Dan,
First…I wish Chad has his leathers at OH! There is nobody out there that I would trust more to make speed on my 14, and give feedback, than either Zack or Chad!!
I think between Racheal and I, we have about 2000 combined dragstrip passes under our belts. I think the dragstrip can actually tell you a lot more about launching and mph than the LSR track can. I say this, because you have excellent traction, and can put down the best launch possible at your skill level and wheelbase. Now, that being said, we have been to about 22 LSR events, and we have tried launching a few ways there as well. I am not claiming we are the most talented racers out there, but we probably have more experience than the “average” guy who shows up.
My dragstrip testing tells me that you can run great mph without a hard “launch”. I think a lot of us have witnessed or experienced this. Now, this is different than saying “don’t go WOT”. I have had more than one day where my best MPH was not my best ET, or 60’, or even 330’. I have bogged the motor down and ran as good or as better mph as launching hard. Even if you lost 1-2 mph at the ¼ mile, your net loss at the 1 mile would be less. That is because the bike is gaining speed quickly, over short distances, in the first ¼ mile. Think about the 5-6 you gain at Loring…..it takes 2600 extra feet of track. If it is taking you 1/2 a mile to gain 5-6 mph, how much can possibly be lost from 100’, or even 300’ of less track?
You probably notice an ugly logger strapped to our fuel tanks a lot of time. With this I can see the rate of acceleration at the end of the mile or 1.5. It is good for giving a good idea of speed gained over distance. So, when the bike is gaining 100 rpm in the last 1.2 seconds, you are gaining say 1.5 mph over the last 300 feet of track. That might be typical for a good running stock bike, geared properly. No matter how you slice that, you wouldn’t gain more than 1.5 mph with 300 feet more of track. And, as mentioned, you are not going to give up 300 feet…the bike is simply accelerating too hard on the small end of the track.
No doubt, you and your boys are talented and experienced riders. In fact, some people say, “look at how the Millhollands launch, that proves it works”. But that is really ignoring the big picture of physics, rider skill, and aero issues. Or someone will come in and say, “Keith Dennis goes 1 mph faster in the ¼ on his most perfect launch at the dragstrip”. Hardly applicable to most of us on the LSR track.
I would also like to touch on some of the fastest turbo bikes, with tall gearing. On those bikes it is my opinion that being aggressive on the launch is much more important. That is because they are gaining big mph over relatively short distances, on the big end. You know, if the bike doesn’t get to accelerating for 200’, and it is gaining 5-7 mph in 200’ at track’s end…well, then it is more critical. But that does not apply to most of our bikes.
So, that is why I confidently say, “If you are focused on the launch, you are focused on the wrong end of the LSR track.” BUT, if there is more to the science than I understand, I’m all ears. I really want to understand the science of it,
whether I am right or wrong. Because I can afford a tire warmer, and I can launch fairly briskly, if the need arises.
Now, on the subject of the tire warmer. Well, the impact on overall traction, not just the launch, needs to be considered. A simple 1% change in wheel slip (about .78" per tire revolution) on the big end can amount to 2+ mph. But the science of overall chassis setup is beyond this thread.
Shane
