Motorcycle Drag Racing Team
After finding two broken piston rings at the Junior Fun Day at Santa Pod on Wednesday we headed off to Avon Park hoping that a new piston and rings would solve the lack of power we have been having recently.
First run out we decided to dial in 10.00 as a ballpark figure and I ran 10.80. The bike was back launching hard again and I definitely felt the front wheel lift up.
Second run and we used 10.00 again to confirm our theory and I ran a 10.70. Again, the bike lauched well and despite a few prolems with the launch RPM light an alltogether good run. Back to the pits and an attempt at fixing the light ready for tomorrow.
Sunday and the second day of qualifying. We agreed on a dial in of 10.50 for the next round as I still felt I could take some time off my ET. Another 10.70 and a whack with the dial in board from Dad (he suggested a 10.70 dial). We still had problems with the Launch light though, it was staying on down the whole track causing me to shift gear early.
After another 10.70 run with the light on all the way I went through the wiring and tightened up the ignition switch to stop it rattling around ready for eliminations.
First round of eliminations we went in with a dial in of 10.60 and hoped for the best. Due to the problems with the light, I couldn’t be sure if I was launching at the right RPM and as a result went in a little low causing the bike to bog off the line and run 11.00 pushing me out.
I would like to thank Doug at Ensys and Steve at Motorshack for their support and Dad, Lizz, Helen, Julie and Sarah for all their help both in the pits and on the line.
What a roller coaster the last few weeks have been for myself and the Team!
The bike decided that it had done more than enough, thank you very much, decided that it was time it put us all to the test, and not just content to drop cylinders, and have just one thing go wrong, throw in a curve ball and really test our patience!
Before the National finals, I have never tested so regularly in my life ! Ran perfectly ok normally aspirated, and 8.7 which was lovely, but not nearly quick enough. As soon as we armed the nitrous, it went slower. Home again, taking it all apart, leak down was fine, so after the 3rd weekend at the track, Kev made the decision to do something he hates doing, and changed everything !
New fuel pump, batteries, new lines, new solenoids, new plugs, the list went on. One test, and the bike did the same thing again, changed the coils, thanks to Richard Gipp for the loan, out again and ran a 7.74 wagging its tail in it’s usual style. Packed up went home, and was happy to be a bit more confident about the meeting the following week at Shakepeare County
Q1 at Shakey, woke up to rain, and thought “here we go” But it soon dried off and away we went. First run bike straight, good launch, and straight in. Number 1 qualifier 7.72 sec @ 169mph.
Allan Davies also straight into a good 7 too. Great to see him getting form now… he has worked so hard to achieve this, one to watch !
Q2 The bike was storming ! 7.71 @ 171mph. I am in no doubt that Chris (Crew Chief) was highly delighted that we were after the bigger car classes who were very kindly putting some rubber down the track !
Unfortunately there were a few hold ups, so we only got the two qualifying runs. Finished the day still at Number 1, happy days !
Q3 Burnout done, and then shut off, as oil had been found at the top end. Pushed back and waited. Second burnout, bike lurched forward, and stalled, re started, but by that time the clutch was so hot, it pulled me through the lights, so a red light, a 7.79 @ 164 and some very hot clutch plates !
Q4 A bit of a slippy one, and the bike launched very hard, and lost power, punched all gears, and shut off, running 14 seconds, but still number 1 qualifier, and again only 2 runs.
Back to the pits and began doubting myself. I had used hardly any fuel and no nitrous, had I been on full throttle from the launch ? After a diagnostic, and quite a bit of help from everyone, especially Dale Leeks, thanks so much to him, we found a setting we never use, on the schnitz box, had somehow activated itself! Problem hopefully solved.
I had a bye in the first round. Usually I would break the beam, but I had to test this to make sure all was ok. It was! 7.72 @ 164mph Next round I had Harold Wolfenden. Lovely bloke, good mate, and usually good racing. I beat him with a 7.79 @ 161mph, which meant I had Allan in the Final. Allan was still storming, with PB after PB. I appeared to be getting a tad slower for no real reason.
Down to the start line, the usual camaraderie, and then all very serious. I needed to win this ! It was not meant to be, the bike launched very hard, 1.13 60 foot, and then all went wrong, it lost power and didn’t sound very well at all, but I kept it pinned as I couldn’t see Allan…. As he charged past me ! So Allan won his first Final, and I had my second, second ! 7.76 to my 8.25, and a poorly bike!
I had however won the APIRA Championship !
The bike is fixable, and we will be contesting the National Finals at Santa Pod on the 21/22 September.
Big huge thanks (Until a better word is invented) go to the most amazing team, Kevin Charman, my amazing bloke, for just sorting it all out, Jake Charman, for the added help when asked. It’s a big ask, but he is amazing. Chris Pyke, our fantastic Crew Chief, Julie Moxley, Sarah Chapman, and honoury Crew, and photographer, Helen Hayward. I would be so lost without you !
Our Sponsors, Tony at Abbey Motorsports, Doug at Ensys, Ken at Cooperized Dyno and Service Centre, Jeni at Yawning Cat Photography, John Austin for the rolling chassis.
Lastly Shakespeare Track Crew and Marshalls, the fab pit runners Linda Williams, and Mark Cousell, and Eurodragster for the great updates, and news items!