And the Lord said, "Let there be the 1/8th-mile."
Tim Kreitz
Midland's Desert Thunder Raceway (http://www.desertthunderraceway.com).
I ran my ZX7R on the Permian Basin's new 8th-mile track this weekend to
compare it with my ZX6R, which I ran last weekend. At the end of the
night, as I looked at my time slips in closer detail, several things
surprised me about the way I currently have the 7R set up (namely in
regard to its roadrace gearing).
Firstly, the 7R -- with its smaller than usual 43-tooth rear sprocket
-- runs virtually the same ETs as my 600, but at a slower speed. This
tells me that a return to either stock gearing (or perhaps even a
bigger than stock rear sprocket) would easily put me over the 100
mile-per-hour mark and drop me consistently into the low 7s. I haven't
done the math yet, but I'd almost certainly wager that the somewhat
portly 750 would also benefit greatly from a smaller crankshaft
sprocket. This will likely be confirmed in a few weeks, because I'm
ordering gears tomorrow.
Secondly, the Dunlop D207 Sportmax tires on my 6R seem to be better
suited to application on newer, untempered dragstrips than the Michelin
Pilot Race H2s on my 7R. As strange as this may sound, I think the
Sportmaxes actually hold their temperature <I>better</I> than the
Michelins. I won't drawn any final conclusions on that perception at
DTR, however, until there's more rubber on thhe track. It's getting
there.
I won six of nine races, the three losses all having fallen to the same
competitor: Odessan Brandon Wallace and his smoking fast, stretched,
nitrous-aspirated R1. Even though my reaction times were consistently
faster than his, the 6-second Yamaha always reeled me in by at least
the 330-foot mark:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/mevscruisemissile.jpg
Here's a pic of me giving the Shooter McGavin index finger to DTR
Announcer Rodger Gertson in the tower:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/iwantyoutodragrace.jpg
Those of you who remember the GSXR1000 speed test articles I wrote last
spring will recognize the bike in the far lane:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/mattvsbrandon.jpg
There's just nothing like putting a good spanking on a supercharged
corvette:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/spankingavette.jpg
Here's a pic from last weekend of me going up against a big-bore Honda
on my 600:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/mevs1000rr.jpg
The night was not without drama, unfortunately. We didn't get a picture
of it, but a Pro Mod Class, blown alcohol car from Big Spring set a new
track record of 4.92 just before its chutes failed, sending the
fire-breathing monster completely through the gravel pit and into the
outer perimeter fence at over 140 miles per hour. Luckily, the driver
was okay, but the car was most certainly not. It took almost 30 minutes
to get the car removed and repair the chainlink.
I should also mention that NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Blaine Hale
(http://www.nhra.com/drivers/driver.asp?driverid=180) graced the tarmac
at DTR this weekend, but he was not racing his Cornwell Tools Suzuki.
He was there to be a test rider for the owner of a supercharged
Kawasaki. Here's a somewhat blurred pic of Blaine just after a burnout:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/blanehaleonblownkawasaki.jpg
So, another beautiful night of racing in West Texas goes into the
history books. I won't be out next weekend, as my band Dingo Sanctuary
(http://www.timkreitz.com/dingosanctuary.html) is playing in Midland
at our CD release Party. In the meantime I'll be regearing and probably
rejetting for my next trip to DTR.
Cheers,
Tim Kreitz
2003 ZX7R
2000 ZX6R
DoD #2184
http://www.timkreitz.com
Ari Rankum
> Last night marked the end of another excellent test-n-tune weekend at
> Midland's Desert Thunder Raceway (http://www.desertthunderraceway.com).
> I ran my ZX7R on the Permian Basin's new 8th-mile track this weekend to
> compare it with my ZX6R, which I ran last weekend. At the end of the
> night, as I looked at my time slips in closer detail, several things
> surprised me about the way I currently have the 7R set up (namely in
> regard to its roadrace gearing).
<rest snipped>
Great post, Tim! The pics were fantastic.
So, those were kevlar jeans, right?
Ari Rankum
...and *great* guitar work on "The Medicine".
Tim Kreitz
> Great post, Tim! The pics were fantastic.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed them.
> So, those were kevlar jeans, right?
Heh-heh. I know, I know. I fully admit that I should be wearing my
racing leathers:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/pocketbiketrackday12.jpg
The thing is, it was 100+ degrees. Not an excuse, I know. But it has
just been miserable here -- even at night. August and September are
always our hottest months.
Don't worry, though. By this time next month, the heat should break,
then it'll be back to full gear until the middle of next summer.
Tim Kreitz
> ...and *great* guitar work on "The Medicine".
Thank you. The disk shipment should arrive by Friday. Provide me with
your mailing address via my Yahoo account, and I'll send you a copy of
the album.
Also, I'm currently working on an entire album of covers that will be
available for free -- art and all -- on my website, so stay tuned.
Tim Kreitz
Well, I must admit that I didn't pine over this decision nearly as much
as I thought I would, but I've decided to gear the 750 specifically for
the 1/8 mile. I've had so much fun at Desert Thunder Raceway over the
last few weekends that I simply can't help myself. One of the many
blessings of having two bikes is that you can set up one motorcycle in
an outrageously high-rev configuration, while still having the other
one suitably arranged for track days and road trips. To that end, I
ordered myself a set of Renthal sprockets yesterday.
My goal is to have the ZX7R regeared and fueled with U4 by Saturday
afternoon. If I'm in the low 7's thereafter, I'll be satisfied for a
week or two. If I can put the Grean Meanie into the low 6's, all the
better.
My reaction times have been really good, ranging from a worst last
weekend of .15 to a best of .02. It just seems a shame to get
consistent holeshots, only to have a 7.75 or 7.80 ET. Lower gearing
should do the trick. Thereafter, I might get myself a bigger set of
carbs or (gasp!) a hotter set of cams.
Details to come. Stay tuned.
OH, AND ARI: No you may not pay me for the Dingo Sanctuary CD. First
Compliment Rule applies. Yours is free.
Turby
wrote:
>Heh-heh. I know, I know. I fully admit that I should be wearing my
>racing leathers:
>
>http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/pocketbiketrackday12.jpg
Not if you're riding "Fluffy." Pink polka dot Speedos are de rigueur
for that bike.
--
Turby the Turbosurfer
Tim Kreitz
> >Heh-heh. I know, I know. I fully admit that I should be wearing my
> >racing leathers:
> >
> >http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/pocketbiketrackday12.jpg
>
> Not if you're riding "Fluffy." Pink polka dot Speedos are de rigueur
> for that bike.
Heh-heh. Actually, that bike was named "FURbee" by it's semi-slutty
owner:
http://www.timkreitz.com/photosection/pocketbiketrackday15.jpg
She cheated on her boyfriend (an OSB club member and friend of mine)
and ended up pregnant by her Sancho. Her boyfirend retaliated by
posting a bunch of naked pics of her onto the Internet. It was quite a
soap opera. She has officially been banished from the MC, but at least
we all got to see her boobies.
Turby
wrote:
>Turby wrote:
ahem. Not all of us.
--
Turby the Turbosurfer
Tim Kreitz
> >She cheated on her boyfriend (an OSB club member and friend of mine)
> >and ended up pregnant by her Sancho. Her boyfirend retaliated by
> >posting a bunch of naked pics of her onto the Internet. It was quite a
> >soap opera. She has officially been banished from the MC, but at least
> >we all got to see her boobies.
>
> ahem. Not all of us.
Ask and ye shall receive:
http://www.odessasportbikes.com/images/tonja/P1010023.JPG
http://www.odessasportbikes.com/images/tonja/PA2545.JPG