Topic: Re: XDA series race at Maryland International Dragway this weekend.

[dragracer]

We're here racing at Maryland International Dragway this weekend.  I entered street ET on the top sportsman on my cartire Kawasaki dragbike. As we were setting up this morning I started to bolt my wheelie bars on the dragbike. I just happened to notice a broken weld on one of the braces on the bars. Unfortunately this was something that could have created severe handling issues so I decided to park that bike and transfer my entry fees to my small tire dragbike to run it in tbe super comp(5.60 index) class. The wife entered her bike in Saturdays bracket bash program. 

First time run for me on the Honda was pretty decent. I had a .011 reaction time,  had a 1.55 sixty foot and ran a 10.60 ET.  Not bad for a worn out power plant. Next out was the Kawasaki dragbike in the 5.60 index class. I was concerned about the bike running close to the index because it needs to be freshened up. The bike left the line on the bars and I concentrated on hitting my shift points. When I got my time slip it showed I had actually run below the index. I had a .054 reaction time,  a 1.23 sixty foot and it ran a 5.599 on the 5.60 index. One thousandth under the index. Damn, close but not dead on but I was pleased it ran near the target ET.  I made my second and final time trial on the 750. I had a .074 reaction time, a 1.55 sixty foot but only ran a 10.70 on the pass. I'm not positive what caused the bike to slow down except a difference in weather conditions.  Based on the overall condition of the bike,  I'm satisfied with the performance and the ETs. I'll probably average the numbers and dial
a 10.65 for Sunday mornings eliminations.

I decided not to make the 2nd qualifying pass on my super comp bike because it was time for the wife to make her one and only time run. To my disappointment,  the bike faltered off the line as if it was running on 3 cylinders  before clearing up down track. I surmised it was a stuck carb float that freed itself up down track. We dialed the bike in at a 9.30 for her first round of eliminations to be on the conservative side.. We got lucky in the round because her slower opponent red lighted and allowed us to use this as a test pass. The bike ran a 9.18 on her 9.30 dial in. Perfect. This was close to what I originally thought it should run. Next round we dropped the dial in to a 9.20 because the temperature increased. The bike left good but I could tell her reaction time was slow.  At the end of the run,  the opponents win light came on ending our race day for Gladys.

First thing in the morning,  I'll be on the Honda in street ET for the first round of eliminations . This will be followed by 1st round eliminations in the 5.60 index class.  Wish me luck fellas.

I'll put up a report tomorrow.

[dusterdude]

Good luck frank,say hi to gladys for me.

Sent from my LM-X420 using Tapatalk

[gschuld]

Good luck Frankie…

George

[RAFster122s]

Good luck Frankie to you and the lady of the mansion

[Old Scrambler]

More good luck coming from Pocatello

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Kick some ass Frank! A man of your qualifications doesn't need luck with your skill level.

[dragracer]

Quick race recap from sunday eliminations. 

First round street ET I dialed the bike in at a 10.65. Unfortunately I red-light and lost the round. Next up I was on my Kawasaki dragbike in the 5.60 index class(1/8th mile). This is a heads up class, pro tree.  The tree came down and I was off on green. I was slightly ahead of my opponent as we approached the 1/8th mile stripe. I  decided to stay in the throttle and let him chase me across the line. Thankfully my win light came on and the scoreboard lite up with a 5.603 ET on the 5.60 index. My opponent broke out with a 5.58. On to the next round.

I decided to buyback into street ET at the last minute. I dialed the bike up to a 10.68 because the temperature increased.  I was the slower bike and left first, trying to be mindful not to foul start this time. I knew I was a little late on the tree so I tucked in and tried to hit my shift points. As I approached the ET cone, Iooked back but my competitor was no where near so I rolled out of the throttle to take the win light. I hurried back to the pits to hop on the 5.60 index bike. I drew a opponent I had raced before so I knew I had to be sharp on the tree and run on the index. When the tree came down I was out of the gate first and looking over my shoulder to Guage the track position of my competitor. Although he was several bike lengths behind, I knew that ZX14 would be running me down near the stripe. I tucked in and watched the shift light come on and hit the button each time. As we crossed the line I initially was uncertain who won until I saw the winight on the guard lite up on the opposite side of the track. Dang. He ran dead on the 5.60 index and I ran 2 above at  5.62 on a loosing effort. The time slip showed I had a much better reaction time which typically turns into a win. The problem was I was off the index by two number. The win margin on his side was .004. Crap. Oh well. I initially thought I missed one of those shift points until I realized I was 2 hundredths slower in the sixty foot. Well, that's where I lost my ET and the race.

On to the next round of street ET and the next. Long story short I got down to the final 17 bikes out of 100. Sadly, the bike didn't run close enough to the dial because I didn't have a good launch off the line in and Iost at the finish line.

Overall it was a decent weekend of racing. The Honda held up but showed signs of slowing down throughout the race day as the temperature and overall weather conditions changed.  I'm not going to talk bad about the old girl,. She's tired and needs attention. 

Next stop on the XDA series is Virginia Motorsports Park in late August. I'm going to try to freshen up the engine before then if time allows. 3 more races remain in the series and I'd like to move up in the points after missing the first 3 races. We'll see!!

[Don R]

 With our car we usually see .02 off in the 60' is .04 at the other end either way.