Weekend 2 of the 1000 project

I headed out to the “man cave” to again work on the 1000. It’s very dirty and needs some TLC. I found out what the rattling noise in my exhaust pipe was. A worn out bushing. I’m going to make a new one today on my lathe. I got the tig welder finally wired into the power panel,  now I can weld all sorts of trick brackets and parts. I’m going over to the auto parts store today and pick up some anti-seize and  engine de-greaser. The motor is really dirty from all the road grime. I may fire up the race bike and run it for a bit. Until such time………………More time……..

 

Starting the 1000

I started working on the “big” bike today. It’s funny with all the body work off how small it looks. The 1000 has a massive frame compared to the 400 frame. Tomorrow I’ll start with removing the pipe and other outside parts. I hope to have it completely torn down by next weekend.

 

 

The 2nd winter project

I traded my YSR for the 400 race bike last year and I had this rolling chassis left over. I was going to throw it in the scrap heap, but I decided to do something with it. I’m going to make the old DT8O into my pit bike this season.

I picked up a Briggs & Stratton 5hp motor from a guy I work with. It came off an old power washer. It has great compression and should be a good strong runner. It does run, I started it. I do have some challenges to deal with.

The bike is in rough condition. Lots of rust and it doesn't  look very good right now. I will change that at the end of the project. One of my goals is to complete this as cheaply as possible.

I have to cut the frame tubes, fabricate a motor mount, get a clutch, chain, new paint, misc parts etc. Dedra will be able to ride this too when I’m done. I have too, by club rules put my racing numbers on the bike as well. That way if the officials see you speeding in the pits they can yell at you, LOL. I’ll start on the little beast today 1-3-10

Here is the little beast… It looks very ruff…………..

 

 

Christmas pictures

 

A “NEW: Beginning

 

I was offered the position of Engineering and Maintenance Director for the Meadowood Complex. I accepted the position this week. I start Sept 14th. It’s been a very trying three months for me. I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone how bad the economy is right now. I did have the support of my friends and family, and that was very helpful. Now that I will be gainfully employed again, My racing endeavors will begin anew next year. I’ve decided to concentrate on the endurance series. I do need to find another rider to join my team. In the few months I’ll be trying to find someone to help me campaign in the Lightweight Superbike class. I wish my friend Dave Bennett from England could race with me. That would be funny. It would be the Dave and Dave show, LOL.

Until such time…………………………………..

July 25th, 2009 TRACK DAY

I went to Putnam Park this Saturday July 25th. I wanted  to get the race bike dialed in. It didn’t start very well because the bike was only running in 3 cylinders. I was a little frustrated to say the least. I took out the offending plug and switched to another cylinder, but no luck. Dummy me packed the wrong plugs in my spares kit, and I had no extra plugs. STUPID!  I figured I had NO choice but to go thru tech inspection and get ready to try and blow it out on the track.  I did one lap and it “fixed itself” LOL. I think it was shooting flames out the pipe because I heard some loud “booms” when I was easing into the turns, LOL. It started running on all four cylinders and it was “all good”after that.

It was raining for the most part of the morning. The track was really, and I mean REALLY slick. The Dunlop's I had on the bike were not the best tire for the track. I wanted to get a set of Bridgestone's slicks for the event but lack of funds stopped me from doing that. I went out for 2 sessions in the wet, and I  got sideways twice, once in the dreaded “Dead Bear Turn” (thanks Carl)   and in turn 10.  I screwed up my breaking marks and got sideways. I had a little off track excursion (ride thru the grass!) I was coming in to turn 10 way to fast. (note to self)

After lunch the track started to dry out. I got the suspension dialed in after the first dry session. The rest of the afternoon was a BLAST! I really enjoyed myself. My bike was way underpowered for the guys I was running with. Most of the bikes in the group I was in were 1000’s. They blew by me on the straights like I was going backwards. I did OK in the turns, but I was “fresh meat” on the straights. Oh well. The 400 was just a pleasure to ride after I got it  running right. It handles really nice. I’m sure with better tires I would have been able to go much faster. I didn’t want to wad up my bike trying to keep up with the bigger bikes. It was like taking a pea shooter to a gun fight, LOL. I’m sure next year when I start endurance racing it will be a more level playing field. If I get a job soon I can see another track day in my future, and new set of Bridgestone slicks, LOL ;) I was pretty tired after a day on the track. It was fun and I hope to do it again soon. Thanks for coming up to watch me Pug and Little Pug!

Until such time!

 

                           That little girl on the bike was really fast!

 

Friday night July 17,2009

I wanted to take a few pictures all suited up. I got my new back protector on and I have enough room to still move around, LOL. If the weather allows I will ride both tomorrow and Sunday and break the leathers in even more. I have rode about 5 times with them on and they get better with each ride. I’m sure next weekend at the track they will be all broken in by the end of the day. The bike is done and it’s ready to go. I can’t wait to get on the track! Yahoo……………………….