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USCRA US Vintage GP at Thompson Speedway in CT
- Thread starter Emlupi
- Start date
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Looks like a hotbed of potential VHT members there, you should point out the sticker on the back of your bike and make suggestions to the group.Along with yours truly
Here’s a fun story from my first practice day. One of our rookie group is riding a CB160. The bike was running sketchy and lots of blue smoke from the exhaust.
So, we go out for a practice session with the instructors and part of the program is for each rider to leapfrog to the front down the straight. This guy leapfrogs me and gets into line directly in front of me. A few corners later my visor starts misting up. My first thought is,”WTF? It’s not raining!” Well, a second later I catch a glimpse of the shiny line this guy is leaving on the tarmac. A second after that my front tire tucks and I keep it on two wheels. I immediately put my hand up and got off the racing line then pitted.
Turns out the guy’s clutch rod seal popped and he oiled the track pretty good. They called an early lunch break and the cleanup crew headed out to do their thing. How’s that for some excitement on your first day on track with your shiny new 350?
Here’s some pics of my oil soaked bike. Look at that tire!!! Im lucky I didn’t go down in that mess.
View attachment IMG_9198.jpegView attachment IMG_9198.jpeg
So, we go out for a practice session with the instructors and part of the program is for each rider to leapfrog to the front down the straight. This guy leapfrogs me and gets into line directly in front of me. A few corners later my visor starts misting up. My first thought is,”WTF? It’s not raining!” Well, a second later I catch a glimpse of the shiny line this guy is leaving on the tarmac. A second after that my front tire tucks and I keep it on two wheels. I immediately put my hand up and got off the racing line then pitted.
Turns out the guy’s clutch rod seal popped and he oiled the track pretty good. They called an early lunch break and the cleanup crew headed out to do their thing. How’s that for some excitement on your first day on track with your shiny new 350?
Here’s some pics of my oil soaked bike. Look at that tire!!! Im lucky I didn’t go down in that mess.
View attachment IMG_9198.jpegView attachment IMG_9198.jpeg
Didn't you put a clutch rod seal retainer on yours in part because it was a rule? If so, did they chastise him?
If you read the rule right out of the book it says “output shaft seal retainer” which is a misnomer. It was only through the advice of the individuals on this site that I captured the clutch rod seal. The club really means the clutch rod seal but hasn’t reworded the rules.
I received a first hand lesson in what can happen when that seal fails. It’s definitely a “pucker up” moment!
I received a first hand lesson in what can happen when that seal fails. It’s definitely a “pucker up” moment!
Talk about trial by fire, yesterday was the oil incident and today the weather decided to get in on the act. The morning practice sessions began with temps in the mid 40’s and rain. I had to run the rookie race in order to qualify for a license so there was no way around it. The practice session was miserable with wind, rain, and standing water everywhere. I wanted to go out and get a look at the track before the race just to avoid any unwelcome surprises.
The rookie race was basically an exercise in survival. I just wanted to stay on two wheels and get it over the line so I could qualify for my race license. By the time the race began there were also windblown leaves in several corners to join the party along with the rain and cold. I won the rookie race but it was really just a battle of attrition with the elements. I withdrew from the rest of the races for today, it was just too miserable to continue. There were many hearty souls who went out there and ran the entire schedule. There were a bunch of crashes in the morning races so the later races were shortened.
In the evening the weather cleared out and actually got warmer. There was a potluck dinner and live band in the garages so we ended it on a high note. Hoping for better conditions and more track time tomorrow.
Here’s a photo of the band performing. The bass player is also a club member and race school instructor,
The rookie race was basically an exercise in survival. I just wanted to stay on two wheels and get it over the line so I could qualify for my race license. By the time the race began there were also windblown leaves in several corners to join the party along with the rain and cold. I won the rookie race but it was really just a battle of attrition with the elements. I withdrew from the rest of the races for today, it was just too miserable to continue. There were many hearty souls who went out there and ran the entire schedule. There were a bunch of crashes in the morning races so the later races were shortened.
In the evening the weather cleared out and actually got warmer. There was a potluck dinner and live band in the garages so we ended it on a high note. Hoping for better conditions and more track time tomorrow.
Here’s a photo of the band performing. The bass player is also a club member and race school instructor,
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stl360+450
Veteran Member
Congratulations on the win and for securing your license!
For the uninitiated among us, like me, would you mind describing this a bit more?
For the uninitiated among us, like me, would you mind describing this a bit more?
- What course were you running? It looks like they can configure it in various ways.
- What kind of speed were you making in the leapfrog practice, say, on the straight?
stl360+450
Veteran Member
Thanks for sketching in the course!
Jays100
Veteran Member
If you are comfortable sharing your setup (PM me if not), I will calculate your speed.
What I need is rpm, rear wheel diameter, front and rear sprocket #teeth. The FSM publishes internal ratios and I have a clutch somewhere…
I have a spreadsheet setup for the 450/500T that calculates all that, then produces a graph. I can adapt it for the 350 easily enough.
What I need is rpm, rear wheel diameter, front and rear sprocket #teeth. The FSM publishes internal ratios and I have a clutch somewhere…
I have a spreadsheet setup for the 450/500T that calculates all that, then produces a graph. I can adapt it for the 350 easily enough.
stl360+450
Veteran Member
We're looking forward to an update on Day 2 — inquiring minds want to know!
The bike was set up with standard front sprocket (16T) and 34T rear.
RPM was 7000
Not sure of tire diameter, depending upon which source you believe it’s between 25-26 inches. The tire is a Continental Road Attack 3CR, 110/80-18.
Funny note on RPM, file this one under “just figuring it out”. Every time down the straight the bike would break up at around 7000 revs. In my mind I’m working through jetting, etc. Back in the garage it finally dawns on me. The E-World ignition I installed is electronic and comes from the factory with a default rev limiter setting of 7000 rpm.
. I’m here to testify that it works exactly as designed!!
stl360+450
Veteran Member
I estimate about 75 mph for 7000 rpms with a tire circumference of about 80" in fifth gear with the 34/16 sprockets.
I hope it's easy to sort out that rev limiter! Even I go past 7k on my 4 mile commute to work!
I hope it's easy to sort out that rev limiter! Even I go past 7k on my 4 mile commute to work!
Sorry for the delay, I came back home on I-95 and, of course, there were lane closure on one of the most congested portions of the highway. Got stuck and didn’t get home until (much) later than expected 
.
Thr 2nd day started off with great weather and I got the first two races in. I won’t lie to you, the veteran racers took off and hid. But, I ran my pace and the bike made it to the end in each event. I managed to get on the podium, but only because there weren’t enough bikes in each class to knock me off!
During the lunch break an unexpected rain cell came through and soaked the track again. I had to withdraw from one of the last two races because I didn’t have enough time to get rain tires on my other bike.
I ran the CB350 race on a wet/ drying track and got around to finish dead last.
I’m fairly disappointed that the weather prevented me from getting more track time. However, the time that I spent out there was great and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Looking forward to getting back out there and trying to improve my riding. My next event is in July at Canaan Motor Club in NH.
.Thr 2nd day started off with great weather and I got the first two races in. I won’t lie to you, the veteran racers took off and hid. But, I ran my pace and the bike made it to the end in each event. I managed to get on the podium, but only because there weren’t enough bikes in each class to knock me off!
During the lunch break an unexpected rain cell came through and soaked the track again. I had to withdraw from one of the last two races because I didn’t have enough time to get rain tires on my other bike.
I ran the CB350 race on a wet/ drying track and got around to finish dead last.
I’m fairly disappointed that the weather prevented me from getting more track time. However, the time that I spent out there was great and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.
Looking forward to getting back out there and trying to improve my riding. My next event is in July at Canaan Motor Club in NH.
Yep, I'm thinking his engine is right in the midst of good power right around there so he should enjoy it a lot more once adjusted.
Yes, there’s an adjustment on the CDI unit under the tank. One of several tweaks I will be working out for next time.
stl360+450
Veteran Member
Sounds like a smashing success to me. Finished races, nothing bad happened, and I assume you were the only rider limited at 7k rpm!