The instructions that came with the 20-plus-year-old F1 Rocket kit we’re building include a very “down home” tip in the canopy section. Mark Fredericks, the author—and creator of Team Rocket and the F1—writes: “Make sure to add a handle to the top of the front canopy bow so that the first time you get in the seat, don’t close the canopy—you don’t have to call someone from outside to open it and let you out!” You can bet that came from experience.
The build manual call for a 3-inch drawer pull, which is easy to find at the hardware store—or we found a three-pack online for $5.50 with free shipping. Ours came in black, but we wanted to dress them up with the standard black-and-yellow striping used for egress handles. This was easily done with some yellow adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing cut into half-inch lengths. It took just a little effort to work them past the 90-degree bend, but once we lined them up, the heat gun locked them in place. Careful drilling and a couple of shallow-head #8 screws had the job done quickly and with style.
