[Robert Lawson]

Todd,

Thanks for the effort boss!

I kept leaning my head forward trying to see your data!!!! :)

You certianly do not see much rise in H2O temp while in 6th gear. Thats interesting (engine pump varies in output with engine speed), as the engine makes far more heat from EGT when WFO in top gear for a sustained amount of time. Your EGT was in the low 900’s coming down the hill from T4 and in the 1020 – 1050 range on top end. H2O was nearly the same everywhere (that was visable!). She sounded a bit fat, I remember that day…. we had a big crowd. Looked like you were having fun!

Some axel pump vidoe would be cool……. uhum… somebody??!!!

I did some testing at MIS. Since we tried a faster pump unrestricted at Grattan, we went in the far opposite direction from our base and went back to the slow pump with an inline T-stat as a restriction. I ran 1 round of practice in this configuration, then took the t-stat back off. It got to 170 in just 4-5 laps. I then went with just the slow pump…. yes, THAT pump, the one that didn’t cool the water in at MIS last year (C&R Rad). Reason?? In May I ran that same slow pump for 30 laps/42 minutes straight at Grattan in 58 deg. amb temps and saw 174 deg on H2O (with this CREEK Rad) and the ignition never went to misfire. For MIS, I also added a duct and scoop to introduce fresh air to the stator to see if it would help in counteracting the misfire knowing it would do nothing for H2O temp. What happened??? It got hot!!!! For sure, hotter than ever before at 187 deg. The duct must have worked because it ran great with no misfire…… until the lower rod bearing went MIA.

The MKC had a bummer turn out with a short weather pattern only causing a delay on Saturday obviously keeping folks at home. Too bad, they are talking about just 1 Fall event now and there was talk early of not promoting a gig at all. Time will tell.

We got together with some old friends, some good friends, and a bunch of close friends and had us a good ole time at MIS.

Thanks to Larry and all the “Rumsey Racing” group boys for the entertainment and socializing! We ate very well this weekend!

Info about an October Test date will be up tomorrow!

NEED MORE TEMP VIDEO!!!!!

[Robert Lawson]

What is the essence of a Challenge?

“I do it, or have done it….now I challenge you to do it.”

I challenged anyone to post video of their data which includes H2O temp’s.

Video is definative.

I’ll cut anyone with good video, that provides the above requested info, a $$$ break on Testing.

I’m extremely curious how an axel pump that varies in output (GPM) at different axel speeds operates (real time temps at variable speeds) compared to an electric pump that simply runs full on until the battery loses volts. Much like the MX or GP Honda engines I have ran in the past, those pumps were engine driven and also varied in speed…. and…. were designed to cool those engines.

Right now, I’m focused on keeping my PVL from overheating and causing the engine to misfire. If the weather cooperates, MIS will be a good test. Going to the opposite end of the spectrum (pumps/flow restriction) from what I have tried. Very much looking forward to the results.

[Robert Lawson]

No takers huh???

I’ll make it easy, just shoot a clip of playback on your data. Or, just page through the data from a race and let me see the max temps.

Someone has to have video other than myself!

BTW…. more video from today at the YT channel:   https://www.youtube.com/user/F125yourself

[Robert Lawson]

Here are a few clips of what we have been doing.

Got my VIO cam back, and, we look at getting some fresh air to the ignition.

I explain what did actually change with the higher output pump. Also, a bit of a confusing Q & A with myself!!!

And finally…. I DO something!! Enjoy!!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by Robert Lawson.

[Robert Lawson]

As I’m preping for MIS it came to me to offer a challenge….

The Water Temp Challenge!

Anyone with a watercooled engine, any type of kart/engine package, TAG, shifter, clutchkart….. no matter.

No oppinions…. just the FACTS, that means VIDEO of the data!!!   Also include Ambient Temp AND configuration at the time of the video. Meaning: Were you taped down then remove tape? (CIK), Big Shifter Rad vs lil Tag Rad, pump type (engine, axel, elect.) and gearing of the pump (ratio/speed) if applicable, also for laydown guys, size & location of rad and dimention of fresh air inlet to the rad.

Practice runs are not eligible, its the race data that is the “proof in the puddin’ ” so to speak.

The reason for video is simple, I myself remembered a different outcome post race than what actually took place. You just can’t be aware of data at every inch of the circuit like you can in video.

This is afterall a “Challenge” so I’ll offer something toward next April/May Testing. I would be pleased beyond all expectation to see a handful of video’s posted here but I have a feeling it will be pretty quiet.

We’ll see.

I’ll post up a clip of what I’ve done, what I’m doing, and the effects of what I have learned thus far.

More coming….

[Robert Lawson]

In talks with Steve Sodl at Pocono this week.

As of right now the entire first week of September is open and very inviting for a quick trip to do a surface/configuration test.

It will be tight, just 1 week after MIS to be ready.

We’ll see, I’m very hopeful that this works out.

Spoke to our old friend and good buddy Rick Gunther (aka Gizmo Man) this past week. He is seriously thinking about coming out to MIS in his Vintage Bus/RV and hanging out with us! Hope we get good weather. I have plenty of things to get on and off the kart Saturday AM, then, some catching up with the boys. I don’t intend to line up for a flag until Sunday so plenty of time on our hands at MIS.

More Soon!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Posted up more video of the Project Kart at YT .

Very excited about where this is going! Can’t explain just yet but things are falling into place, we’ll have some very nice components to work with!

This all started while innocently looking for a cheap chassis with at least spindles and steering. The idea was for a low budget, low speed, intro to road racing T car to give rides in. Just a cheap no frills 4 stroker, real cheap, like Harbor Freight cheap! It didn’t need to be fast or competitive, just a gas & brake ride for use on track days for anyone wanting to check it out.

That kart build is again a very good possibility! With the F-125 Project ongoing as well, it is going to be a busy Winter!

I hope to have all of it ready to run in April/May next Spring.

Looking forward a bit to MIS, more testing on tap there. Also back to work on the Pocono gig setting a date to head over there and find a usable configuration…. and cut a few laps!

I have not forgotten Y’all whom want a track day in the Fall. Dates for that coming soon!

 

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Joe,

If you want to try to DIY I copied the instructions to do so from the EKN Classic forum conversation from years ago. I’ll paste here if you like.

I did mine, its not too tough.

[Robert Lawson]

This is a Garage Talk/Bench Talk/Tech Talk version on the Project Kart platform. As I torn the chassis down to be cleaned and altered for a KZ/ICC I did some measuring and noted things like steering ratio, spindle height, steering shaft orientation/angle (height & distance at attachment locations) among other things.

This is my take on what I found, which is typical on most karts I had noticed from years of doing pre tech.

[Robert Lawson]

I started working on the Project Kart this week.

Here is an update:

[Robert Lawson]

Man that laser welding is awesome, they actually weld/fill “scribe lines” as little as .003!

Take a look at their site:  http://accuratewelding.us/welding/laser-welding

Wonder if Che’ will get me one for Christmas!!!! :)

• This reply was modified 8 years, 2 months ago by Robert Lawson.

[Robert Lawson]

Had to share this with Y’all.

Mentioned it to Frank Dawley today, figured I’d post it up.

This is laser welding at Accurate Welding in Mt. Clemens MI. they were the sister  Co. to my Sis & Bro Inlaw’s former shop. My Bro Inlaw Larry has passed on but I’m sure he would be very impressed with where the Welding Co. has gone and the Tech they are in to now.

Take a close look, super cool… no gloves OR heat!!!!

[Robert Lawson]

Brewster,

Its good to hear from you! Hope everyone in the Peck Family is well Bro!!! I was hoping you would be there so I could get your Beacon back to you. I can ship it if you prefer. Let me know.

A quick Thank You to Greg Stamm, he handed me a Mychron Beacon at the track (and a Margay tank!!!!) so I am back in business!!!

I dunno Bruce, maybe its just me OR the laydown shifter perspective. It all felt rougher. T3 is about the worst of it, there are 3 distinct bumps that make it hard to get back to the throttle. If you have no control over the direction of the kart AND its difficult to see…. your choice is to lift, and lose some time. In May I found if you square that corner off, I mean way wide at the top and turn across the grade getting on the gas before the bumps its workable. BUT, you open the door for getting t-boned. And, we saw enough guys rolling out of their karts in T3 this weekend, I didn’t want to be one of them.

You know as well as any the laydown can’t be “tossed” like a CIK and its a completely different perspective with your head on a headrest and part of the kart. I’m sure sprint guys have sore ribs after that weekend too.

All of the vibration is the kart binding/hopping from the sealer, the jarring….thats the heavy stuff that leaves a mark!

As for the camera, not a word. I did see some on the chin bar area in CIK karts but I was alone in putting it right on top.

Foolishness and Greed by the IC.

The entire unit is made of plastic and will no more cause injury than your visor. The mount is foam tape, no compromise of the shell, certianly the chemicals in the prep/primer/paint do more to the structural integrity of the shell than an adhesive. I have literally 100’s of helmet cam videos and have never lost a camera, not even close. They fall off the vibrating karts all the time though.

But we know why the rule has come about, don’t we? If not, who then is the bigger fool???

Peace Y’all!!!!!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

You can see all the shenanagans from the weekend here:

Enjoy!

[Robert Lawson]

The elbow Monday afternoon:

Last Practice session Sunday AM: (sorry Wayne!!!)

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Robert Lawson.

[Robert Lawson]

Jamal’s fuel tank left a mark!!!!

I’m pretty beat up, left elbow is swollen and has a purple bruse the size of a softball!

I’m not as bad off as our Buddy and head Tow Back driver Bob Cole. He took a serious beating on his entire left side after being hit and ejected, on the cool down lap…. of all things!

I called him as soon as we got home last night to check on him. He is in a GOOD spirit and taking it very well. As I said buddy, we are praying for you! Get better soon!!!!!!!

Well, I said the track would be rougher in July and it absolutely was. The sealer is spreading further beyond the bumps as well and in the heat causes your kart to hop…or push….snap loose…..and sometimes all of the above before and after the bumps are done with you! It was not a pleasant experience and I mentioned not taking my laydown back there until its fixed. The most irratating part of the roughness (besides the bruises) is the fact that you cant get the lap time from the kart/package that you know is there. I scuffed new tires then took them right back off, NOT the way to go on that sealer in the heat. Raced on the the old Maxxis fronts and used up SL4 rears…. it was still a mess out there.

Within earshot of the Wife I used the “S” word and got a look I have not seen too many times! Yes, the word “Sprint” kart did not go over well…

Asked if I would do a late season test I answered “Yeah, but I won’t bring my kart back here, maybe a Sprint kart!”

After talking with Bob last night, I am inspired by his brother Larry to try a TAG kart. We will have to wait and see how things work out. I would be interested in renting maybe for MIS before aquiring something.

I have tons of video from the races and the paddock….also some helmet cam, as promised! Got good hemet cam view following Wayne Rumsey’s new Richie Warren chassis in action….. then I put some doughnuts down the side of it for him!!!!!

More VERY soon!!!!

[Robert Lawson]

Just when I thought I was out….. they pull me back in!

I couldn’t leave well enough alone. I started packing to head out tomorrow at about 6:30pm after hitting paydirt on a temp solution. I made a few calls looking for a Margay tank to mount just to get some laps and prove out this new pump. Mr. Mike Tracy offered to meet me at an exit in Brighton, right on my way to the track tomorrow, with a trunk load of Margay tanks and fittings. Pretty sweet!!! It gets better…..

We sold that CIK/125SK  I built a few years ago to a guy in town, until this evening he was intending on coming out to Grattan to at least run Friday practice. When he called to tell me he wasn’t going to make it I mentioned the tank issue and the plastic alternative I came up with. He offered to remove the tank from his kart and let me use it…… because it originated from MY kart! It almost drops right back on, unbelieveable!

Thanks to Jamal Rogers and Mike Tracy I’ll have more than enough fuel tanks to use this weekend AND on the ole project kart!!!!!

Love it when a plan comes together!

[Robert Lawson]

…..aaaaannndd I’m done!

[Robert Lawson]

Got it all back together and running on Monday.

Back out there today to get the trailer loaded and all the bits of the kart installed before a coat of wax….. and, more bad news!

Fuel tank is leaking, badly.

Removed it and washed it out, plugged it up and put pressure to it and oh boy does it need work!!!!! No idea why it didn’t show the serious leakage of yesterday back at the test in May but…. there ya go. Nice puddle on the floor tray this AM.

Will check out a few local shops in the AM tomorrow. IF I can find a fair deal then we can stay on schedule for the weekend.

If not……??? I even called a few guys and considered a sprint type 7 qt tank just so I can get this water pump shake down behind me. No luck.

We’ll know tomorrow, more then!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

More updates….

Sunday, not good :

Monday morning, better!!! :

I’m out there putting it all back together now….

[Robert Lawson]

Just a quick clip here, hanging out in the garage wraping things up.

More coming!!

 

 

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Robert Lawson.

[Robert Lawson]

Steve is on vacation until after the 4th holiday so I wont get an answer on that optional roadcourse exit (entrance for my use) until he returns.

We did agree to a test date, on a weekday, the first week of September. There is a nice 3-4 day block of no activity anywhere on the grounds so having a few days to play weather etc will be cool.

Been out in the garage repairing the radiator air box, the nose was not on the kart when it fell off the stand. Also did some finishing to the chain guard, got it in shape and painted after removing the covering that was on it. Seat looks sweet, nice new covering and chainguard plus the air box got paint today too….. moving right along. With all new brake pads and resurfaced rotors its best to get them broke-in before heading off to a speedway we’ve not been to since Elementary School!!!

So, we are going through the motions for Grattan in 3 weeks. Not overly excited about it as the surface will be really rough in the hot weather (although its been quite cool) AND having to race 250 twins is rediculous. But, they have a Friday so I’ll run the same program as I intended for M-O. Until then, we’ll just be watching the weather!

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Always an awesome job at a Dart gig, they are the best! Che’ and I are bummed out we couldn’t make it but Family Emergency’s always come first.

I have been in contact with Steve at Pocono today, he was very gratious and answered all my questions & concerns. The “option 3” I wanted to test isn’t available… ever. They no longer open that part of the wall because that particular transition (rain gutter) was so hard on even fully sprung vehicles that its use has been halted.

 

So, what IS available in its place? Lets take a look…..

Going CCW, You will still exit the infield at Nascar Pit Out (blue section) using the Oval T1 and enter the infield at the first Blue entrance, then turning right onto the road course back straight (yellow) and merging onto the White course past the infield pit lane back onto the yellow course then hard right onto the blue portion before completeing a lap.

Its basically the same layout as I mentioned back in the Fall of 2016 but without running the Long Pond Straight. Its slightly shorter too at 1.8 mi compared to 2.1 mi.

I’m waiting to see if we can use the White entrance mid way down the Long Pond straight with a MIS type restricted entry to slow things down. Also, that nice little “finger” on the infield with the hairpin…. not available to us. The traffic flowing in different directions is too close together, the only time it is used they restrict the number of vehicles to 2 at a time…. not good!

More Coming!!!!

 

RPM

• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by Robert Lawson. Reason: typo - O
• This reply was modified 8 years, 4 months ago by Robert Lawson. Reason: video not working

[Robert Lawson]

Hey Y’all,

Wish I had video and a story from Mid-Ohio but I don’t.

Had to make an emergency trip to SC last Sunday and didn’t return until Thursday afternoon. Got work to do as Cher had an accident in the garage, dropped my bike and knocked the kart off the stand. I asked her to move the bike hours after I had left for SC so its my fault. No biggie, she wasn’t hurt and thats all that matters.

I did send a note to Steve at Pocono, just need his updated schedule of bookings to work around. We will put this at the top of our list of things to do, it is of the utmost importance I get this in before planning another race trip. If they are open and accepting to us putting wheels on the track we will be ready to go do it.

Some exciting action on the Racemonitor from M-O. Its awesome knowing what is happening with more detail than those standing at the wall! Lots of 250’s in attendance, when their numbers are good the overall numbers seem to do the same. Hope everyone had a good weekend and got back home safely.

RPM

[Robert Lawson]

Got more video up, been repairing and recovering the seat.

The new pump draws 3 times the amps of the old model so I’m going to have my hands full swapping out batt packs all day on Friday at M-O. We tried a Balistic battery that worked well but not what I was hoping for. Thankfully it will drop right in the CBR 250 R….. love it when a plan comes together!!!!

The Goldspeed guy swapped some text with me on Memorial Day, getting a bit more info and feedback about the tire in question. Fingers crossed, I sure hope we can get a 5.5 wide tire out of them. I loved my Maxxis tires, and would really like to keep my collection of 5″ wheels!

Slowly getting it all together here. I feel the ole Mid-Ohio groove coming on, if nothing else it should make for good video!

Good to see the site back up. Not up to speed yet, but back up anyway!

RPM

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