Hello ... again

[fj1289]

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!!!

[threejagsteve]

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.

[racerman_27410]

Welcome back CHris!

KOokaloo!


Frank

[fj1289]

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

[racerman_27410]

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

[threejagsteve]

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! 

[higbonzo]

Chris,

Hello and Welcome     

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

[fj1289]

UUUUUGH! 

I just lost a half-hour long reply! 

Hi Phil!

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!   

Cheers,
Chris

[rktmanfj]

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

[fj1289]

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