Track stories 2007

[rosco15]

We'll finally got out for the first time. Spent some time messing around with the slider clutch to get it set how I wanted it. First pass off the button I ran a 5.97 @113 mph in the eigth. It ran a 1.31 60' time. I was trying to remember. This may be my best eight mile time to date. I didn't run it any further because I don't have my fairing back from the painter. I wasn't sure how the bike would act without the fairing on it. I think I'm going to like this slider clutch. It was very smooth off the line.

There were alot of bikes out there today. There was even a guy testing some kind of a pro fuel harley. Smelled like nitro and he was wearing a bullet proof vest. Ill try and get some video of his first pass up later.

How did everyone else do? Any other personal bests?

 

[RacingJake]

That is great Ryan, thumbs up!!!

At what rpm where you launching at??? I bet you'll find some more speed once you get use to it.

I'm still in the "working the bugs out mode"

 

[lecroy]

Let's see, the weather was fantastic. I think it was the only T&T before the season starts so many of the points people showed, but so did a lot of the Friday night crowd. It was packed. Shorts and T-shirts were common.

The new trailer performed flawless. If pulls with no problem behind the little Escape. Loading and unloading the bike is no problem with the 4X4 blocks. But, I guess you want to know about the bike.....

The bike and rider were another matter. I could not hit a light if I was paid a $10000000000. And yes as a matter of fact, I set a new record alright.....

I made some changes over winter to fatten her. Last year I could not get enough fuel into it (lost a motor if you don't remember). Towards the end of the year I finally put it into the 8's with 15 or so pounds of boost and she was lean.

I made 4 passes. It was just too busy and the track was only open for 6 hours. A lot of roundy rounders there with their street cars.

Boy did I make her fat. I had changed the turbo, dropped 2 teeth off the rear, bigger needle jet, bigger main jet, added my auxillary spray jet, changed electronics, switched to N2O shifting and to top it all off I changed the fuel.

Before taking her I had drilled a new needle jet and tried it. It was so rich the bike would not hardly run. The NGKs didn't foul LOL.. Had to 2nd day air a new set in to make sure I had something to try. Upped it 2 sizes and off we went.

I turned the boost way down to start with and she hardly made enough power to heat the tire up in the box. Then she wouldn't shift (suspect the clutch). She turns a 1.59 short, 6.29 @ 114 1/8 and 9.81 @ 130. I pulled the plugs and the heat line never even made it to the threads.

Pulled the carb, dropped the main down to something more normal then I added a few pounds of boost. Round 2, she still does not shift right (double shifts) and bogs big time off the line. I was running against a little street bike and I decided to go after it. She runs a 2.28 short 6.62 @ 125 and 9.70 @ 150.

Checked the plugs and this time ....... there was little change. Still cold as ice. It's like a whole new beast. So I pull the carb and drop the main. It's now smaller than I ever ran with this engine. I up the boost a little more to try and get her nose up.

Ok here comes the part about the new record.

I take her back up. She is still sluggish in the burnout box. Then, I don't know what came over me but my finger slips off the button. I'm not even on the 2-step. Bike really falls and again, I'm running a street bike so I have to hunt them down... Why can't I just give it up?? LOL. She runs a 2.17 short time to his 2.19 (a couple of beginners LOL) and I end up running a 10.84 @ 151.

Oh yea the record. Well, when My finger slipped my tickets reaction time says LB3A. I have never seen this code and assume it was the worst light known to mankind.

Back to the trailer, pull the plugs. Still way rich. This time I keep the jetting because the next size is way smaller. I decide to up the boost. I run let one more street bike and this time I keep my finger on the button. Cut a steller 0.66 light. Bike gets out of the groove and gets a 1.51 short, 6.21 @ 122 1/8. Crap no shift. I back off the throttle and get a 9.6 @ 135.

Some video. At least the paint looks good. LOL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP2VcXcYw5s

 

[RacingJake]

Sounds like I'm not the only one still in test and tune mode. But I have a good feeling you'll get it all sorted out very soon Mark, then you'll be setting that track on fire.......... Is your system a draw or blow through?

Oh bye the way I'll take that 6.62 if you don't want it.

 

[lecroy]

Thanks for the boost. Ryan has the package to beat for now. He really did do a nice job with that setup and I hope he will post it at some point.

How old is your slick? What brand / compound?

The setup is a Mr. Turbo draw kit I bought in the early 80's. Many of the parts are still the original ones.

Sounds like everyone is alive still, except Bob. Where R U Bob??? Did you let your dad take the bike for a spin to see if he really likes it?

 

[rosco15]

Once I get some testing on it I'l probably put it out there for others to see.

With the slider I'm launching down at 4800 rpm. A 5.97 in the 1/8th should have been low to mid 9.50's in the 1/4. I'm hoping to get out saturday and make some full passes. Hopefully the weather holds out for us.

 

[RacingJake]

How about alittle NOS Ryan........ that should put you in the 8's

Hey Mark it's the M/T standard 7" slick, not to sure about the compound. But I'm about down to the wear holes in the middle.

Going to try it again soon.. me thinks the track prep may be part of the problem too.

 

[lecroy]

Points start next weekend, so I am back to pit man for now.

Any interest in running used tires?

 

[rosco15]

Here is that harley that was out last weekend.
http://media.putfile.com/nitroHarley

Finally got my fairing.

 

[RacingJake]

Heard some talk about our track had some money come up missing, some watering down of the traction compound, etc. So last night when I staged my boots where sticking to the track and I said what the heck is going on. Didn't even spin once off the line. Maybe it's new management or VHT is back anyhow I love it, track hasn't stuck like that in a long time.

I got down to a 7.12 and 102 mph, now that the track is good I can start changing the gearing and advance the intake cam and get back in the 6's.

 

[lecroy]

The fairing looks good on there. More sleek than the old one. Did you get any chances to make some full passes with it?

Almost into the 6's again! Won't be much longer now. Any thought on the used tires? I would need to take a look to see what sort of condition they are in but normally we change them before they are wore out.

We had a good turnout for the bikes. A lot of guys showed up from the other local tracks from both Michigan and Indiana. Glad to see them all come. They brought some fierce compitition. Great weather. Air was real good. Nothing scary to report. The kid took the win.

 

[rosco15]

It was cold and rainy. They were open from 10-5. I stayed home watching it rain. Called the track at 11:30 and was advised they were also watching it rain, but would probably call it in an hour. Later a friend called me and said they got on the track by 2. He made 8 passes in 2 hours. I stayed home.

We start points next Saturday. I'm going to try and go out wednesday. The track should be good enough to get a pass or two in.

I like the fairing alot. The top of it is shifted slightly to the left. The left side of the screen is slightly higher than the right side. The bottom of the fairing is centered and level. I never noticed it until I put it on painted. Wish I would have noticed it earlier. I'm not sure that others would notice it unless I pointed it out. Not sure what I can do about it at this point.

 

[rosco15]

I went out tonight and made 3 passes. The 60' was awesome.
pass#1 1.327
pass#2 1.326
Pass #3 1.329

Here is a vid of the bike leaving. Ran a 9.63 @133. 3 more times back to the pits no problems.

http://media.putfile.com/sliderlaunch

 

[lecroy]

With those numbers I expect BIG things from you this year!!! The video looks great but we would love to see the new hardware in action. Maybe take a weekend off and bring the family to one of the all bike events at Martin.

After watching the video... You are now running the 1100 crank gear and I assume the stock transmission ratios. What sprockets are you using? In the video that rear looks like it is near 50.


4/30/2007
CURRENT & PAST TRACK CHAMPIONS WASTE NO TIME

Under much anticipated sunny skies, racers at Knoll Gas Motorsports Park at US 131 completed its first of 17 scheduled points races in the Lane Edelbrock Bracket Racing Series. There were some new cars, some new paint and some new engines. However, not new to the Engine Pro Winner’s Circle were Saturday’s winners that included current and past champions.

Not wasting any time in earning their victories were Rusty Baad of Kalamazoo in Top ET, Rick Wanamaker of Kalamazoo in Modified, Tyler Fisher of Bridgeman in Motorcycle and Jessie Horvath of South Bend , Indiana in Beginner Jr. Dragster. Saturday’s winners also included Daniel Smith of Belmont in Street and Lyndsi Stockwell of Kalamazoo in Advanced Jr. Dragster.

Each winner and runner-up in all six classes took part in the Lane Automotive/Crane Cams bonus money by entering into the season points program and running the Lane Automotive decals on their vehicles. In another bonus program, new to 2007, is the Performance Engineering “Slow Hand Award.” This is a $250 certificate for labor, to Performance Engineering of Jenison, that is given to the driver with the slowest winning reaction time, green light starts only, during first round in the Top ET and Modified classes. The competitor must be entered into the season points program and run the Performance Engineering decals to be eligible.


Fisher Body Shop Motorcycles - Tyler Fisher of Bridgeman, 8.787, 133.97 mph def. Bob Foster Jr. of Lansing, IL, 8.907, 144.16 mph. Semifinalist Mike Krueger of Lowell , IN.

Motorcycle - 2007 Points
1 3021 Tyler Fisher 51
2 4X47 Bob Foster, Jr. 41
3 1X03 Mike Krueger 31
4 3218 Jerry Dekam 21
5 2260 Doug Fisher 21
6 8X18 Bob Foster, Sr. 11
7 1951 Barry Zink 11
8 UX33 B.C. Carl 11
9 UX05 Jeff Green 11
10 394 Bruce Risher 11
11 161 John Brodie 1
12 3669 Steve Kintner 1
13 911 Doug Stull 1
14 4026 Mary Stull 1
15 3817 Carlos Guzman 1
16 165 Tim Sullivan 1
17 750 Jeff Eurich 1
18 1770 Scott VanderYacht 1

 

[rosco15]

When I did the conversion from the 750 primary to the 1100 primary I figured I was right between a 48 and a 49 tooth rear sprocket. I went with the 48. I guess maybe I should have went with the 49. It used to go thru the traps at about 9700 or so. I'm guessing it's probably there or maybe lower. I would need to lower the shift light for the sixth gear shift to see exactly where I'm at. Now I've got the light set at 10,000 for the non-existant 6th gear and I never see it.

I would come up there, but I think I'm going to stay away from that kid. He sounds real tough. Oour first points meet is Saturday.

 

[lecroy]

I started out with a 15/48 on my bike. Man did it sing. What do you have in the front?


With 60's like that you have nothing to fear. They are in line with the kids bike. It would be fun to have you come up and enjoy some of our cooler weather. During the bike meets we normally camp out and have a pretty good time.

 

[rosco15]

The front is a 15. So I'm 15/48. With less motor I probably need to go up 1 or 2 more. I wish sprockets were cheaper.

I slowed the video down to 25%. It has the tire in the air riding the bars all the way to the tree. Or so it looks to me....
http://media.putfile.com/slow-speec-dragbike-launch

 

[lecroy]

LOL. I wish all the parts were cheaper!!!

Not sure if this helps, but if your running the same size tires (26") and say you want to limit the RPM to 10,000 and stay with the 15 T front.

Rear Sprocket, Max speed in 5th gear

51 tooth, 133 MPH
50, 136
49, 139
48, 141
46, 148
44, 154
42, 162

I did a little Excel sheet if you want it. Seems like the 50 may be a good choice. Down side is the track prep. Martin is a funky track to race on. It was built in the swamps. Once the sun goes down, the dew starts to settle on the track. Not too much of a problem in the summer.

 

[lecroy]

My old 1100 head after Paul's guy made a few tweeks.

Now, paint it red to match the cases?

Interesting thing to mention. I had switched to the 1150 head not because of the bigger valves but because I was told that the 1100 head would not hold up to much over 20 PSI boost. I spoke with Terry who said that this would not be an issue unless the engine went lean or you were running close to 40 PSI. I have learned to trust his call.

 

[lecroy]

We had a pretty good weekend. A little on the cold side but othere than that the weather was great. I took my bike up on Friday to see if the accumulator would solve the shift problem and to get the clutch sorted back out.

There were some guys parked next to us with a car. They came over after one of their passes to show us how the drive shaft went thru the floor board. This was not too scary untill they told us that half of the shaft was on the track and they were trying to get them to stop the race. Who was up next, the bikes! There were only 4 of us and we all went! None of us saw it, good thing!

Funny thing, the bike has been going very streight, until that pass. We had a lot of wind over the weekend. Not sure if that was it, or an angle reached down and moved me over (to miss the drive shaft), but once I passed the stripe, I ended up crossing over the center line. I think this may have been the first time I ever did this.

The accumulator seems to have solved the shift problem. No miss shifts all night. The bike never miss shifted until I added the nitrous regulator. I was guessing that the regulator was too slow and it slowed down the cylinder. It must have been the case.

Clutch came together after a few tweeks. Ran into a snag with the turbo and could not figure out a solution so I packed it up. Ended up making 5 passes. Did set a new record with her but nothing steller. She ran a 1.32 short, 5.56 1/8, 8.6821 @ 155.72 MPH 1/4. So I am back to where I was last year, but have a lot of room to grow now. Engine is running rich and smooth.

Saturday was not so great. The kid fell to Green when he got out of the groove and the tire spun. Wish I had video. It was scary to watch. Dad made it to the finals with Green, but in the end it was Green. Have a friend who races an altered that won what ever class he is in.