kz2zx
Pro
Nobody in Particular
Posts: 1166
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posted April 12, 2005 05:10 PM
OT: my 2nd race weekend
Well, it sucked, on many levels.
My times sucked because my bike setup sucked. I figured out on my own with the new front-end setup (valving and springs) that the setup with the Michelins was closer to the older D208s than previously thought. I took about 7.5mm out of the front ride height (the R6 shock is not adjustible for ride height). Bike felt better, and I could hang off again, and my body positioning felt better, but...
The rear was sliding like crazy. I never had the feeling all weekend that the bike was 'on rails', and I had the oddest sensation that the rear was dragging through the turns, and (after the second race and before the third and last race) the track owner confirmed what I was feeling. He came to see me 'cause he knew I was lapping very slowly, and came to find out why. Turns out I WAS dragging the rear due to excessive wheelbase - I'd changed the chain and sprockets - from a 14/47 to a 15/51, and decided to leave two extra links in the chain incase I wanted to go 15/52. Bad mistake.
But, this was not the only bike setup woe. See, I lost a frame slider - it was jarred loose in the lowside first race weekend - and it (I guess) vibe-ed loose in my first race. But, the hole it left - and I didn't check this in my (not-exhaustive-enough) go-over of the bike showed a missing engine mount.
And the reason it was missing? The second owner of the bike (first racer, he bought it at insurance auction) noticed the frame was bent and installed the slider without the engine mount installed.
Well....
I felt really tentative, borderline on the bike, and was a full 8, yes EIGHT, seconds off my best pace in each race. I managed to avoid last place in two of the three races...
Positives on the weekend? Only one: a rider I'd normally consider slow (dude - if you're reading this, I am really sorry) passed me in a bus-stop/chicane on the first turn, on the brakes on the inside. Well, he took a narrow line (too fast) on the second turn, and I took a wider entry and left him for dead on the inside on that turn.
What really sucked? I had such a crappy drive off the last turn onto the back straight, I got passed in one race on the first lap (after a GREAT start) by 7, yes SEVEN riders at the END of the straight. That really sucked the cosmos. I didn't have time to count them at the time, but coudl do the math at the finish....
So... new parts (frame sliders, engine mounts) on order, and a plan to have the frame straightened over the summer break (July). I took two links from the chain, and ...
See you CCS racers in Vegas at the end of the month!
(you can't keep me down!)
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ASMA 47
WERA 147
www.dhowellbooks.com
  
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redelk
Moderator
Please... speak to the hand.
Posts: 3212
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posted April 12, 2005 06:19 PM
At CMRA events, we have Marcus McBain of Racing Performance Services go over and set the suspensions on all of our bikes. It's usually cost $50 per bike, if you are not on a "program". The cost is irrelivent when compared to trying to do it ourselves. He covers everything from tire brand and compound to wheelbase length and swingarm angle. His set ups have been "spot on" almost everytime.
This is especially important since we're too cheap to put on a new chain on any of the bikes everytime we change rear sprockets. For example, on our endurance bike, we set up the chain using our largest rear sprocket (50T) and moving the rear wheel as far forward as possible. Our next race is the 2.9 mile of Texas World Speedway. We will be using our smallest rear sprocket with 47T. After putting on the new sprocket and adjusting the chain slack, it has added a good 20mm to the wheelbase. Thus completely changing all of the suspension settings. We can always count on Marcus to take that into consideration when setting us up.
He'll often drop by our paddock after practice and inquire on the bike's handling. If there are any issues, he'll make suggestions on how we can make the proper adjustments ourselves. I can only think of a couple of times we've ever changed one of his set ups.
I would think that there is someone like Marcus at the CCS events. If there is, pay them a visit and explain what your issues are with the bike. I would think that their suggestions (if you do not want to pay for the service), would give you a big head start in getting things sorted out.
If not, you can got to his website at http://www.roadracinghelp.com/ and get some great info on just about everything you'd ever want to know about suspensions, but were afraid to ask.
I just about worship the ground this guy walks on. He does the tuning for many CMRA's best, including Ty Howard who finished 7th at the Daytona 200. What makes him such a great guy to work with is that even when it comes to the "lowly guys" (like us), he will spend even more time with us than the "pros", always making sure that we and him are on the same page. They might be spend hundreds (if not "thousands") with him and we're just handing him $50, but it doesn't matter. He treats everybody the same. He also conducts classes and track walk throughs before the races. Most of the time, there is no charge, but just a request to donate something to either the injured rider fund or the AirFence fund.
Marcus is first class all the way. I just hope you got someone like him at the CCS events.
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There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.
-Ernest Hemingway
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kz2zx
Pro
Nobody in Particular
Posts: 1166
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posted April 13, 2005 08:17 PM
Good advice, Red, and with a little luck I'll find someone in Vegas at the end of the month that can help me work through the setup and get me feeling as good on the michelins as I'd like to be.
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