Another couple inches and it'll be perfect for a bucket, a pole and a bottle o' schnapps.
Cedar River Ice
Another couple inches and it'll be perfect for a bucket, a pole and a bottle o' schnapps.
American Motors Gucci Option
Indoor Rumble in Mason City
Support Your Local Racetrack !
Words you might overhear at an indoor racing event:
1. coke
2. transponder
3. CD5
4. rasp
5.Krug
6. no nitro
7. (coughing)
8. Brad Baker
9. Bugs
10. 2 grand !
The carts were so fast - I never would have guessed a cart could make a lap in 4 sec . . . sometimes I was nervous standing so close to the rail that a cart could lose it and take out the spectators. Some drivers did not appear to move the steering wheel at all as they kept the throttle pinned. The bikes went very low - pegs dragging - tires drifting. I raced a few times on syrup, but don't remember the carts being this quick . . . Good Stuff Maynard . . .
The carts were so fast - I never would have guessed a cart could make a lap in 4 sec . . . sometimes I was nervous standing so close to the rail that a cart could lose it and take out the spectators. Some drivers did not appear to move the steering wheel at all as they kept the throttle pinned. The bikes went very low - pegs dragging - tires drifting. I raced a few times on syrup, but don't remember the carts being this quick . . . Good Stuff Maynard . . .
Indoor Short Track Friday Nite !
Pee Wee Gleason
Race advice . . .
Movie Review: RUSH
I would have enjoyed seeing more of the "tech-type" nuances in Rush that only a true motorsport fan or former racer would understand. It portrayed James Hunt as a total party boy (which he kinda was), but it took away from the serious rivalry between these two drivers. It appeared they pulled a couple original cars from museums or collections and filmed stunt drivers (or slow, aged former drivers) for race footage. It looked staged. The last 15 minutes of film is the best part of the movie - The Japanese GP rain race - and whereas both drivers meet next to Lauda's aircraft and reflect on their racing and life differences. Actual stills and historical data on both men end this movie and form a lasting impression on one of the greatest seasons in any type of motor racing. The 1976 F1 World Championship and the storyline that went with it.
Rod Straightness 101
This test for rod straightness always seems rather mundane.
If your motor was running ok, why check it?
Here's why:
Especially, if you are building an engine from a variety of parts - this is a very important step in the process. S&S Cycle and Jims both offer a long "precision pin" which you can insert in your bushing, and run down to the cylinder base. You can use a feeler gauge (I use a thin piece of carbon-type paper) and determine if your connecting rods are slightly bent. The pin should hold your paper between the pin and the base on each side - you should feel a drag on the paper . . . On my engine, the front rod was perfect. The rear rod was off (+.016) which is quite a bit ! I bolted my lower in the stand, C-clamped it to the bench, and using the special tool the boys made years ago . . . proceeded to bend my rod back for straightness. Do a little at a time. First, I got to +.006, then +.004, then .000 (perfect). However, the rod may "relax" a bit back to a positive reading . . . so you may want to go beyond (-.001 or so . . ) and it will relax back to a zero reading. It sounds crazy - but, this is the way you do it. S&S has full instructions how to make a tool. Now you have the best chance for less drag, better ring seating, better compression, increased power and longer engine life.
Danny Lyon emailed me . . . (self portrait shown)
Lesson: Finesse Tape 101
1. Lay down a line of tape on the bottom to give you the sharp edge you want.
2. Bend your ending lines of tape (like the top photo)
3. Paint in your stripes (multi-color job shown)
4. Remove your tapes . . . and you get this neat, sharp finish of lines on your stripes. I like this method better than going back with a striping brush since it's faster and leaves a cleaner line.
5. You can get "professional results" and you don't have to be a professional with this method.
Last Nite . . .
. . . around my town - it's cold out !
Cardboard cutout from H-D . . . cool.
Movie Nite - Hmmmm, which one?
It started !
Old bank building in CC . . .
Beck seals the deal . . .
They look like turbos . . . but, a turbo runs off the exhaust?
Some kind of supercharger?
All steel with slicks !
Email from Warner . . .
Hello: The 1970 H-D streamliner set the record twice in October of 1970. The 1st time the bike went 255mph using an 83 cubic inch Iron Head, and then the bike went 265mph using an 89 inch Iron Head. These motors were run on high percentages of nitromethane fuel. In 1971, I used the 89 inch motor to gain a personal entry into the 200 MPH CLUB and in 1972, I used a 96 inch motor to set a record at 206mph. I also had a best ever speed of 212mph in 1972. The 1972 motor was a 3 1/2" X 5" and it used steel cylinders with fins, that were made by S&S Cycle. The 206 record bike ran on 92% nitro and was quite reliable. The 83 inch motor was 3 5/16" X 4 13/16" while the 89 inch motor was 3 7/16" X 4 13/16" and the 96 inch motor was 3 1/2" X 5" . . . With 92% nitro, these motors only wanted to rpm around 5000-5200 and now I think more advance and/or fuel additive would have been a smart way to go. -Warner W. Riley
Thanks Warner for taking the time !
Bonneville Question "Just the Facts"
My QUESTION: Seriously, how many rpms can a 5" stroke iron Sportster on nitro turn? I know it depends on balance and strength, but - One guy said his motor at Bonneville (stroker Sportster, a shorter 4 3/4" stroke) rev'd to 6800 rpms - and when he hit slick spots in the track - it revved up even higher. How many rpms do you think Manning and Riley spun that streamliner?
REPLY: I saw the pictures of the streamliner on your blog just a few minutes ago and laughed at your comment about "7,8,9 grand." Reality is, at Bonneville an ironhead stroker doesn't like to rev over it's torque peak which is about 5700-6000. I've ran mine over 7200 at the drags, but when I had my motor in Leo's bike we had it geared for 210mph at 5800 !
The rest of the story, is George Smith never ran much over 65% nitro and they hurt the front piston in the motor on the first run for the record, so they did the return run only using third gear (close ratio KR road racing gears) and never put it in high, so they turned it 6000 or 6200? The lower gear lessened the load on the motor and they got lucky and it held together long enough. Leo always thought that if they would have jetted it up and put 90% in it - it would have went 280 or 290 maybe? Anyway, they set the record and that was a big deal though. Jeff said, "I was there in 1970. I was a young punk, age 19 at the time, and my 75cu in. XLCH ran 152.8mph on gas - unstreamlined. My bike was the centerfold in Street Chopper Magazine in October or November that year. I didn't know the magazine had taken the picture, and I went to the store to read the new magazines and was shocked to see my bike in the magazine. As Paul Harvey used to say, "Now you know - The Rest of the Story."
Just for the record, I (Noot) always like to get my facts straight, and this is one way to do it - talk to people who know or who were actually there that day. It's the foundation of good reporting.
Projects
'59 XLR "Tribute" Swingarm (powdercoated and ready)
Cast Iron Paint (by Por-15) and my secret blend
K Model Wheels (press in shafts-no nuts)
. . . more knuckle stuff.
Rikki Rockett & Spina at SEMA Show Today !
Dick and Randy
. . . a couple guys that went farther than footpegs,
grips and air cleaners . . .
Gardena must have been the hotbed o' choppers?!
grips and air cleaners . . .
Gardena must have been the hotbed o' choppers?!
Waldheim World Series 1982
The bottom photo shows Hickle getting a bad start, but according to my records - he got that Yammy (and probably his sore shoulder) warmed up for a few laps - and then smoked right by everyone for the win. It ain't over 'til it's over !
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