Went back up the I76 Speedway for saturday night races again. I was unsure how I would do but managed to pull out the win.
The competition:
-82 xz550
-07 HD Nightster 1200
-70s CB360T
-02 Suzuki TL1000(inane cathode)
2nd time being on the track with 2 wins now. It's all downhill from here. Mega fun doing it on a Vision. Should be back out there next week too. Pics to come.
This is too easy, you should pull a spark plug wire off next time for more of a challenge! :D
The Nightster has lines reminiscent of an XR but I doubt handles a dirt track like one. Did the Honda come in second again or was the finish order how you listed the bikes?
Yeh HOnda 2nd
1-xz
2-360T
3-Vstrom
4-HD
My new TT600 rear shock and freshened front fork oil helped me keep the bike leaned hard in the ruted turns. 2nd gear revved out to about 11500 in the straights before I had to grab for the brakes. Love the sound of the Mac pipes going into the straights. This week the Vision wasn't running so good. Think I had a vacuum leak on one of the capped YICS port. I thought the big bores would catch me in the straights but have yet to see anyone even keep up in a drag race to the corner. Last time the BMW1150 held off being passed until the corner.
Kwells you make me envious !!! I wish I was young enough to to take a shot at it!! How about having someone take a few pics?
Those pipes were designed for turning left;)
Here's a few pics that were taking by my wife from the stands. Hard to get good pics through a fence though. I ordered a print from the track photographer from the 1st race.
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6707.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6707.jpg)
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6702.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6702.jpg)
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6701.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6701.jpg)
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6700.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6700.jpg)
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6697.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6697.jpg)
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6696.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6696.jpg)
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6695.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6695.jpg)
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6694.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6694.jpg)
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/th_IMG_6693.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g56/kwellzz/Hooligan%20Racing/?action=view¤t=IMG_6693.jpg)
No wonder the Honda came in second....the other two couldn't get around his flags! :D
Go Kevin, go! Leave the plug wire on. Show them where the power is.
Thanks for the pics Kevin, I saved one on my photo bucket page!
Looks like a blast. Did you lap them all like the first time?
No lapping this time. The race was only held to 6 laps instead of the 12 like last time. I think everyone was on the same lap so the field was a little more comfortable with their bikes I think than last time.
kwells, congratulations and kudos for your effort. You make us all proud, you know. How about some more aggressive tires? Or would that not help?
I'm running Shinko 705 Trail Masters. They are the most aggressive tires I've ever run on any street bike other than the Golden Boys on my CL200. I'm thinking of letting pressures down some...what you think?
Here's a link to the tires I put on
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/ZZ32902?utm_source=none&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&gclid=CK3q8_Po_LACFbEBQAodSH_0DQ
are you actually spinning the tire? Id say that lower pressure will def. hook up better,
The front seems to stick for the most part. Coming out of the turn when I get back on the gas I'll light the rear up. When the clay is still soft it'll throw the bike around when the rear breaks loose.
A dual sport tyre , like the Shinko, would probably work well. Your not turning the speeds, that we saw at Ascot Park , long ago but there is a similarity . back then they used either Pirellis or Dunlop K70's . The tyre tread were cut to restore the edge , using a razor blade and a pair of vise grips. The dual sport tyres remind me of those. You should have some wheel spin, as this is the most effective way to turn , at speed, on a clay track. What kind of speeds are you reaching at the end of the straight?
Quote from: Rick G on July 01, 2012, 08:04:11 PM
I wish I was young enough to to take a shot at it!!
My uncle started racing a few years back on his BSA, Street and track - he is 75
I have a lot of arthritus , its so bad in my left thumb , that I have to leave my thumb on top of the grip and not wrap it around. I pull the clutch in using my palm and fingers. Still hurts like hell most of the time! I'm going to take it up with my doctor , maybe shots in the joint will solve it. I would accept having it frozen in place as long as it would wrap around the grip.
I have 3 XL350 Honda's and have been known to go like hell across the desert, but you really have to hang on on rough ground and my ability to do that is compromised.
As I recall the XL350s were stout motors and could be pumped for a lot of power. Webco faded out as Powroll rose to power, lots of aftermarket trinkets available at the time, but the 2 strokes were on top of the hill so to speak.
Not having much experience in dirt racing I tentatively offer what I learned on asphalt tracks: if you transfer your weight forward the back steps out but the front is planted, if you transfer your weight back too far the front steps out (not good), you need to find the balance to keep the front planted and the back just beginning to step out. You probably already do this automatically and don't think about it.
It always amazed me to watch Kenny Roberts, who grew up on dirt tracks, take his abilities to the paved circuits and consistently win. It wasn't smooth or dependable at first but he got smoother and much more reliable to take the win, even in Europe. That was really something to see and understand, as the Europeans basically invented road racing and had dominated the scene since it started.
Struggling to go ever faster, , leaning farther, shaving the micro seconds for braking, acceleration: piling on the agony (Barry Sheen)
There still pumping up XL's , there is a good forum , with lots of knowledgable members (like the ROV) You can still get enough parts to keep one going or soup one up. Rings just became available for the first time in years. The XLs are nose heavy and the best way to steer then, in the dirt is to crawl up on the gas tank and let the rear end hang out. If your on rough ground, you get as far back as you can and let the front end work . Tyres are extremely important , Too much traction in the rear and it won't steer. a poor tyre in the front and it will wash out. Ask me how I know!
There stone reliable and performed better than the 500 brit singles that proceeded them. They were lots lighter and easier to ride. I 'm not a Honda fan , but I like the 350 singles.
I'd love to go to the track Kwells rides, at and see how it would do!
I'm wrapping 2nd gear out to about 11k(rev limiter cut) at the end of the straight. According the the tech data sheet that puts me right around 60mph coming in hot at the turn and full on the brakes. I always want to shift into 3rd for a second but that would prob make me lose more time in shifts. I don't truly ride flat track style like the pros. I'd need some serious training to get that kind of finesse down with this heavy beast.
Hopefully I fixed my odd running issue by replacing my YICS caps. Another race this saturday so I'll know soon.
I was never an expert on this type of riding , but I learned a lot by watching and rode a little TT. You really need a hot shoe, or at least a boot with a flat sole. You sit as far forward as possible and put lots of weight on the left leg IE: hot shoe . Steer with the slide, using mostly throttle to bring the rear end around. On tighter tracks like short track , 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile (like Ascot which was a "small 1/2 mile) "stuff" the bike down on the left side. Keep your right knee tight to the tank .
I did push the left side in some but the rear never broke free as a controlled move to steer.
Another example of a skill that takes a while to develop, like a thousand times or more. Experience will take you farther, especially now that you have some. As long as you are winning I'd say you are doing just fine, but when you no longer win you will want to look carefully at each aspect of the process so you can fine tune each aspect. They all add up to more wins if you stick with the process. Be careful, this sort of stuff can be addicting!
I think you might benefit from some practice time so you get familiar with the power slide process of shifting your weight, applying throttle, wrestling the bike, etc. It seems the fast guys hold the throttle on longer
Weight forward should allow the rear to step out under acceleration. You have a steep learning curve to deal with, but I think you will get on top of this and win some more. You might talk with some of the older faster riders about technique, they have been there and probably have some answers.
Watching the speedway riders go at it tells me they all can power slide but some do it better and faster than others. The fastest guys pick up their inside foot to get as much weight on the rear wheel for traction as they can. So effectively they are powering through the turns with no feet on the ground, just the wheels. It looks really smooth and cool but must be riding the razor's edge of balance. Just a little rut and whoops!
I don't think I'll have any time this week but want to head over to the IMI track to to some practicing. If I could get the rear to break free through the turn I would probably cut my times by 25%. When the track is wet I can break the rear free just for fun but it never amounts to anything.
Have fun but be carefull out there. Your mostly stock Vision doesn't have the power to weight ratio, weight bias, suspension geometry/setup, etc. of a flat tracker. High siding would be a bummer. ;)
The problem with trying to power through the turns, is that a fair amount of speed is needed to make it work ( a fair amount of cajones too!) I'd love to try it on my XL350, not so sure about doing it on a road going Vision.
Kevin, that is so cool, I hadn't read this until this morning, that looks like so much fun! The rule about having to ride, to and from, the track, cracks me up!! Staying in second, sounds good also, unless the thing will pull the full lap in third, third, might be easier to ride. Tape a bunch of layers of plastic milk jug to your boot, to make it slip when you put it down. Benny Boy must not like you anymore??? HA HA HA I would sure try 20 PSI, or less air in those tires. I had at pair of Shinko 712 and had to run em like 20 on the street, to make them work, otherwise, they slipped, from not heating up. Don't bust your ass, and keep beatin BEN
This week's race got cancelled due to rain. I went through 50 miles of rain on the way out and the full 80 miles trip back to Denver. On the plus side my tires hold the road pretty good at highway speeds and my rain gear works pretty well.
Hear's another thing, I thought of. Second gear start, rev the hell out of it, make sure you are standing over the bike, lots of revs, and drop it, this needs to be practiced.
yeh, I need to head up to the IMI short track for some practice time.