Motorcycle Land Speed Racing

[Tonerjockey]

Motorcycle Land Speed Racing (WIP)

Last year (2007) I got lucky enough to retire from working in The Corporate World. A friend of mine, Glen, said "hey, I'm building a Lakester for land speed racing. I want to install a computer system and while you are at it, why not come along to Bonnevile and check it out?" I guess I have Glen to thank or blame for my racing addiction.


Here's a shot of Michele (pilot) and Lee working on Glen's Lakester. It's a Lakester with a Yamaha 500cc RZ500N engine.

So I sez to myself, "Self, you have that 73 Guzzi V7 Sport basket case you bought on Ebay 9 years ago... why not see what that will do?" This was a good excuse to put that V7 Sport together.

Kinda rough, picked over, somewhat there 73 V7 Sport. This thing appears to have been sitting in someone's shop for yeeeears. Parts made of unobtainium conspicously missing. The shipping from East Coast to my place in San Jo was as much as the price of the bike. As fine an intro to racing as any I suppose.

The beginning of a 750cc Guzzi racing engine.

So, cleany cleany, painty painty... on the dining room table...

Over a year later the bike is almost complete. Now all I need to do is get it competitive...

The Bonneville current class record for 750 P/PP (750cc production frame, production pushrod engine) is 120+ held by The Pepperoni Brothers (http://www.scta-bni.org/SCTA-NewWeb/Bonneville/BNIrecs_bikes.htm). The record at El Mirage is 127+. Usually the record is higher at Bonneville because it is a longer track.

The above pics are of the Pepperoni Brothers' V7 Sport. Looks good to me.

 

[Knight R1d3r]

Where's the picture?

 

[Mick-e]

um, that looks like a street bike.
Can we see more pictures of the race bike?

 

[Knight R1d3r]

Very, very nice job on the Moto Guzzi!

 

[ThumperX]

Nice job thanks for sharing!

 

[Tonerjockey]

Motorcycle Land Speed Racing (WIP)

So off to the dyno I go...

I was looking for a stock baseline number. I got a very non-threatening 40HP. yeah, even I knew that wasn't gunna do it.

I had a set of heads done by Gromm Racing and began the swap out. During the exersize I found media from media blasting in the bushings of the rocker pivot pins... man o man. Engine and trans out... engine dissasembled. Grit all over in the oil. #$%^&*!!!!!

Unfortunately I ran out of time to rebuild and get to El Mirage in June so we took the bike soley for Tech Inspection. Got my inspection started and my list of needed "fixes" (safety pin gas flap, safety wire axles, metal battery holdown, cover rear of leg vents in riding leathers... nothing big). BTW Michele (Glen's daughter and Lakester pilot) took the record in Glen's Lakester (123+MPH) 1st time out.

Back to the bike:

Con rod bearings shot... Oil pump destroyed... mains suprisingly OK ($600 saving there). Grit was trapped in the crank "cyclotronic seperator" in the hollow journal. Wrist pins, psitons, cylinders et al OK.

Washed everything in Safety Clean solvent. Scrubbed with hot water and dish washing detergent. High pressure wash and rinse... Now as clean as I can get it. New con rod bearings, replaced oil pump. All new seals and gaskets etc.

Assembled and adjusted I ran out of time for the dyno... Sheesh.

Coming soon:
Breakdowns, Buildups, etc.

Tonerjockey

 

[Tonerjockey]

Gunna do s'more tomorrow AM but thought someone might enjoy checking out the racers maybe as much as I did:

A very nice... and fast, Lakester:

Bill Ross' - Subtle Crowbar Racing Team's Fabulous 160+ Guzzi:

A great car with a very nice 3 window tow vehicle:

Vintage Indian... dunno the record:

12 Cylinder monster:

Out of my class... The American Eagle Racer:

More tomorrow.

G'nite

 

[GSXR6dude]

That last picture brings back memories of Craig Breedlove and The Spirit of America.
http://www.bluebird-electric.net/spirit_of_america.htm
My dad was friends with him and we got to see a lot of behind the scenes action as well as his record breaking attempts. So f-ing awesome. Good luck with your racing. Ill be following this thread for sure!

 

[AceT100]

Best of luck, just remember that rules have changed a little since Rollie Free rocked down the salt at over 150mph on the Vincent....you may need a 'little' more safety equipment....

 

[Tonerjockey]

GSXR6dude, I agree. It absolutley blows me away when I see how much effort, talent, determination, skill, and money goes into the big racers. And I've found that 99% of the racers are accepting and inclusive, friendly folks.

There is no way I could ever create anything like that but I can do my little Guzzi... so I do.

The jets are running at Black Rock (think Burning Man) instead of Bonneville I think. I'll be sure to add picks if/when I get em.

ACET100... heh heh I don't think my V7 Sport will ever do 150 unless I drop it from a plane. I can see why Rollie didn't bob his rear fender more eh?

Got me a brand spankin new suit from Hellimut... chues, and Snell M2005 brain bucket... how bad could I get hurt? The fall is only about 2.5 feet.

Gotta go to Sportech (www.sporttechcycles.com/Home.html) and dyno now. Later BFC (big capacitor) installation fun.

Tonerjockey

 

[Alexey]

Best of luck to you! Looks like a really fun project. Can't wait to see updates.

 

[2shott]

Got me a brand spankin new suit from Hellimut... chues, and Snell M2005 brain bucket... how bad could I get hurt? The fall is only about 2.5 feet

yeah, fall about 2-2.5 feet onto sandpaper at over 100mph... try not to think of the failure or success but only of the journey

 

[jrace]

Mods, is there any way to combine tonerjockey's two threads? It's great info but they keep bouncing back and forth...

-jim