Haven't been a regular in quite a while, but have been keeping tabs from time to time.
Got bit by the drag race bug a couple years ago - it's as addictive and consuming as the modifier bug. Had a lot of fun playing on the dragstrip with my '89 and got down to some 10.79's at 123-124 mph at Bandimere this past summer (density altitude was 7,600' !). But it can be fairly troublesome to keep a street bike running hard at the strip and still use if for reliable street duty (daily driver and fun runs on the weekends)--so I've decided to build a dedicated drag bike out of an FJ1100 parts bike I bought a while back. I've been VERY tempted to pick up a Busa for drag strip duty, but I've got a soft spot for the FJ and it's more fun to beat a new bike on an old one! Plus, over the past several years, I've collected a fairly large pile of FJ parts that will come in handy when the inevitable happens...
I've bumped into Andyb from time to time at the dragbike.com forums. Also a WessFJ -- anyone seen him here?
I've moved from Florida to New Mexico (Cannon AFB). Got spoiled before with a dragstrip only 30 miles away -- now they're all 100-120 miles away. Maybe this spring I can check the block on a numb butt on way to the ECSR....
Cheers,
Chris
Just another kookalunatic!!!
hello, fj1289, and welcome!
Do they still run drags on the runway at Holloman? Back in the spring of '75, I was one of those helping to get that rolling... it'd be nice to know if it lived on. (http://i35.tinypic.com/28a1gqx.gif)
Welcome back CHris!
KOokaloo!
Frank
Steve, unfortunately it looks like there are only three tracks in NM now: Roswell, Hobbs, and Albuquerque. Found some old references to Holloman, but nothing current. I imagine between the timeframe when the stealh fighters were there and then the security lock-downs after 9-11, there'd be little hope in repeating that again. What were you racing there?
Thanks Frank! I was sitting in Iraq when the "gun battle" occured on the Yahoo Group -- I was afraid we were going to lose a really good thing there. Glad to see the old list doing well and to see the "new face" here.
Any recent updates on Steve Conklin? Didn't see anything recently when I searched.
Cheers,
Chris
Chris,
Steve is rehabbing from his injuries... i believe he is working from home but still far from being fully fit.
he was talking about a bone graft but i'm not sure what the latest is on that.
Kookaloo!
Frank
Quote from: fj1289 on November 10, 2009, 10:17:47 PM
Steve, unfortunately it looks like there are only three tracks in NM now: Roswell, Hobbs, and Albuquerque. Found some old references to Holloman, but nothing current. I imagine between the timeframe when the stealh fighters were there and then the security lock-downs after 9-11, there'd be little hope in repeating that again. What were you racing there?
Chris,
When I was there they had F-4s, so yeah, I guess it's not surprising - a lot of water under the bridge!
And regarding what
I was running... I wasn't. I had a '67 Mustang with a '71 Boss 351. The inspectors told me it couldn't run in any Stock or Stock Modified class, and to run in Altered it had to have more safety equipment than I was willing to buy. As it turned out it was a good thing I didn't spend that money because not long after the first race I got orders to Yokota AB, Japan. So I took pictures for the base paper at 2 more races before I left, and the car got sold to a guy in my barracks.
Cheers! (http://i35.tinypic.com/28a1gqx.gif)
Chris,
Hello and Welcome :hi:
Were you on the space cost when you were in FL? It not to difficult to get the FJ into the 10's. The original FJ1100 ran a 10.70. And the 89, which had a different rear sprocket, were recorded at 10.9 to 11.3 depending on the article you read. But, it still takes some obvious talent to get those numbers out of these bikes. I would like to give mine a run down the 1/4 sometime. I am sure it will be in the 11's, but I would still like to try it one time. Done it plenty in cars, but the fastest I could get was in the low 14's. That is why I got back on bikes. It cost way to much money and takes way to much time to get a car down the 1/4 in the 11 and 12 second range and still drive on the street comfortably. I can just spend a few thousand on a bike and I am there.
Later, Phil
UUUUUGH! :mad:
I just lost a half-hour long reply!
Hi Phil! :hi:
The VERY short version:
It wasn't too easy either! Took me about 3 months and 57 passes to get a pass on the 1/8 track I started on to get a 10 sec "equivalent" 1/4 mile time (6.97 1/8 mile is approx 10.9 1/4 mile) and that took a prepped chassis (strapped, lowered, 5.5" rim, airshifter) and bolt ons to my stock 1188cc engine (carbs, header, Dyna 2000).
I think a Hank Scott 1349 w/headwork, valves and cams would be a SWEET motor on the strip - and should be able to give bracket race consistent 9.50's or so in a reasonably well set up chassis.
See you at the strip! :diablo:
Cheers,
Chris
Quote from: racerman_27410 on November 10, 2009, 10:51:36 PM
Chris,
Steve is rehabbing from his injuries... i believe he is working from home but still far from being fully fit.
he was talking about a bone graft but i'm not sure what the latest is on that.
Kookaloo!
Frank
Steve had the bone graft back on 10/20... next progress check on it is not til mid-Dec.
Randy T
Indy
Thanks for the update Randy. Sucks hearing bad news about good people - even if you only "know" them virtually. Sounds like he's doing very well all things considered.
Chris