| Author | Message | ||
     Fast1075 |
Looks like Buell takes it on the chin this year...NHRA has authorized 4 valve head,revised bore spacing on completely aftermarket "Suzuki"  engines....and not wanting to be outdone, Harley (read that as Byron Hines) received the nod for 4 valve heads and other revisions...Buell has not received such approvals. Looks like "THEY" got tired of having their butts kicked by Buells...once again Buell becomes the redheaded stepchild of the MOCO  (Message edited by fast1075 on January 30, 2009) (Message edited by fast1075 on January 30, 2009) | ||
| Fast1075 |
Fresh news: Angie McBride to race for the Nitro Fish team...she will be riding the Buell that Matt Smith rode last season.... Everybody Buell up...it's gonna be a tough season with the 2 valve Buells up against the new Harley and Suzuki hardware... | ||
| Jeffb |
I don't think most of the teams are even going to show up. Matt has one of his Buell's on racingjunk.com for sale. G2 won't be campaigning a bike, at least initially. I think most are having sponsorship troubles, so it will depend on how much they are willing to spend out of their pocket. Jeff | ||
| Fast1075 |
It's gonna be a slayfest anyways...the Buell will have no chance (without major rules change)now that the "competition" has such advantage if they care to use it. In any case...the Gainesville race is coming up very soon (opener for bikes)...we will see. | ||
| 46champ |
I wonder if they will even have a full field, or will the bump be about 7.35 which will let the Muzzy Kawasaki in. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Most likely they will be looking for a full field...I would think Rob could do better than that with a '14.. will still be an underdog compared to the Harley, 'specially if they show up with the 4 valve motor...the Zuk will be the dominator if they actually bring one to the table and get all the bugs wrung out. It's interesting over in the AMA drag camp..they have a whole new formula for 2009 prostock...it won't be as fast as the NHRA camp, with the stock frame 7" tire rule...but it will be interesting. | ||
| Slc4me |
I think the four valve configurations will not show their full potential. They will only twist the throttle enough to barely win that way nhra doesn't give buell a weight break. | ||
| Fast1075 |
NHRA has published a list of entries for the Gainesville race this weekend....Buell has plenty of entries...in no particular order...Matt Guidera, Douglas Horne, James Surber, Junior Pippin, Shawn Gann (Go Shawn!) Hector Arana, Eric McKinney, Redell Harris, Mike Berry, David Hope, and the previously mentioned Angie McBride. Good showing, with some potential real winners...we will see how much the Suzuki and Harley camps can bring to the table.. At laest the question of "is anybody going to show up" is answered. | ||
| Jeffb |
It looks like there are plenty of entries, but there are some notable names missing or not riding a Buell. Matt Smith, Chris Rivas and Angelle. It will certainly be an interesting year. Probably not a real good one for the Buell's though. Jeff | ||
| Fast1075 |
Yeah, Matt will be riding a Zuk for Shumacher this year...It will be something to see at any rate...I suspect that Hines (Harley) will only bring as much as they need to win...but who knows??? It may all come down to the track and weather conditions...you just never know about Gainesville...if it is cool and overcast, it's anybody's race...If it's hot and muggy, it may all be won on the starting line. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Friday Update: 3:00pm. Qualifying: Six Second Zone #1 Matt Smith, Suzuki 6.945 @ 189.44 #2 Hector Arana, Buell 6.957 @ 191.40 #3 Karen Stoffer, Suzuki 6.963 @ 190.49 #4 Angie McBride, Buell 6.963 @ 189.50 #5 Andrew Hines, Harley 6.991 @ 188.62 Pretty impressive, Hector has top MPH! (Message edited by fast1075 on March 13, 2009) (Message edited by fast1075 on March 13, 2009) | ||
| Fast1075 |
Buell Wins the Gator Nationals!!!! Hector Arana defeats Matt Smith to win the Gatornationals...Arana goes to the finals after soundly defeating his opponents in the first three rounds despite poor starting line reaction times....by outpowering his opponents...happy day!!! | ||
| What_the |
Congrats to Hector Arana on his win! | ||
| Xbpete |
Congrats to Arana, that was an impressive performance by the Buell and rider, totally made up for his napping at the lights. Great riding! | ||
| 186bigtwin |
Do the V-Rods have a 4V engine yet? How about the zuks, takes alot of money to up and change engine developement. The Muzzy Kaw finally did OK, They used to couldn't make the field. Should be a good year, I know someone will be crying though, it goes around in circles......... | ||
| Fast1075 |
The V-rods do have the 4V heads...my guess is Hines is going to turn the wick up slowly...they didn't do real well in poor air...the mph figures were not there...I think the Zuks are still 2V...I havent seen any pics of them as they ran, so I dont know...and I can't believe Muzzy hasn't done better with the ZX... Right now it looks like the big Buell does best in poor air conditions...but if the air is near standard, the Zuk will make more power...and unless Hines and team have gone backwards (not very likely) they are holding an ace, but not playing it so nobody screams foul... | ||
| 186bigtwin |
Once the Vrods get the 4V engine to work, it should start pulling away from the Buells and the japs. That being said, if the NHRA wants 6.80 / 200mph pro stock bikes it should give the buells 200" and the 4V Suzukis and kaws 110". That's alot of money to change things though. | ||
| 46champ |
Everything I've read says Rob is having problems getting HP because the bore centers are to close together, thus limiting bore size, and to take advantage of the displacement limit they have to use too long of a stroke. This is probably why no one is working on a NHRA leagle Prostocker with a Hybusa. The new Zuk is a McLaren billit design that will have nothing in common with any production engine. | ||
| 186bigtwin |
Matt Smith ran a 6.865 @ 193 over the weekend with some type of suzuki. The buells ran pretty good too, I am afraid though that the V-rods will wake up and run in the low 6.80's sometime this year....... | ||
| Endoman33 |
the v-rod already went 6.70's in testing not sure of the exact et 6.70-6.79 | ||
| 186bigtwin |
Where did you read about a 6.70 something? | ||
| Endoman33 |
I didn't read about it the owner of the dealership i work for has raced top fuel for years. his crew chief works on many bikes, they were testing and so were the v-rods | ||
| 186bigtwin |
Well, that's really quick. I hear now the NHRA is gonna make the jap bikes go back to 92 cu in. I sure wish they would make up they're mind. teams are gonna quit racing because of the development expense and then having the rug jerked from under their feet. Plus why slow em down, if the 101" four bangers are running 6.85's more power to them, the V-rods will do that and more, give the Buells a weight break or another 20 cu. inches, let em race, damn !!!! | ||
| Endoman33 |
I agree completely I wish the NHRA would make up their minds. let em race!! | ||
| Fast1075 |
The 4 cylinder bikes seem to have the advantage with really good air...the adjusted altitude on Sunday in Texas was in the 1,100 ft range...in high altitude conditions (think Vegas) the twins usually do better. The semi-final where Treble beat Smith...Smiths bike clearly had too much clutch...he had the motor and was going for KILL on that pass...too bad the track didn't have enough teeth...it was good to see Treble win though...he is a genuinely nice guy and is racing out of his own pocket. too bad Hector redlighted... | ||
| Endoman33 |
i love to see the v-rods red light, hat to see Hector do that | ||
| Slc4me |
At least it was a red light to another buell | ||
| 186bigtwin |
red lights are part of drag racing , they all do it some time or another.............. | ||
| Endoman33 |
that's true | ||
| 186bigtwin |
V-Rods did good in Atlanta ( Commerce ) this weekend but so did all the brands, Buell & Suzuki. I think the top 14 were in the 6.90's There were some 6.80's also. I say just let em race and see what happens this season no brand is a standout yet.Now if the V-Rods start running low 6,80's all the time or a high 6.70 something will have to be done to even the playing field. ( NHRA words ) not mine..... |
