Proving Ground 3/1/2006
We have all heard some or all of these phrases: ‘Put up or shut up’. ‘Talk is cheap’. ‘The bull crap stops when the checkered flag drops’. ‘Opinions are like arm pits, everyone has a couple and occasionally they stink!’ ‘Seeing is believing.’ ‘Motor sports, unlike baseball and basketball, require more than one ball!’ All these phrases are in the competitive world of racing.
In the beginning, the “Brick Yard”, was a place of endurance testing for auto manufacturers. This place later became known as Indianapolis Speedway. Racing hones the skill level of everyone involved. The auto maker or motorcycle manufacturer finds out if they need to go back to the drawing board and start over. This brings a better product, if it can stand up to the riggers of racing, it usually will survive the toughest race of all, the human race!
When the manufacturers build a product that can be campaigned on a local level two things occur. First, the local participants become refined in their abilities to see high stress and wear point in the machines being campaigned. Second, this accelerated wear gives insight to modifications and process charges to help with longevity. The experience gained from racing will help the local tuner, or aftermarket shop better support the general public’s machines as well as the enthusiast for motor sports. This is where everyone wins; motor companies by refining a better product, service industry by becoming more proficient and the public by having cleaner more efficient equipment. This is a, matter of fact, as history has well demonstrated that innovations first appear on the race track! The race track is where the laws of physics meet the latest in scientific mechanical engineering and electrical or electronic manipulation, which is the control and management system.
The chopper industry owes a debt of recognition and support to drag racing sport. The long bikes came from the observation of drag racers extending the degree of rake on the front end, lengthening the bikes for high speed stability. The back of the bike got a larger tire for quicker take off from the start line. Primary belt drives make efficient transfer of power rapidly for better acceleration. Right side drives were around on the drag strip in the 1970’s. Torsional stress was equally distributed balancing the center of gravity making the machine easier to handle. The small gas tank and front wheel is for weight to horse power ratio improvement. This is a simple observation that history points out.
The leaders in the chopper industry or chopper manufacturers, who build machines used for riding long distance, are either racers or race inspired builders because they recognize practical applications. Let’s face it, even a large Milwaukee based company recognized this trend and changed the appearance of some of their machines. Today, people movers, owe a debt of gratitude to the proving grounds of racing, where men and women have given their very best efforts and sometimes their lives in this quest. It is important for each of us to support local racers, local shops who have a race program, the many support businesses who have built superior products through their involvement, and the sanctioned promoters and the race tracks where these events are held. For the central United States we have American Motorcycle Racing Association (AMRA) that offers national events in a reasonable driving range. This year’s schedule is as follows:
AMRA National Races
Tentative
Date Venue Location Event name
March 25-26 ¼ Bowling Green, KY Season Opener
Beech Bend Raceway Park
April 29-30 ¼ Reynolds, GA National
May 20-21 ¼ Bella Rose, LA Regional
June 24-25 ¼ Bowling Green, KY National
July ¼ Michigan National
August 26-27 ¼ Union Grove, WI National
September 23-24 ¼ Bowling Green, KY National Finals
Hope to see you there! For more information you can contact AMRA at
www.amraonline.com or call 989-561-2500.
Good Riding and God Bless
Steve Caldwell - steve@precisionvtwins.com
877.429.0399