Wheel an' Wiyah

Here is how you build the classic, single-wheel "Wheel and Wire" runner using just a hanger and a piece of hose. You need even less for this than the four-wheeled wire car — the genius is in its simplicity.

The Materials List

• 1 Wire Coat Hanger: A thick, unpainted metal one.
• A Garden Hose: You only need a very small section of it.
• Pliers: For bending and twisting the wire.
• A Nail or Sharp Screwdriver: To puncture the hose.

Step 1: Prepare the Wheel

You only need one heavy-duty tire for this build.

1. The Chop: Cut a cross-section of the garden hose, but make it wider than the tires used for the 4-wheel car. A slice about 1.5 to 2 inches wide is perfect to give it stability so it doesn't flop over easily.
2. The Axle Holes: Take your heated nail or screwdriver and poke a hole straight through the center of the hose wall, coming out the exact opposite side. This must be dead-center, or your wheel will wobble like a flat tire!

Step 2: Shape the Fork

Just like the front wheel of a bicycle, your wire needs to form a "fork" to hold the wheel in place.

1. Straighten the Wire: Untwist the neck of the coat hanger and straighten the whole thing out into one long wire.
2. Thread the Wheel: Take one end of the straight wire and push it entirely through the two holes you made in your garden hose wheel. Slide the wheel exactly to the center of the wire.
3. Bend the "U": Bend both sides of the wire sharply upward on either side of the wheel, creating a tight "U" shape. The wire should hug the wheel closely but leave just enough friction-free space so the wheel can spin rapidly.

Step 3: Twist the Handle

Now you need to turn the two loose ends of the wire into a single, sturdy pushing stick.

1. The Twist: Grab the two wires right above the wheel and begin twisting them around each other, braiding them tightly all the way up to the top. Using pliers here is highly recommended to get a tight, rigid twist that won't bend when you push it.
2. Safety Loop: When you reach the very top of the wire, you will have sharp ends. Use your pliers to bend the very top back on itself into a smooth loop so it doesn't poke you in the stomach or hand while you run.
3. The Luxury Grip (Optional): If you have extra hose lying around, cut a 4-inch piece, slice it down the middle, and tape it over the top loop to give yourself a proper, comfortable handle.

The Test Run

To play, you just grip the handle, lean forward, and start running. The single wheel spins furiously through the dirt. Because it only has one wheel, it requires constant forward momentum to stay balanced, meaning you cannot stop — you just keep running, tilting the handle slightly to bank around corners, making loud motorcycle engine noises the entire way.

Cultural Roots