Off to Bulldog tomorrow, than Greek islands

[tony.mon]

Right, I've done three months work at my new job, and that's well enough.

So I'm off to the Bulldog to play silly buggers on the drag strip, (with Benny H) then once I'm back flying out to an island in Greece, flying back two weeks later from a different island, nothing at all booked in between in the way of accommodation so we'll see what turns up.

Either we'll get lucky or sleep on the beach under a dinghy.

'bout time the kids learnt to slum it in the big wide world, they turn 16 the day before we leave so it's the last bit of their education.

So I won't be around until September, miss me you miserable buggers

[benny hedges]

So I'm off to the Bulldog to play silly buggers on the drag strip, (with Benny H)

have i been practicing the wrong kind of drag strip?
[youtube][/youtube]

[tony.mon]

No, that'll be fine, if you can get your leathers off while hanging on in less than 11 seconds you'll get a big round of applause, and the vid will be on Youtube within the hour.
If drunk, even better.
That's just the sort of thing we need, and I'm sure that the Hells Angels will find it hilarious.

[MacV2]

So I won't be around until September, miss me you miserable buggers


Tony who?

[bazza696]

dont forget when you get back your coming to Wales...

[benny hedges]

absolutely fkin pissed down all weekend except today, which was roasting and more importantly - dry
dry enough to lose my drag strip virginity lol, thanks to tony's expert guidance
very much enjoyed the experience tbh and can see how it could easily become very addictive...

excellent pro drag race event too with one top fuel car doing a 7.74 and 176mph run - others blowing up halfway down the track, which while it was highly amusing, meant they had to close one strip meaning solo runs only but never mind - still great fun.
only saw one guy fall off and that was while doing a burn-out before the start line, in front of a cheering crowd!
thoroughly good fun, highly recommended - and thanks to tony

just wish i'd took some proper pics lol, especially in the custom tent and some of the bizarre contraptions folk turned up riding, eg, a harley with a 22hp diesel engine, ridden by a very excentric ant-harley chap, who then proceeded to stick it on the strip, with a searing 22 second 1/4 mile and terminal speed of 52mph!! the cloud of black smoke was hilarious
then he put it on the dyno
also some magnificent turbo notrous busas and other stuff (why!) some very very quick harleys to shatter the myth that they are all tractors...
an amazing collection of trikes made of vw beetles, reliant robins and even a speedboat!!!
the quality of craftsmanship and detail on some of the custome was absolutely amazing... wish i had the patience and talent to turn out something like that!

very well organised event, shame about the rain and mud - but will definately be attending next year for the 25th anniversary bash

low point of the weekend for me was the second i unpacked my tent and realised i'd forgot to pack the poles and pegs had to buy another, which was like sleeping in a paper bag
never mind.
oh, and some soft bint almost had me off less than a mile from my house on the way back by totally not looking while crossing a roundabout, putting me in the kerb thanks very much for carrying on luv, totally oblivious.

anyway, some random pics. sorry i didnt take any more but i wore my leathers all wkend and have no pockets, didnt fancy carrying my camera round in the rain and also did'nt fancy getting my head kisked in by taking pics of hells angels birds - hopefully tony took some lol - if not, the custom show and drag strip footage will all be on the bash website. (google)

















oh & btw the legal highs shop was ace!
as was tony's Van Hailing plan

[AMCQ46]

Yeh, I live between Brum & Stratford and the weather on Friday & Saturday was sh1t, I was thinking about you boys down at the Bulldog Bash.............but only in pity!.............But today was a stunning sunny day, and I almost popped by to see what was up, but had to join a couple of panic conference call for a launch problem we are having at work, so only managed two 1hr rides between calls.

But the main question is................. which colour was faster

[benny hedges]

well,,, first run i was waiting for the green light lol, tony was halfway down the strip before i realised i should've gone on the 3 yellows
was getting better every run - it's all in the reaction start and getting a good launch.
even some of the fancy prepared drag bikes with extended swing arms etc were struggling if they got a fluffed start.
tony is quite experienced and to be fair, pissed all over me lol, though i nearly had him on the 3rd run, simply due to getting away in .378 seconds against tony's .371

i was also struggling with burnouts too due to being a short butt - obviously makes a difference in your launch, but omfg, the amount of grip you get on a roadway made of rubber is Omazin lol
i would say too that confidence makes a massive difference,as for the first run or 2 i thought i was going to flip the bike lol, especially when riding tonys!

something i will definately be doing again, and i think would be a great event for a forum meet - the drag strip i mean....
like what could possibly go wrong???? it's just like taking off quick from the lights eh?
((that's what i thought! ))

anyway, the colour argument will have to be settled another day seeing as there were just the 2 of us there and mine's not a standard colour, and as far as i saw there were no other storms running, but i did see 2 turbocharged TL1000's doing tens

[AMCQ46]

As my bike has the common problem of a "grabby" clutch, I cant do drag starts.............it slips till it reaches a certain torque or speed, then it locks solid and up the front end comes..........and it is quite a low speed /torque, so I only ever leave the lights gently, but once the cluth is out then I nail it.
Its been like that for the last 5yrs, and I dont know if I never noticed it for the 5 yrs before that!

So I will only play if we have a rolling start!

But its soundd like you had fun, did you only get 3 runs? was there a big Q?

[benny hedges]

yeh youd need to sort the clutch imo or you'd either flip it or just get a sh1t start and get laughed at
i got there friday pm and track(so i heard ) was closed thursday due to rain, then opened for a few hrs friday morning??? then closes until about 10.30 - 11 today, tol about 2 ish, when they had the pro guys on for a bit, then we had another run.

bear in mind there were shitloads of bikes there, maybe 100 or so were racing... i'd say maybe a 15 - 20 minute wait between each attempt, with pairs of bikes setting off down the track every 20 sec or so.

good spectator sport as well, especially seeing as the action was so fast paced, no waiting for them to fire up cars like when the pros were on, theough that was ace as well

as my mother used to say, try it, you'll like it

[benny hedges]

the official photographers and press guys were out on the track too, taking pics of the bikes and burnouts, and from around the event in general -
check out the coverage as it is updated at http://www.bulldogbash.eu
including a look at some of the customs and pro drag stuff

or on the facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... a4a8ba8efb

i know they took a few of mine & tony's warming up so they might be on there later

[tony.mon]

Yes, for the first few years I ran a grabby clutch, too.
If you just get a reasonable launch, then use the power it's still quite quick due to the torque- I managed an 11.6 with grabby clutch launches.
I also managed a lot of huge, go-nowhere wheelies on the line.

I believe that it's due to the big bearing behind the clutch, and it doesn't look too big a job to replace it, clutch off and there it is, looking at you. Held in on its shaft by a clamp with two bolts, then out with the shaft.
I'll get round to checking on an old engine I have (where the bearing actually self-destructed) one day, and see how easy it actually is, if the selector shaft needs to come out, whether the cases need splitting, etc.
But I have a feeling that it can be changed from the outside once the clutch is off.

Bit wet this year......

One Benny didn't mention- there were a few Storms, and the odd SP1, but one black Storm had a RH side footpeg about six inches further forward than the normal position, and a thumb rear brake conversion.
Nice to see an owner that doesn't give up easily...

Other than that, standard ones for the most part.

Best time this year (in only four runs, including one on Benny's bike) 12.3 seconds (and yes, it's a full 1/4 mile strip).
Ok for a shakedown run, but need a couple of days running to get myself dialled in, really.

But looking forward to the next one, and I'm planning a run-what-you brung day or two (maybe Santa Pod) with the rebuilt engine once it's done, to get everything sorted and practice those launches ready for next year.
And less lunches= better launches....

[benny hedges]

it's a conspiracy. i demand a recount

[tony.mon]

Recount?
Yep, ok.
We'll count the number of times I beat you next year as well.

I'll have engine finished with the lovely shiny new JE 11.6:1 pistons that were sitting here waiting for me once I got back from sunny, 38-43 degree Greece.

Got back last night, went out for ride this morning, stripped gearbox out of old engine this afternoon and then cleaned the bike. Tonight I'm watching the recorded GP, BSB etc.

Honey, I'm home......

[benny hedges]

Honey, I'm home......

wehey - nice holiday bud???

(notice no mention of defeat?....)