Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => The Dark Side => Topic started by: Mr Larrington on 12 August, 2019, 10:30:53 pm

Title: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 August, 2019, 10:30:53 pm
OK, so the first runs are not until Sunday 8th September (just after lunch for BRITONS) but details are now beginning to emerge of the runners and riders, so I figured why not start the thread now rather than twatting about with rubbish hotel internets once I actually arrive in USAnia...

Team/EntrantVehicleNationalityRider(s)Class(es)  Comments
Team FalconFalconAUSAdam HariMen's Open 
University of Toronto?CDNCalvin Moes*/Evan BennewiesMen's Multirider 
IUT AnnecyAltaïr 6FFabien Canal*
Illona Peltier
Men's Open
Women's Open
 
London South Bank UniversityAIM93GBRussell Bridge*Men's Open 
Liverpool UniversityARION5GBKen Buckley*
Yasmin Tredell*
Men's Multitrack
Women's Multitrack
 
Team PolicumbentTaurus
Taurus-X
IAndrea Gallo*
Vittoria Spada
Men's Open
Women's Open
  Vittoria is riding Taurus-X, with the red tail
Tokyo University of SCIENCEHaruka2019JKazuhiro TakeiMen's Open 
HPT Delft-AmsterdamVeloX 9NLJennifer Breet*
Rosa Bas
Women's Open 
Team ElanVeloX XSNLEllen van Vugt*Women's Open 
Cal Poly, San Luis ObispoAmbitionUSAJosh GieschenMen's Open 
Peter Borenstadt DF VelomobileUSAPeter Borenstadt *Men's Multitrack 
Land Speed Record LLCSprocket RocketUSAChris DeMarchi
Rudy Napolitano
Daniel Kam
Phil Tinstman
Joshua Stockinger
Men's Multirider Multitrack  Four wheels.  Five riders :o
Andrew SourkTriageUSAAndrew Sourk*Men's Multitrack 
Garrie Hill1VeloX SUSAMike Mowett*
Ishtey Amminger*
Men's Open
Men's Junior 15-17
 
Larry LemWahooUSADenise Mueller-KorenekWomen's Open  Current world motor-paced record holder (296 km/h)
Bill ThorntonMilan VelomobileUSABill ThorntonMen's Multitrack 

1: I think...
* = repeat offender

Current recordsSpeed (km/h)Speed (mph)Bike/Rider(s)  Year
Men's Open144.1589.59Eta/Todd Reichert (CDN)  2016
Women's Open121.7975.69Varna Tempest/Barbara Buatois (F)  2010
Men's Multitrack (single rider)118.9973.95All Overzealous/Gareth Hanks (AUS)  2016
Men's Multirider117.5973.08Glowworm/Tom Amick & Phil Plath (USA)  2012
Men's Junior 15-17106.0865.93VeloX S/Florian Kowalik (USA)  2016
Men's Multitrack (multirider)101.2462.92Vector Tandem/Dave Grylls & Leigh Barczewski  (USA)  1980
Women's Multitrack (single rider)87.6154.453CO2/Ellen van Vugt (NL)  2015

Linky Stuffs

Thee Automatic Diary: http://automatic-diary.blogspot.com/ (http://automatic-diary.blogspot.com/).  Starts on or about August 31st, or September 1st for BRITONS.
Jun Nogami's blog: https://jnyyz.wordpress.com/category/hpv/ (https://jnyyz.wordpress.com/category/hpv/).  The best place to find results after each session.
WHPSC home page: http://ihpva.org/whpsc/ (http://ihpva.org/whpsc/).  Professor Sir Lord Admiral Ambassador Nogami sez this is where the results will got after each session.
Farcebok froup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/123929127660938/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/123929127660938/)

Edit: It's a no-no from Tokyo chiz
Edit 2: Liverpool have announced their riders
Edit 3: Cal Poly machine haz a name, corrected Denise's name
Edit 4: Looks like Tokyo are back in; Sprocket Rocket risers announced; add Bill Thornton
Edit 5: LBSU's n00b is a Noah, not an Oscar
Edit 6: Results will be on event home page, not Jun's blog.
Edit 7: Annecy have announced they haz a female rider also.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 13 August, 2019, 07:33:31 am
How is the multi-person multi track slower than the single person multitrack?  Just no-body riding that?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2019, 12:20:54 pm
How is the multi-person multi track slower than the single person multitrack?  Just no-body riding that?

Yes.  Multirider machines are rare enough as it is; I can only recall four appearing at Battle Mountain, all bikes.  Adding extra wheels also adds a new level of complication.  The other thing is the venue; IIRC the Vector record was set at the now-demolished Ontario Motor Speedway just outside LA.  It was basically a clone of Indianapolis, at much lower altitude and likely even flatter than Route 305.  No shortage of power in the thing.  A chap named Phil Norton is active in the FB group; he competed in the events of the late 1970s/early 1980s and says that Mr Barczewski's thighs were the same diameter as his waist, meaning custom-built trousers ;D

The Sprocket Rocket is a sight to behold, being a long shiny cylinder with pointy ends.  I'll try to post a picture when I'm on a Proper Computer.  I reckoned that the RAF dropped one on the Bielefeld Viaduct in 1945.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 13 August, 2019, 12:47:13 pm
The Sprocket Rocket is a sight to behold, being a long shiny cylinder with pointy ends.  I'll try to post a picture when I'm on a Proper Computer.  I reckoned that the RAF dropped one on the Bielefeld Viaduct in 1945.

Alternatively, they've nicked a B-58 Hustler's fuel/weapons pod (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-58_Hustler#/media/File:B-58_weapons_pod_castle.jpg) out of a museum. :demon:
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 August, 2019, 03:12:56 pm
That Denise Muller is clearly a nutter very brave/trusting/foolhardy.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2019, 03:24:17 pm
Hopefully this picture of the Sprocket Rocket will appear for everyone:

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/68735688_2914547311951875_2485875136180256768_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQnwQLhzdKJEGVkG2-dtDVbvgauCQQae_5U4n4C327mV_ip1IYi4IaELUqcPqmH7LCA&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=73ad0e041275bfd0d7a36e34bf0bda3c&oe=5E150385)

The NACA duct suggests that the front is to the right left of the picture.  MOAR Stuffs at https://www.facebook.com/Land-Speed-Record-LLC-1871046772968606/ (https://www.facebook.com/Land-Speed-Record-LLC-1871046772968606/).
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 13 August, 2019, 03:24:41 pm
That Denise Muller is clearly a nutter very brave/trusting/foolhardy.
when it says motor-paced does it mean that car drafting thing that Guy Martin had a go at?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2019, 03:26:20 pm
That Denise Muller is clearly a nutter very brave/trusting/foolhardy.
when it says motor-paced does it mean that car drafting thing that Guy Martin had a go at?

Yes.  She set the record at Bonneville last year, the day after Battle Mountain finished.  I actually drove past the Salt Flats, observed that Something Was Going On, pondered stopping for a shufti and decided not to :facepalm:
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 13 August, 2019, 03:30:36 pm
That Denise Muller is clearly a nutter very brave/trusting/foolhardy.
when it says motor-paced does it mean that car drafting thing that Guy Martin had a go at?

Yes.  She set the record at Bonneville last year, the day after Battle Mountain finished.  I actually drove past the Salt Flats, observed that Something Was Going On, pondered stopping for a shufti and decided not to :facepalm:
Then I concur with cudzo, and she’s clearly a nutter. Especially if the 296km/h isn’t a typo for 196 or 96. It was on an upwrong as well from what I remember. Totally bonkers.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Arellcat on 13 August, 2019, 03:40:38 pm
The NACA duct suggests that the front is to the right of the picture.

Are you sure, Mr L?  The tip of a submerged duct points in the direction of travel, so the front must be out of shot to the left.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 August, 2019, 03:43:03 pm
She's clearly an incredibly strong and dedicated nutter. I'm wondering if I've ever been that fast on land. I think Eurostar reaches 300km/h so I probably have. Hard to imagine it on a bike. And it was an upwrong, albeit most definitely not UCI type-approved. Video: https://www.wired.com/story/denise-mueller-korenek-bike-speed-record-168-mph/
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 August, 2019, 03:44:48 pm
The NACA duct suggests that the front is to the right of the picture.

Are you sure, Mr L?  The tip of a submerged duct points in the direction of travel, so the front must be out of shot to the left.
The position furthest to the right is labelled Co-Pilot. I don't know if that gives any indication? I can't make out any of the other labels.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 13 August, 2019, 03:55:25 pm
There ought to be enough clues about which way a NACA duct points here:

https://www.windingroad.com/articles/news/ten-of-the-greatest-uses-of-naca-ducts-in-automotive-history/

or maybe here:

http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/nacaduct/naca-duct.htm
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2019, 04:11:27 pm
The NACA duct suggests that the front is to the right of the picture.

Are you sure, Mr L?  The tip of a submerged duct points in the direction of travel, so the front must be out of shot to the left.

Curse my stubby peasant fingers!
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2019, 04:13:01 pm
According to my grate frend Al "the entry from Tokyo University of Science is having an issue getting the bike out of Japan due to a ban on carbon fiber export" :o
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 13 August, 2019, 04:15:12 pm
That would be one hell of a ride in that toothpaste tube, shame I have skinny legs mostly suited to pottering about
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 August, 2019, 05:07:11 pm
There ought to be enough clues about which way a NACA duct points here:

https://www.windingroad.com/articles/news/ten-of-the-greatest-uses-of-naca-ducts-in-automotive-history/
But example no. 1 isn't even parked!
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 13 August, 2019, 05:14:14 pm
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 13 August, 2019, 07:24:05 pm
Video of Denise Mueller-Korenek's land speed record breaking run, from withing the fairing of the drag car:
https://youtu.be/X-FC1wMPu8Q
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 13 August, 2019, 09:41:28 pm
Hopefully this picture of the Sprocket Rocket will appear for everyone:

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/68735688_2914547311951875_2485875136180256768_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQnwQLhzdKJEGVkG2-dtDVbvgauCQQae_5U4n4C327mV_ip1IYi4IaELUqcPqmH7LCA&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr3-1.xx&oh=73ad0e041275bfd0d7a36e34bf0bda3c&oe=5E150385)

The NACA duct suggests that the front is to the right left of the picture.  MOAR Stuffs at https://www.facebook.com/Land-Speed-Record-LLC-1871046772968606/ (https://www.facebook.com/Land-Speed-Record-LLC-1871046772968606/).

Doesn't look very DHL-proof.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 August, 2019, 10:49:10 pm
They are USAnian and haz a custom trailer.  See the launch video on their Farcebok page.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 August, 2019, 07:38:58 am
Calvin Moes tells us that the Toronto Tandem is named "Double Eta Reverse Prime" or "DERP" for short.  If this is a joke it is one that might easily backfire.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Von Broad on 15 August, 2019, 08:06:34 am
They are USAnian and haz a custom trailer.  See the launch video on their Farcebok page.

Quite extraordinary. Looks like one of Saddams old Scud missiles.
Took some building I should think! Look forward to the updates.

https://www.facebook.com/1871046772968606/videos/346533429621815/
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 15 August, 2019, 08:31:33 am
Calvin Moes tells us that the Toronto Tandem is named "Double Eta Reverse Prime" or "DERP" for short.  If this is a joke it is one that might easily backfire.
i would have thought the best way to avoid backfires in an enclosed cockpit is to leave the curries alone. In a multi person cockpit I’d think that one would police this very carefully in one’s co engines.  ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 15 August, 2019, 10:45:07 am
They are USAnian and haz a custom trailer.  See the launch video on their Farcebok page.

Quite extraordinary. Looks like one of Saddams old Scud missiles.

I was reminded of the R7, on account of the "let's just add more engines" principle.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 15 August, 2019, 04:27:46 pm
They are USAnian and haz a custom trailer.  See the launch video on their Farcebok page.

Quite extraordinary. Looks like one of Saddams old Scud missiles.

I was reminded of the R7, on account of the "let's just add more engines" principle.

Too neat and shiny to be Scud, and it's the wrong shape for Soyuz (no biconic wrap-around boosters) - if we're going with rockets rather than my initial suggestion of aircraft bits, I'm getting more of a Titan 23G vibe from Sprocket Rocket.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_23G
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 August, 2019, 07:09:28 pm
it's the wrong shape for Soyuz (no biconic wrap-around boosters) -
"We can rebuild it."

Oh, biconic. Never mind.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 15 August, 2019, 09:29:42 pm
That has induced my first foray into farcebork for about 6 months. 

That thing must have a worse turning circle than my Land Rover
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 15 August, 2019, 09:43:03 pm
That thing must have a worse turning circle than my Land Rover

I'm guessing that's where the trailer comes into play, although that raises questions regarding getting the truck and trailer out of the way for the run - is the acceleration up to terminal speed slow enough that the truck could get down to the other end without being caught? Is there a convenient bit of hard-standing at the side of the road with enough room to turn Sprocket Rocket around to head back to the start?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 15 August, 2019, 10:00:52 pm
it's the wrong shape for Soyuz (no biconic wrap-around boosters) -
"We can rebuild it."

Oh, biconic. Never mind.

"We can have an indecisive plenary, then break for lunch, get distracted by Steven Universe and sparkly BDSM gear, and sort it out with a lengthy argument on the internet later."?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 August, 2019, 06:31:13 pm
Ah, very good! No, I was thinking of "the $6 million man". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071054/
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 16 August, 2019, 06:45:30 pm
Ah, very good! No, I was thinking of "the $6 million man". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071054/

I'm familiar with it.  Lots of running in slow motion, IIRC.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 August, 2019, 07:35:14 pm
That thing must have a worse turning circle than my Land Rover

I'm guessing that's where the trailer comes into play, although that raises questions regarding getting the truck and trailer out of the way for the run - is the acceleration up to terminal speed slow enough that the truck could get down to the other end without being caught? Is there a convenient bit of hard-standing at the side of the road with enough room to turn Sprocket Rocket around to head back to the start?

They wouldn't be allowed to send the truck and trailer down the road ahead of the HPV unless they're the first vehicle on the road in $HEAT (we can usually get four vehicles off at two-minute intervals before we have to re-open the road) and possibly not even then.

They could conceivably pull it off to one side, let the SR go and then follow it down the road - all the HPV's are followed by a chase vehicle in case of problems - though strictly speaking chase vehicles with trailers are Strictly Forbidden.  I understand the team is in discussion with my grate frend Arnold Ligtvoet, the chief start official, to work out a feasible way of doing it.

Turning space at the five-mile start is OK but not at either the start of the qualifying course or the finish.  At the latter they'd probably have to drive another mile down to the Buffalo Valley/Copper Canyon junction to find the space.

In other news Liverpool have announced their rider lineup, with veterans Ken Buckley and Yasmin Tredell joined by n00b Milo Dixon.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 16 August, 2019, 08:03:31 pm
That thing must have a worse turning circle than my Land Rover

I'm guessing that's where the trailer comes into play, although that raises questions regarding getting the truck and trailer out of the way for the run - is the acceleration up to terminal speed slow enough that the truck could get down to the other end without being caught? Is there a convenient bit of hard-standing at the side of the road with enough room to turn Sprocket Rocket around to head back to the start?

They wouldn't be allowed to send the truck and trailer down the road ahead of the HPV unless they're the first vehicle on the road in $HEAT (we can usually get four vehicles off at two-minute intervals before we have to re-open the road) and possibly not even then.

They could conceivably pull it off to one side, let the SR go and then follow it down the road - all the HPV's are followed by a chase vehicle in case of problems - though strictly speaking chase vehicles with trailers are Strictly Forbidden.  I understand the team is in discussion with my grate frend Arnold Ligtvoet, the chief start official, to work out a feasible way of doing it.

Turning space at the five-mile start is OK but not at either the start of the qualifying course or the finish.  At the latter they'd probably have to drive another mile down to the Buffalo Valley/Copper Canyon junction to find the space.

In other news Liverpool have announced their rider lineup, with veterans Ken Buckley and Yasmin Tredell joined by n00b Milo Dixon.
Two options spring to mind; get out and lift it up to turn it around, it can’t be that heavy; braces attached to the seats and leg holes below each rider, this idea has the added comedy value of a pantomime horse dragon - a pop up dragon head could be added for even more comedy value. An award could be awarded for added comedic performances especially to encourage this latter idea  ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 16 August, 2019, 08:09:39 pm
That thing must have a worse turning circle than my Land Rover

I'm guessing that's where the trailer comes into play, although that raises questions regarding getting the truck and trailer out of the way for the run - is the acceleration up to terminal speed slow enough that the truck could get down to the other end without being caught? Is there a convenient bit of hard-standing at the side of the road with enough room to turn Sprocket Rocket around to head back to the start?

They wouldn't be allowed to send the truck and trailer down the road ahead of the HPV unless they're the first vehicle on the road in $HEAT (we can usually get four vehicles off at two-minute intervals before we have to re-open the road) and possibly not even then.

They could conceivably pull it off to one side, let the SR go and then follow it down the road - all the HPV's are followed by a chase vehicle in case of problems - though strictly speaking chase vehicles with trailers are Strictly Forbidden.  I understand the team is in discussion with my grate frend Arnold Ligtvoet, the chief start official, to work out a feasible way of doing it.

Turning space at the five-mile start is OK but not at either the start of the qualifying course or the finish.  At the latter they'd probably have to drive another mile down to the Buffalo Valley/Copper Canyon junction to find the space.

Fair enough!  :)
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 August, 2019, 09:37:19 pm
That thing must have a worse turning circle than my Land Rover

I'm guessing that's where the trailer comes into play, although that raises questions regarding getting the truck and trailer out of the way for the run - is the acceleration up to terminal speed slow enough that the truck could get down to the other end without being caught? Is there a convenient bit of hard-standing at the side of the road with enough room to turn Sprocket Rocket around to head back to the start?

They wouldn't be allowed to send the truck and trailer down the road ahead of the HPV unless they're the first vehicle on the road in $HEAT (we can usually get four vehicles off at two-minute intervals before we have to re-open the road) and possibly not even then.

They could conceivably pull it off to one side, let the SR go and then follow it down the road - all the HPV's are followed by a chase vehicle in case of problems - though strictly speaking chase vehicles with trailers are Strictly Forbidden.  I understand the team is in discussion with my grate frend Arnold Ligtvoet, the chief start official, to work out a feasible way of doing it.

Turning space at the five-mile start is OK but not at either the start of the qualifying course or the finish.  At the latter they'd probably have to drive another mile down to the Buffalo Valley/Copper Canyon junction to find the space.

In other news Liverpool have announced their rider lineup, with veterans Ken Buckley and Yasmin Tredell joined by n00b Milo Dixon.
Two options spring to mind; get out and lift it up to turn it around, it can’t be that heavy; braces attached to the seats and leg holes below each rider, this idea has the added comedy value of a pantomime horse dragon - a pop up dragon head could be added for even more comedy value. An award could be awarded for added comedic performances especially to encourage this latter idea  ;D
HPV racing x Mummers plays. Don't let the UCI know!
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 16 August, 2019, 09:50:06 pm
Now starting to make me think of The Goodies with their trandem and "whacky music"
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 17 August, 2019, 03:28:43 pm
Word outta Tokyo is that they may have found a way to smuggle their bike out of the country.  Ear -> ground.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 17 August, 2019, 03:51:49 pm
Word outta Tokyo is that they may have found a way to smuggle their bike out of the country.  Ear -> ground.

They've told TPTB that the bike is for hunting down land-based whales in a scientific cull?  :demon:
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 21 August, 2019, 02:50:30 am
Just heard from our Sinister Agent at the Lander County Convention & Tourism Authority that the first team has already arrived in Battle Mountain :o.  They haven't said who, but my suspicion is Delft-Amsterdam.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: perpetual dan on 22 August, 2019, 06:20:33 pm
I notice that the copilot is at one end. Could they sit the other way round and pilot the way back? I don’t imagine the others have much view anyway. Just needs a reverse gear (or a fixie pedalled backwards) :demon:
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 August, 2019, 10:39:17 am
Short answer: no, because
We can only close the road for twenty minutes at a time and while the local Highway Patrol are very firmly on our side I suspect they would draw the line at allowing that thing on an open public highway.

NB: I do realise the question was not entirely serious  ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 23 August, 2019, 01:44:00 pm
Short answer: no, because
  • Time, and
  • Policemen
We can only close the road for twenty minutes at a time and while the local Highway Patrol are very firmly on our side I suspect they would draw the line at allowing that thing on an open public highway.

NB: I do realise the question was not entirely serious  ;D
Are the locals generally supportive of the whole endeavour as well, or do you get a lot of grumbling about all the inconvenience the road closures cause?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: mzjo on 23 August, 2019, 06:09:06 pm
How is the multi-person multi track slower than the single person multitrack?  Just no-body riding that?

Yes.  Multirider machines are rare enough as it is; I can only recall four appearing at Battle Mountain, all bikes.  Adding extra wheels also adds a new level of complication.  The other thing is the venue; IIRC the Vector record was set at the now-demolished Ontario Motor Speedway just outside LA.  It was basically a clone of Indianapolis, at much lower altitude and likely even flatter than Route 305.  No shortage of power in the thing.  A chap named Phil Norton is active in the FB group; he competed in the events of the late 1970s/early 1980s and says that Mr Barczewski's thighs were the same diameter as his waist, meaning custom-built trousers ;D

The Sprocket Rocket is a sight to behold, being a long shiny cylinder with pointy ends.  I'll try to post a picture when I'm on a Proper Computer.  I reckoned that the RAF dropped one on the Bielefeld Viaduct in 1945.

Bit of a late question but wasn't Mr. Barczewski a pro rider of that epoc. The name looks somehow familiar.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 August, 2019, 06:42:20 pm
Short answer: no, because
  • Time, and
  • Policemen
We can only close the road for twenty minutes at a time and while the local Highway Patrol are very firmly on our side I suspect they would draw the line at allowing that thing on an open public highway.

NB: I do realise the question was not entirely serious  ;D
Are the locals generally supportive of the whole endeavour as well, or do you get a lot of grumbling about all the inconvenience the road closures cause?

The locals are mostly in favour; since the demise of the Pony Express car race more than a decade ago we're pretty much the only event that brings in outsiders and their money*.  We do get the odd gripe from drivers, but since you can be stopped for half an hour at road works on USAnian roads I think most of them are used to it.  There isn't much traffic on the road we use anyway; drive the ninety-odd miles down to Austin and it's a busy day if you encounter a double-digit number of vehicles going the other way.

* which the Sheriff's Department is usually keen to get its share of
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 23 August, 2019, 11:14:36 pm
double digits, man that's heavy traffic.

I've ridden 30km without seeing a car in the wilds of Fenlandia
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 29 August, 2019, 05:18:05 pm
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" according to Laozi, but he nowhere mentioned having to engage in a protracted fight with a knackered Canon inkjet just to try to print a boarding pass.  The git.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 August, 2019, 05:29:05 am
Now in Phoenix.  It is hot.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 31 August, 2019, 02:57:09 pm
Professor Field Marshal Minister Timelord Nogami says the results will appear on the event home page this year: http://ihpva.org/whpsc/ (http://ihpva.org/whpsc/)
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Séamas M. on 01 September, 2019, 09:14:20 pm
Now in Phoenix.  It is hot.

There is a slight element of redundancy in this post.  ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 02 September, 2019, 04:18:55 am
Even the local TV weather forecast noted that it was Hot.  43 degrees at 8 pm.  I am now in Cortez CO, where it is lukewarm (about 24 degrees at 8 pm).
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 02 September, 2019, 01:33:38 pm
43 degrees is approaching limits of long-term human habitation.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Arellcat on 02 September, 2019, 07:25:44 pm
I see that the Liverpooligans are on their way.  Steven Bode is permanently cheery but he looked bloody knackered in their group photo!
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 03 September, 2019, 02:58:29 am
Just seen that pic, because the internets in Cortez died last night and did not come back this morning either.  I dare say Steve will be his usual bouncy self at least until midday Sunday :demon:
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 04 September, 2019, 04:04:07 am
Stop press!  IUT Annecy announce that Illona Peletier will also be riding for them; she is wot we oiks sometimes call "a gurl".  As well as being a Gaul aha ha ha ha ha ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Socks on 05 September, 2019, 07:05:06 pm
Stop press!  IUT Annecy announce that Illona Peletier will also be riding for them; she is wot we oiks sometimes call "a gurl".  As well as being a Gaul aha ha ha ha ha ;D

So if there was an Asterix cycling book would Illona be Recumbentrix?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: spesh on 05 September, 2019, 07:29:30 pm
Stop press!  IUT Annecy announce that Illona Peletier will also be riding for them; she is wot we oiks sometimes call "a gurl".  As well as being a Gaul aha ha ha ha ha ;D

So if there was an Asterix cycling book would Illona be Recumbentrix?

As in "recumbent tricks"?

I now have mental cinema of Danny MacAskill trying to bunny-hop a Kettwiesel. It isn't at all pretty. ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 07 September, 2019, 12:27:20 am
I have arrived!  So far only spotted the Wahoo, surrounded by an entire tribe of Lems, and the Toronto tandem, which they were just loading back into the van to go and test somewhere when I arrived.  Plus some big packing crates courtesy of HPT Delft-Amsterdam, taking up one of the disabled parking spaces, the degenerates.  Probably other teams at other motels but ICBA to go and look.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 September, 2019, 06:30:26 am
Latest from the front line: almost everyone is here except Mike Mowett and the Amminger tribe.  Liverpool are only fielding two riders, viz. Ken and Yasmin.  The Japanese entry failed tech inspection because they did not have redundant video systems, but have cut a small hole in the shell and installed one of Hans van Vugt's spare windscreens.  Almost full complement of riders and machines expected in qualifying tomorrow am with Andrew Sourk needing time out for minor repairs and recovery from the 36 hour drive from Michigan and Guillaume (Annecy) and Noah (London South Bank) choosing not to ride because Reasons.

That's if we run at all.  At the moment (22:30 local time) it's chucking down and doing the old thunder and lightning business >:(
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: fd3 on 08 September, 2019, 11:01:41 am
 
The Japanese entry failed tech inspection because they did not have redundant video systems, but have cut a small hole in the shell and installed one of Hans van Vugt's spare windscreens. 
This sounds like a real f up.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 08 September, 2019, 11:57:46 am
Fancy insisting that people who are attempting to go 60+ mph actually have systems in place to,see,where they are going  ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 08 September, 2019, 09:55:35 pm
Rain stopped by this morning and unseasonably warm at 11 C.  A duff wire on the timing gear delayed the start of proceedings by 20-30 minutes but we managed almost to catch up by the 10:00 Department of Transportation deadline.  A few glitches from riders and machines too: Adam Hari (N-1) and Kazuhiro Takei (Haruka 2019) having start issues sufficient to prevent them from doing a run while Yasmin Tredell & Ken Buckley both had to pull up ARION5 mid-course with a derailed chain.  Toronto disgraced themselves by not appearing at all though they claimed to have tried to phone and tell us.  Jennifer Breet only just got caught at the finish thanks to ace sprinter/catcher Barclay Henry; Ilona Peletier decked Altair 6 approaching catch and seemed pretty shaken up, though the damage is mostly superficial. 

Andrea Gallo in Taurus was almost certainly the fastest, but timing had a hiccup  and said 72mph while Andrea's GPS reckoned ~111 km/h.  Best of the rest was Rosa Bas in VeloX 9 at 64.97 mph.  The Sprocket Rocket team seemed slightly disappointed with their 52.13 mph pass, but captain Chris DeMarchi complained of too much inter-rider chat and not enough coordinated pedalling ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 September, 2019, 04:40:46 am
The Sunday evening forecast was for Mighty Rushing Winds, limiting the number of starters to eight, over twelve slots.  Eight became six when Annecy scratched, having not fixed the Ilona-inflicted damage in time.  Six then became five, when Denise's backup video screen blanked itself.  Leaving Rosa as the sole rider in heat one with Andrea, Jennifer, Ellen and Vittoria in the second.  All five had legal wind speeds ;D  Andrea was the first rider this year over 80 mph with 80.80, Rosa a 71, Ellen 68 and 64 for Jennifer and Vittoria, though the latter decked Taurus-X after overrunning the catch crew.  Barclay nearly caught her...

Early night tonight because Huge Lunch.

ETA: Photos in the "BM 2019" albums under https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/albums)
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: McWheels on 09 September, 2019, 10:04:59 pm
Checking back-issues, we discussed cheese soup-dragon in the build-up. Any news or have I been looking and not seeing?

Was hoping "Serious Welly" would have generated a report or 2 by now?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Arellcat on 09 September, 2019, 10:29:32 pm
Mr L has some photos from today's event and AIM93 is present and correct.  The Soup Dragon (https://flic.kr/p/2hdavZi) 2.0 is in a fetching shade of not-green.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 09 September, 2019, 10:31:31 pm
Soup Dragon v2.0 is called "Velociraptor", which is the third machine to bear that name here, and also naff.  The only part carried over from the Soup Dragon is the final drive sprocket.  Russell Bridge decked it about three miles into his first run on the full course this morning; he's OK and the damage to the bike is cosmetic.

But I get ahead of myself.  Tokyo yet again failed to launch.  Russell fell at launch, was righted and continued only to crash.  One of the Delft/Amsterdam riders also fell at the start but got away OK at the second attempt, as did Adam Hari, though he crashed halfway down the course as well.  Jennifer Breet in VeloX 9 was oulled up about a mile from the traps as she was running very slowly, we think with transmission issues, but both Liverpool riders qualified successfully.  Yasmin's 47.34 is likely a British women's multitrack record as we think it's a whisker faster than Karen Darke went last year.  Fun and games at catch as Denise Koronek and Ilona Peletier arrived side by side, but both were halted without incident.  Andrea again fastest with 75.47, with Rosa Bas also over 70 in Velox 9.  Temperatures this am back to normal morning levels, wind benign at the beginning and end of the session but picked up in the middle.  And we think "Wild Bill" Thornton's 59.83 mph in his Milan SL is a record for a production velomobile.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Arellcat on 09 September, 2019, 10:33:54 pm
Did Liverpool have some off-piste activity?  The left-hand front wheel fairing looks like it took a bash.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 September, 2019, 06:03:53 am
ARION5 was built in a whisker over five weeks because the plug was very late in coming back from the makers, and some of it was not quite the shape it was supposed to be.  So there has had to be a certain amount of butchery carried out to get the whole thing to fit together at all chiz.  The general consensus, though, is that the whole machine has way too much frontal area to get close to Gareth Hanks' record, though Yasmin is probably still in with a shout of beating Ellen van Vugt's women's multitrack mark of 54 and a bit mph.

Anyway, Monday evening.  Too windy in the first heat, but all runs legal in heats 2 and 3.  Vittoria Spada blew a tyre in Taurus-X with a mile to go and went off into the dirt, but no damage to the rider and the bike is probably just a bit scraped up.  Bangin' 69.98 mph from Denise Koronek to up her national record again.  Faster than designer/builder Larry Lem has ever made that bike go ;D

Oh, and Rosa Bas broke Barbara Buatois' 2010 world record with a 75.88 mph,run.  And it's only Monday.  There sounds to be a certain amount of partying going on by the motel pool at the moment :thumbsup:

My Sinister Agents tell me that, as long as he can fit inside it, Todd Reichert may have a go in Peter Borenstadt's DF velomobile some time soon, just to try to be the first production vm over 60.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Auntie Helen on 10 September, 2019, 08:07:01 am
That is interesting as I would think the Milan has to be quicker than the DF (much better shape and longer). Has the DF got pants (wheel coverings)?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 10 September, 2019, 09:58:09 am
When I read DF Velomobile, I envisage a fully fared upwrong with the pilot crouched uncomfortably in the restricted headroom. 
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Auntie Helen on 10 September, 2019, 06:51:07 pm
A video of the 5-man bike

https://youtu.be/W6K18bgxn78 (https://youtu.be/W6K18bgxn78)
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 September, 2019, 09:51:21 pm
That is interesting as I would think the Milan has to be quicker than the DF (much better shape and longer). Has the DF got pants (wheel coverings)?

Yes, luvverly shiny carbon ones.  I'll post a photo once they've finished uploading to Flickr.  Like zis:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48713306776_3c424b464f_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hdCqXA)
Peter's DF with Todd at the controls (https://flic.kr/p/2hdCqXA) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr

Todd clocked 51 mph over the short course, saying he needs a bit more practice with the steering.

So, Tuesday morning.  Windy.  Tokyo still couldn't launch chiz, but everyone else got away OK over two short course heats and three long ones.  Not everyone finished, though.  Andrew Sourk had to pull up Triage on his first qualifying run because of a nasty rubbery burny smell that was threatening to make him barf, while Ken Buckley, having already done a warm-up on the short course, blew the rear tyre on ARION5 right at the start of the measured 200 metres and rolled the machine into the roadside flora.  Ken OK, trike a bit bruised.  The camera pod broke off but I think it's meant to do that these days after previous incidents with ARIONs1-3.

Yasmin pushed her BRITISH women's multitrack record out to 52.92 mph before Ken rendered the machine hors de combat and for once Andrea was not the fastest.  That honour went to Fabien Canal in Altaïr 6 with a wind-legal 80.63 mph run.  Nice.

My Sinister Agents tell me that the LBSU team have concluded there is no way they can make Velociraptor's steering behave itself in the current form so they are planning a major rearrangement of the internals, viz. convert it to RWD and replace the current front end with standard stereo forks, possibly by butchering the Optima Baron they've brought as a training bike.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Tim Hall on 10 September, 2019, 10:51:15 pm
Wot,  no word of Stroopwaffels? Nor no word of 2D Thomas.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 10 September, 2019, 11:16:25 pm
2DT has made a few appearances on the Farcebark page.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 11 September, 2019, 12:00:04 am
The ongoing absence of hockey tape is also conspicuous.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: fd3 on 11 September, 2019, 12:10:17 am
When I read DF Velomobile, I envisage a fully fared upwrong with the pilot crouched uncomfortably in the restricted headroom.
^This
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Tim Hall on 11 September, 2019, 12:21:23 am
Fully faired you say? Up wrong you say?

https://youtu.be/zf2dCldwAtk (https://youtu.be/zf2dCldwAtk)
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 11 September, 2019, 12:25:58 am
I'm sure I've seen old photos of uprights with fairings ranging from "unflattering lycra bodysock" to full "better hope there isn't a crosswind".

Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 September, 2019, 04:30:03 am
2D Thomas has spent the past year on Mike Sova's boat somewhere in the Caribbean and Mikey doesn't do antisocial media, so his appearances for the last twelvemonth have been sporadic.  I have a packet of stroopwafels on my desk and have been resisting the temptation since Friday.

Tuesday night was teh suxx0r.  Very windy, to the extent that we had two starters in each of heats one and three and none at all in the second.  Josh Gieschen in Cal Poly's bike Ambition did 63.99 in the first; in the third Andrea Gallo cruised down at 40 for most of the way before slowing for a 33 mph pass and Ishtey Amminger did 51.29 in VeloX S. ARION5 ate another rear tyre about half a mile from timing, flipping Yasmin onto her side.  No major dama ge but more filing and graunching required to prevent any more repeats.

The only other excitement was Mr Truckie-Mardypants threatening to run the roadblock at the start.  Flagger Geri Ann rebuffed him with suitable Bad Swears and threats of police involvement, since it's effectively our road while it closed and we can do what we like with it.  In the early years of the event the local Department of Transportation boss was known as Scary Mary.  She once told the Sheriff to fuck off ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 September, 2019, 03:46:39 pm
That is interesting as I would think the Milan has to be quicker than the DF (much better shape and longer). Has the DF got pants (wheel coverings)?
Wheel pants!  :D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Auntie Helen on 11 September, 2019, 04:58:32 pm
They are called Hosen in German and presumably an American did the translation to English
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 11 September, 2019, 05:15:54 pm
Do British velomobileists call them spats?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 September, 2019, 05:37:05 pm
Explanation if needed, or if it explains anything: At a gathering of YACFers at Watlington a couple of years ago, we learnt from Clarion that the fairings over the wheels on small aircraft with non-retractable undercarriages are called "wheel pants" in American and "spats" in British.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 11 September, 2019, 05:47:13 pm
And we rapidly extended the term to cover lycra cycling shorts, for obvious reasons.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 11 September, 2019, 09:27:16 pm
And we rapidly extended the term to cover lycra cycling shorts, for obvious reasons.

Bidshorts, though, are "Lycrahosen".

Tales of all being well after last night's ARION5 spill have proved to be under-reported, as Yasmin got quite a bang on the head and although feeling OK immediately after the crash, later complained of concussion-like symptoms and was carted off to the hospital for various tests and observations.  Supervisor Glen told me they weren't planning to run at all tonight but with a world record within reach Yas has other ideas and has signed up for an on-deck slot which means she'll get to run if someone drops out of the heat.

Less drama this morning, though Denise had a Visitation about halfway down the course.  She was able to bring the bike to a halt, but the team weren't quite quick enough to catch Wahoo before she toppled over.  A similar fate befell Vittoria when Taurus-X's transmission decided to play silly buggers, though the team had gone off down the course with the keys to their big van in someone's pocket.  Which at least meant I had some help from their driver in laying the distance marker signs down in the brush.  Sprocket Rocket b0rked a chain tensioner somewhere on the course and then locked the front axle at catch, blowing all four front tyres.  They have a light aircraft on standby should they need o send someone to Reno or Salt Lake City for fresh ones 8)

Adam and Kazuhiro both managed to complete the short course, albeit without the full quota of bodywork in place, Hans van Vugt having performed wonders on Adam's pretzeled wheel yesterday.  Fabien was again the fastest rider this morning with a legal 79, Rosa did an non-legal 75 and Todd almost 59 in the DF on his first run down the full course.

Very still out at the moment, but it's clouding over.  Part of me wouldn't complain if tonight's runs didn't happen, so I could go back to sleep.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Tim Hall on 11 September, 2019, 09:33:22 pm
So what's the score with the Velociraptor? Is it terminally b0rked? Am I right in thinking it's a Burrows M design?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 11 September, 2019, 10:29:40 pm
And we rapidly extended the term to cover lycra cycling shorts, for obvious reasons.

Bidshorts, though, are "Lycrahosen".

Of course.


Quote
Tales of all being well after last night's ARION5 spill have proved to be under-reported, as Yasmin got quite a bang on the head and although feeling OK immediately after the crash, later complained of concussion-like symptoms and was carted off to the hospital for various tests and observations.  Supervisor Glen told me they weren't planning to run at all tonight but with a world record within reach Yas has other ideas and has signed up for an on-deck slot which means she'll get to run if someone drops out of the heat.

Less drama this morning, though Denise had a Visitation about halfway down the course.  She was able to bring the bike to a halt, but the team weren't quite quick enough to catch Wahoo before she toppled over.  A similar fate befell Vittoria when Taurus-X's transmission decided to play silly buggers, though the team had gone off down the course with the keys to their big van in someone's pocket.  Which at least meant I had some help from their driver in laying the distance marker signs down in the brush.  Sprocket Rocket b0rked a chain tensioner somewhere on the course and then locked the front axle at catch, blowing all four front tyres.  They have a light aircraft on standby should they need o send someone to Reno or Salt Lake City for fresh ones 8)

Well at least nobody's got their hair caught in anything...
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 September, 2019, 04:36:36 am
So what's the score with the Velociraptor? Is it terminally b0rked? Am I right in thinking it's a Burrows M design?

Not sure what the latest is as they weren't at tonight's meeting, but the word is they won't be running tomorrow.  The basic chassis is based on characters created by M Burrows; the v2.0 retains the same geometry as the Soup Dragon and thus doesn't work either.  Russell has been posting about it on the BHPC forum, starting roughly at http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/battle-mountain-2019_topic6950_page3.html (http://forum.bhpc.org.uk/battle-mountain-2019_topic6950_page3.html)


Well at least nobody's got their hair caught in anything...


Not many of the riders have hair the length of thee or me except Yasmin, who makes sure to keep it in a plait tucked into a safe place while racing.  She didn't ride tonight in the end; instead she and Ken came out to watch.  We didn't have the spiffy grandstand and spectator parking the last time they were here so they parked at catch and headed out across country with the sneks and the river that actually has water in it.  Fortunately we managed to call them back before they got drownded or et.

No wind-legal runs tonight chiz, and although it wasn't as strong as last night it was a lot more gusty.  Even the Mustang got shifted across half a lane at 120 mph on a sweep run.  Toronto's tandem Titan got blown this way, that way and over about half a mile from timing.  "We got out" said stoker Evan Bennewies "and the streamer on the pole was hanging down vertically!"  Natch today was the day that the parents of Captain Calvin Moes showed up to see their boy in action for the first time ;D

Fabien Canal also got hit by a gust, thought he had a puncture, pulled over, slowed down and allowed the IUT Annecy team to pull off a copybook mid-course catch.  Denise Koronek had another Fairy visitation, this time at lower speed but more sudden.  She couldn't hold it and went off into the scenery near Filippini Ranch road less than a mile into the run.  Of the survivors, Rosa Bas was the fastest at 70.77 mph in spite of a phenomenal recovery at the start when it looked as though she was heading straight off the road.

And we had another dick of a trucker at the roadblock.  This time we had pictures, video and a very interested off-duty Sergeant Aten, who is intending to hold a one-way conversation with the guilty party when he's back in uniform ;D
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Tim Hall on 12 September, 2019, 09:44:19 pm
Velociraptor does seem to be doing an awful lot of design/development sometime after such bits should have been sorted.  Why wasn't the steering issue picked up earlier?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 12 September, 2019, 10:44:35 pm
The steering issue gets worse the faster they go so when Vmax in testing before departure is only 30 mph...  Last year they were able to test at Rockingham Speedway, but it's being demolished if it hasn't been already.  My grate frend Marieke just dropped by the Big Chief and it does appear that they'll have something usable for tomorrow morning's qualifying runs, but I ate'nt seen any of their team so far today.

Further woes for Liverpool this morning.  The team were literally pushing Ken off the start line when a Wossname in the camera electronics went "phut".  With various people scratching, he had an opportunity to run the next heat but the backup camera's picture was all washed-out and overexposed an' t'ing and MR Supervisor Steve said "no".  Whatever the issue, it couldn't be fixed in time for Yasmin to run in the final heat.  It has been suggested, semi-srsly, that fitting the offending camera with sunglasses, or at least part of the lens thereof, might alleviate the problem.  Alternatively a hacksaw, some hockey tape and one of Hans van Vugt's spare windscreens.

We ran the full course runs before the qualifiers this morning, meaning the lobby of the Super 8 was again full of grubby PSOs, it was cold out and ARION's issues meant I was surplus to requirements as a chase official until the final heat, when I pulled rank on a n00b named Ricky and went behind Sprocket Rocket.  It dropped a chain at around 60 and had to coast the last mile or so.

For the machines that did run it was mostly uneventful except that Rosa decked VeloX 9 at or near catch after yet another near-75 run.  It is believed that Ilona also did a 74, but the timing system ran out of electricity at a crucial moment so the data is from the bike's GPS.  Fabien broke 80 again before the wind got going.  Altair team boss Guillaume de France qualified the bike at just under 50.  Mike Mowett finally ran the VeloX S with the lid on and did 47 on the short course, have gone down three times at start in the previous heat.  A change of launcher to long-time volunteer Scott Wilson seemed to be the magic ingredient.  Andrew Sourk finally got Triage down the course with both the machine and the rider's knees in working order with 28.7 mph.

Astonishingly, there are people over on the Farcebok group who seem to think that verbally abusing our flagger for doing her job is acceptable, so you are encouraged to join the group and call them Rude Names.  WTF do these people do when they encounter a red traffic light, shoot it?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Kim on 12 September, 2019, 10:57:21 pm
some hockey tape

Hurrah!


Quote
WTF do these people do when they encounter a red traffic light, shoot it?

Don't give them ideas...
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 September, 2019, 05:15:00 am
Further embuggerance for the Liverpool team.  They bought some car window tinting film to fit over their misbehaving camera and sent Yasmin off in good, though not brilliant, conditions.  She stopped less than a mile down the road with a repeat of the transmission issues that the team thought they'd fixed on Sunday chiz.  Ken had a standby slot for the third heat, but they found a cut in a tyre which meant they couldn't have run even if someone else had dropped out.  Still, they took all the distance marker signs down on the way down the course afterwards, which saved us long-suffering officials a lot of jumping in and out of cars.

"Baling wire, duct tape and bubblegum" said The Evil One aka Frank Lem to the Toronto lads after Titan failed to launch with something amiss in the headset area.  "Noes", they said.  "We used a pop can!" And it didn't do the job.

Apparently there were loud noises from the Italian PSOs when Vittoria finished here run - the first of the evening - and the figure "134*" was being bandied about when Andrea crawled out of Taurus.  Sadly, neither of them had legal wind for their 74.55 and 84.52 mph runs.  Rosa did, but her 74.52 was not an improvement over her record.   Instead it was the IUT Annecy team who had the run of the weather.  In the second heat Fabien Canal set a new European record and became the second fastest rider in history with 84.99 mph.  And in the evening's final run Ilona Peletier smashed Rosa's record from earlier in the week with 77.10.

(Sings rousing chorus of La Marseillaise)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48724049737_fa288c4a05_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2hezut4)
And this morning they made her drive the van... (https://flic.kr/p/2hezut4) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr

* km/h, obv
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 September, 2019, 09:18:39 pm
I think there are a few out-of-joint noses in the Dutch and Italian camps after last night.  My Sinister Agents tell me that:
Colder first thing this morning, and the wind was unkind to almost everyone on the five mile course except, ironically on Friday 13th, Jennifer.  Andrea was the fastest with a 76.96, but he obviously wasn't trying that hard as the team fitted the red nose with the bull on it rather than the faster plain white one.  Neither of Annecy's front-line riders ran this morning, though team boss Guillaume did, and crashed in catch after a 58.5 mph run.  They haven't let him out without the Kevlar crash panels yet.  Rosa failed to launch three times on her first attempt to run and had to try again in the third heat.  Pressure?  Todd got Peter Borenstadt's DF velomobile through the traps at 60.41 mph with a non-legal tailwind.  Much grousing from the Milan lads sitting behind me at the morning debrief.

Among the BRITONS, Russell will attempt to qualify Frankenraptor/Velocitractor/Dinosaur Jr/Bikey McBikeface tomorrow morning as the glue didn't dry in time for today, Ken got to act as test pilot for the latest mods to ARION5's drivetrain and Yasmin's speed would have been enough to break the women's multitrack world record if the wind had cooperated chiz.

The wind dropped for the qualifiers on the short course at the end of the morning proceedings.  Adam Hari's lidless and legal 45.16 mph was enough to promote him to the long course tomorrow morning while the Tokyo team added a bit more bodywork to Haruka 2019 and got down the road at 35.65 after a couple of launch spills.  They've got a tiny amount of ground clearance at the front to the slightest lean grounds the fairing.  Andrew Sourk manages to crash Triage in the 200, climbed out and pushed the rest of the way, but Mr Sir Duke High Admiral Professor Timelord Nogami had already switched off the equipment, so we don't know how slow he actually was chiz.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 13 September, 2019, 09:39:32 pm
DF velomobile?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 13 September, 2019, 09:45:07 pm
DF velomobile?

This one, to be precise:

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48728691337_dfb913ee97_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2heZhfD)
P9130035 (https://flic.kr/p/2heZhfD) by Mr Larrington (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mr_larrington/), on Flickr

"DF" in this case being the initials of designer Daniel Fenn.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Beardy on 14 September, 2019, 12:03:10 am
DF velomobile?

We’ve already had the uprong confusion somewhere upthread and Mr L was most kind providing you with a specific answer because he left us floundering earlier. The git.
 :P
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 September, 2019, 04:39:51 am
Full (or very nearly) moon, Friday 13th, what could possibly go wrong?  If you asked Ken Buckley you'd get a string of Bad Swears coz in spite of some string-pulling behind the scenes by Sergeant Aten to get him on the road, the transmission went "SPANG" only a few hundred yards after starting.  And if you asked Ishtey Amminger or Josh Gieschen you'd probably get a similar reaction, since their runs were the only ones without legal wind.  And Ishtey's, at 66.67 mph was faster than Florian Kowalik's world record.  Rosa Bas had another session to forget with two failed launches, dropping the chain on second one and non-starting.

Everyone else?  Yasmin finally got a good one in.  56.42 mph is a new women's multitrack world record, as well as being an outright BRITISH one, nicking it from Russell Bridge's run in Greg Cantori's Milan set last year.  Andrea achieved his goal of going faster than Sebastiaan Bowier, with 84.81.  Fabien Canal was hampered by a nosebleed, but still hit 83.80.  Denise Koronek fell twice at the start and then earned her 70 mph hat with a 70.60 and Ellen van Vugt, who has almost certainly run down the curse more times than anyone else in history, set a new personal best with 72.04.  She should have a new bike next year ;D

Heat 3 and Ilona upped her own world record to 78.61 mph.  "She can do 80 for sure!" said Guillaume de France, grinning comme un fou.  Vittoria's 76.98 puts her second on the women's all-time list and, on only their sixth time riding the Titan, Calvin Moes and Evan Bennewies set a new tandem world record at 74.73 mph.  They've been treating this year as a learning exercise and intend to give it some serious beans next year.  Liverpool have already stated their intention to build a tandem for 2020 and my Sinister Agents tell me that HPT Delft/Amsterdam's VeloX 10 will also be a two-seater.

Nights like this are why us saps spend thousands and lose an equivalent amount of sleep for.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 14 September, 2019, 06:29:38 am
DF velomobile?

We’ve already had the uprong confusion somewhere upthread and Mr L was most kind providing you with a specific answer because he left us floundering earlier. The git.
 :P

That's my auditor training for you :)
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 14 September, 2019, 10:23:22 pm
After last night's excitement this morning was a bit meh.  Wind much the same as yesterday morning's, and the sensible Italians didn't bother to run.  Mike Mowett finally cracked 60 mph; Adam Hari did two runs and got his 55 mph Hat on the second.  Rosa fastest at 74.37, with Ilona second with a non-legal 72.66 and Guillaume a cracking and legal 72.16.  Bill cranked the Milan velomobile up to 60.87 without wind assistance.  Josh got crash of the week after locking up Ambition under braking, rolling a Several of times and finishing only just off the road and upright in the hands of the Cal Poly Oaves.  Denise Koronek got it all on Farcebok Live.

On the short course the rebuilt Velociraptor did 44.38 with Russell at the controls; Kazuhiro did 34.75 before crashing and ending up briefly unconscious.  We think from a faint rather than banging his head, but there were a few anxious moments while the paramedics gave him the once-over.  Guillaume graciously offered his slot this evening to Russ as a tribute to the amazing amount of work the LSBU Oaves have put in this week, though said Oaves claim to have thoroughly enjoyed it and have taken the piss out of the French for getting bored after polishing their bike a bit and pumping up the tyres.

Group photos and handcuffing of various speeding miscreants - Evan, Calvin, Yasmin, Ilona, Fabien and Denise.  The latter since The Sarge decided her exploits at Bonneville last year were a Federal offence.  One more session to go; hoping the wind does the same as it did last night...
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 15 September, 2019, 07:43:58 am
Saturday pm a bit of a let-down as it was, to use the technical term, Bastard Windy.  Only Yasmin, in the very last run of the event, got a legal one, with 55.66 mph.  She then blew through catch with scarcely diminished velocity.  It was mooted that this was so she could be first in the queue at the bar at the awards bash.  Vittoria was the fastest of the night with a 71.

Awards bash was long and noisy and made me want to tear the rainbow unicorn horn off Bas de Meijer's hat and jam it up his arris for getting it in the way of everyone else's photos.  Bah.

The Young People are off partying.  I am having a nice cup of tea and a lie down.
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 15 September, 2019, 09:14:20 am
that crash was rather spectacular.  The shell certainly earned its keep on that one
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Tim Hall on 15 September, 2019, 11:21:24 am
Blimey. That crash looks v scary. On the Youtube clip I found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV7rrXQTEfg&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV7rrXQTEfg&feature=youtu.be) you can hear a voice saying "come up here, come up here" and a bunch of people run rightwards, uproad away from the crash.  Why? Is it to form a human cordon should another vehicle come down the road?
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: ElyDave on 15 September, 2019, 11:39:44 am
There was another bike following it closely that needed catching, and two chase cars, got directed away to the other side
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 16 September, 2019, 04:47:01 am
There was a bunch of Cal Poly oaves off to the left who caught Josh when the bike fortuitously finished its trip in the upright position; a further bunch went off in the other direction to catch Adam Hari, whom Josh had overtaken on the course.

Nothing much left to add except that someone found a a cheque for three hundred USAnian roubles in the street after the awards bash.  To assist non-USAnian visitors, the prize cheques can be turned into actual cash money at the cashier's desk in the casino end of the Wol Club, and hence bear no payee names.  They do, however, have a legend on the back indicating the class and position for which they were awarded.  This one was for the winner of the women's multi-track class (number of competitors: 1).  Take a bow, Yasmin Tredell.  The Liverpool team do have form for losing things due to excess partying, mind.  Up to and including one Ben Hogan, who was found shirtless and asleep in a flower bed outside the Maverik gas station back in 2014.

All over for another year and Brexit permitting I shall be back for another visit in 2020.  My chum Neil Hood has just gone on record as saying he's going to compete so I may yet be roped into service as a member of his crew :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Battle Mountain 2019
Post by: Mr Larrington on 23 September, 2019, 09:41:37 pm
Well, almost all over.  Got home this afternoon to find a message from a Mr Burrows on the answering machine wanting to know chapter and verse on the LSBU team's performance.  I am not looking forward to telling him it appeared to be the Burrows-inspired bits that caused the crash, the crash redesign and the crash rebuild.