Track Stories 08

[DreamRyder]

This was the bike my leathers were designed to match originally...

And this is the reason why it got it's custom paint.. I hit a deer head on and the insurance totalled it.. it was only cosmetic damage so I bought it back and fixed it and used the money to get it painted to what I wanted ..

 

[lecroy]

thanks.. yeah it's just hard to get someone to be the camera guy at the track cuz all my buddies are racers too.. BUT this summer my kids will be with me trackside so hopefully I'll at least get part of my runs on tape...

Didn't you have one of you kids up there last summer? I thought some of your family came out to cheer you on? Hey you park too close to us and I tend to notice more. Have to keep an eye on the compitition.

Yea, I pull tripple duty some times for a week. I did not run a single race last summer. I was the only bich and working on two or three bikes can be a bit much. Wish I could take more video but it's not really the reason we are there. I guess you figured that out already. Our camp can be a little intense at times.... LOL

... once I did that there was too much interferance and ruined the recordings.. or find some type of MOV or resistor of some sort to put in the line to stop it.....

You know what a MOV is? Now why would you know that?

.SWEET! Reckon I should ask the cost huh?

It will depend on the number they let run. I think they post the cost on the website for the actual track rental and we just split it up. They run the lights but you have to pick up your own tickets at the tree, off the printer.

My initial goal was to go as fast as I could on stock motor before spraying.. then to go as fast as I could on spray before steppin it up to more spray or bigger motor (or turbo) .. I ran my 9's and I ran 8's now I'm ready for those 7's [-o<

I'm with you on that one! I tried to make it there last summer but it seemed like too many bad things happened. Kicker is all of it was my own fault. Still learning the ropes...

can't afford to get it painted this year after paying for the rebuild nothing left for bling bling.. unless you know someone that want's to sponsor me with a new paint job )~ yeah my leathers I designed to match my 929 I had custom painted .. that was before the dragracing scene... I think I even said something to ya, the first night, that I should be the one riding your bike cuz I matched it better than you -heehheeh

May be able to get you a good deal. Any idea on what your looking at doing? Yea I remember you saying that you had the bike to the painters but the season started up and they had not done anything with it. I thought you were going to paint the busa as a flag? Figure out what you want done and let me know.

at 8.6's with a small progressive dry shot I'm sure I could have pulled some 8.5's on ya after turnin the spray up.. and I only saw one sub .5 run in your vids ...... and that was with no competition next to me to drive me harder... I'd done it.. might of took me a few passes to get in the groove but I would have.. trust me I always reach my goals (knock on wood) :O) Now now no need to be so hard on yourself... you got all the cheater goodies to help you go fast.. all I had was an airshifter and single stage lock up, a controlled small dry shot of NOS, and swingarm extended to 66" wheel base... not to mention you got WAY MORE YEARS of experience than I... you got all the advantages...

LMFAO!!! Ya get spanked by the old fat on the 30 year old GS and you can't let it go!!!
I know, if the forks were good, if you could have sprayed that night, if ..... LOL Girl, you have way more reasons why you don't step it up than me!! I'm just an old fart with an old bike, you need to set higher goals for yourself!! LOL

I was turning things way down towards the end of the year, working on finding the sweet spots and still out running your best posted times. When you think your ready to take me on heads up, you know where I am. LOL

There were a few other vids on that site but not sure if there were any more of me. Check out the one I made for the kid. It's a video on how not to ride!! I wish I had video of how well he rides, but when I tape it's because we are having problems. He's come a long way.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/efa18cf8-1f86-4f8d-880c-9a3d0188ccd5.htm

Build your new fancy thing and I'll run it too... as long as we both cross the line rubber side down I'm happy ... oh who am I kidden I hate loosin LMAO...
E.

Damm I hate to loose too!! I know I have a problem with it and have tried to get some help but nothing works!!! And you know what they say about drag racing....

How did you know I was putting the new ride together just to give you something new to go after?

 

[lecroy]

I put in these gold springs (close to 60 I think) and they are about 1/4" longer than my normal 1.5" springs I've been using from Schnitz's. With a bolt/nut on each arm I got a feeling it's over kill.
But at least I can rule out the clutch then move on to the NOS controller next.

Hope you get some warm sticky weather soon.

The gold (these are plated, not painted) ones they used from APE are 1.69". The red ones were 1.56" I checked them with a Dillon gauge which I had cal'ed last summer.

I finally finished up the front end today. Everything fits together nice and tight. Went to spin the front wheel and crap, more problems. She's bent. Checked the runout and its a tad over a tenth. Looks like it was bent in a wheel chock. Those RC rims are light, but at a price. Shouldn't be a too big a problem to straighten.


Hey Ryan, I think I bought the same nose. Was looking at your pictures to see how you mounted it. Is this how you have it tied in?

 

[RacingJake]

Here what my slick looked like after a run on NOS........... I don't think my clutch was slipping on the topend by the looks of the slick ???

Did my normal burnout year after year...... strange. I guess I need a propane torch and a puddy knife next.

Here's one from a launch and you can see the tire is really into the track. Looks like alittle more tuning is required.

 

[rosco15]

Yes just 4 mounting points. I have rubber gromets that are attached to the fairing and rest against the upper part of the dash. Give it 2 extra contact points at the top.
You can see them in this pic.
http://www.angelfire.com/pro/rccracing0/Picture 057.jpg

Of course this is with the fairing on. You can see the zeus fasteners.
http://www.angelfire.com/pro/rccracing0/Picture 216-2.jpg

it's rock steady like this. The old one used to vibrate like crazy.

 

[lecroy]

She looks squated down pretty good, but doesn't mean that 10' 100' 300' down that things don't change. What did the ticket show? Does it loose it up the middle?

Ryan, do you use any other support on the square tube off the neck?


Man, bending the wheels is not all its cracked up to be. I mounted the axel in a vice vertically. Then set the dial on the table. Put the wheel on and measured the rim. Very bad. Took the rim off the hub an measured the arms. One was out about a 1/10th. Another was off about 0.020. Into a second vice and with a little fat love I got them all within 0.003. This took about 20 trips back and forth between the two vices. Next I laid the rim back on the arms and checked. Rim was bent in two spots. Now a 3' 2X4 and some other blocks of wood and using the shop lathe to hold the one side, a little boot action and about 20 more trips back and forth and the rim looks real good. Checked the wall spacing next and it all looks good. The tire is bent and its hard to bend rubber and have it stick so I called it good and mounted it all back on the bike. Much better now.

The new rear sprocket made it in today. Its a 47 630 and its huge. Goes with the rest of this strange looking bike. I got it mounted and put the wheel into the chassis. That's about the end of it now until the new parts from Koenig come. Ordered everything I could except the bars. They sort of cringe when you tell them about the hose clamped motor mounts....

 

[lecroy]

It looks like the only bolts that will be saved are the ones on the rear wheel. Went to put the rear axel adjusters in. Dug them out of the "need to inspect pile". First one looks fine but what's this, something that looks like a nut that would hold grandma's lamp together? Of course, it's stripped..... One more trip to the local fastener shop should take care of it.

Got ahold of RC yesterday and had them send out new hardware for the front wheel (nuts and bolts) after I noticed one was stripped when I was putting it back together. I couldn't buy these parts at the local shops. Just too special.

 

[RacingJake]

I set the 2 dail to a progressive ramp on each gear change so the shock to the slick is reduced. Also going to un strap the front end and see if alittle more weight transfer to the rearwheel will help too.

Me thinks the longer swingarm may be the real issue so a few more adjustments should fix it or until the track starts coming around again.

Bikes runs great off the bottle it's when you touch that little button it gets interesting.

Compared to last year's best 330 to 1/8, I'm about .17 slower and down 9 mph. I'm not worried I'll get it back soon

 

[rosco15]

The bracket is a flat piece of steel that bolts to the bottom of the triple. The square tube is welded at an angle to the back side of the plate. Near the front of the plate I put a piece of round steel tubing that goes from the plate down to the square tubing for extra support. You can just see the extra support below the relay and to the left of the white plug. I got the steel from the local hardware store. I wish I had a pic of it not installed. You could see it better.

I took half a day off and started working on the trailer a bit. Got my cabinets in, diamond plate, and wheel chocks. it was a good start.

 

[lecroy]

Thats a nice looking trailer. You need a friend like me that you can take to the track with you now to use up some of that space.

I like my little trailer but there is no way that new bike is going to fit inside. I was thinking to modify the nose to extend it forward another foot or so. I may have to bite the bullet.

Got a letter from our bud Mr Henry. Looks like they took down the Japs in an all out war in Daytona. Yea, it's not drag racing, but it is a track story. DreamRyder may enjoy this as well...

http://www.roadracerx.com/article.php?article_id=762

 

[rosco15]

One of the guys at our track modifies his for just his wheelie bars. He loads the bike backwards. Made the modification to the nose pretty simple and small.

 

[lecroy]

I was thinking just a small wedge in the front. Just enough to get the tire into. Once the chassis is together, I'll take a look. My bike is packed in there pretty tight with all my crap. Width may be a whole different problem.

Damm I wanted cowboy to win.

 

[lecroy]

I got the new hardware for the front wheel yesterday so I finished it up tonight. Front brakes are next. I have the mounting plate done but the caliper needs to be cleaned and checked. Its all black right now and I am thinking to polish it as well.

 

[DreamRyder]

Didn't you have one of you kids up there last summer? I thought some of your family came out to cheer you on? Hey you park too close to us and I tend to notice more. Have to keep an eye on the compitition.

I don't recall my girls coming to US131 with me.. only Ubly but this year they will be with me at almost ALL the events starting mid June.

no worries.. I'm a firm believer in keeping your freinds close and your competition even closer \\/

Yea, I pull tripple duty some times for a week. I did not run a single race last summer. I was the only bich and working on two or three bikes can be a bit much. Wish I could take more video but it's not really the reason we are there. I guess you figured that out already. Our camp can be a little intense at times.... LOL

I like the videos more for the educational end of things.. I am very visual.. you can tell me something till you're blue in the face for me to understand but show me and I usually get it the first time. I look at my vids to see what I'm doin right or wrong. Know exactly what you mean about camp gettin intense... especially with multiple racers tryin to work on bikes and race...

You know what a MOV is? Now why would you know that?

LOL - most are surprised to hear that I use to teach seminars on trouble shooting computerized electrical control panels for the products we manufactured where I worked in MI (along with many other duties) but I truely enjoyed working hands on - after all I'm not just a pretty face :-\"

It will depend on the number they let run. I think they post the cost on the website for the actual track rental and we just split it up. They run the lights but you have to pick up your own tickets at the tree, off the printer.

sweet deal... you said this was before the Sled and Bike Mania dates right?

May be able to get you a good deal. Any idea on what your looking at doing? Yea I remember you saying that you had the bike to the painters but the season started up and they had not done anything with it. I thought you were going to paint the busa as a flag? Figure out what you want done and let me know.

Yup you remember correctly... I'm open for design ideas - ofcourse something simple and not too crazy as the price usually gets up there quick ... I dont' want to copy my 929 (pics posted eariler on the road race course) but yes something along the flag theme ...

LMFAO!!! Ya get spanked by the old fat on the 30 year old GS and you can't let it go!!!
I know, if the forks were good, if you could have sprayed that night, if ..... LOL Girl, you have way more reasons why you don't step it up than me!! I'm just an old fart with an old bike, you need to set higher goals for yourself!! LOL

Oh trust me I'm all about steppin it up... just gotta ensure I can handle the power before I do... my goals have always been take it as far as I can before I put more money into it to go faster.. and uhm.. I cant' think of a better way to go faster than with the RCC Ultra Turbo - heehehee

I was turning things way down towards the end of the year, working on finding the sweet spots and still out running your best posted times. When you think your ready to take me on heads up, you know where I am. LOL

I bet I could have ran your times as well if I had been on a bike set up like yours... :^O

HOWEVER - I'll take that challenge... I'll have the box of kleenex for ya at the ticket shed so you can wipe those tears away from realizin ya just had your ars handed to ya by a GIRL! ;o)

There were a few other vids on that site but not sure if there were any more of me. Check out the one I made for the kid. It's a video on how not to ride!! I wish I had video of how well he rides, but when I tape it's because we are having problems. He's come a long way.

yeah I enjoyed watchin him make passes... it's great to see the younger generation coming into their own ain't it?

Damm I hate to loose too!! I know I have a problem with it and have tried to get some help but nothing works!!! And you know what they say about drag racing....

How did you know I was putting the new ride together just to give you something new to go after?

Yeah.... "someone's gotta loose!" or is it "If you aint first you're last!

hahahah... darlin... you're just ONE of my speed bumps this season :-D

E.

 

[DreamRyder]

The bracket is a flat piece of steel that bolts to the bottom of the triple. The square tube is welded at an angle to the back side of the plate. Near the front of the plate I put a piece of round steel tubing that goes from the plate down to the square tubing for extra support. You can just see the extra support below the relay and to the left of the white plug. I got the steel from the local hardware store. I wish I had a pic of it not installed. You could see it better.

I took half a day off and started working on the trailer a bit. Got my cabinets in, diamond plate, and wheel chocks. it was a good start.

I'm IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that looks exactly like what I wanna upgrade to...

this is mine now.. a mini version of yours LOL

E.

this picture was takin when it was almost done.. had one more strip of etrack to put down I did all the work myself.. to include cutting out the counter top and building the work bench up front...

I absolutely love my condor chocks with the etrack.. makes securing the bike so much better an no more messed up grips or side plastics...

Here is the picture of the trailer when I bought it...

 

[lecroy]

> I am very visual.. you can tell me something till you're blue in the face for me to understand but show me and I usually get it the first time. I look at my vids to see what I'm doin right or wrong.

Yes, the camera doesn't lie!! I have made some slow motion videos that really show the details. Fun to watch when it's no you riding.

>LOL - most are surprised to hear that I use to teach seminars on trouble shooting computerized ..

If you don't mind, where were you working back then?

>. you said this was before the Sled and Bike Mania dates right?

Yes, the sled guys put on the last one. I think it cost $50/sled.

>Yup you remember correctly... I'm open for design ideas - ofcourse something simple and not too crazy as the price usually gets up there quick ... I dont' want to copy my 929 (pics posted eariler on the road race course) but yes something along the flag theme ...

You think about it. The paint time is short. I think the window is 24 hours. The prep time is what kills. Your body is in good enough shape (bikes). I agree, don't go hog wild on the paint, things happen. I liked my flag paint, but that chain really made a mess of it. If you come up with something and want to talk I'll pass you the number.

I have been thinking about the paint for the bike I am working on now. Because of the bug face body style, I am thinking to have an eagles head that blends into a flag. I need to make some sketches. Plan to shoot both bikes in the next few months.

>I bet I could have ran your times as well if I had been on a bike set up like yours... :^O

Better. You have to be at least 100 pounds lighter and more aerodynamic.

>HOWEVER - I'll take that challenge... I'll have the box of kleenex for ya at the ticket shed so you can wipe those tears away from realizin ya just had your ars handed to ya by a GIRL! ;o)

LOL. It won't be the first, or last I'm sure. Just make sure you come loaded for bear this year! The old fat man and his lady have a few tricks left for you.

> yeah I enjoyed watchin him make passes... it's great to see the younger generation coming into their own ain't it?

Agree. I hope that he is able to do something with it. He has a lot of talent (not seen in the videos).

 

[DreamRyder]

If you don't mind, where were you working back then?

Evenheat Kiln - Caseville, MI (manufacturer of kilns to fire ceramics, pottery, fuse glass, and heat treat metal)

Yes, the sled guys put on the last one. I think it cost $50/sled.

great deal... who would we be sending money to then.. you?

You think about it. The paint time is short. I think the window is 24 hours. The prep time is what kills. Your body is in good enough shape (bikes). I agree, don't go hog wild on the paint, things happen. I liked my flag paint, but that chain really made a mess of it. If you come up with something and want to talk I'll pass you the number.

I have been thinking about the paint for the bike I am working on now. Because of the bug face body style, I am thinking to have an eagles head that blends into a flag. I need to make some sketches. Plan to shoot both bikes in the next few months.

yeah I have new gained respect for painters after painting my F4i track bike... *eek*

not the best pics of it..but all I have that I can link to right now.

can't believe you mentioned the same paint job I first wanted for the busa... saw it on a car and thought with the shape of the front end of the busa that it would fit perfect LOL

yeah if you can shoot me an email with the number I'd love to call and see what my options are.. I dont' have any photo shop job pics to reference but does your painter have an eye for ideas himself? I'm open ...

LOL at the body shape comment.. in fact I will have a brand new tail and tank still in primer.. only keepin the front and side panels.. unfortunately they have a ton of decals on that need to be taken off.

Better. You have to be at least 100 pounds lighter and more aerodynamic.

100! I doubt that.. I weight 136 without leathers... areodynamic?? maybe now with the lower profile tank but before nah.. as seen in all my pics my head is way to high.. had a hard time with gettin my chin to the tank with a lil somethin somethin in my way LOL

LOL. It won't be the first, or last I'm sure. Just make sure you come loaded for bear this year! The old fat man and his lady have a few tricks left for you.

wont' be the first bear I've taken down ;o)

Agree. I hope that he is able to do something with it. He has a lot of talent (not seen in the videos).

well he's def got the right help to ensure that!

E.

 

[lecroy]

I'll put you in touch with the people putting it on, if they do it again this year. We just pay once inside the gates. If they ask for it up front, we will get an address where to send it.

I am working on some sketches for the new bike. For the flag paint I did some crayon drawings (really) that I used to show the air brush artist. Not much fun for him as there was little freehand work. The Raptor was just a freehand, shoot something different and cool on it, sort of thing. Let me find the pictures I have to give you an idea. He does a good job. The idea is not to make it so good that you forget that its a work bike and not a show bike.


>>100! I doubt that.. I weight 136 without leathers... areodynamic??

Last year, 205 and 30 pounds of gear. Compared to the kid coming in at 130 with his gear! Yea, you have less surface area to deal with. And my man boobs are a little flatter than yours. It all adds up. LOL.

Dang, poor bear. Now I know whats in store for me?!

Yea, we try to keep the kid in check. He always talked about turning pro as a kid. I would like to see it happen for him. Getting his NHRA ProStock license was a big step. Now we just need a ride..

 

[lecroy]

The Shark on the left. Sorry but I don't have any real good shots of this bike for some reason.
The Kaw on right is a flop paint with bolts on it. This was the standard theme for a while.

Bike on the left is the little bike the kid rides now before we painted it again last year. Again, flop but with barb wire.

This is the little bike after the last paint job. Skull Shine logos are all hand painted.

 

[lecroy]

This is the new bike we have been playing around with. Expect it to place very pretty well this year now that we have the bugs worked out of it.

This bike is a work in progress. Yes, it's more than a pretty face. Massive 2 valve Kaw. You may get to see it this year.

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.