Author Topic: WHPSC 2011  (Read 7512 times)

Mr Larrington

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WHPSC 2011
« on: 11 September, 2011, 12:18:43 am »
Just arrived in Battle Mountain - will keep you posted of any excitement.
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Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #1 on: 11 September, 2011, 01:46:22 am »
how is this years Corvette?
VELOMANCER

Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #2 on: 11 September, 2011, 02:19:28 am »
It's a Mustang - the Corvettes were nominally one-year-only specials.  The good news is that it's got half as much powaaaah again as the 210 bhp one I had in 2009.  The bad news is that it appears to be limited to 114 mph, like the one I had in 2009.  Also I forgot the iPod -> motor-car connection lead and haven't yet been arsed to find one over here.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #3 on: 11 September, 2011, 02:21:53 pm »
That'll be you listening to 'Station KFM Bumblefuck Wyoming' hick radio for the duration then . . .

Make sure you rag the arse out of that motor before it goes back, WUD B RUDE NOT 2  ;)
VELOMANCER

Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #4 on: 12 September, 2011, 02:27:32 am »
Most of the teams have arrived by now though a few are still Missing Presumed en Route.  Steve "Velociraptor" Copeland's truck ate its alternator somewhere in Nebraska but it's fixed and they're back underway.

Photos may be found at or near http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

recumbentim

  • Only 6 SR,s No hyper yet
Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #5 on: 12 September, 2011, 08:27:32 pm »
Your nuts Dave but love this thread every year , keep it comin.

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #6 on: 12 September, 2011, 08:48:53 pm »
Results from this morning's qualifying session on the short 2.5 mile course: clicky.  Of those present, the Avos Arrow didn't run as rider Greg Westlake is still on his way here, Velociraptor didn't run as rider Steve Copeland is still recovering from the effects of driving here from West Virginia and Cygnus didn't run because their chain kept falling off.  Mechanic Frans, who looks worryingly like a bespectacled older brother of citoyen of this parish, has been handed a file and an angle-grinder and told to Make It Work.  Whereabouts and/or intentions of the team from I.U.T Annecy still unknown, we will shortly be asking Homeland Security if they know anything.
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Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #7 on: 13 September, 2011, 06:18:13 am »
Lovely afternoon but by the time we set off for the course the weather was teh suxx0r, with strong winds and the distinct possibility of rain, which could already be seen falling further up the valley.  Three riders ran in the first group; only Eric Ware in the Wedge clocked a time, just over 73 mph.  Trefor Evans in the University of Toronto's new machine Vortex hit the gouge in the road at the two-mile and deliberately missed the tape as he thought something was rubbing.  Tiffany Underwood in the Firefly camera trike had a flat about two and a half miles in.

In the second session only Sam Whittingham in the Varna Tempest and Todd Reichert in the Vortex elected to run.  Sam was a whisker under 78 mph and Todd went over 71.  The wind, however, was way too strong for any of these runs to be legal.  Still, at least we missed the rain.
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Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #8 on: 13 September, 2011, 08:10:55 pm »
Tueday morning results.  The weather looked a bit ominous this morning with rain to the south and west, as well as the odd bolt of lightning and rumble of thunder over the mountains, but fortunately it steered clear of the course.  The luckless Tiffany Underwood had another Fairy Visitation, as did Jan-Marcel van Dijken, whose front let go at > 60 mph.  He was unhurt and the bike apparently has only cosmetic damage.  Spannerman Frans is refusing to touch it until he's had lunch.  A couple of storming performances from the VeloX riders; if only Sebastiaan had had a legal wind speed...

I'm helping with the timing today so hopefully will get some decent pictures of the machines at full frottle if my feet don't explode and/or my shoulder seize up entirely.  More updates after tonight's runs, so in time for Gentlefolk of BRITAIN not quite now abed to have something to look at over the cornflakes.

More pictures and commentary on Jun Nogami's blog at http://jnyyz.wordpress.com/.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #9 on: 14 September, 2011, 06:07:40 am »
Tuesday evening results.  New World Record for Greg Westlake, who hit 45.68 mph in the arms-only Avos Arrrow.  All runs this evening had legal wind speeds; we were delayed somewhat by a problem with a timing tape which worked when tested at the roadside and didn't when taped down to the tarmac.  Barbara Buatois' disappointing speed was due to her losing the chain two miles out - she coasted through to the end.  Wind speed for Todd Reichert was zero - this is only the second time I've ever seen this.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #10 on: 14 September, 2011, 10:24:11 pm »
Wednesday morning results.  Jay Henry lost his chain about 1km out on his qualifying run and coasted through.  He went down early in his five-mile run but no major damage to either him or the bike.  David Verbroekken had an off-course excursion at the start of his run, but was save from an undignified roll into the scenery by mechanic Frans (aka "Sugar"), who was still holding up while on rollerblades.  He restarted but went down shortly thereafter when a tyre blew.  More timing problems prevented Barclay Henry from getting a qualifying time.  I wasn't at timing today so it wasn't my fault :P

Christ, my feet hurt!
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #11 on: 15 September, 2011, 06:57:42 pm »
The upper part of the frame is a sort of wishbone shape; the rider's head goes between the two parts, which pass over his shoulders.  It's quite big, as it has to accommodate a standard-sized Dutchman.  Both the riders are about 6'3".
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #12 on: 16 September, 2011, 06:36:22 am »
Thursday evening a game of two halves, Barry.  In the first session the weather was arsey and although Greg went over 47 and Jan-Marcel over 69, neither had legal wind.  So we held off as long as we could for Part Two the Second.

Barbara and Tood both did 72+, the latter a new personal best.  Sam did 80.23, which is the sort of thing we expect from him these days.  But Sebastiaan Bowier did 80.54; this, IIRC, being the first time that Sam has been beaten in a full-on non-wind-affected run here in ten years.  The motel pool is full of wildly capering Dutch Penniless Student Oaves.

Weather forecast for tomorrow looks a bit iffy - possibly a storm overnight - but if things improve by evening there could be a real scrap for the first time since 2001.

Iz excited.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #13 on: 16 September, 2011, 08:11:28 pm »
It did rain overnight.  This morning was damp and humid, but windless, so not too bad once things had warmed up enough that windscreens fogging up was no longer a problem.  Kudos to Tom Amick for proving you down need to be able to see where you're going in order to ride one of these things.

Full Friday Morning results.  Jun draws a discreet veil over the fact that the Tornot Uni team let him have another go in Vortex, which he stacked about a mile down the road at 40 mph.  He's undamaged but the bike's fairing has a split in it chiz.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #14 on: 17 September, 2011, 03:45:48 am »
Have you got any pictures of how that linear drive becomes "circular"? Seems like a very narrow, long bike, but I guess the string tech. and back and forth pedalling isn't as efficient as a chain.

It's very difficult to see what exactly is going on as the bit converting string movement to chain is tucked away under the seat, but it seems to involve a freewheel at each end of a cross-shaft, with the "chainring" located at the RH end of said shaft.

Anyway,  Friday evening sessions cancelled.  Here is why:


That's racing, as they say, but at least we were better off than the poor buggers at the Reno Air Races  :'(
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #15 on: 17 September, 2011, 06:44:28 pm »
Not much excitement on Saturday morning, but Victor Ragusila made a small piece of history by carrying a six-pack of BEER1 down the course in Vortex' small but useful luggage bay.

Edit: Full Saturday morning results; note that the time for Tiffany Underwood was actually set by Kara Snyder.  Tiff ran a little later and guess what?  Her chain came off yet again :(

1 - Moose Drool, from Missoula MT.  It's nice, in spite of the rather unappealing name.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime

Mr Larrington

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Re: WHPSC 2011
« Reply #16 on: 19 September, 2011, 05:09:18 am »
Not much excitement on Saturday evening either.  It was officially declared a Slow Day.  Sam was fastest on the night but Sebastiaan emerged at the top of the timesheet for the week with Thursday's 80.54 mph.  This is the first time in the history of the event that Sam has finished anywhere other than first.  Full Saturday evening results.  Greg Westlake might have improved on his latest record, but he contrived to miss the timing tape exiting the traps chiz.

And then home.
External Transparent Wall Inspection Operative & Mayor of Mortagne-au-Perche
Satisfying the Bloodlust of the Masses in Peacetime