Steve, last year my son Aaron moved up to 11 yr class, and rode the 2 line. It was challenging for him, however he's small for his age. 65 lbs will only go so far. He won the novice class last year in STRA, he has won or done well in Int this year. I talked him into moving to sportsman to prep for the youth nats. He has ridden four tough events so far, and survived. The two line last year is about like the average STRA sportsman line. Aaron has grown 3 inches and gained about 15 lbs. The trials training days this year really improved his turning. So if I can get him off his KX65 long enough to practice, I think he'll ride well. He will be in the 11 yr class, line 2 again this year. Hopefully he won't be the bundle of nerves he was last year.
Paul, I was standing in a buddies collector shop today, looking at all these numbers hanging on the wall!!!!!! As I really have no friggin ider what the hell any of them are for, I guess I will have to find one of them pretty rainbow things instead, but I will try to follow up with a shot of the ones I DO have, which include a #1 and #2!!! along with other redneck stuff!
Oddly enough I forgot to mention, all drivers will have the same number. And the same name .... Ricky Bobby Labonte.
Fans will be told who to root for, and sent to different grandstand sections. The Ricky Bobby JR section, drunk section (the biggest section), black section(they don't care if you're white) and of course the gay section. Section seating will of course be by ........................Lottery, for the first 20 races, then only the people who did well in the first section lotterys will be eligable for the race around the chase. More details to follow.
Cope, I got a # on the back of my truck! 3 and as luck would have it, its a black chevy!
It is not uncommon for the bearing separator to come apart. But while you have it apart be sure to split the crank and check the needle bearing separator on the big end of the rod as well.
With regard to the Indy cars that's what I said. Dirt Track is a different kettle of fish. NASCAR lost it roots and is probably the worse for it.
We have The "highlights" of NASCAR, Grand Am and IRL on digital channels in the UK. I've given up on NASCAR despite Franchitti moving across. Although I am waiting to see the Road course's. They are racing at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and Watkins Glen and THAT will be good. Looks like the Mexican race hasn't been shown yet so I'll have to watch that.
IRLis good on The Street and Road courses where the better drivers are able to make a difference. Look at the St. Petersberg Results. Back at the Ovals it's too predictable. It's also becoming too dangerous. Franchitti's "flying lessons" are an example of what happens when Open wheelers tangle on Ovals.
I think Nascar is going to use the lottery system to decide future winners
They might as well, it will be the generic race car series.
Then it will truly be "Stock Car" racing. They will be using a stock "nascar" car.
I'd rather watch the touring cars on a roadcourse than nascar.
And there is the Mistake. The reason IRL and Champcar have merged is that much as IRL is doing better than Champcar neither is drawing the audiences NASCAR does in the US. Danica Is a short term fix that could mean drivers moving to other series. Personally I dislike the Oval racing as in NASCAR it seems to be a lottery and in IRL only Ganassi, Andretti and Penske look like long term front runners. I much prefer the Rolex Grandam Sportcar Series and the ALMS where Audi now have more Porsche LMP's to deal with.
And I thought the reason IRL and Champcar were merging is because neither were doing very well.
The only interesting racing is that which you spend the time to know and understand.
I went to work at a motorcycle shop a few years, and the owner raced "Late model" oval dirt track cars. Being a road course gran prix snob (and motorcycle snob) I thought I'd go check out what the red necks were up to. WOW! it was very cool. I couldn't believe how tech it was. The suspension and tires are so sophisticated, watching a car dive into a corner at 100 plus, sideways, inches.. and I mean you couldn't put your hand between the nose of the car and the inside wall.
I thought it would be a bunch of morons going around in boring circles, but it was very cool. About as boring as I thought trials would be, before I tried it and watched it.
Much as I quite like Danica you have to realise that there is a lot of hype around her. Katherine Legge was the first winner of an open wheel race in the US. That was in the feeder series to IRL and has been "lost" in the rush to fete Danica. The Boss of IRL Tony George is also facing problems over this as the other drivers are wondering if it worth staying in the "Danica racing League" . He seems to promote her over the races themselves which could be a mistake given how little respect some Motor racing journalist's have for her.
As for the Oval races. Most U.S. observers have twigged that having slicks, limited engines and a reasonable aero package means that the cars are able to run "flat out" with minimal driver input. The "real" tester is the road courses, then you see the battle of the best drivers rather than tactics and luck. Danica doesn't really feature that well despite being in one of the best teams.
NASCAR is a different kettle of fish in that the cars have LOTS of power and need to be carefully managed on the ovals.
Promotors will push whatever fills the stands. Motor racing journalist's, don't buy tickets. Spectators do, americans love an underdog. So promote the woman, sell tickets, fill stands, have large purses, attract lots of drivers, get tv time, I guess it will only be a mistake if the series does not grow. Time will tell.
Would you really go out and buy a "use it once in a blue moon" new tool, instead of removing the rad???
I was just describing a tool that could help in the situation described.
Would I buy a once in a blue moon tool? I have purchased, manufactured many such tools. The motorcycle industry isn't exactly "awash" with service soloution tools. I would go so far as to say I have an extensive collection of tools and equipment for motorcycles.
I did a Petty ride along at Charlotte. We headed up pit road like a dragster, as we neared the track all you could see was a wall of asphalt......with black stripes heading straight up into the wall! On the track with another car they took turns drafting and passing each other. Lets just say thats another thing I don't have the nads for. But I found a new respect for the circle drivers. And anytime I hear someone say " it looks like he hit them on purpose" I'm thinking... the wind buffeting probably caused it.
Biffster, Have you ever riden in a nascar? Or any type of race car? Pretty scary. The late model dirt cars and sprint cars have to be the wildest to drive. I think it's cool that Danica finally did it. Drama or not. Hey and check out the behind the scenes pictures!!! She is multi talented!
Brian, If we put lojack on cope...How will we find his bike??
AtomAnt....In the DITCH?? We were riding in the ditch. We only had two wheels off the ground one time. The rest was pretty smooth. It didn't seem to bother Julie.
I'll be ready to give you a VIP press ride to Lampkin Falls sections. Or you can take the Dan Brown samuri WHITE KNUCKLE ride. Or walk of course. But it was warm today, walking to the falls ....not recomended.
I admire Pat Smage for having a go but I think the importance being attached to him riding in europe is out of proportion and puts more pressure on him. I dont think his results are going to cause the US population to rush out and buy trials bikes even if he does become World Champion in a few years, but thats got more to do with the exchange rate and the us economy than Pats results.
I think the hype or fuss is out of proportion as at the moment he is riding 125. I'm not sure how old he is 16 maybe 17 ? Bou was riding world rounds at 17 I think and a young Dougie Lampkin was still 17 or just 18 when he won his first world round. Before there is a stampede of replies I know the sport has changed with the introduction of different classes and the top boys are now further ahead. The point i'm trying to make however is even if Pat Smage was winning the 125 easily the sections are still miles away from the full world championship course so why all the fuss ?
As someone else said leave him to get on with it, he has a long way to go but I hope he gets what he wants out of it.
It's the Lance Armstrong syndrome. We all watched the tour de france. Well....I was watching it anyway. And it's not to much hype if the kid can finish top three. Maybe he will inspire some youth over here. I go to a local trials and maybe have ten youth total. I go to a local hare scrambles and the 65cc class will have 15. The entire morning youth race will have 45 or more.
I agree the expectations are high, and that would put undue pressure on pat. BUT...we wouldn't want him to live up to low expectations.
I use an aluminum "Bark Buster" style of hand guard. After years of off road racing, and training myself to disregard any brush smaller than an inch or so, I felt like I was going to kill myself clipping my levers on small saplings. So I run handguards. Of late I have been heavily testing them.
If the 290 has a 60mm stroke with about a 95mm long rod 2.7mm would be about 21.5 degrees and 3.8mm would be 25.5 degrees. You could tell the difference. Although you couldn't tell if you were using a resistor plug or not.
See you at the WR?
All things being relative, I hope to be there most of the week.
So let me get this straight, you don't use a resistor plug because it is going to affect spark dwell. But when it fires......awww heck it'll fire close enough!
Mitutoyo made a kit with a small diameter dial indicator. I also have a timing tool that screws into spark plug hole that looks like a micrometer. I will look for the brand tomorrow. Central tools made a fixture that allowed the indicator to be off to one side for clearance.
She is multi talented!
The First Pics Of The New Project
in Aircooled Monoshocks
Posted
What copey means is, if he were to park that bike in the woods he would'nt be able to use triangulation to find it!
The bike looks great! And like it would be fun to ride.