| Author | Message | ||
     Benm2 |
I'm thinking about running the M2 at Englishtown this Wednesday for their test & tune night. Seems like for a straight-up engine test its a better bargain than a dyno: 3 runs on a dyno = $100 in my neck of the woods. The test & tune entry fee is $28. I'm not sure how many runs I might get, but I'd think more than 3. I'm not interested in %02, hp, etc. I need to get hours on the motor & run it under load. Has anyone done one of these? What sort of preparations do I need to do? Any tips or advice for a first time drag racer? I plan to trailer the bike there, and its already CCS road-racing legal. I've got a Snell 2000 helmet and full leathers, etc. Any advice anyone could offer would be appreciated! Thanks, Ben | ||
| Spiderman |
I have done this localy here in Mi quite a few time. Check your dragstrips website as to what you need, leather, helmet, cutoff switches ETC. Usually over certian mph and seconds you need different things. As for tips. Trailer your bike there if you plan on doing some hard runs. I have had to get trailers back twice. Once for a dead battery the other for a broken motor mount. Bring extra plugs and tools, along with all your vital fluids. Do a pre check before you leave to make sure you have everything you need, IE leathers, gloves, tools, etc. Have fun and go slow! Get used to the power and do not be afraid to slip you clutch! I have seem too many people just dump it and BLAM on their back! Pay attention to your launches and get comfortable before you start doing had runs! Bring plenty of water as well, it can get hot out there! | ||
| Thumper74 |
Englishtown is one of the most well known tracks in the country. Norwalk and National Trails are my two 'home' tracks. I doubt the Buell is at the point where you would need full leathers, but it really depends on who's rules the track follows. $28 is f'in high. There's still a track around here for $8.00... I'd find a less popular track and make more passes to perfect your technique. There's nothing worse than waiting an hour between runs (longer if someone loses fluids, etc). | ||
| Ratbuell |
E-town is a BIG track. I'd bet their t-n-t nights are packed. Even at our podunk local track, I'd only get two, *maybe* three runs in. There were nights I'd only get one run in, depends how many of the HS kids are there running 17s in their fart-can Hondas. Lets see...there's t-n-t class...then OPS (outlaw pro street) cars run. Then JD (junior dragsters). Then points cars. Then motorcycles. Repeat as often as crowds allow. I don't know how E-town schedules their nights, but things were always bunched together 'round here. Launch soft. Wait....let me rephrase that - LAUNCH SOFT. I'm sure E-town uses traction compound at the line, so you're gonna hook a lot harder out of the hole than you do on the street - and looping in front of a crowd sucks. Enjoy the burnout - chicks dig burnouts  Get to know the track on your first run out, log any pothole or bump locations in the mental file. Practice speed shifting if you're comfortable with it, it's good for a couple tenths if done right. And trailer or truck if you can - better safe than sorry. They'll tech the bike - tires, brakes, leaks, and probably want a brake/tail light at the very least (so they can find you if you go in the weeds). Unless you're under a certain index (you can check out www.nhra.com for some of the rules and indexes) you won't have to worry about safety-wired fasteners, kill switches, etc., but any bike has to pass tech and not piss fluids on the track, be roadworthy/safe, etc. Fullface is required for all bikes, as are boots, gloves, and long sleeve leather (or other) riding jacket. Don't wear your windbreaker. Oh. HAVE FUN! | ||
| Oddalloy |
Hey Ben, Been a long time since I've been to Englishtown, 20 years maybe. You might wanna see if they have any noise restrictions. Englishtown used to be considered the boonies but just like most of the rest of the state, there's been a big residential build-out. There was a massive local campaign not too long ago by newcomers to shut 'em down due to the noise. Somehow, they managed to hang on. I think only the big NHRA events are allowed to run "unmuffled". | ||
| Benm2 |
Thanks for all the help! Burnout? I've NEVER done one on the bike, always afraid I'd screw it up and end up flipping the bike or falling over. I'd guess in the hands of a skilled operator the bike might run 11's. Skilled operator would NOT be me. From their website it looks like Wed is JUST test&tune, so hopefully it won't be too crowded. NJ has at least 3 dragstrips within an hour of each other... I'm hoping to make it through in one piece. That's my goal. LAUNCH SOFT advice duly noted! | ||
| Thumper74 |
You can learn to do a smokey burnout... Butt off the seat, press down on the handlebars (as little weight on the back as poss.), hold your front brake, give some gas and slowly let out the clutch until the smoke starts to roll. The first time in a puddle of Bleach works well... Honestly... You wouldn't really need to do one on your bike. I haven't gotten any wheel spin on the bike. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Do check the track website for needed equipment, but typically you will need: Leather jacket Leather gloves snell97 or newer helmet boots over the ankle At my track if your bike goes faster than 120 mph or 10.99 or quicker you will also need: Leather pants engine kill tether So it is unlikely that you will need a tether or leather pants. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you get a pingle front end strap. It makes launching much easier and much safer and it will shave 1,2 or even 3 tenths from your e.t. making it the best performance bang for the buck out there (about $30)! Also, turn your preload all the way out so that you lower the back of the bike (especially if the front is lowered with the strap). Skip the burnout, you will have enough on your mind and the bike doesn't make enough HP to need it. I appreciate the point some are making when they say LAUNCH SOFT, but I would say to remember that both the throttle AND CLUTCH are rheostats not switches! That is they both have many settings between on an off - so use them. So yes, slip the clutch as needed to prevent or at least limit the wheelie. If you go a few times you will want to start shifting without the clutch. Don't let naysayers talk you out of it, you are not going to hurt the transmission. You just quickly and partially roll off the throttle to unload the transmission and snick the next gear. Some guys preload the shifter, but I do believe that doing it that way IS hard on the transmission and it is not necessary. Shifting without the clutch is good for another 1 or 2 tenths. A tenth of a second is 15 feet at 100 mph so I am talking about things that help you win races against "faster" bikes! Many bikes have such a HP advantage that they are gone, but you can always find somebody on a bike that is only a little quicker and beat them with a good light, good launch and good shifting. I intentionally drift back in line to race guys I think I can beat with my "slow" Buell (11.66 @ 114mph with a stock bike and I think I can get in the 11.5's on the right day). Some of the bikes I've beaten are: Ducati M900 Suzuki TL1000 Kawasaki ZRX 1100 Buell XB Various hot rodded Harleys Many 1990's era Japanese 600's Some newer 600's, but they usually have enough top end to chase me down. Don't tell me you aren't going there to race, because when you line up with a bike you think you can beat - it's a race! The track is a dyno and once you have a time slip and your bikes weight with you on it (go across the scale at the track), you can accurately compute the RWHP. Have fun - it is addicting! PS expect to run 12.2's to 12.5's on your M2. It isn't impossible to go 11's on it, but it will take laps (practice/experience) and good weather to get there. (Message edited by scott_in_nh on May 03, 2008) | ||
| Tq_freak |
I grew up going to E-town test and tunes, 20min from my parents. If you want to get the most runs possible/ be able to do back to backs get there EARLY, like when the gates open. We would do that in high school and get over 10 runs in before it even started to get busy. Best way to do it, totally worth the half a day off from work. | ||
| Benm2 |
Got there early, was in line by 4:30. The place got MOBBED with people and the guy allowing people out of the lanes was less than freindly to the bikes. There were cars that I saw go thru 3 times before they let us get our first run. After 6:30pm, the place was just packed. I didn't get my second run till 8:30, then I had to leave (work night, and my pit crew had school the next day) 12.9 on my first run (completely flubbed the start) 12.3 on the second (still flubbed, but better than first) Overall, an interesting experience, but I don't think I'll go back. I'll stick to trackdays, higher adrenalin payback. |
