Motorcycle Drag Racing Team
After testing at The Bulldog Bash it was time for my first meeting on the new bike. To start with we decided to keep the bike as it was and went for a dial in of 10.2 just to get a number on the board. After running a 10.8 we decided to see what could be done with the clutch. We lightened the base springs to allow for more clutch slip off the line and added weight to the arms to compensate further up the track. This worked off the line with a falling 60 foot time but definitely felt sluggish. We also noticed the shift point was set far too low as I shifted gear just as the bike was about to take off. All together it equated to a time of 11.2. The night before eliminations we added even more weight to the arms and rose the shift point to try and get some speed back and guessed a 10.6 dial in. I ran another 11 second run and was out. But all in all we learned a lot about the bike and what needed to be done. We are planning to go to some Run What Ya Brungs in the next few weeks to set up the clutch and find a shift and launch RPM that works. I would like to thank Dad and Lizz for helping me over the weekend and Mandy Chant for taking me to and from the track.
It’s been a frustrating season with having no bike to race, due to the Comp bike going off to have some modifications and should have been ready for August. Unfortunately, through no one’s fault the deal fell through, which left me with nothing ready to ride!
For the first time, I had been invited to the Bulldog Bash, which is always a hoot and a holler, and we were looking into other options on what to ride. Thanks to Richard Gipp, we were able to rent his Pro Mod. Kev and Gipp spent a weekend sorting it out, as it had not been ridden for 2 years, got the bike home, but unable to test, as work commitments had left everything to the last minute!
After the amazing fun I had at the Bulldog Bash, running a 7.6 first time on nitrous, with this bike, and getting a feature in MCN, and my 15 minutes of fame, I fell in love with racing all over again, and asked Gipp if I could rent it again, and enter it in the National Finals in Funny Bike. FB24 was born!
The weekend came, Kev had finished work early to get to the track. I followed on a couple of hours later. Straight out of the car, and onto the bike, and managed to sign on and get it scrutineered before it shut…… just made it in the nick of time, thanks Steve.
The following day we did a bit of maintenance, got the bike prepped and ready to go. I was (as always) excited and nervous at the same time. This debut in Funny Bike was quite a thing for me, I was comfortable in Comp bike. This was a challenge! It was a pretty big field, I really wanted me and the bike to do well!
The whole Team were able to come this weekend, including one of my very dear friends Jeni Long, of yawningcatphotography.com, who asked if she could film us in the pits and beyond. This should be interesting! You can check this out on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DA62eiZwPU
First Qualifier. Burnout, so far so good. Up to the line, lights went down, launched, and wheel spun, short shifted all the way up, but still managed a 1.14 60 foot and 7.62 @ 172mph. “Did you wait for the shift light Lizzy”?
“Erm….. I didn’t see the light at all” Doh! One run out of the way! I would be more together next time.
But number 2 qualifier. How very cool!
Second Qualifier. Too much water in the burnout box, and still water on my tyre, wheel spin all the way, and a tail wag. But got to the end in one piece with a slower 1.20 60 foot and 7.81 @ 171mph, grinning like a loon!
Time wasn’t on our side, and the curfew stopped a third qualifier. I had Bob Brooks in the first round of eliminations. This could go either way. The last time I raced him, it was in Comp Bike, and he ran a 7.1
To my 7.7!! Bike was ready, I was ready, and Crew were ready!! Time for a bit of food, and a relax with the Team, and see what happens the following day.
Bike on 2 step in pits, and re fulled, all good. We were called into the pairing lanes, shook Bob’s hand, and away we went. Burnout, back into 1st, nitrous on, straightened up, pat on the back, and over to me.
As I paddled up to pre stage and then stage, as I put my thumb on the 2 step, my right foot slipped off the foot peg, and got wedged under the peg – I have small feet, and the pegs, are just that little bit too high for me…… got it back onto the peg, but lost concentration, let go of the button, and launched about a fortnight before the lights went down. Dammit! It was an awesome run, isn’t that always the way, but unfortunately no time or speed. Got to the top end, and was surprised to see Bob coming around the corner too. He too had red lit, but not as badly as me, so he took the win!
I had such fun, and all thanks to some pretty amazing people who make it so enjoyable. Richard Gipp – the owner of the bike, and all round good egg, Kevin Charman my amazing bloke, puts up with a lot, and has been one amazing Mentor, he has taught me so much over the years, and such a great support. I can’t wait for him to be back out there on the Fuel Bike!! Chris Pyke, the best Crew Chief ever, his dedication to us all as a Team and we are very blessed to have him as a great friend too.. Huge thanks too, to the rest of the incredible Super Crew:- Julie Moxley, Sarah Chapman, Mandy Chant and Jake Charman.
So now what? Well, I am not going to be doing the Extreme performance Bike weekend, but I have spoken to Gippy about next Season……. I thought I was, but I’m not ready to retire just yet!