... design a rack for your bike... to carry the ELISE on the bike!

Rather than drill holes in my Elise, I'd find another way to transport my bike... including paying someone else to do it if that was my only car. Yikes!

Good lord! I just saw the price for the rack... $1500 - 2500. For $1500 - 2500, I'd find a cheap used TRUCK to carry my bike. You couldn't pay me that much to drill holes in my Elise. The Elise is a sportscar, not a sag-wagon.

Mike Just put a small trailer hitch and there's all kind of cool accessories one could attach. From little trailers, bike racks, storage shelfs, etc.