My Mid-Ohio on board race and crash video

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It was raining off and on all day Saturday at Mid-Ohio where it is so treacherous in the wet the AMA will not run and it began to rain again as the race started and got more and more as the race wore on- I was racing Jerrett Martin on the Big D Cycles Triumph, I followed him all race and had him lined up for the pass on the last lap when the tires unexpectedly washed out coming out of the keyhole. Fixed the bike Sat night and then holed a piston racing Sunday.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAWJYofSPvY[/video]
 
Oh man Doug that was coolest race video I've seen in some time! I seem to learn from each of your posts too, the easy way. You are definitely distinct in C-do configuration and one man starting procedure. You Really lay that C'do over to hang way off out of suspension axis. This may have something to do with the Surprise tire lift-let go besides being just wet.

I have studied race and crash video a lot to see examples like yours but on great dry traction, pilot hanging with bike way over, perfectly compensating for fork and rear oscillation and slight traction skip-drift very smoothly when suddenly both tires simply lift off at once into horizontal plane taking him and others out on a tangent. I feel this a basic disadvantage of all moderns, didn't know it could hit on C'do, especially a slide plate tamed one like yours.

When I play on slick turns I have to test slip out traction before the meaner apex loads, then I know w/o surprise when its going to let go and either flat avoid it or be set up to slide with it a bit till straighter/upright. If I'm surprised by much traction loss I crash too. IF I know its coming and can do it on purpose to get the slip-slide out that way so its controllable, then its fun. But its also more aggressive committed method that can go wrong harder.

My sense is hanging off tends to pry tires up on raised CoG as mush as help bike stay over with less steering effort. I have to use hang off on moderns and reflexly stick a knee out in fear feeling bike resisting turning but not on Peel so a mystery yet why the difference, or need to hang off. I think with hanging off you don't have to lean quite as much so may work better in wet or loose stuf - something I've yet to explore much.
 
What piston dome thickness/thinness did you have?

I noticed it was sill running after the crash - reminds me of my BSA victor dirt track days - when I went down it would always drag me another 10 or 20 feet.
 
I don't know what the piston dome thickness is... I could find out. I just dropped the bike with Herb, we fired it up to see what it was doing- pumping smoke etc out the breather, fingers crossed that it is only a blown head gasket between the cylinder and pushrod tunnel. It really was retarded hot that weekend. We will find out when he strips it apart Monday.
The bike crashes amazingly well- some scuffing etc on the fairing, a scraped brake lever, the only real damage was a sheared off footpeg and bent up rearset linkage. The footpeg sheared off because that is what it is supposed to do- the bolt holding it had been drilled hollow- had it been a solid bolt it may have bent the frame plate which is very hard to fix. The high exhaust acts as a set of crash bars as well.
 
What camera do you use and how do you insulate it from the vibration?

I bought a little MD 80 which is very compact but even on my BMW it was getting shaken to bits, I wouldn't dare to use it on the Norton.
 
Face it racing is a gladiator type sport so interesting to read about the crash effects and bike set ups to take it ... routinely...

I'd had drops that engine kept running, but not until ya get the bike trapped on top of twisted tangled broken up you, is a toggle on/off kill or better a yank cord thought of as much as helmet.

Dry air is worse than just hot air as far as fin cooling is concerned. Did others have engine heat issues?

When I was first learning about turn handling I'd tend to follow a fast rider into turn figuring if his bike could do it then so should mine, boy howdy that ain't always so.

Wonder if this wet corner was better tolerated by other bike set ups or pilot just when around easier to get by. On some Gravel and Wet surprise slip saves a throttle tire spin or a rear brake stab, - when nothing to lose - worked by enough swing around or sudden uprighting in nick of time.
 
Fun video, Doug, except for the crash, of course. The bike has a nice sound. Glad you weren't hurt.

Ken
 
Nice ' step off ' . 8)
you could have got more weight onto the front end, but then it wouldve hurt if youd gone in teeth first . :( :P
 
I use the Gopro HD and just mount it on the back of the seat or inside the fairing bubble, it handles vibration just fine.

Here is another video of the race from a spectator, this is the second last lap, I am the second bike into the frame pressuring the Big D Triumph and showing him a wheel, I left the pass to the last lap but carried a little too much corner speed in the slippery conditions as you saw above.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePRNabvhtdw&feature=related[/video]
 
Jury is officially in as to why the bike lost revs and had smoke pouring out the breather- cracked the GPM piston- so the holed piston theory was close. No damage to the barrels and we have a spare piston so the bike will ready to race Mosport Aug. 12-14 for the big VRRA Vintage Festival.
 
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