Hi John,
How do you drive/ride /steer the bike if you can't see the course? I would
think that visibility wouldn't be any different for a bike than a car? If
it is, maybe some changes are in order....other than a centerline.
Help me understand the problem.
Thanks, Skip (no experience with bikes on the salt)
At 12:27 PM 8/29/01 -0500, john robinson wrote:
>Howdy,
> I have a couple of concerns about running at Speedweek this year. I ran
>a motorcycle, did OK with it (actually set a record but it lasted only one
>day), but did have a problem with running on the Salt that other motorcycle
>riders also have.
> There is no center line to run on.
> My bike is a vintage racer, and when I drop behind the fairing, I am
>not
>able to see forward. As this is the first time I ran a bike at the Salt, I
>asked other bikers how they did it, including the guys in Tech. Mostly, the
>answer was to have a slightly loose helmet that you shove up on your
>forehead, and try to look at the line on the side of the track and follow
>it. Some of the other riders remember when they had a center line to run
>on, and commented that it felt safer running with it.
> I don't know when the centerline was removed, but for the safety of the
>riders, feel that it should be brought back.
> One of the reasons I heard (that the center line was removed) was that
>the
>environmental (I did have a comment here, but deleted it ) concern was of
>putting used oil into the environment at the Salt. I do understand this,
>but feel that the safety of the riders would be a higher concern than the
>amount of used motor oil poured on the salt. ( I >think< you are still
>using used motor oil, please correct me if I am wrong), and if the marker
>is a benign coloring agent, what is the reason for not having a center line?
> Another concern I had was the running of generators. I was in an area
>that
>had a guy running his generator, ( an older B&S engined genset, one of
>those with a louder muffler and the usual B&S rattle) about 70% of the day.
>It was irritating, and even though several of the surrounding pits asked
>for a reduction of run time, the gentleman in question said, in effect, I
>can run this if I want to.
> I did not bring my genset to the salt this year, but have in other
>years,
>and attempt to run it only as little as I can, mostly for charging the
>racecar battery, and so do understand his position. Maybe gensets could be
>relegated to the perimeter of the pits, at least those that have longer
>runtimes? I'll bet I am not the first with this concern, and would also bet
>much wrangling has gone on about it.
> Anyway, I thought this years' SpeedWeek went very well, and wish to
>thank
>everyone involved in its creation. Thanks a lot, drive careful
>
> John Robinson, Mechanician
> Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin
> 1513 University Ave.
> Madison, Wi. 53706
> 608-262-3606
> FAX 608-265-2316
> Current World Land Speed Record Holder
> Bonneville Salt Flats
> H/GCC 92 cu.in. 1980 Dodge Colt
> 131.333 MPH set 1995
> 136.666 MPH set 1996
> 140.292 MPH set 2000
> 144.396 MPH set 2000
> MPS-PG 441 c.c. 1967 BSA Victor 441 Motorcycle
> 95.193 MPH set 2001
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