5 MPH
The five mph pit speed limit does not mean someone is waiting with a radar gun to bust you. Rather, it is a way for each of us to show the others that we understand the responsibility to each other that we have all accepted. By riding in first gear with both hands on the bars we are showing that we know what to do under a red flag, that we checked our grid spot before heading out to race and that we have read the rule book.
Full throttle cuts…
A long time ago I had a cable driven tach that failed. Of course it did not just break all the way, it would only go to about ¾ of red line. The problem never showed itself on the street. I don’t remember if it caused a problem at the track but I do remember revving it up in the shop till the valves floated, this was before rev limiters.
When Seed told me his ’91 RGV250 was cutting out on top and that he had good plugs and caps, a common problem on TZ250’s. I told him to check his tach and as he had a good spare this was easy to do. Problem solved.
Suspension expert, check.
Able to remember stuff learned the hard way, check.
Lindemann Engineering, not just a great name, a way of thinking.
There Is No Spoon #69
In Episode 69 of Deep Thinking, the most popular motorcycle road racing podcast in Greece, racers Michael Gougis and Ed Sorbo discuss the opening round of the 2016 MotoGP season in a manner that leaves the listener wondering if they were watching the same race. A discussion ensues about Formula One qualifying, Jorge Lorenzo’s mad, mad skills and whether or not the new rules worked. Sorbo uses the word bugger as a noun, and nearly pulls something as he is forced to concede that Gougis’ prediction about the Honda reached near-genius status.
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The Gratitude Episode #68
In Episode 68 of Deep Thinking, the motorcycle road racing podcast that explores the relationship between hairy palms and vision loss, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis explore what production racing used to look like, and their gratitude for modern sportbikes. The discussion ensues against the backdrop of a Honda Hawk motor coming apart. Sorbo talks about why his wife is hot. Various hideous math and grammar puns occur. Robert says, “Kill it, Ed. Kill it with fire,” but that is not recorded.
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Distance Medley Relay
The distance medley relay has 4 runners on each team. The first runner does 1/4 mile, one lap. The 2nd does two laps, 1/2 mile. Then 3 laps and finally 4 laps. Total of 10 laps. In my senior high school year I ran the 3 lap leg. Our team Q’ed 2nd. Our mile runner told us that if we could get 20 yards closer at the hand off, he could make up the rest. In the main event, two weeks later, everyone ran faster. The gap was the same to 1st when I got the hand off. I made up the 20 yards and Craig was as good as his word. My best mile ever was 4.45 but those 3 laps may be the best I ever ran. Remember this guys name, Izaic Yorks, I don’t know how he’ll do in the Olympics, but in life he and his team mates are setting the pace.
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/11/470084460/why-fastest-u-s-college-mile-runner-wont-be-vying-to-be-ncaa-champ
Photo from NPR &Â Stephen Brashear/Red Box Pictures
Track Etiquette
The overtaking rider is responsible for making a safe pass. A responsible overtaking rider understands that a safe pass includes but is not limited to, remembering that even though he can no longer see the rider who has been passed, that rider still exists.
It’s Not A Boat!
Does your trailer have grease nipples on the axles? If so, you should understand that they are for boat trailers that will be dunked under water regularly. This is what will happen to your brakes if you use a grease gun to over grease the wheel bearings.
When you fill the hub with grease that grease has to go somewhere when it gets warm and expands. That somewhere is past the inside seal and all over your brakes.
Have you ever greased the front bearings on your car? Then why do you think your trailer needs so much grease? Please tell your trailer friends.
Ed Sorbo, making the world better one post at a time.
What we have here is a cartridge fork piston comparison.
The top two pistons are common aftermarket pistons. The bottom two are common stock pistons. The left are compression pistons and the right are rebound pistons.
The working holes are the smaller sets. When oil is moving one way through one set of small holes it is also moving past the other piston through the larger holes.
There is a shim stack that controls the flow of oil through the small holes. The larger holes, along with a spring and shim form a one way valve. AKA a check valve.
If you have not already done so, now is a good time to read:
The working holes look small but they only need to flow more oil than is being displaced by the cartridge rod. The check valve holes are larger because there is space to make them larger and to insure that only the other piston is doing work.
Can’t see any difference that matters? Exactly. The shim stack does the work. The piston just holds the shim stack. It’s the same in your shock.
Stop. Just Stop … #67
In Episode 67 of Deep Thinking, the genuine, authentic simulated motorcycle road racing podcast, racers Ed Sorbo and Michael Gougis reminisce about an old endurance race in New Zealand. A discussion ensues about snack foods, MotoGP, the Swedish Air Force and MV Agusta. In a new low for Deep Thinking, Sorbo and Gougis break into song, and even Tiki the dog covers his ears and makes a run for it.
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Daytona 200
Racing next weekend in the 200? Â LE is paying $100 in certificate form to all 80 positions. Â Of course you have to be using LE suspension and sporting our stickers. Â Remember to stay in your tuck on the banking and to stay out of the wall shadow in the morning practice.