Thanks Frank. We were supposed to be at the Valdosta race, but Bill blew up his Ducati blower bike and we didn't have the boost needed on my bike to get it moving right. The blower issue was resolved, but didn't leave enough time needed for planning the trip. It has been a long odyssey (4.5 years). I 've dealt with some very talented and interesting people along the way. The project has slightly gotten out of control regarding the cost and weight issue. That seems to happen when you're dealing with people associated with current TF bikes and their teams. We are guessing the bike weighs close to 1100 lbs, which is heavier than most of the current TF bikes. It is a handful to push around and steers like a plow. The rear fender goes out for paint tomorrow. Ed
Seat pads were finished today and I just installed them. The material is sticky and called All Sports Hy-tack. Both pads are removable (Velcro), in order to get off the rear fender and also change the back pad thickness, if needed, for different size riders.
Sorry about that Ed. I talked to Bill at Mancup race and asked him if the bike had been on the track yet. He told me about it.
I am relieved you are not "Done" with it. It is a too important project. Shit happens to ALL....did I say ALL things that ingest nitro. It happens at EVERY race. This IS just a learning curve. There will be more-----that is unless it does not have the opportunity to self destruct anymore. This will certainly ad credibility, that is it was being tested in preparation for the drag strip.
I know you knew when you started this endeavor it wouldn't be all roses. Hang in there my friend.
Thanks for the words of encouragement Frank. Much needed. With Motorcycle Performance's help (Bill, Fred and Nick), I hope to have it running again. Bill suspects something in the fuel system failed. I'm bummed we didn't discover the culprit prior to the big boom. Costly learning experience, but glad it didn't let go on a run and no one was hit by flying debris.
Got the double back together again and home from the Motorcycle Performance shop in Madison WI. Only took another bag of money. O-ringed the cylinders to the heads to prevent leakage. Built an engine restraint system of Kevlar strapping. Soften the cams and lowered the blower drive to 6% overdrive to hopefully hold it all together. Still working on the fuel system which has proven to be troublesome.
I knew Ed Mabry! Good man and built a lot of fast cars and bikes.
I have a T-shirt he autographed for me and my best friend inherited Ed's shop cat, Otis.
My friend used to be a gofer for Ed at Bonneville.
I met John Minonno at the same time as I met Ed.
I have quite a few pics I took at his shop.
Thanks Donson for nice picture of Ed Mabry. I never met Ed Mabry, but his 260 mph land speed racer, 601, was the major inspiration for my project. I wouldn't have thought to reverse the rear engine and place the boost source in the middle without thinking of Ed's and Russ Collins' Sorcerer machines. What they both did is truly amazing to me. The picture is of Ed Mabry's 601 bike without the aerodynamic shell. The bike now resides in the metro Detroit area.
Ed and I both worked for Bell Helicopter, although he was much older than I.
Ed was the only "Engineer" at Bell that didn't have an Engineering degree.
He loved racing and PEARL beer,and his cat, Otis.
I had the pleasure of introducing Ed to Birney Jarvis, who was the same age as Ed. Birney wss the "Real" Jim Bronson of TV and Movie fame.
After I introduced them, I just sat back and listened for hours to the stories. My God, those guys had seen and done some stuff!
It's great to hear from you Ed. It warms my heart to see it back together. "Bags" of money have a way of healing anything mechanical. And thanks Donson for reminding us about Ed Mabry.
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