Topic: not so great weekend for some

[turboguzzi]

After last race's podium, I was quite pumped up for september's race at magione.

A bit of a scramble to get there as i only came back two days before from holidays, but bike was pretty much ready (read untouched from last race ) , so down we head.

first practice was OK-ish, last race there i managed a few 1:28's, so in hotter climate, I thought that 1:29's to start with were a good base. main issue is that since i mounted stacks, the character of the engine has changed, it refuses to climb above 11K whereas before it would rev to 13K (but not pull too much). on the other hand torque has improved and in the long straight i was able to shift into 5th earlier.

Pulled the plugs to check, everything looked OK but in the name of science i decided to go to second qualifying without stacks, just to see what feels best. here comes the strange part: engine revs higher but somehow my lap times were slower....  

Back to stacks then, sunday's race started OK, had a very nice dice with a good friend for 7 laps until he crashed in front of me which was a bit scary. shame because we were having fun overtaking each other lost a bit of concentration there and with nobody to fight, i took it down a notch, better safe than sorry but also motor didnt feel best so nursed it home.

So did a fifth at the end out of nine in my class, not bad, but it sucked not being able to improve on my lap times for the first time since I am racing. we drove home not in the best mood.

Back home checked the engine a bit, and what do you know, the number 3 spark plug cap was just leaning on the plug and inside there were clear signs of arching, not bad enough for missfiring but surely robbed me quite few HP's and this track has two long straights were you really need power. So feeling a bit better now, still, should kick myself for not checking better!

Still holding on to 4th in the championship with two races to go, though the first three guys are in another league really so not much of a chance for a trophy this year. we'll see.

Some photos are following

TG

[turboguzzi]

smallest sohc4 out there? this tiny 250 benelli is based on the italian copies of honda sohc's so, all in the family.

bike 655 is a paton framed 500 running in the bracket racing/regolarity category (very popular here)

640 belongs to giovanni mancuso, superb rider that proves that a stock frame and well develop motor can keep up with a 500 gp patton (if you are a demon rider, that is   )

646 is my friend's Lucio Paton framed 500, he is leading the championship on it right now.

[turboguzzi]

some mo'
red bike is a 125 sohc single that the Motocicli Veloci guys are tryiong to promote as an entry formula class

#54 is a MV "replica" based on a CBX550 motor

[turboguzzi]

something for the 750 lovers + nice vintage pit bike

[Howell]

Hi Yossef,

Despite of the problems with the stacks and sparkplug cap , a good result.
Let the stacks on it , torque is better then higher revs and high speed.
But why are you running with such high rev's ?
We run max at 11K , after that the power goes down.
Our tuner is gonna make a new experimental engine with shorter conrods (Suzuki GSX-R750) to get more torque.
Beautiful pictures from the Honda racers, especially the ones with the Paton frames.
Are those frames made by Paton for the Honda or are they originally for the Paton engines.
We are still waiting for a new 4th gear , our next and last race is at 26 september.

gr.René

[turboguzzi]

Hi Yossef,

Despite of the problems with the stacks and sparkplug cap , a good result.
Let the stacks on it , torque is better then higher revs and high speed.
But why are you running with such high rev's ?
We run max at 11K , after that the power goes down.
Our tuner is gonna make a new experimental engine with shorter conrods (Suzuki GSX-R750) to get more torque.
Beautiful pictures from the Honda racers, especially the ones with the Paton frames.
Are those frames made by Paton for the Honda or are they originally for the Paton engines.
We are still waiting for a new 4th gear , our next and last race is at 26 september.

gr.René

The bike seems to be certainly faster with the stacks, so will stick with them and get used to working with that type of power band.

Those paton frames were kits made by pattoni in the 70's specifically for the 500 which was very popular in italy at the time. they have "very 70's" geometry too with 30 degs steering angle but are very rigid, top area very triangulated for stiffness, light (open cradle) and as my friend proves, you can still go very fast with them.

I know pattoni's son, the guy building now the 500 GP replicas, will ask him more details about the frame when I see him.  

BTW, we have our last race of the season 23-24 october near milan, just in case you are interested

TG

[bear]

After last race's podium, I was quite pumped up for september's race at magione.

A bit of a scramble to get there as i only came back two days before from holidays, but bike was pretty much ready (read untouched from last race ) , so down we head.

first practice was OK-ish, last race there i managed a few 1:28's, so in hotter climate, I thought that 1:29's to start with were a good base. main issue is that since i mounted stacks, the character of the engine has changed, it refuses to climb above 11K whereas before it would rev to 13K (but not pull too much). on the other hand torque has improved and in the long straight i was able to shift into 5th earlier.

Pulled the plugs to check, everything looked OK but in the name of science i decided to go to second qualifying without stacks, just to see what feels best. here comes the strange part: engine revs higher but somehow my lap times were slower....  

Back to stacks then, sunday's race started OK, had a very nice dice with a good friend for 7 laps until he crashed in front of me which was a bit scary. shame because we were having fun overtaking each other lost a bit of concentration there and with nobody to fight, i took it down a notch, better safe than sorry but also motor didnt feel best so nursed it home.

So did a fifth at the end out of nine in my class, not bad, but it sucked not being able to improve on my lap times for the first time since I am racing. we drove home not in the best mood.

Back home checked the engine a bit, and what do you know, the number 3 spark plug cap was just leaning on the plug and inside there were clear signs of arching, not bad enough for missfiring but surely robbed me quite few HP's and this track has two long straights were you really need power. So feeling a bit better now, still, should kick myself for not checking better!

Still holding on to 4th in the championship with two races to go, though the first three guys are in another league really so noott much of a chance for a trophy this year. we'll see.

Some photos are following

TG

Never say never TG.
Don't know how many points your behind
But you've gotta be  in it  to win it.

Cheers,
Brian

[turboguzzi]

Thanks for the kind words bear. I am lagging one point behind in third place, he's a much better rider than me but I beat him in the rain in the past and weather here is starting to become iffy by now, like in your case, a good downpour could be by my best ally

main issue is that next race is some 550 miles from home and just dont think i can get more time off work, so might have to skip it. Will have to wait till next month to see how i am coping with work.

TG

[MCRider]

Thanks for the kind words bear. I am lagging one point behind in third place, he's a much better rider than me but I beat him in the rain in the past and weather here is starting to become iffy by now, like in your case, a good downpour could be by my best ally

main issue is that next race is some 550 miles from home and just dont think i can get more time off work, so might have to skip it. Will have to wait till next month to see how i am coping with work.

TG
The only first place I ever got was a National WERA event at what was then Indianapolis Raceway Park. Started to rain when the flag dropped, first 4 guys crashed out in turn 2 and I took her home to trophy.   

[bwaller]

Good result TG.

I'm curious too about your velocity stacks as I have no experience. Short of dyno runs to show where the increase is, at least you're able to see the results in your lap times. I still haven't found any decent stacks for these old Mikunis, but just haven't talked to the right person yet.

Interesting pics, are any of those fuel tanks alloy?

[a700guy]

pm steel dragon performance here on the board, he can make you anything you want at a very reasonable price.

[turboguzzi]

Good result TG.

I'm curious too about your velocity stacks as I have no experience. Short of dyno runs to show where the increase is, at least you're able to see the results in your lap times. I still haven't found any decent stacks for these old Mikunis, but just haven't talked to the right person yet.

Interesting pics, are any of those fuel tanks alloy?

Hi brent

i am running the regular, short 45mm CR stacks now.
I made at the time stacks for the mikuni's, can send you pics.

i believe that only the 750's is alloy, other tanks are GF.

TG