Texas Mile March 2015

[fvance]

Somebody keep us posted who is doing what.

[Johnnnycheese]

I will be down there tomorrow but did hear from someone I did a tune on. He is in the 200 club now
204.2 to be exact

[Got-Busa?]

Congrats to Tim Leeper (rider) and Mark Tredway (owner)

247mph in 1-Mile and 211mph in 1/2 yesterday! 




Hussain is still working some things.

A friend of his went 211mph on a S1000RR.

Haven't seen much else other than the Lambo-TT running 227mph!

[MJ Williams]

Good looking bike 

[Ken 12r]

There is a live stream here http://racecast.me/45-masonry/103-2015-mar27-thetexasmile
its a bit hit and miss over here but might be better on your side of the pond.

[RansomT]

There is a live stream here http://racecast.me/45-masonry/103-2015-mar27-thetexasmile
its a bit hit and miss over here but might be better on your side of the pond.

Nope.  Only 3 screens available and they stop and start randomly.  Can't tell whats going on at all.

[Ken 12r]

There is a live stream here http://racecast.me/45-masonry/103-2015-mar27-thetexasmile
its a bit hit and miss over here but might be better on your side of the pond.

Nope.  Only 3 screens available and they stop and start randomly.  Can't tell whats going on at all.

Sad really because its a great idea

[scott g]

Understand some older
FORD car is now over 251 mph.

Are there no bikes there ?

Why so little news ?

[MJ Williams]

I tried to watch some of the live feed today (which was marginal at best) and it looked and sounded like there was a pretty stiff headwind.

[speedduck]

Understand some older
FORD car is now over 251 mph

"Mark Heidaker's Ford GT ran 270.4MPH this morning!"

[scott g]

Understand some older
FORD car is now over 251 mph

"Mark Heidaker's Ford GT ran 270.4MPH this morning!"

Hell, that car is more than 10 years old !

Surely, there is some Hayabusa that is faster than that................

[speedduck]

Understand some older
FORD car is now over 251 mph

"Mark Heidaker's Ford GT ran 270.4MPH this morning!"

Hell, that car is more than 10 years old !

Surely, there is some Hayabusa that is faster than that................

 

[fvance]

I was there Sat. and there was a really bad headwind all day, I heard it was the same or worse yesterday. Tom Leepers bike is really pretty and ran pretty good too. It is sad to see how few bikes run anymore. At Goliad there were as many or more bikes than cars. WTF

[Got-Busa?]

Understand some older
FORD car is now over 251 mph

"Mark Heidaker's Ford GT ran 270.4MPH this morning!"

Hell, that car is more than 10 years old !

Surely, there is some Hayabusa that is faster than that................

Those cars were only built in 2005-06 so no NOT more than 10-years old...

Bring yourself out of retirement Scott and show everyone how it's done.. 

 

I was there Sat. and there was a really bad headwind all day, I heard it was the same or worse yesterday. Tom Leepers bike is really pretty and ran pretty good too. It is sad to see how few bikes run anymore. At Goliad there were as many or more bikes than cars. WTF

Personally I think Goliad was a much better track for motorcycles other than length.  Beeville is just to darn bumpy for big speed IMO...   

[scott g]

I was there Sat. and there was a really bad headwind all day, I heard it was the same or worse yesterday. Tom Leepers bike is really pretty and ran pretty good too. It is sad to see how few bikes run anymore. At Goliad there were as many or more bikes than cars. WTF

Yes Fred, it is disappointing.

My sense of it is that most of the LSR tracks
in this country are moving to favor cars. 

Several reasons: 
1)  The car guys usually have and spend more money. 

2)  Car guys make fewer runs,
allowing more cars to run in a given weekend. 

3) When cars crash, the drivers are usually not
hurt as badly as a bike rider
 would be hurt for the same accident.

I suspect that the Beeville track is especially aware of this,
and the safety record of bikes at Beeville must scare
the organizers SILLY, from a liability stand point. 

If they discourage bikes,
that's more room for the big spenders......

[scott g]

Bring yourself out of retirement Scott and show everyone how it's done.. 

I must admit that I was tempted last year to gather the team up,
and head up to Ohio for a weekend at the ECTA.

For myself, I have little interest in riding.  I had a pretty good
50 year career, and perhaps that's good enough.

The team, does however that four (4) other riders
that have been over 250, so in that sense
 riding talent is plentiful for us.

We have five (5) turbo-Hayabusa in inventory that
we could re-commission that have ALL been timed
over 250 - 270 mph, so the speed is not the issue.

So: What's the problem ?

The Ohio Speed Limit is the problem !

If we went to Ohio, it would be with the
 sole purpose of setting and holding the track record.

Since we went 264 mph at Maxton, and about 260 at Goliad,
(BOTH track records when run)
it would be reasonable to think that we could
see top speeds in the 265-270 mph range on a good day.

Although it is not "official" and has never been "announced,"
Ohio has an owner-established speed limit that
is below the speeds that we run. 

It is our understanding that if we broke this "unofficial" speed limit,
 our time slip would be torn up, our run canceled, and we would
be asked to not compete further, and to not bring the bike back.

So, not too much point in Ohio.......

Beeville ?

WAY to dangerous for bikes,
and the NASA knows it.

No sense in going to Texas..........

Loring ?

Long haul to race at a track where we already hold
the streetbike record at 269 MPH.

So no Loring.

Mojave ?

Long haul from Florida to California to race at a track
that has a "surface" problem.

One very fast bike had a potentially
fatal crash there that was never oficially
explained.

I am pretty sure I know what caused the crash,
and I don't want to expose any of my riders to that risk.

What's left ?

Bonneville ?

Well, my team already has three full-time riders
there, and 11 motorcycles from 50cc to 2600cc
(Twin Hayabusa engines),
so we have that covered.

And yourself, my young friend ? 

Did you have good speeds at Beeville ?

What did your bike do ?

[Got-Busa?]

Bring yourself out of retirement Scott and show everyone how it's done.. 

I must admit that I was tempted last year to gather the team up,
and head up to Ohio for a weekend at the ECTA.

For myself, I have little interest in riding.  I had a pretty good
50 year career, and perhaps that's good enough.

The team, does however that four (4) other riders
that have been over 250, so in that sense
 riding talent is plentiful for us.

We have five (5) turbo-Hayabusa in inventory that
we could re-commission that have ALL been timed
over 250 - 270 mph, so the speed is not the issue.

So: What's the problem ?

The Ohio Speed Limit is the problem !

If we went to Ohio, it would be with the
 sole purpose of setting and holding the track record.

Since we went 264 mph at Maxton, and about 260 at Goliad,  WHAT???
(BOTH track records when run)
it would be reasonable to think that we could
see top speeds in the 265-270 mph range on a good day.

Although it is not "official" and has never been "announced,"
Ohio has an owner-established speed limit that
is below the speeds that we run. 

It is our understanding that if we broke this "unofficial" speed limit,
 our time slip would be torn up, our run canceled, and we would
be asked to not compete further, and to not bring the bike back.

So, not too much point in Ohio.......

Beeville ?

WAY to dangerous for bikes,
and the NASA knows it.

No sense in going to Texas..........

Loring ?

Long haul to race at a track where we already hold
the streetbike record at 269 MPH.  WHAT???

So no Loring.

Mojave ?

Long haul from Florida to California to race at a track
that has a "surface" problem.

One very fast bike had a potentially
fatal crash there that was never oficially
explained.     

I am pretty sure I know what caused the crash,
and I don't want to expose any of my riders to that risk. Please explain???

What's left ?

Bonneville ?

Well, my team already has three full-time riders
there, and 11 motorcycles from 50cc to 2600cc
(Twin Hayabusa engines),
so we have that covered.

And yourself, my young friend ? 

Did you have good speeds at Beeville ?

What did your bike do ?

Personally, if you aren't doing the riding then talking about it doesn't really mean anything at this point. 

Did I miss an event where you ran these records you are claiming?  I don't see them listed anywhere?

I won't race at Beeville, I'll wait for Houston...IF it ever happens.

[Got-Busa?]

I was there Sat. and there was a really bad headwind all day, I heard it was the same or worse yesterday. Tom Leepers bike is really pretty and ran pretty good too. It is sad to see how few bikes run anymore. At Goliad there were as many or more bikes than cars. WTF

Yes Fred, it is disappointing.

My sense of it is that most of the LSR tracks
in this country are moving to favor cars. 

Several reasons: 
1)  The car guys usually have and spend more money. 

2)  Car guys make fewer runs,
allowing more cars to run in a given weekend. 

3) When cars crash, the drivers are usually not
hurt as badly as a bike rider
 would be hurt for the same accident.

I suspect that the Beeville track is especially aware of this,
and the safety record of bikes at Beeville must scare
the organizers SILLY, from a liability stand point. 

If they discourage bikes,
that's more room for the big spenders......

I don't think that's the case at all.  It's just they have so many other people willing to spend BIG money in Texas, no point in making special requests for a small motorcycle crowd.. 

[scott g]

I was there Sat. and there was a really bad headwind all day, I heard it was the same or worse yesterday. Tom Leepers bike is really pretty and ran pretty good too. It is sad to see how few bikes run anymore. At Goliad there were as many or more bikes than cars. WTF

Yes Fred, it is disappointing.

My sense of it is that most of the LSR tracks
in this country are moving to favor cars. 

Several reasons: 
1)  The car guys usually have and spend more money. 

2)  Car guys make fewer runs,
allowing more cars to run in a given weekend. 

3) When cars crash, the drivers are usually not
hurt as badly as a bike rider
 would be hurt for the same accident.

I suspect that the Beeville track is especially aware of this,
and the safety record of bikes at Beeville must scare
the organizers SILLY, from a liability stand point. 

If they discourage bikes,
that's more room for the big spenders......

I don't think that's the case at all. 

What's not the case ?

[Got-Busa?]

Everything in bold...but whatever, doesn't matter..

[scott g]

Personally, if you aren't doing the riding then talking about it doesn't really mean anything at this point. 

Doesn't really mean anything ?

Well, maybe not to you........

But I am sure it means something to our Texas Friend Shane Stubbs,
who did a lot of the riding.

I am sure it means something to Dean Sabatinelli,
who went 269 mph (Twice, back to back)

It means something to Terry Kizer.

It means something to the team.

And it means something to me.

Ami I to understand that it means
othing to you EXCEPT for who was at the bars ?

I've been 251 MPH @ Goliad,
and held the track record for 5 years.

Could THAT mean something

[scott g]

Everything in bold...but whatever, doesn't matter..

of COURSE it matters.

If it didn't, why take up band
width with a useless post ?

Uou are of course entitled to your opinion,
but do you have anything to base your opinion ON ?

[scott g]

Bring yourself out of retirement Scott and show everyone how it's done.. 

I must admit that I was tempted last year to gather the team up,
and head up to Ohio for a weekend at the ECTA.

For myself, I have little interest in riding.  I had a pretty good
50 year career, and perhaps that's good enough.

The team, does however that four (4) other riders
that have been over 250, so in that sense
 riding talent is plentiful for us.

We have five (5) turbo-Hayabusa in inventory that
we could re-commission that have ALL been timed
over 250 - 270 mph, so the speed is not the issue.

So: What's the problem ?

The Ohio Speed Limit is the problem !

If we went to Ohio, it would be with the
 sole purpose of setting and holding the track record.

Since we went 264 mph at Maxton, and about 260 at Goliad,  WHAT???
(BOTH track records when run)
it would be reasonable to think that we could
see top speeds in the 265-270 mph range on a good day.

Although it is not "official" and has never been "announced,"
Ohio has an owner-established speed limit that
is below the speeds that we run. 

It is our understanding that if we broke this "unofficial" speed limit,
 our time slip would be torn up, our run canceled, and we would
be asked to not compete further, and to not bring the bike back.

So, not too much point in Ohio.......

Beeville ?

WAY to dangerous for bikes,
and the NASA knows it.

No sense in going to Texas..........

Loring ?

Long haul to race at a track where we already hold
the streetbike record at 269 MPH.  WHAT???

So no Loring.

Mojave ?

Long haul from Florida to California to race at a track
that has a "surface" problem.

One very fast bike had a potentially
fatal crash there that was never oficially
explained.     

I am pretty sure I know what caused the crash,
and I don't want to expose any of my riders to that risk. Please explain???

What's left ?

Bonneville ?

Well, my team already has three full-time riders
there, and 11 motorcycles from 50cc to 2600cc
(Twin Hayabusa engines),
so we have that covered.

And yourself, my young friend ? 

Did you have good speeds at Beeville ?

What did your bike do ?

I won't race at Beeville,
I'll wait for Houston...IF it ever happens.

Well, at least we agree that Beeville
is not safe enough for high-speed motorcycles......

[05calibusa]

Mojave ?

Long haul from Florida to California to race at a track
that has a "surface" problem.

One very fast bike had a potentially
fatal crash there that was never oficially
explained.     

I am pretty sure I know what caused the crash,
and I don't want to expose any of my riders to that risk. Please explain???
[/quote]

So, please elaborate on this "surface" problem for all of us souls who will be running at Mojave in less than two weeks.

[fvance]

I have run Mojave. It is a very good track. It does have a "little" dip down track. When Bill Warner's goal was 300mph. He made a few passes at Mojave and decided not to go for it there. Billy Shoemaker has the track record for a motorcycle at 269+, no problem. The crash that Scott is talking about, I think, tyhe bike was running a "dustbin" fairing, that has been illegal at Bonneville for years. That type of fairing is very unstable in windy conditions. And Mojave has some wind from hell.
We will be at Mojave next week hoping to run in the 230s.

[05calibusa]

I have heard of the "dip", but have not found it and I don't want to.  However, I suppose it would be a bit less pronounced when you are ONLY going a little over two-hundee.  I stay about 10' off to the right of center line and it seems okay there.  Yep, the wind is definitely a factor there, sometimes working in your favor and sometimes not.  Let's hope for some great conditions...see you out there!
Bob

[osti33]

I have run Mojave. It is a very good track. It does have a "little" dip down track. When Bill Warner's goal was 300mph. He made a few passes at Mojave and decided not to go for it there. Billy Shoemaker has the track record for a motorcycle at 269+, no problem. The crash that Scott is talking about, I think, tyhe bike was running a "dustbin" fairing, that has been illegal at Bonneville for years. That type of fairing is very unstable in windy conditions. And Mojave has some wind from hell.
We will be at Mojave next week hoping to run in the 230s.

That dip is the reason I'll never race at that track again. Plus the fact its so far from me. Maine is closer and a better track IMO.
I remember Bill telling me Mojave wasn't the track where he wanted to "push it."

I tried several changes on the bikes suspension. No matter what I did when the bike hit that dip at anything over 220 it would unload the chasis and spin the tire instantly running the bike up into the rev limiter. Didn't matter if it was myself or Jen at the controls. Jen and I both got in the club that weekend which was the goal. At the end we decided like Bill it was best to not "push it" any further at mojave.

I hope everyone going has a blast, goes fast and stays safe. I'll be glued to the computer for updates.
Good luck everyone. 

[05calibusa]

Ryan,
Where is it? I heard it's around the 3/4 mile mark.  Does it run across the track or just on one side of the line, etc...?

[osti33]

Ryan,
Where is it? I heard it's around the 3/4 mile mark.  Does it run across the track or just on one side of the line, etc...?

We couldn't find an area of the track where we could miss it. We made runs on different areas of the track. Starting far left and moving progressively to the right on each pass after that and I never found and area where we didn't hit it. You could see it in the data. RPM would just spike right up into the limiter.

The story we got is that it runs the entire width of the track and its for drainage. I'm not sure what it's there for but it's definitely there.

[05calibusa]

Okay, thanks for that info.  I'll bring it up in the riders meeting.  There's gonna be a lot of fast bikes out there!

[firemanjim]

Bob, only found it once so far, rear unloaded and spun up a bit but not real bad. About 3/4 track, but never "found" it again.

[05calibusa]

Thanks Jim, I feel better now 

[fvance]

We, Brenda and I , have run in the 220s and never really noticed much of a dip. Of course she only weighs 115lbs, I weigh a little more than that.

[2fast4u2c]

Scott,

I am aware of the speed concern you voice opinion over at Wilmington.  I have intentions of going very fast at Wilmington and look forward to breaking many records and holding the track record there.  I will be taking baby steps so that I can be sure that using traditional braking systems will stop me safely in the distances provided at Wilmington.  I also have been told that I would not be allowed to go much faster than 260 unless I could continually prove that I could stop safely which is my plan.  So basically, if I go 250 and stop safely, I would be allowed to try 260.  If I can stop safely from 260 and have total control over my bike, I would be allowed to attempt a faster speed.  But...the moment I am unable to stop safely at higher speeds due to my inability to safely control my bike, it only makes sense that I would either need to re-think my braking process, drogue ribbon chute deployment, or possibly a linked ABS braking system.  Either way, I won't stop trying to go fast.  I do believe however that only Loring provides the required braking distance for attempting 300mph in the 1 mile.

Your 265 runs at Maxton were very scary runs because if I remember correctly the long shutdown was used in it's entirety and well beyond to the wire barrier.  be that here nor there, Wilmington has a new owner on the team so things do change.  I do hope to see you again sometime at Wilmington, I miss your wife's cookies.

Guy

[scott g]

Scott,

I am aware of the speed concern you voice opinion over at Wilmington.  I have intentions of going very fast at Wilmington and look forward to breaking many records and holding the track record there.  I will be taking baby steps so that I can be sure that using traditional braking systems will stop me safely in the distances provided at Wilmington.  I also have been told that I would not be allowed to go much faster than 260 unless I could continually prove that I could stop safely which is my plan.  So basically, if I go 250 and stop safely, I would be allowed to try 260.  If I can stop safely from 260 and have total control over my bike, I would be allowed to attempt a faster speed.  But...the moment I am unable to stop safely at higher speeds due to my inability to safely control my bike, it only makes sense that I would either need to re-think my braking process, drogue ribbon chute deployment, or possibly a linked ABS braking system.  Either way, I won't stop trying to go fast.  I do believe however that only Loring provides the required braking distance for attempting 300mph in the 1 mile.

Your 265 runs at Maxton were very scary runs because if I remember correctly the long shutdown was used in it's entirety and well beyond to the wire barrier.  be that here nor there, Wilmington has a new owner on the team so things do change.  I do hope to see you again sometime at Wilmington, I miss your wife's cookies.

Guy

Thank you Guy.

Ellen and I both look forward to Wilmington,
coming well supplied with the crowd-pleasing
home-made chocolate chip cookies in quantity.

If I were to have a bike inspected by the ECTA,I would
want nobody but you to do the initial looking.

Your trained eye, careful approach to a potentially - dangerous
outing would make me feel much more safe going down the track. 

If you said change it.....It would be changed !

Yes, there should be additional "Licensing"
for higher speeds, as you suggest.

Live to race another day.

When my team races at Bonneville, there are often 3 or more "inspectors"
watching us with binoculars as we race down the 5-mile track.

Often an "inspector" will speed to us before
 we are completely stopped, just to give us
a "look over" at the completion of a run.

They raise the bike up, take
the temperature of the tires, etc.

"Just bein' careful." we are told.......

Sometimes professional photographers are "appointed" to
take pictures of us on a run to provide "clarification"
if it is needed later....

The shut-down area at Wilmington doesn't scare me like
Maxton did, but there is all that aircraft-landing stuff
right in the center of the grassy run-off area....

Blow something up (I have), and you can get a
faceplate covered in fluids (Happened to me twice,
both @ Bonneville and Goliad)
that made it so, at 240+ mph, I was blind,
and I would NOT have been able to see
WHERE those uprights are at Wilmington.

You, Guy, are the last "good head" for motorcycles in the ECTA.

You have a tough - and often thankless - job ahead of you.

I trust you implicitly, and hope that the new owners of the ECTA
understand what a treasure they have in you,
and give you the authority you need and deserve !

Be Safe,
Have Fun,
Get your AA license,
and go 300 mph, young man !

[2fast4u2c]

You don't know how much that means to me.