clairetoo Posted August 22, 2017 Posted August 22, 2017 I'm sorry its taken so long to get round to writing this first `race report' , but life has been a bit hectic since that debut at Santa Pod Dragstalgia event . The night before the meet , I couldnt sleep........running through everything about how to ride a stocker in my mind , over and over...... I signed on to run the RWYB on the Friday , pushed the bike the 200 yards down to the start area.......and nearly collapsed ! The paramedics took one look at my slightly gray face , and dragged me off to Bedford Hospital , where chest Xrays , blood tests and CT scans kinda happened.....so no track time for me Saturday was a bit better - got it on track , to the start line , pinged the clutch out - and realized I had no idea what I was doing , it was all happening so fast - feet wouldnt find the footrests , thumb wouldnt find the shift button , bike wouldnt go straight........all part of running a new bike , and not riding such a beast in far too long......all resulting in 11.7 at 117 . Nothing broke , so not too bad I suppose Next pass was a bit better - 11.3 , but still no MPH at the top ? One final run for the weekend after a few clutch and chassis changes , and it left the line OK , straight and hard , no shift problems , but no power from 3rd gear on - felt like it ran out of fuel , too small a tank breather was my first thought . It di run a 10.67 , but only 107mph. I have since taken it out at a RWYB to continue testing - first run with a larger tank breather found the missing power , and promtly fried the clutch Bung in a fresh set of plates , next run a wire fell off the right coil.........new bike blues And then , just time for one last go..........bingo.....9.50 at 137mph Gearing is a little short - I did try for another gear , but there was non left.........and it went right a little off the line , not hard to fix , but things are heading in the right direction for sure 13 Quote
Sweary Bob Posted August 23, 2017 Posted August 23, 2017 As i remember Clair was looking for Pit Crew to help her fire the bike on startline and recover from the top end. Anyone interested give her a message and have a natter. 1 Quote
minx Posted August 26, 2017 Posted August 26, 2017 Lizz always has some 'quiet time' on bike going through the run, particularly the start. It's an essential part of the team prep, whatever she's riding! Must be a huge buzz to be back on it again. You'll have all the bugs ironed out ready for full season next year hopefully? 9.50 though ... Quote
clairetoo Posted September 27, 2018 Author Posted September 27, 2018 Well.....its been far too long since I last posted here........Lizz did OK on the bike , running a best of 9.11 , but still no top end speed - it had detonated a piston to death.......a slight compression hike had put it over the limit for super unleaded , live and learn and all that........ So I decided to build a proper motor - 1428 , proper big valve head , something to make the sort of power I am sure the chassis can handle . Got it to Dragstalgia after a bit of disater the week before at a runwot......couple of tappit screws fell out , snapped the cam chain , after just a burnout........and dragstalgia was plagued with a load of small problems - shift light packed in , and the clutch was a nightmare........grabbing , dragging on the line......so no good runs , but it did run near 150 terminal speeds even on the two poor runs it did . So plenty of power......... 15 Quote
clairetoo Posted October 11, 2018 Author Posted October 11, 2018 (edited) After so much clutch trouble at the last race , I thought it best check it before loading into the van.........that floor aint never gonna be the same ! Dammit , there was supposed to be a link to a video......... Edited October 11, 2018 by clairetoo Quote
minx Posted October 21, 2018 Posted October 21, 2018 Good to see you today, @clairetoo Looks like you're making waves with it! 5 Quote
clairetoo Posted July 15, 2019 Author Posted July 15, 2019 (edited) Been a long time coming , but at last a bit better performance from me.....oh , and the bike ! A fun weekend at santa pods Dragstalgia meeting resulted in a new personal best , and a trophy . What a weekend.....I couldnt even dare to dream it could go so well . The bike ran kinda well , and with massive help from Dominic Francesco Charlton , Harry Barlow , Alan Ward , Steve French , and Juan Rafael Vergara Garcia , ran PB after PB . A bit of adjustment had the bike running arrow straight , as much track time as I could get put me back into racer mode - and a small amount of luck saw me into the final with long time rival from way back Len Padget...... My best run of the weekend sadly wasnt enough to overcome some impressive numbers from Len (riding Tyne Blight's bike) , but the feeling between us at the top end after the run was something I hadnt experienced for far too long....... Whens the next one.........! I felt from day one that the bike should run eights - but to it so consistently (ignoring a couple of missed shift runs) it went 8.800 , 8.74 , 8.78 , and 8.704 in final - saving the best till last ! Edited September 30, 2019 by clairetoo 11 Quote
KATANAMANGLER Posted July 15, 2019 Posted July 15, 2019 Winner winner chicken dinner. Go winged hammers! 1 Quote
clairetoo Posted July 17, 2019 Author Posted July 17, 2019 On 7/15/2019 at 9:30 AM, KATANAMANGLER said: Winner winner chicken dinner. Go winged hammers! Yep , sweet and sour chicken.......and a shandy ! And all I can think about is.....how to make it quicker........do I have a problem , or is that normal ? Quote
KATANAMANGLER Posted July 17, 2019 Posted July 17, 2019 25 minutes ago, clairetoo said: or is that normal ? Perfectly normal. Carry on 1 Quote
Outlawpaul Posted March 29, 2020 Posted March 29, 2020 Great looking old skool pro stock bike 1 Quote
samtait87 Posted July 25, 2022 Posted July 25, 2022 Great to see the bike again at Dragstalgia 2022 and thank you to the team for sparing some time to chat about a few bits, I know it wasn't a PB most likely due to it being so hot that weekend but i did see an 8.5 3 Quote
clairetoo Posted September 13, 2022 Author Posted September 13, 2022 Not been on here for piggin ages ! for some reason computer said no when I tried......... Anyhoo........much progress has been made on the EFE , had too much trouble with stock box's so in went a full billet 5 speed auto....and a change of wheels along with a splash of paint ! The end result has been pretty stunning - at Retro show , it ran a string of 8.4's at over 150 , resulting on low ET , High MPH , number 1 qualifier - and win ! Then managed a repeat performance at Dragstalgia (but around a tenth slower due to the heat) Then - Jurby , Isle of Man just for fun - and another repeat , with a best of 9.07 @ 155...... Out at Melbourne this weekend to see if I have found a good dodgy track setup 11 Quote
clairetoo Posted September 13, 2022 Author Posted September 13, 2022 Oh - and I'm also 2 times old school stockers champion , close to making it 3 in a row this year ! 8 Quote
clairetoo Posted October 22, 2022 Author Posted October 22, 2022 (edited) Melbourne went better than expected , with another good performance - low ET , top MPH , number 1 qualifier , and win ! I seen to have got my act together this year , trick seems to be go as quick as I need to , and dont waste effort trying to go quicker all the time. Finished the year at Santa Pod last weekend , and was on for another win - until crew shortage and an organisational cockup left me using a borrowed starter for the semi final.....and it failed.....so ddint get to progress to the final (had a good few tenths in hand for that race...) But , despite the failure , I only went and won the Old School Stockers championship for a third time - I got the Straightliners championship as well ! YAY....go me ? Also had a good day out at Stafford classic bike show with the OSS crew Edited October 22, 2022 by clairetoo 9 Quote
clairetoo Posted June 26 Author Posted June 26 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 6 Quote
clairetoo Posted July 8 Author Posted July 8 (edited) 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 Edited July 8 by clairetoo 11 Quote
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