Bottlehead Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doc B. on July 09, 2018, 11:03:24 AM

Title: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 09, 2018, 11:03:24 AM
A few of you know that I have been building a race bike for the past two years. Today was a landmark day for me, as I just registered for the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials at the Salt Flats at the end of August. Shit's getting real. While I do plan to attempt a record run this won't exactly be in nosebleed territory (some "sit on" bikes are running around 265 mph these days). I'll be running a mostly stock 1962 Honda CB77 on a 62 mph record. Hoping for at least 80, and hoping some veteran racer doesn't decide to change classes to run against me. Bottlehead Michael Dunnigan will also be running the bike. Bottlehead Jim Laurel has volunteered to come down and shoot video of the attempt.

One cool aspect of this is I got to pick my own race number. 6080 seemed most appropriate, as all those Crack kits help to finance the endeavor. Funny thing is I'm not too concerned about the runs. The only bit I'm nervous about is sitting around in full leathers in 95 degree heat, ugh. My native PNW metabolism can hardly stand sitting at a traffic light on a hot day!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Paul Birkeland on July 09, 2018, 12:40:53 PM
Let's hope you hit 88!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: johnsonad on July 09, 2018, 03:39:05 PM
You’ve got this Dan!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Tom-s on July 10, 2018, 12:05:03 AM
Looking forward to the video footage! Good luck!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: mcandmar on July 10, 2018, 12:18:54 AM
Sounds like a blast, have fun!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Deluk on July 10, 2018, 01:12:17 AM
Looking forward to the video footage! Good luck!


Hopefully up on YouTube? I hope the tech inspectors like the bike and you get the jetting right for the altitude. Can we see pics of the bike now please?


PayPal/gofundme to buy your race gas etc?
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 10, 2018, 05:09:04 AM
Here's a vid of the bike. It's just about ready for tech inspection, there are a few safety wires that still need to be twisted up. Lotsa jets and needles, a few different sprockets and a heavier clutch will come with us. The plan is to take the bike to the test and tune at Bremerton drag strip this Friday so we can get some practice on it without having to worry about gendarmes, old ladies in Subarus and hungover landscapers hauling trailers full of mowers.
 
https://youtu.be/LIfRrXAwrY0

Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Natural Sound on July 10, 2018, 11:50:45 AM
The only bit I'm nervous about is sitting around in full leathers in 95 degree heat, ugh. My native PNW metabolism can hardly stand sitting at a traffic light on a hot day!

Don't worry, its a dry heat. ;) Definitely a good idea to drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. That's from a "desert rat" dirt biker who is no stranger to scrambling around in the heat all day in protective gear.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 10, 2018, 04:02:35 PM
I've been out there for a couple days in 95 F, so I know what to expect. As a spectator it works pretty well to shade for a while, walk for a bit, shade for a while. And of course get one of the awesome, giant sno cones at about 1 o'clock. Out in line to run the only shade is an umbrella you bring. I think maybe I read that they let you wait until you are third in line to put on your leathers, so hopefully you don't have to be stuck in them for hours. I also bought one of those gel filled neck coolers after the last trip to the salt. I've used it mowing on a hot day and it does seem to help a bit. Interestingly I noticed that the MotoGP riders are now using them while waiting on the grid before the race starts at the hotter circuits. Racers get up at O dark thirty and are on the salt by sunrise to get runs in while the air is cool and dense, but bikes continue to run all day long.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Deluk on July 11, 2018, 03:33:55 AM
Bike looks too beautiful for the salt so don't you dare drop it.  8)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 11, 2018, 04:42:37 AM
Thanks! It's been a long haul getting it built. It was originally brought home in several cardboard boxes. The reports are that the salt is the best it has been in 15 or 20 years, super smooth with the water table down several inches. But very thin. So hopefully it will hold up to the high horsepower bikes and stay a nice smooth and straight ride.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: 2wo on July 11, 2018, 09:35:42 AM
If the leathers get too hot, you can always do a Rollie Free  ;)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 11, 2018, 10:23:43 AM
Ah, the stuff they used to get away with.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 13, 2018, 06:35:52 PM
OK, a couple pics and a sad story. Michael and I went to the drag strip this afternoon. Unloaded bike, fired it up, ran great right up to 9200 rpm redline. Suited up, got in line. Got to pre stage and the guy says "they're having problem with the timing system, it will be a few minutes." Minutes go on and on. He says' "might as well shut down, it's going to be a while." I get ready to shut down, rev the bike before power down and it won't go past 6000rpm. WTF! So the track closes down, I go back the pits and we decide the dirt is not the best place to pull a bike apart. We stood around for two hours shooting the breeze before the track opened. Watched a few cars run, packed it in and went home. That's motor racing for ya...we actually learned quite a bit from the experience. I took the 85 degree heat OK in full leathers, we can sweet talk a tech inspector pretty well, we have loading and unloading down quite well and I now have a competition number for that race track. Tomorrow, back in the garage for some troubleshooting. Photo credit Michael Dunnigan.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on July 15, 2018, 05:30:31 AM
Not too bad. I think I slightly over-revved warming up the bike, which causes the valves to float. I suspect that may have caused the valve adjusters to loosen up, so the intake valves were not opening fully. I reset them yesterday and she fired right up and ran to redline when warm. Note to self, check valve lash after every run!

A GPS speedo is in the mailbox at work. Ought to be a little more useful than the ancient stock POS that bounces somewhere between 0 and 120 everywhere you go. Some bloke already had #6080. The nerve! So I will run as #845. That should be good. 845 is more linear than 6080, and you need to be linear on the salt.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Deluk on August 27, 2018, 01:21:21 AM
Bonneville - I hope you are there and everything is running fast and smooth. An update would be good. Salty comments accepted. Ride safe.  :)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: RayP on August 27, 2018, 11:19:14 AM
167 mph on a bicycle!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wmkXu_v2k (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5wmkXu_v2k)

Doc, you better start pedaling faster.

More about motor-paced cycling.
http://carolineld.blogspot.com/2018/08/tommy-hall-edwardian-cycling-star.html (http://carolineld.blogspot.com/2018/08/tommy-hall-edwardian-cycling-star.html)

ray
Title: Re: New World Record
Post by: Bodyslam on August 28, 2018, 07:37:51 AM
For those of you waiting for the news: Dan is now a World Champion!

The new Land Speed Record in this category is 87.85 MPH.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: adeep42 on August 28, 2018, 09:00:20 AM
Congratulations Doc. A great achievement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 28, 2018, 11:41:58 AM
Man, they must have needed a pry bar to get Doc B's hands off those grips.  That's really fast for a vintage Honda!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on August 29, 2018, 07:55:39 PM
Hi guys,

It was a truly amazing experience. Just to clarify, as cool as it would be to be a world champion, what I have is the AMA National landspeed record for 350cc Modified Classic Gas category. The official average time is 87.876 mph, with a 89.773 return run my fastest speed. Corrected air density altitude was about 5200 ft. Today was verification of displacement, which means several hours of tearing down on these old Hondas. Pretty cool to have an AMA and FIM official shake your hand and say congratulations, you have the record.

Like the community here, the landspeed community is a family of amazingly nice and generous people. I made so many great new friends it is kind of like a dream. Huge thanks to bottleheads Michael Dunnigan (my teammate who also rode, cutting an impressive 83+ down run with a misbehaving clutch) and Jim Laurel, who with Kevin Curry shot a ton of gorgeous 4K video so we can have some home movies to remember the fun. Thanks also to Cindee Sherman, the ER nurse on our team who kept us all hydrated and electrolyted, flushed burning eyes, treated pipeburns, iced pinched fingers, and massaged cramps out on the hostile salt. Thanks to Jaylin Billig, my race coach who encouraged me to attempt to beat one of her many landspeed records. That woman totally rocks. And of course thanks as always to my Capo Corsa and love of my life Queen Eileen, for putting up with yet another of Doc's cockamamie schemes.

We're gonna start on our way back home tomorrow. If I have a chance I will try to post some pics, and we'll be back next week.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: JamieMcC on August 30, 2018, 12:04:23 AM
Real happy for you Dan that's a wonderful achievement sounds like you guys had a really neat experience.
 
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on August 30, 2018, 04:12:13 AM
Man, they must have needed a pry bar to get Doc B's hands off those grips.  That's really fast for a vintage Honda!

Actually on the straight run it was handling beautifully. The salt was the best anyone has seen in years, like running on an empty four lane freeway. The bike wouldn't run for crap at low rpm (very common on the salt, lots of bikes had this issue). But at full song on open pipes it was glorious.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: mcandmar on August 31, 2018, 10:41:04 AM
Congratulations, sounds like you had a blast which is the most important bit :)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: jtori on August 31, 2018, 12:28:16 PM
Congratulations, Doc!!!  It's always gratifying to have one's efforts rewarded.  Relish the accomplishment .... and don't forget to celebrate the achievement!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 01:00:29 AM
Congrats Doc,

Come on down to El Mirage for the 2 day November event.  My buddy runs a 350cc Aermachii. Push rod class. He has the record at 126.020.

Last event of the season so we haul all the toys out, including some La Scalas power by a 12v T-amp.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 11, 2018, 05:11:49 AM
126, man, I gotta get my game on! Is that partially streamlined? Been following a woman named Stacy London who runs an naked Aermacchi. Also way faster than me, and only a 250. Can't say I wish I lived in California any more, but I do wish I was closer to Bonneville and Elmo so I could get to events more easily.

Naturally I am already working on modifying the almost stock bike to get more power and less frontal area. Someone posted a formula for top speed somewhere, that was

v = ( 2 · P / (c · D · A) )1/3 X $$$$3

Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 06:02:52 AM
Yes. Mark has been working his bike for a number of years. His first passes down the course where almost in production trim and where sub 100. As the bike has morphed. He has picked off records in most of the 350cc classes. Gas/fuel/PS/ no fairing/ and now the M class is new to El Mirage he is picking those off this season. Changing configuration each event.

126 was PS/fuel.

I’ll try to upload a photo of the bike.

Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 11, 2018, 06:23:34 AM
Quote
126 was PS/fuel.

Well, that makes me feel little better  ;) My potential competitor has a lot of experience and ran in fuel class, but on gas (I ran in gas class). He ran 102 to my 87.876 - he very kindly let me get a record (old record was 62). Next year the gloves are off. I've been crunching numbers and it seems I was down on power quite a bit more than I initially thought, even though it sounded great and seemed to pull pretty well. Plus I had a slipping clutch. Need to find about 20 mph, and so here I go down the rabbit hole! Sure could use an abandoned stretch of road nearby for testing...

Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 07:11:17 AM
Yes. That’s the tricky part. Lack of test space. One small change has a big effect. Can ruin a weekend.

Mark did lots of dyno tuning for a bit. But it ultimately proved to be real hard on the transmission. He DNF’ed a couple events due to broken gears.

He lives down in the rabbit hole. A few engines, short stroke, long stroke. Always testing. Machine shop in his garage. 

He also has “The Mule”. An identical Aermachii frame. That is street legal. For breaking in motors and testing.

My phone pictures have the wrong extension. I’ll get them through photoshop and upload.
Title: Not close by, and wonder if it's still there, but this'd fill the bill...
Post by: caffeinator on September 11, 2018, 09:14:59 AM
The musings about a nice straight stretch of road reminded me of this story from a while back:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/mrs-orcutts-driveway-204-mph-on-a-double-nickel-road-page-1

Looks like as of 2015, Mrs Orcutt and her house were no more, but sounds as though the road still exists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASHgGWxQ8ak
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 10:07:40 AM
Here is the bike in M-PS fuel class. As you can see. The fairing is minimal. Just enough to get in the class. He has a bigger one. But it goes slower with the extra surface area.

This was the 126 mph configuration.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 10:10:05 AM
Here is how we start it. No starter, stator, or battery. Uses a tiny LiPo for ignition. Recharges off the bike.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 10:14:01 AM
Here are the La Scalas. I run them with a modded Sonic Impact T-amp. About 8watts I think.

Plenty loud. We never get to full volume. Running off battery power so we don’t need to overcome the noise of a generator.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 10:17:18 AM
And lastly. My trusty Sex amp. Stock with upgraded caps into my HD 600’s. Pulling long hours of duty right now as I had spine surgery yesterday morning.

I’ll get the Paramounts and BeePre fired up tonight when I can move more.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 11, 2018, 10:30:24 AM
Wow, I can see a lot of development in there. Love the clipons forward of the top triple to get the arms more straight like a time trial bicycle rider- something I had in mind. Front fender is slick too. Saw someone using a pit bike as a starter roller at BMST. Do you have any pics of Mark on the track?

I remember well your audio projects from several years ago. I wonder if you might enjoy a Quickie/Quicksand running those La Scalas.
Hope your recovery goes as easily as possible!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 10:57:58 AM
I don’t really have any track photos as I am generally getting the bump start bike swung up on the bumper and chasing him.

He lays up all the fiberglass in his shop. The gas tank is a cover. Over a 1 gallon nylon tank.

How many watts do I get out of a Quickie/Quicksand. Never really thought of that.

I still need to install the upgrade in my BeePre. Built it stock at first.

And have always considered going to 2A3 on my Paramounts. As I don’t need all the power the 300B gives me. I’ve lived with the small amount of hiss as I listen louder than I should. And love the 300B power. But I imagine I’d get less hiss with 2A3.

Always something to play around with.

But back on topic. Get down here in Nov. Run the event and you can hand deliver the quickie!!!

Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 11, 2018, 12:26:00 PM
This is usually the part where someone says, isn't this forum supposed to be about music and audio?

=68.ARAuHBKJz_GQuduK6Jb8-I_Efbv60-s5N9bYeOLr4PDcl11hy903AuEHJjpIM8-MvhNFo_63K3t9bQey4RS8buxew3VzL7_7GoafUnpQRzVkQ-uX3FfZTMjhT6bMSDrAKHMOjuk_3i81QXVQxUVrkv0okEKXGnD0LbA8BgUDucRJQ3G5UBGvXydeJGbqofr8AX9TMSSw8uRKprivl1lam_x-gxmJIF3wQ7nVzxx1HA&__tn__=K-R&fb_dtsg_ag=AdyN8VpKINq7hQjSqTo0cJ9oqL3ufxiyZt5X4oTVtGtIZA%3AAdyKZ3X_ftB1pJ7HRzJaJK8QQ2oyLuoVjDySfdg1N5mkTA]https://www.facebook.com/Motoclubagain/videos/210002562982529/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0]=68.ARAuHBKJz_GQuduK6Jb8-I_Efbv60-s5N9bYeOLr4PDcl11hy903AuEHJjpIM8-MvhNFo_63K3t9bQey4RS8buxew3VzL7_7GoafUnpQRzVkQ-uX3FfZTMjhT6bMSDrAKHMOjuk_3i81QXVQxUVrkv0okEKXGnD0LbA8BgUDucRJQ3G5UBGvXydeJGbqofr8AX9TMSSw8uRKprivl1lam_x-gxmJIF3wQ7nVzxx1HA&__tn__=K-R&fb_dtsg_ag=AdyN8VpKINq7hQjSqTo0cJ9oqL3ufxiyZt5X4oTVtGtIZA%3AAdyKZ3X_ftB1pJ7HRzJaJK8QQ2oyLuoVjDySfdg1N5mkTA (https://www.facebook.com/Motoclubagain/videos/210002562982529/?fref=mentions&__xts__[0)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: G.Kennedy on September 11, 2018, 01:18:36 PM
Unfortunately this is currently not available. But a must have for any audio/motor head. Worth finding. Or I can burn it if it is unobtanium.

https://www.amazon.com/Open-Pipe-Symphony-Various/dp/B00000J70U
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 18, 2018, 05:33:48 PM
Story made the front page of the local newspaper -

https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2018/09/18/land-speed-record-1962-motorocycle-poulsbo-man/1350730002/ (https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2018/09/18/land-speed-record-1962-motorocycle-poulsbo-man/1350730002/)


Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Deluk on September 19, 2018, 02:50:27 AM
Nice article Doc, well done. Next time, beg, borrow or steal some well fitted, tight, racing leathers. They might have got you over 90 this time. Weight reduction always helps too but there is only one way to do that with a standard bike.  ;)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 03:52:31 AM
Yeah I have lost weight since I got those leathers, and it's time to go back down a size or maybe just get them altered. They will roll over from Snell 2010 to Snell 2015 helmets next year so that means a new Shoei X-14 too (cripes they are expensive). It's been three weeks so naturally I already have the bike completely reconfigured in my head to run fuel class next year - three spoke wheels, adjustable clipons, lose the lights, aero fender, 6" rearsets, seat 3" back, tanks for gas, nitrous and alcohol injection, crossover pipe, beefier oil pump, lighter valves, titanium keepers, beefier clutch, etc., etc. I suspect I'll need to get to at least 110 to record in 350 M-CF which means finding around 20hp. Tricky, but possible. Option 2 is look for more low hanging fruit in a different class and get a different bike. Already have my eye on one possibility.

When you crunch the aero/hp/speed numbers weight reduction has about the least impact. Reduced frontal area is way more influential, as is reducing drag coefficient. My estimated speed was pretty accurate using about 555lbs, .7 Cd, 6 sq ft frontal area. Figuring about a 20% hp loss at 5000 ft I would have been putting out about 25.5hp, which would have put me right about 90 mph. I was up to speed at the timed mile even with a semi-slipping clutch, so I was probably OK in terms of accelerating my mass in the run up. Running 50 lbs lighter would have gotten me to maybe 90.1, but reducing frontal area by 0.5 sq.ft. could get me close to 93. So tighter leathers and getting more tucked and skinny are probably more useful than chopping weight off the bike, for sure.

Look up Alp Sungerteken. He just ran 173.33 against a 123.869 record in SCTA 650 M-VF, on a naked 1950 Triumph 650 running nitro. Holy s**t!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Paul Joppa on September 19, 2018, 06:06:31 AM
I'm on vacation, and we spent yesterday in the Greek National Archeological Museum. Here's wikipedia on an example of reduced rider weight for speed, from about 150BC:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jockey_of_Artemision

:^)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 06:11:58 AM
I just got off the phone with Brian Calvert at KOMO. Interview should be on the radio this morning, and posted on the KOMO website later today.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 08:01:26 AM
KIRO radio interview next, with Dori Monson. This is pretty crazy!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Tom-s on September 19, 2018, 08:08:35 AM
Could you share a link on here Doc? :)

This sounds good through Crack / HD 800's!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIfRrXAwrY0
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 08:13:55 AM
It sounds way better with the baffles out  ;) We have quite a bit of video from the event, that Jim Laurel will be crafting into a mini documentary. I will post links when I get them.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 10:59:27 AM
https://komonews.com/news/newsradio/kitsap-man-sets-a-new-speed-record-as-others-his-age-begin-slowing-down (https://komonews.com/news/newsradio/kitsap-man-sets-a-new-speed-record-as-others-his-age-begin-slowing-down)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 12:36:35 PM
Interview starts at 19:50

http://mynorthwest.com/category/podcast_player/?a=75a2d4e6-1964-40da-b02c-a960014f16ed&sid=1004&n=The+Dori+Monson+Show (http://mynorthwest.com/category/podcast_player/?a=75a2d4e6-1964-40da-b02c-a960014f16ed&sid=1004&n=The+Dori+Monson+Show)
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on September 19, 2018, 04:13:25 PM
So I walk into Central Market to see if I got in the newspaper...
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: kgoss on September 20, 2018, 05:18:28 AM
Congratulations Doc!  Quite an achievement and it’s great you are being recognized for it.

On a side note it’s awesome to see something as old as me (born in 1962) going that fast. 🏍👍
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on October 31, 2018, 02:05:56 PM
I have put up video of my rookie land speed run on YouTube

https://youtu.be/d7PGdVrmacE
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Tom-s on October 31, 2018, 10:51:12 PM
Headphone users! Mind the volume level!

Looks great Doc!
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: debk on February 09, 2021, 01:55:57 AM
I know this topic is old.

What is anything are you allowed to do to reduce drag of the bike/rider combination?  Fa

Deb
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on February 09, 2021, 06:12:02 AM
I'm running in what is called a naked class. That means no front fairing, which is generally considered to be worth about 5-15 mph. So the aero treatment body-wise is limited to what you can do to the front fender and what you can do to the seat. Other than that it's all about reducing frontal area, rider position (a.k.a. tuck) and maybe lengthening the wheelbase up to the allowed 10% to improve the Cd a little. There are a zillion other little details, like tight leathers, proper gearing, etc. to obsess over. And horsepower (a.k.a. where the bulk of the money goes). I'm deep into beefing up my motor for this August, so I can give it a much bigger shot of nitrous than last time without breaking things. At least that is the theory. In 2019 I put a valve adjuster screw through a valve cover on my third run.

Here's a video of my second run from 2019, with nitrous injection, a better clutch and a bit more practiced technique. Once I'm on the bottle I'm running about 10 mph faster than in the previous video. Hoping to add another 5 mph this year.

https://youtu.be/38aD32y6wbI
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Paul Birkeland on February 09, 2021, 07:06:35 AM
This?
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on February 09, 2021, 07:38:29 AM
I'll take two bottles, please. Losing weight has only a tiny effect on top speed. But it sure would make my leathers more comfortable.
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: debk on February 09, 2021, 12:41:20 PM
i wonder if small vortex generators would have any effect of improving laminar flow around the rider.  It would probably take wind tunnel testing/modeling for placement.  don't know if this would be allowed.

Interesting sport
Title: Re: Bottlehead race sponsorship
Post by: Doc B. on February 09, 2021, 02:41:28 PM
I have considered it. Like putting VGs along the edges of my arms and legs and at the hunch in my back. The math for the speeds I run works out to the vortex generators being about 1/32" tall or something equally silly. There was a time a few years ago that one of the pro cycling teams had little bumps on the arms of their jersey sleeves. The calcs for that kind of stuff at cycling speeds are like you gain .3 seconds over 30 miles.

One thing I plan to try down the road is lengthening the rear swing arm 5", which would allow me to create a relatively long tail on the back of my seat the width of my butt and tapering back to and end even with the rear of the rear wheel. That is one of the few aero things allowed in my class and it should help improve Cd. The old saw in land speed circles is "Don't worry about the hole you open in the air. Worry about how well you close it."

My plan for the past couple years has been to use photogrammetry to model the bike and me in my leathers. I imagine you know about the online CFD analyzers like simscale. My hope is to get a decent 3D model and run a CFD analysis of different riding positions, components, etc.