After a lot of starts and stops, it looks like our season is actually going to happen.. Last nite we had a Sat Nite legal which is just a run for fun . Usually a good time to get some practice in. Seems like a LOT of folks were anxious to get back on the track . Word had it that we had over 200 cars and ten or more bikes show up. Stands were full with folks lining the return road .. Hot rodders don't worry too much about a lil virus ;) I began the evening with a 9.927 at 1147.41 and finished with a 9.678 at 149.98..Pretty rusty but it was a practice nite and I practiced :)
Only one other real drag bike there and that was a stretched 14R from Oregon who I run against a lot .( beat him again last nite :) ) Not pics yet except this one ..

* Last updated by: chrly on 6/14/2020 @ 10:00 AM *

That's a beauty! Good memory.

Haha, right on Chrly. what tire pressure you running at the drag strip? Your inspiring me to find a local strip at try it out. Also do you do burn outs to heat the rear tire? oh and almost forgot to ask what brand tires do you prefer.

SS.. I run a Shinko Hookup Pro 190/50 once into the season. It is a street legal tire...The only bad part is that it can not be used on a dyno so if we want to make tuning changes, I have to change tires :) Someone else just came out with a new tire but do not remember who just now..
Burnouts depend on condition, I did not do any last nite as it was a brand new tire, track had been REALLY prepped and was super sticky and I was not launching hard . I was leaving at 3500 instead of 4500 which is pretty much where I want to be with the way I ride and the tune of the bike. When Ricky Gadson rode the 14R , he recommended launching at 3500 but I need more RPMS to take up the difference in skill ;) At least that is where I am after two seasons with the bike. 3500 Is close to the Bog point if your timing between clutch and throttle is off, So rather than bog and lose the race for sure, I overcompensate with the extra revs and clutch slippage. Tire pressure varies from 17 to 20 pounds for me ..Plenty of traction last nite so I was at 20 pounds . Again, as the season runs on and I get back some skill to handle wheelies/traction , i will drop the pressure a bit . Or if we shud get a cold spell, which will cause a loss of track traction.
If you are just going to do an occassional race, the Shinko 009 Stealth is a good tire and you can run it on the street if you don't push the corners too hard.It has a pretty square profile :)

Are you near Vandenburg AFB?

And of course , I run Shinko fronts just cause I like matched manufacturers

* Last updated by: chrly on 6/14/2020 @ 1:53 PM *

yes the base is right down the road. when they launch rockets you can feel the rumble. lots of good details, thanks for the info. I need to set a little time aside and practice the 3500, and 4500 rpm launch.

A couple years ago there was a local group that got close to building an 1/8 mile drag strip for nhra events where i could have ran the 14, an oval dirt track, two motorcross tracks, an off road course for trucks and jeeps, it would have been awesome, it ended with broken dreams, a few people that hate motorized sports ruined it, and a weak city counsel.

So where is your nearest track,? Bakersfield ? It only takes a few loud voices to quell motor sports , unfortunately . Years ago, in the late70s, I raced right here at the airport but " progress" killed teh action.

* Last updated by: chrly on 6/16/2020 @ 11:11 AM *

ya its famoso in bakersfield, and there might be one in pamona. I started watching vids and started getting intimidated, cuase i dont even own leathers, less lone skillz to drop the hammer.

back in the mid nineties when i was living in long beach i found a place called brotherhood raceway by wilmington and san pedro and would have a good time spectating. it was the first time i ever saw a car wheelie, they had cars and bikes going non stop for hours.

at the time i was on my primary mode of transportation which was my 93 zx600 ninja. i didnt realize alot of these racers were cops and sherriffs, so when i lit up a joint one night while i was spectating i got a bunch of evil eyes on me.

LOL.. I bet you got eyed LOL

As for intimidation..If you went to a test and tune nite Most tracks are very accommodating.. At Redding, we always try to meet first timers and make sure they understand teh sequence of events, etc.. What size are you ?? Never know what one might find in used leathers :) I bought a two piece for 80 dollars by watching ebay and craigslist for a month :) New ready mades are available for less than 400 bucks . I am about to go to Bates in Huntington Beach for a new custom set.. A reward from me for my wins last year..

Famosa will be our Division finals this year Oct 1-4 . If you want to see intimidation , come on over and watch teh kids intimidate this old man LOL Pretty sure I will qualify for finals from our home track.. We have had two races this year out of 10 scheduled and I won the first two so have a good point lead as we return to racing June 27-28.

* Last updated by: chrly on 6/16/2020 @ 11:11 AM *

ya ill look into the test and tune nights. My Dainese leather jacket i bought at cycle gear says 60, im 30 in inseam 40 in waist. i will start keepin an eye out for some used leathers. also im sure youll dig the bates leathers.

congrats for the wins last year your 14 is treating you right.

i will mark famoso down in the calender.

how many miles on your bikes odo? when you checked valve gap were they all in spec? i forget if you mentioned it already but what brand oil you using?

well sounds like you got an awesome rest of year in racing ahead of you.

23000 miles at present..Checked valves at 21000, two were slightly out. I have ridden only kawasakis since early 70s and have always used Kawi oil, whatever book called for. Once in awhile I get a different filter but always same oil. Well , there was the Ducati 848 for a year in 2008 :)
Will keep an eye out for leathers .

* Last updated by: chrly on 6/17/2020 @ 7:32 AM *

Im at 17,500 and havent checked the valves yet or replaced the plugs, thats great your hard core kawi cept for 2008 when you cheated :) just kidding. cant go wrong when ya stick to the brand.

kewl thanks for keeping an eye out for some leathers, i will consider getting me some leathers now that im thinking bout drag racing. pretty cool. i was 245 pounds and have gotten down to 210, doctor told me back in 2012 i should be 160, 165. oh my height is 5'7.

weekend before last i had on my leather jacket with a long sleeve t shirt underneath and at speed i could feel the leather jacket flapping on top behind my shoulders, it was enough to get my attention, and now talking bout leathers i realize how important it is to have a good fit.

do you still got your dirt bike? what was the model again? i remember you posted up one time when you were at some ohv park close to where you live.

hope im not getting to long winded on ya either. if you ever come by this area ill buy you a sandwitch or something for the heck of it. or anybody else thats reading this if your ever riding thru ill buy ya a cup of coffee or a sandwitch.

* Last updated by: streetsweeper on 6/17/2020 @ 10:32 PM *

I do still have the KLX250. Havent done much riding tho. That may change soon.. I am down to just it, the 14 and an 84 KH100 :) Sold my 650 two days ago..
We replaced plugs when we did the valves just because.
Good on ya for the weight loss...Tuff I know but worth the effort..

just curious as to what has to change for you to start riding the klx? did you sell the ninja 650? You say we do you have your own mechanic?
yup on the weight loss i started the intermittent fasting or one meal a day plus desert. there was no way i could have lost weight running or going to the gym.

also you running a speed shifter?

I have a local shop with a young man who opened a shop locally . Very smart and easy to talk with ..Also has a dyno and has done quite a bit of checking various exhaust system combos for me , Installed my power commander etc. I trust him completely and often say " we ". I have almost always used " we" in any endeavor as rarely is anything done without assistance from someone along the way :)
The Ninja 650 twin is gone.. I put a 1000 mile day on it last week and it is just not what I want for '"raveling" and couldn't get my head back into track days..I got a decent offer and off it went. The real reason I sold it may have been because it was red..LOL I dont like red on motorcycles , except for Ducatis.
I have an electric shifter by Holeshot, set up thru my Power Commander..I had it on my ZRX1200 and have ran it for over a dozen years bewtween the ZRX and the now the 14 ,,Only thing I have done is to change the cable once.. No air or onboard compressor,,Been real pleased with the performance.. It IS only one way but that is all I need for drag racing..Really a simple set up.