Track Stories 08

[lecroy]

This is my bike before the last paint job.

This is the Raptor. There is a baby Raptor as well (pit bike) but I do not have any pictures of it.

Anyway, this should give you an idea of the quality. Nice work, but not something you would be afraid to take out and run. We try to be so careful but....

You don't really need computer software. Crayons are cheap. I normally make a sketch of the outline and major lines then run off 10 or so copies and just start putting in ideas with pencil.

If you strip and bring the bare body (we are talking about the bike) it would be faster. Maybe a week to turn or less. Just depends on what's going on.

 

[DreamRyder]

I think you got a pretty good look at the tail section of this bike. So I thought I would post one of the side for you to see.

Ouch! that hurt ... but no worries..

you'll get plenty a chance to see my rear end more than you may care to this season ....

I tried the crayon deal last time but I like doin the photoshop better... gives me a better visual of how it will flow on the bike..

like your choices you've done so far but ofcourse my fav is the flag

your guy does a fabulous job for sure.

I had thought about keepin the most part of bike white and just add a blue strip down the top center part with stars with in the blue section then have that blue section outlined with a small white strip followed by a small red strip... kinda like the old muscle cars with the racin stripe paint...

This way I can still have clean/not too busy sides to allow my sponsor decals to be more visible.

but somehow I gotta get my lower back tattoo artwork still on the tail section... I had that decal print and cut from reflective vinyl and might try to get it again but rather have it painted on so as to no worry about being so careful with washin the bike and all...

E.

 

[lecroy]

Oh yea, was going to mention that it must not have been your kid at the track. This was a small baby.

Checked out the company website. How did you end up teaching troubleshooting for them. Must be a story here.


Onto paint....

The Flag bike was going to have a picture of Mt. Rushmore under it. Sort of a layered job but we ended up putting the dog tags and compass on the tail. Even though you were looking at the tail, you sit pretty low and I doubt saw them. Too easy to go overboard on the paint but at the same time, you want something that your happy with.

We would scan your decal and have it sent to a local print shop to make a new one. It is applied after the paint and cleared over. Washing will not harm it.

I don't think what your asking for would be a problem at all. PM me a number where you can be reached and I can pass it on to Doug for you. You can work out the details with him.

 

[DreamRyder]

Oh yea, was going to mention that it must not have been your kid at the track. This was a small baby.

Checked out the company website. How did you end up teaching troubleshooting for them. Must be a story here.


Onto paint....

The Flag bike was going to have a picture of Mt. Rushmore under it. Sort of a layered job but we ended up putting the dog tags and compass on the tail. Even though you were looking at the tail, you sit pretty low and I doubt saw them. Too easy to go overboard on the paint but at the same time, you want something that your happy with.

We would scan your decal and have it sent to a local print shop to make a new one. It is applied after the paint and cleared over. Washing will not harm it.

I don't think what your asking for would be a problem at all. PM me a number where you can be reached and I can pass it on to Doug for you. You can work out the details with him.

oh lordy.. nope no more babies for me... my girls are already 10, 11, and 16.

I worked for them for 12 yrs before leavin to come out here to IL... I started out answering phones and taking orders and wanted to do something more... so eventually I got more envolved with all aspects of the company to include handling trouble shooting calls and using the product and assisting with the redesign and upgrade of units and software features - from the feedback I gathered from end users and my own use as well as the engineer's willingness to teach me so it was less he had to deal with LOL..

this lead to me teaching our distributors how to offer better customer service with Tech calls and then teaching end users how they could work on their own equipment rather than calling in an electrician to handle many of the things they themselves could do and save money.

Our panels were pretty basic and easy to understand. (i thought at least but I grew up on a farm where I helped my dad work on tractor engines and old cars) I started teaching at seminars and conferences basic classes and more advanced classes that were for those who understood a bit more about electricity and working with live power to get AMPS and Volts readings and would have a meter to get Ohms readings as well as to check for Continuity. If you understand transformers, control boards, relays, elements, pyrometers, and thermocouplers... you could easily learn to trouble shoot a kiln.

We started using MOV's in our wallmount controller that utilized the Potterbroomfield and Magnacraft mechanical style relays due to the interference the relay threw back to the computer board causing a very minute amount of power loss.. not enough to visually see in the display, but it was enough to cause the board to give you a power failure message. We didn't see this problem in panels where we use the 60AMP double pole mercury style relays.

so there's the story of my technical back ground for knowing what a MOV is.. LOL

About the paint... can your local print shop do it on the reflective material? I know it's a thicker vinyl and harder to clear over and not leave a ridge.. but it's so cool to see it in the darker hours light up :O)

I have the decal image as a JPG so no need to scan what's on the tail currently and it would be kinda hard for them to scan the tattoo on my lower back - LOL

I'll pm ya my number... for doug... thanks again.

E.
oh yeah.. I did seethe dog tags... Something else that I liked.. cuz I was also in the Army and had thought about adding something small and personal like that to the bike also to honor my father because he served 25 yrs (retired in 1978 ) I was actually gonna put on the side of my tail last year "Honors to Thy Father"

 

[lecroy]

You have a PM with the shop number.

Nope, I don't think you ever had any of the kids with you then. They are old enought to be riding themselves. Is a Jr. in the works? I can see you two giving up the bikes to pit for the kids.

That's pretty good that they let you move up like that. Impressive. Bet they were sad to see you move on.

A greese monkey as a kid. Rare. Putting the lettering on wouldn't be a problem. They can hand letter the paint, but again, being hand done its not a precision look. I like the free style look myself as long as it's done well.

I think your always going to have a ridge with the stickers. Nature of the beast. As long as its sealed, I wouldn't worry too much. Not sure if they can use that material or not at the local print shop. Doug's the man to ask. He's expecting your call and will take good care of you.

 

[lecroy]

Anyone run today? Martin was open for the first time.

 

[rosco15]

Track was really bad first thing. Took a while for it to start coming around. I did manage a 9.39 @137. Couldn't cut a light to save my butt, but did have some fun.

 

[DreamRyder]

You have a PM with the shop number.

Nope, I don't think you ever had any of the kids with you then. They are old enought to be riding themselves. Is a Jr. in the works? I can see you two giving up the bikes to pit for the kids.

That's pretty good that they let you move up like that. Impressive. Bet they were sad to see you move on.

A greese monkey as a kid. Rare. Putting the lettering on wouldn't be a problem. They can hand letter the paint, but again, being hand done its not a precision look. I like the free style look myself as long as it's done well.

I think your always going to have a ridge with the stickers. Nature of the beast. As long as its sealed, I wouldn't worry too much. Not sure if they can use that material or not at the local print shop. Doug's the man to ask. He's expecting your call and will take good care of you.

sorry been busy ridin the train to and from MI (kids spring break) so I aint' been around the computer for awile...

Infact I forgot to go to the pm section and send you mynumber LOL

I'll go check for your pm shortly

The only one interested is my youngest... Kayla she wanted to drag race her 4wheeler at Ubly but everytime I took her for T&T to do it it was too busy and they wouldn't let the kids run. Racheal was partially interested but I think she's a bit more gun shy about the Ballz Out deal... she use to be fearless on her dirt bike till she nerfed it once and she's been timid since - however she still got back on and rode..that was my biggest thing - even if you hold back at least get back on and go again

uh well let's just say yeah they were hurt pretty bad when I left them .. but hey when you ain't had a pay increase in two yrs but you're doing 3 or 4 peoples jobs you gotta do what ya gotta do ...

yup I was a tomboy through and through... LOVED IT! My youngest is into the whole gettin dirty to help too ... the others they are more for supervising LOL

I can cut the decals for the wording.. that's no biggie I have myown plotter and vinyl.. I can even cut out the stencil for him to airbrush the letter on even better ;o)

I'm fine with ridges... well aware of that but most often I try to do the stencil if I can get away with it for a cleaner job.. all the stuff on my track bike I did in the garage is done with stencil work .. the DreamRyder and the stars were all done with decal application paint then remove to leave the lettering and stars behind in white.

Thanks again for the infor... I'll try to get him a ring tonight

E.

 

[lecroy]

At least one of us made it to the track. Sounds like we are heading up the week after next.

I dug the Harley out of storage. Left the battery in it all winter with no charger. Did drain the fuel. One press and chug chug chug....

Hey E, there was a test lab that I used to use located near you. It's a nice area.

 

[DreamRyder]

At least one of us made it to the track. Sounds like we are heading up the week after next.

I dug the Harley out of storage. Left the battery in it all winter with no charger. Did drain the fuel. One press and chug chug chug....

Hey E, there was a test lab that I used to use located near you. It's a nice area.

I learned my lesson on not havin the tender on my batteries.. they never survive the winter for me when I didn't heat the garage .. now I have no heat in the garage so I'll be lookin to get another tender (one for the busa and one for the 929)

yup like this area quite well... it's not city city if ya know what I mean LOL... for a country lovin gal it's the best alternative for me, cuz ain't no way I could survive dealin with city city traffic and folks. 8-[

didnt' get a chance to call Doug last night.. took my oldest out shoppin to get some new clothes and didnt get home till real late. And I work my second job tonight after my day job so wont' be able to call now till tomorrow ... I swear I need to find me some rich ol' geezer on his death bed .. (oh did I just say that out loud?)

E.

 

[lecroy]

didnt' get a chance to call Doug last night.. took my oldest out shoppin to get some new clothes and didnt get home till real late. And I work my second job tonight after my day job so wont' be able to call now till tomorrow ... I swear I need to find me some rich ol' geezer on his death bed .. (oh did I just say that out loud?)

E.

Didn't ur dad teach you? Your hanging around the wrong crowd girl. Bikers have no money. If we do, we spend it on faster bikes, or shiney parts for our bikes, well anything bike related, but not on women! Not sure where to send you!

It was good to get a few miles on a bike again, but then the rain came....

Did a little sketch of the new paint with my 64 Crayolas with the built-in sharpener.

 

[rosco15]

Getting the trailer closer to done. Starting to look pretty good. A couple more days work and she'll be ready to go.

 

[DreamRyder]

Didn't ur dad teach you? Your hanging around the wrong crowd girl. Bikers have no money. If we do, we spend it on faster bikes, or shiney parts for our bikes, well anything bike related, but not on women! Not sure where to send you!

It was good to get a few miles on a bike again, but then the rain came....

Did a little sketch of the new paint with my 64 Crayolas with the built-in sharpener.

LOL - my Dad taught me to never believe what a guy tells ya if he's smilin while sayin it :-D

as for hangin with the wrong crowd.. I know better than to look for a suga daddy trackside LOL... trackside is for boytoyz only \\/

(j/k)

besides I ain't lookin for a man to spend money on ME... I want the money spent on GO FAST PARTS ;-)

so uh.. where is this sketch you speak of?? come on can't be teasin us like that.


RYAN - LOVIN the trailer progress... dont' be leavin it unattended for too long - may find it being taken over by the crew next door LOL

E.

 

[FJman]

Found this post through a link posted on another site.. hope ya didn't mind me pokin in :grin:

That would have been my work. Don't get in no trouble, E.

Gotta keep the nice air-cooled bikes at the track so I've got someone to race against....

Maybe this year the new motor will do a little better. \\/

 

[DreamRyder]

That would have been my work. Don't get in no trouble, E.

Gotta keep the nice air-cooled bikes at the track so I've got someone to race against....

Maybe this year the new motor will do a little better. \\/

Yup Yup... all your doins - LOL.... well and Marks for postin my & nem's pic here - otherwise you'd never shared the link with us on the other site

as for me gettin in trouble.. NAH... not me... I've been good - trust me

E.

 

[lecroy]

Welcome to the site FJ.

Ryan, I am drooling over here! It's so clean and organized. Would be no problem camping out in it.

besides I ain't lookin for a man to spend money on ME... I want the money spent on GO FAST PARTS ;-)

so uh.. where is this sketch you speak of?? come on can't be teasin us like that.

You have the sponsers. Don't they give you anything for all the plugs you make?

Hey, I wasn't teasin, I was trying to spare you! Its more like a 9 years old's interpretation of what the bike looks like. I can only do so so much with my 64 Crayola Crayons with the Built-In Sharpener...

I am thinking to maybe cut the front fender to cure more like an eagles beak. If not, plan to use the same blue as flag on background with stars. May make the flag with more wave to it, but the downside is time so may just shade it like the other bike.

 

[DreamRyder]

Welcome to the site FJ.

Ryan, I am drooling over here! It's so clean and organized. Would be no problem camping out in it.


You have the sponsers. Don't they give you anything for all the plugs you make?

Hey, I wasn't teasin, I was trying to spare you! Its more like a 9 years old's interpretation of what the bike looks like. I can only do so so much with my 64 Crayola Crayons with the Built-In Sharpener...

I am thinking to maybe cut the front fender to cure more like an eagles beak. If not, plan to use the same blue as flag on background with stars. May make the flag with more wave to it, but the downside is time so may just shade it like the other bike.

I know I want his trailer desperately.. I'd sell my 929 in a heart beat to get my hands on something setup like that....(probably gotta include my arm and leg with the sale but hey... you do what ya gotta do right?)

I get discounted goods or freebie goods but no monetary support... I would love to pickup a few like that but until I can prove myself on the new setup I would not feel right going out there to search for sponsorship..

I love your drawin... wish I had the bodywork to pull something like that off...In fact it's lookin more and more like I gotta cut my side fairings to 3/4 with teh way the turbo setup will be...

E.

 

[lecroy]

Hey freebe goods, like a new turbo? Free nitrous, free tires..... Free bike? What do you need $$$ for?

It won't fit under the front like most I see? Would hate to remove that much material.


Got home tonight and there was a box from Koenig. Everything looks there. Its a lot of raw materials and will take some machine time and welding.

 

[DreamRyder]

Hey freebe goods, like a new turbo? Free nitrous, free tires..... Free bike? What do you need $$$ for?

It won't fit under the front like most I see? Would hate to remove that much material.

Don't I wish those things were free... only little nick nack stuff was free.. the major stuff is only discounted... and even then it's a huge chunk of change to put out all at once.

The turbo sure... BUT it's the filter on the left side that you have to cut away for and the pipes on the right side... and since my right side was already cut for the sidewinder there's not really any good way to cut for the turbo pipes and it not look half a$$... so unless someone wants to donate a new right lower side panel cutting it to 3/4 will be my best bet for making it look clean 8-[

E.

 

[lecroy]

Still, a shame to cut it. I bet Doug could put it back then reform it. You would need to check.

Did you check the junk yards? If you going to have it painted, it's not going to matter a whole lot if the colors don't match.

Anything free is a good thing when it comes to race parts.