Wintercycle Therapy at the Curtis Museum

This winter, Turtle worked his magic and we put a few bikes into the Curtis Museum for the Wintercycle Therapy show.  Thanks Turtle...next year, we need to do this again!

It was a good way to get the word out about Moped Racing in the north east....and Turtle even talked Tony into letting us put his TZ250 race bike (red and white on left) from his former racer life in the show....it was awesome!

Moped Mayhem 2 - Post Race

With the NEMA race fast approaching, and Moped Mayhem 2 a month behind us, I thought I should get a post out, before I end up with a backlog....

Moped Mayhem 2 was a blast...Tony, Miss S and myself took to the track for the event, and Turtle, Wayne, Laura, and Lanphere showed up for support.  It was great to see everyone at the track!

Our banners had shown up...but we still managed to forget the top to our tent...and the carpet this time too!  But still, we had a great pit area...and good eats!

Miss S ran in the Stock Class; while Tony and myself took on Super Stock and Pro classes.

Here is Miss S getting on the throttle....

Tony on his Derbi....

The Super Stock race was one I'll personally never forget.  From what I heard, it was great excitement to watch....Adam and myself had been battling the entire race, a 1st/2nd place battle, seeing us exchange positions on many laps.  Adam's bike had the great top end, so on the high speed portions of the track, he would pull past....my machine having the great low end pull would make it up in the tighter twisty portions of the track.

You can see the determination in my eyes...it was an epic battle!!!

On the final lap of the race, Adam had again pulled out ahead....

..but coming into the hairpin turn, I remember thinking to myself "he's coming into it hot this time"....then BAM, down he went!  I came around the turn on the inside, and kept pushing hard, bringing in 1st place.  What a great 15 laps!!!  It's great to have solid competition...I'm looking forward to racing with Adam again!

Onto the final race of the day...

I was able to pull out front and hold it for the first 4 laps...and I could hear a bike hot on my tail.  Taking Tony's advice after previous heats, I wasn't looking back...I just kept pushing and making good lap time.  There was one give away as to who was on my tail....I noticed the bike on my tail was shifting (definitely the Derbi....Tony was back there pushing me to keep the lap times up).  I was feeling good, up through lap 5, where entering the hairpin turn (which my competition in Super Stock went down in)....I entered the turn....and BAM..."where the hell did the bike go" I remember thinking!  I looked at it for a second thinking "what the hell, and it had to stall too???"....after picking up, hopping back on the saddle, and kicking the engine back to life, I had lost some serious time...and I had to live with the left clip on being bent back a couple inches...no first place for this race...but I wasn't giving up!

I spent the remainder of the race working to make up time...my goal now was to get back into the pack...and I didn't do bad....coming in 1/2 a bike length behind the leading pack on the finish.

On the bright side...working my way back up to the pack, I had discovered some better body positions and track lines that really stepped up my game....so it wasn't a loss....that crash brought on some lessons that I probably wouldn't have learned otherwise.  Pushing myself to get back up there was a huge schooling!

Still one 1st place finish in the day....who can argue with that?

Thanks to the team, and our friends for showing up, and a big thank you to Jesse Brosnan for sponsoring the event!  2 weeks till NEMA Race #1!!!!

Moped Mayhem 2 is right around the corner!

My team-mate Haas has given me a swift kick in the ass, and I'm actually feeling excited now...looking forward to Saturday!

We will be arriving with our secret weapons....and hopefully the top to our canopy this time!!

Shockingly, I took the ped out today, and the thing wants to pull wheelies from time to time....about time this thing showed some low end grunt!  Thanks MLM, the pipe is killer!

Mid-winter meeting

Das Psycho Racers got together for some wrenching and bonding time...it's been a cold, snowy winter, and we're trying to keep focused on the warm weather and racing!

Turtle brought along his whole machine, and stripped down more un-needed equipment, along with throwing on a new head.  This machine will be aimed squarely at the Jr class.  He also has a high performance ped in the works...but that's top secret.

I spent the day getting the caliper cut down for my machine.  It's a floating caliper off an SV650, and even with a spacer behind the disc, there wasn't enough clearance to the spokes to fit the caliper in there.  It's pretty beefy, so I took the hacksaw and file to it...problem solved (the inset picture shows the beginning of the cut).

Once Turtle had his ped back together, we gave it a run in the parking lot.  Turtle's inner 'dealer' felt the need to give out a "free taste"...Miss S (a potential team member), and Wayne (our paparazzi) will find they've become addicted to these things...just wait and see...ha ha ha....

Mr Sponsor worked on his 600cc track bike, and talked about how great his ped will be for next season.  It sounds like a hell of a machine...but mysteriously, we can't find it in the warehouse anywhere.....

Thank you Mr Sponsor for the use of The MotoWarehaus, and the pizza...and Turtle for bringing the heater!

Moped racing in a motorcycle magazine!

So Turtle decided to write into a magazine about our experience at the 2012 NEMA Championship Race...and it was published..."letter of the month" no-less!!!  What a great way to get the word out!

Honestly, when Tony first suggested 'moped racing', I laughed...but it's something I can't imagine not doing next summer!

Plans for Mörder Werden / NEMA 2013 rules published

Mörder Werden is my bike...it means "murderers will be" (if you know German...don't crucify me...i'm sure the translation is butchered...but i like it).  I'm doing my best to breed it into a track dominating killer.  Big brakes were first...then a top notch expansion chamber pipe...now, a mini-rotor is on the way...hopefully with the ignition curve, and lower inertia of the rotor; it'll spin up faster, to a higher peak, and stay cooler as well.  Of course...losing 10 pounds out of my fat ass would help so much more...maybe I'll slim down over the winter?

This mod puts the bike into the PRO class for NEMA events, so no more running in JR for me.  I wanted to be in JR class, but given the work I've done on the bike, and my performance in the PRO class last season, I think it will be a good place for me to hone my skills.

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Speaking of NEMA, the rules for 2013 have been published ( http://www.northeastmopedracing.com/rules ).  As expected, some are ticked at the rules...but being part of the board, I can say that we are trying to keep all classes fun and competitive...and we're looking ahead for the future of NEMA.  The board has looked at other events, and the issues they had, and feel that there are some restrictions that make sense.  Personally, in some ways I think we haven't been restrictive enough, but I'm sure some of that stems from my lack of knowledge in moped tech.  The latest anger is over our exclusion of scooter cylinders...but no one is pissed that we've excluded motorcycle cylinders.  If someone shows up with such things fitted, we will let them run...but no points and prizes...which keeps things fair to those who play by the rules...but still welcomes everyone to have fun...after all, that's why we all do this.  Unfortunately...you can't please everyone.

I'm excited for the 2013 NEMA season...it should be a lot of fun!


For those who want to hate us for trying to keep things fair and fun for everyone...this is for you...

Call To Action

Mopeds every day, are left to rot...abandoned, unused, even (as you will soon see) abused.  What you are about to see is horrific! This poor machine sits at the bottom of a lake...without purpose...the victim of abandonment!

Don't let this happen to another machine...instead, adopt one...wrench-it into a fine race focused hunk of metal.  Then race it for all it's worth...because the alternative is heart breaking!

Das Psycho Racers is always open to new members...with your help, we together can help prevent future atrocities like that pictured above.

MLM BK100 Installed

Threw the new pipe on the ped and cranked it up...just had to hear it running.  SWEET!!!  It sounds great....maybe it's just my excitement, but it sounds like it revs up with more gusto than the old Boss pipe...proof will come when I get some dry roads and take it out for a spin.  Can't wait!!

Now it's time to tear down the whole machine...need to get a look at the clutches (haven't cracked it open since I bought it)...want to look at what kind of porting can be done (or has been done), and get this tip top for next season.

The new patch is on the seat too...I'm sure the competition can read...but will they follow directions?
(the background is orange like a highway department sign, though it doesn't look that way in the picture)

Winter time = build time

We are all working away on our mopeds...parts are trickling in, and the occasional email goes around about what we are up to.  Even in the off season, it seems we are consumed with these little machines...who would have thought moped racing would be so much fun?

After a month of issues with 1977Mopeds, the new pipe for my ride has finally arrived...a sweet MLM BK100 with side bleed exhaust.  It's a huge difference in design from the Boss pipe that came fitted to my machine.

The 2013 rules for NEMA are coming together...Victor (the events creator) has been circulating emails around the new rules...I imagine they will be sorted out in the next week or two.  Based on what I'm seeing, it looks like my machine will have too many mods for the JR class, so I'm expecting to run in the PRO class next season.  I have my eye open for a stock Tomos A35 motor/transmission, and if I can get it dirt cheap, I may do engine swaps between classes...but not sure about that yet...honestly, I'll likely just stick to PRO class and focus my attention there.

Work is still underway on my massive front brake...need to talk to my buddy Art about fabricating a mounting bracket for the caliper.

Tony is still hunting down his machine for next season, and Turtle has many parts in (or coming), so big changes to the team bikes are coming...top secret stuff there.  :)

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I'm still working on the on-board computer.  Initially it will be for data acquisition only, providing CHT, EGT, RPM, speed, throttle position, and lat/long (GPS position data).  The race critical data will be displayed to the rider, while all data will be sent back to a laptop wirelessly in real time for logging/mapping/post processing.  This should help me keep tabs on how the bike is running, what effects tuning changes are having, and hopefully I'll gain some understanding into how my riding affects my lap-times.

This image shows the block that the throttle cable will go through for throttle position sensing.

What blows about mopeds?

Those damn drum brakes!

They suck, suck, suck!  Number one complaint I had during the race event....those awful, terrible, commie bastard drum brakes!!!!!  Grab TWO hand's full...and pray to THE GODS that you slow down enough....crap!  SUCK!

So I'm fixing that problem....with the biggest rotor I can fit on that tiny ass 16" rim.....

Power...plenty.  Fade...non-existent.  Cool factor...exponential!

This is the same rotor used on my TL1000R...and the caliper is from an SV650...a floating 2 pot unit...should grab it plenty hard, but not too much so (I hope).

Problem about to be solved!

Done.

Race Day

October 13th...race day was upon us.

We met at the track early to get in some practice time...and to meet the other riders.  As we were setting up the sunshade, Haas says "you won't believe what I forgot"....well, we already had the frame up, so we elected to keep it up and channel energy from the gods.

There was an outstanding turnout for the final race of the NEMA season....20 riders, and nearly as many support people...the place was packed!

The paparazzi was present as well...complete with 'press pass'

I greet the fans (family!)

Heading out for the first heat...

All 3 members of 'Das Psycho Racers' grouped up...
(there was talk of "misplacing" Haas' gear shift lever, but the bike was lacking in power, so we let it slide)

The whole team ran in the JR class, I also ran in the PRO as well....I was looking for all the track time I could get.  I managed to finish 6 out of 8...not too bad for my first day out.

A bit of a gap had opened, but I was working on it...

Running wide to let the fast guy through...

yeah my tounge is out! ((blow me!))

Closing in for the pass...

Coming into the corner like a bat out of hell!!!

Overall, I don't think a moment passed where someone wasn't laughing or smiling like a Cheshire cat.  We came away with lots of ideas for our bikes, and our confidence built for next year.

Last minute prep

Turtle said it best "Isn't the last minute stuff great!"

It was Thursday night....and I was waiting for my new sprockets to come in before the race on Saturday.  The bike had a 27 tooth up front, and a 20 in back....good for top speed, but acceleration could be measured in minutes, not seconds.  I was waiting for a 24 tooth front sprocket, and 26 tooth rear.  They made it...and what a difference!

Everything was coming together...last thing I needed was a number plate.  I used a plastic cover off a composition notebook, and some green duct-tape....the brass eyelets really stepped it up...looked far cooler than I expected.

Team 'Das Psycho Racers' meet

Haas convinced Turtle to join the team, and we all met for a day of wrenching at the Moto Warehaus.

Turtle landed a Puch Maxi in a seedy side alley deal (dollar amount has yet to be disclosed)...and went to work stripping off every piece that didn't make it faster.

With the front fender and headlight gone, it already looked faster....time to cut off more!

At one point Haas says to me "Freddy, can you hand me that fire extinguisher over there"...figuring this was a preventative measure, I slowly stroll over...grab the extinguisher, and turn...to see a raging fire under his bike!  Laughing the whole time, he put the fire out, and stepped back to let the fog clear.  

Those Germans are crazy!  Ha ha ha!

Just a week to go till the race...

Getting ready for the first race

The next month was spent getting the bike ready for the final NEMA 2012 race (http://www.northeastmopedracing.com/index) at Cherry Valley Motorsports Park.

First step was cutting off the seat and tank mount (garbage), and welding in a new brace across the whole frame.

This brace will take some flex out of the frame, and give me a solid base to properly mount the tank and seat.

New softer shocks and clip-on handlebars were next.  The stock shocks are 280mm, but I had enough room to fit 300mm shocks and have the chain clear the swing arm...so I went with the longer stroke shock.  

I had to modify the clip-on's as they wouldn't stay put no matter how tight I torqued them down...a threaded hole and set screw took care of that problem.