clairetoo

I run my current old-school stocker motor to a max of 11500 , shifting at 11000 - back in the 90's I ran a star racing motor to 13000.....only crank fail I had on that motor was a cracked weld had the left end web separate and wobble a bit..... I keep the revs lower for longer engine life , less top end maintenance , and big heavy pistons (current crank is 5 seasons old !) I also run mild cams (G4 Cammotions) , oil resticters under the cam bearings to push more oil flow out to the rockers , thats the area that poor oil flow will damage first , also my high-ratio oil pump gears (but I also run 750 primary gears) But one important thing to bear in mind - my motor is only flat out and under load for 8.5 seconds at a time , so drag race motors can be a little more `fragile' , whreas a road race motor is gonna be thrashed for half an hour or more......

all new and improved.....well , painted red....cuz red ones are faster

just got the slow-mo videos from Santa Pod (Blackett photography do a crackin job !) , and yeah , it does kinda hit hard on the launch - action starts at 0.25 in , slow mo is....um....slow !)

I've narrowed a few arms for odd swaps......not too bad to do

a video of the final solo run - 8.62 @ 147 , was still a bit jumpy in first , maybe something to do with running the rear tyre at 7psi to get it to grip (and grip it did - 1.25 60ft on this run , best of the weekend)

it was hitting hard for sure - but at least I it didnt beat me up like it did last race , and I could still walk at the end of the meeting !

lost for words , me ! Another race , another fantastic result - despite biblical rain on Friday meaning no practice , rain on Saturday giving us a single qualifying run (ruined by severe wheelspin putting me in the number 7 slot..... ) Sunday was mostly sunny , piggin cold , with the customary Santa Pod headwind , but a super sticky track . I had to get my `guess the settings' head on , and sort out the wheelspin , so into the clutch after nearly every run , along with dropping rear tyre pressure , and after the first round solo (opponent failed to fire after an issue with the bike) , I was faced with some tough opposition . 1/4 finals had me against an 8 second runner , with me barely a tenth quicker , so I had to cut a good light.....and ran my quickest run of the day at that point . Next up was semi final - and old adversary Len Paget - we raced together back in the 80's / 90's - and again no performance advantage , so the race was on.......identical reactions , identical 60ft times - but Lens motor cried `enough about 100 foot out , and I was on to an even quicker 8.70 at 148mph....and headed for a super tough final against the worlds quickest and fastest 750 H2 Back into the clutch , roll the dice....and get ready to lean on the lights......and he broke in the burnout ! So a solo in the final , and taking a chance on setup - bang , fastest run of the weekend , a cracking tyre-shaking 8.62 @ 147 All of which keeps me at the front of the old school stockers championship , maybe even uncatchable for a fourth title

well that didnt quite go as planned.......turned out that up until a couple of weeks ago , October `22 was the last time I raced , the `off' from my road EFE had me in and out of hospital most of the year , and still not fully fit even now But I finally made my race return at Santa Pod Retro show - second pass back on the bike was a sloid 8.71 , into a battering head wind . But....when the wind dropped , I was stuck in the 8.7's , finally qualifying number 1 with an 8.74 after a few wild wheel spinning , arse battering launches - which left me in a world of pain ! Sunday dawned nice and bright , there was a final qualifying run but I decided to miss that as I figured I wasnt going to go any quicker , had another wild ride in a first round win , tried a different launch technique in a solo run for round 2 - and went slower than I have in years.....a pitiful 9,37 after a bogged abd jumpy launch . Finals time.......and my opponent handed the win to me on the start line , by having his motor stop in stage , then rolling back just enough to light that red...... so - top qualifier and win , along with low ET and top MPH on the day.......I'm still pinching myself , a proper fairy tale return And....I had the idea that the odd performance (wild over powered launch , followed by a lack of power on the run) may have been cam timing related - and it was.....inlet cam massively retarded , but exhaust cam spot on (how does that even happen ?) Now fixed , and damn she sounds good and race ready

something like this would be cool

Just found some cheap Hyabusa Titanium valves on Eblag - and wondering what , if any , guides I can buy to fit them into an EFE head ? Would busa / GSXE gudes fit - or am I gonna be looking for something `special' (as in expensive....) I know they will need shortening , and the inlets turning down a bit - but neither of those is a problem

in that case , I might be persuaded to bring the stocker (and its starter....)

I had a set of these higher ratio gears made by Chris Hannon (yes , he did make some a good few years ago)........had a small quality issue with them , so decided to get my own made !

I want to be there - but I cant drive (doctors orders , not allowed to use my arm so soon after surgery) Anyone passing Leicester , going for a day out ?

my thoughts are - when I see a 6 second turbo funnybike with a bandit motor , I'll believe they are a stronger engine..... Welded crank and straightcuts - both essentials , but chuck in a heavy duty backplate for insurance a full set of top and bottom end heavy duty studs will hold it all together as far as I know , there are no stronger rods available - katana rods are said to be the best , but finding a new set today could be a struggle over-revving is what kills cranks - so a shift light / rev limiter is a good idea , as well as a thorough inspection of the whole gearbox and shift mechanism also - sort the oil pickup so it takes its oil from the rear of the engine - stock only works well when slowing down.... acual power level will then depend on capacity and boost - but north of 250 should be easy and reliable

I have been looking into getting new ones made - there seems to be a world-wide demand ! Tricky part is going to be the retaining plates - moulded in on the originals (and not very well at that) but I have ideas......