| Author | Message | ||
     Gearheaderiko |
Clip-ons are Vortex! | ||
| Mmelvis |
James great report and glad to see you are doing so well. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
FWIW: James riding (racing) style is really, (really) smooth. It doesnt really matter if it was his fastest time or slowest time, it looks just as smooth (and by fast, I mean just as fast as the majority in his class). Learning good, safe, consistent technique and developing good habits is far better that just going as fast as you can until you crash. When you get out to the track you find out that club racing is more about having a good time and not leaving in an ambulance, than winning. Some guys natural skill level is so far above most, that trying to catch them will literally leave you in the dust. It takes balls (and humility) to take a Blast out there, knowing that slower, less skilled riders are gonna turn faster lap times. | ||
| Mmelvis |
Gearhead: Could not have been stated any better and James keep up the great job on the racing | ||
| Jprovo |
Mmelvis - Thanks! How are your racing adventures going?? The next WSMC race weekend is this coming weekend, and I went to a track day at Willow big track this past Sunday. It was a good day. I got to pass a lot of slower riders and have a lot of fun. Spent quite a bit of time working on turn 1 and the Omega (turns 3-4-5) area. I felt really good out there, and my ultra spiffy and cheap white Ebay lethers kept me nice and cool. I bought a picutre CD, and as soon as I get it, I will post some pictures. James | ||
| Jprovo |
    Some Photos From the Track Day | ||
| Jprovo |
August Race Report: Karen (my Wife) and I picked up Erik and the racebike at 5:00 am to head up to the track, but the freeway had a closure, and it took us almost three hours to get up to the track. We missed first practice... We got the second practice in, but the bike wasn't running 100% is felt fuel related, but it might be a loose connection in the wiring harness that I built. Erik and I will look into it this week and find out more. The bike ran fine from 5500+ RPM, but the midrange hesitated a little bit... We did what we could to try and fix the problem at the track, but never solved it. I decided that because it was a double points weekend I would ride around the issues, and just keep the bike high in the rev range. It made getting around some of the more technical areas of the track a little trickier, and changed some areas to a gear higher, and rev-limiter bumping area, but it all worked out in the end. My first race was 500 Singles. I had a decent start, and a good run, but the race was Red-Flagged. I ended up finishing in 4th after the drama. One of the Ascot riders, Eric Compton got rear ended in turn 2, and one of the other Ascot riders, Cody Burton, retired. Luckily, Eric Compton did not seriously injured, just a couple of bumps and bruises. I was glad to finish. Average lap time was a 1:55, and 4th is my best overall finish to date. More to follow... | ||
| Ezblast |
Sweet! Improvement is always a good thing! Fourth with double points should help a bit! Making me proud James! You and Erik both are - my bikes power range is from 4'000 on up these days as well - so don't feel bad - most racers work with even slimmer power bands - lol - nice pictures as well! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Mmelvis |
James you and Eric should name your race team and form a business. Sounds like you guys are doing great . Look forward to hearing more about your races. Great pictures and have a great day. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Well, I found us name, I just dont have the logo yet! | ||
| Jprovo |
Race 2 (race 8 on the schedule)- Formula Singles: Race Two started pretty crappy. I was not getting the launches that I was used to on the bike, and that put me a few seconds behind my nearest competitor, Cody Burton on an Ascot. We also had this other rider on a 650 twin or 600 four grid up with us out of class. It would not be a big deal except for the fact that the rider carries a lot less corner speeds than us, but makes it all up with horsepower on the straights. This means that if you get caught behind, you are going to get your drive out of the corners killed... I managed to keep the 650/600 rider behind me for a few laps, but on lap 3 She was around Cody and I. Throughout the race, I was making up time on Cody. I was running consistent 1:53's and set a new for me fast lap time of 1:52.7. At the finish I was less than 2 tenths of a second behind Cody. One more lap and I would have caught him... I finished Sixth. Race three was pretty uneventfull. I botched a shift coming down the hill, while pushing to catch Cody from another poor start. I was starting to close the gap when Cody pulled off the track... I ended up finishing in Seventh. All in all a great weekend. 44 Points earned, keeping my top 50 ranking, and pushing me to 4th in Top Rookie Expert (provided I haven't made any math errors, the official standings aren't up yet). I can't wait until next month, is there a 1:50.XX in waiting? We will see... James | ||
| Ezblast |
 | ||
| Jprovo |
http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=26797 I'm in Print!! | ||
| Naustin |
Cool! | ||
| Ezblast |
Thats terrific!  Great job - getting closer to the #1 spot - sweet! I looked one section up in the 660cc section though and saw this: Patrick McGinley (Buell) What motor and frame setup is he running? GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Jprovo |
Patrick's bike is a Blast motor in a S1 (or M2 can't remember) frame, M2 forks... not legal for the 500 (stock frame) class. | ||
| Ezblast |
What cc's is he running? GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Jprovo |
Dunno. Maybe 515cc. I don't think it's a stroker or had any case boring... I know that Bartells has made some 600+cc bombs out of Blast motors, but I think that the Glendale guys are being a little more conservative. Pat's Bike:  | ||
| Mmelvis |
Moroso 8-27-06 Well the day started out hot and stayed that way the full day. Overall had a great time and the bike seems to be running better and I am getting quicker on track times. I judge this by the amount of laps I get in on the practice session, got in 2 more laps this time so things are getting better. Tech was funny this time, they took a look at my new and improved belly pan and got a kick out it. I had to fab up another unit out of fiberglass, first time I have ever used fiberglass. Well I mixed up a little to much of the resin first time around and it started to harden a little to quick. Belly pan is kind of bumpy when you get a close look at it, but at 6 or 7 feet you can not really tell. Tech figured they were on a roll so they started in on my foot pegs, they asked if I took them off my schwinn. I just grinned and went along with the ribbing, I must admit I had it coming for my belly pan, it is ugly, but it passed tech. The race this time was moved to race 7 instead of 6, not a problem for me just get to watch more racing. This is the first time we actually got to start in the 1st wave and not getting dumped back into the second wave group. The group was quicker this time than I have seen in a long time. Anyway same as usual, back of the pack but I actually kept my group in sight , I did not get lapped by the folks in my group. No major incidents and the race finished with a few folks going off the track and testing out the grass. Will post pictures if I get any. James or Eric a quick question, I have noticed that the bike gets really loose in a high speed turn ( 70+ ). Have you folks added shims ? If so did it help with the handling of the bike. Have a great day | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
We shimmed the front and rear and added much heavier fork oil. I found it incredibly more stable than stock at 90+ mph on our rain grooved freeways. The narrow clipons also make the steering feel really heavy at slower speeds. I think the stabilizer has also helped. James will let you know how it really feels on the racetrack. (its really a treat to watch him come through turn 9, leaned over in 5th gear. Its of course at that point when all the non Blasts come out of turn 9, then pull away and grab 6th! But he's with 'em through the turn!) | ||
| Pressureangle |
I have noticed that the bike gets really loose in a high speed turn ( 70+ ). Which turn is that, in particular? Can you describe the feeling a bit more clearly-is it wiggling, sliding, what? | ||
| Buellistic |
like a wet noodle !!! | ||
| Ezblast |
Like a lite wiggle - the feeling gets lite. GT - JBOTDS! EZ | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Kinda like to read what Mmelvis and James has to say about the bike 'feeling loose' at 70+ !? Until Pressureangle mentioned it, I kinda assumed he meant it was like that feeling you get riding an old Sportster. But I might be wrong. Mmelvis? James? | ||
| Mmelvis |
Pressureangle: Turn 1 on the entry, and turn 11. The bike is not sliding just has a wiggle to it, kind of has a rhythm. If you took a length of rope and moved it in an up and down motion you get a snake like motion. This is what it feels like to me on a blast in a turn at higher speeds. | ||
| Jprovo |
Mmelvis, You need to get your static sag set up using shims and add heavy weight fork oil. I can't remember what the ballpark we have it set up at, but it seems to work ok. It still had a little shimmy at high speed (kind of like a horse galloping) without the steering damper and clip-ons, but now it seems to work real well. I have the samper set on 5. I also get my weight WAY BACK in the high speed stuff, and that helps a lot too... You might also want to play with tire pressures a little bit. Just keep good notes on your starting points and make little changes at a time. | ||
| Mmelvis |
James thanks for the info, I have most of my weight towards the front. I still need to add the heavier fork oil. I will also try the damper on a higher setting. Thanks for a good starting point. Guess I need to look at the basic stuff before getting all technical. | ||
| Jprovo |
Mmelvis, I think the biggest thing is trying to get some weight on the rear tire. The Blast is pretty front end biased, especially when you start putting on clip-ons and getting your shoulders twoards the front of the bike. I get my rear as far back as I can when I'm riding at high speeds. Jacking up the front end with some washers and adding heavier fork oil will really help the way the bike feels. The first thing I would do is get the static sag numbers with you on the bike in a race crouch. I can't remember what we ended up setting the bike at (Erik has the numbers), but I think that it was around 25-30mm front and rear using this method: "SETTING STATIC SAG One of the most important suspension settings is static sag--the amount your bike's suspension compresses when you sit on it. To set static sag, we use Race Tech mastermind Paul Thede's method, which takes into account any stiction in the components. It's best to have two friends to help--one to hold the bike while the other one measures--while you (fully dressed in your riding gear) do the compressing. First, extend the front suspension completely. Measure from the seal wiper to the triple clamp for a conventional fork, or to the axle clamp for an inverted fork. Call this number L1. Sit on your bike in a normal riding position (or racing crouch if you're track-bound), and have one helper steady the bike. Your second helper should push down on the fork, let it extend slowly and then re-measure as before. This number is L2. Finally, the fork should be extended by hand, settled slowly, and re-measured. This figure is L3. Halfway between L2 and L3 is where your suspension would settle if there were no friction in the system. Static sag can be calculated as follows: sag=L1-(L3+L2)/2. Repeat this process to determine the rear sag--measuring from the axle to a point directly above on the frame for each of the numbers. If you have too much or too little sag, dial in more or less (respectively) preload as needed." (take from http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0006_susp_dialin/ ) Of course, the only way to adjust the spring preload on the Blast is shims. Best of Luck, James | ||
| Pressureangle |
High-speed wriggle is traditionally a symptom of too-soft suspension. Wish I had come to Moroso, but we had family vacation in Key West. | ||
| Mmelvis |
Pics from Moroso 8-27-06      |
