ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
General Category => Electric Motorcycle Events => Topic started by: Frank on January 10, 2016, 11:39:46 PM
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It this topic is addressed someplace else I apologize, but I thought it would be interesting to compile a list of e-racers on this forum. I believe that racing helps promote the general EV movement in a positive way.
I started drag racing a couple of years ago on a converted Suzuki GT550 at a local 1/8-mile strip. Lifetime NEDRA member... I also land speed race another bike (converted Hayabusa) at the Loring Timing Association track (the old Loring SAC base in Limestone, Maine.)
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I race a Zero SR in Australia's electric Formula Xtreme Challenge.
Team web site at http://evtricity.com.au (http://evtricity.com.au)
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This looks like a lot of fun. You Aussies do this up pretty well. I'm hoping that somebody with a Zero tries land-speed racing this year. There's a ton of open records, plus, it's a blast.
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There was half an attempt to rattle up a number of custom and stock bikes to have a crack at Lake Eyre salt races last year. Made it my NY resolution that if I could go this year I would.
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Good for you! That's a major effort as it seems a difficult place to get to. Here in the States we're spoiled with some great venues. I've been going to Loring since the inaugural event in 2009. There's two of us so far registered for the May event and it'd be great to have a few more.
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There was half an attempt to rattle up a number of custom and stock bikes to have a crack at Lake Eyre salt races last year. Made it my NY resolution that if I could go this year I would.
That's be awesome. You could sit upright, wearing a ballooning jacket, possibly cruising along with one hand on the handlebars and set a new record for the electric class on a stock Zero: http://www.dlra.org.au/record-bike.htm#OMEGA (http://www.dlra.org.au/record-bike.htm#OMEGA)
Set up your gearing for a little more top speed, add some fairing and actually tuck and you could have some decent fun.
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Frank what do you mean electric records open? Didnt lightning clean house, a zero cant go that top speed
I would be interested in going funning a couple bikes flatout, i might have a high speed gearing and belt
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Every sanctioning body has their own records. The Loring Timing Association (LTA) has only had a few records set by electric vehicles. The East Coast Timing Association (ECTA) has had a few also. There's been quite a few set on the salt but AFAIK they still class EV's by weight (don't know why!) The LTA (and now ECTA) treat an EV as just having a different powerplant, categorized by voltage (same voltage classes as NEDRA.) For bikes, there are frame classes: production, modified production, altered, etc. So I *think* a stock Zero in the LTA would race in F voltage class (105.7-132V) i.e. PE/E-F which is Production Electric/E (electric, I know it's redundant) in the F voltage division. Add a non-stock fairing and it would become MPS/E-F (modified partial streamline, electric, voltage F), etc. You can also "bump up" in voltage class i.e. run a lower voltage pack in a higher-voltage class. One bike could set a ton of records as most of them are open.
The Lightning went 209 at Mohave so holds the record there. The difference between the paved tracks and salt is that paved tracks do a standing start and on the salt it's a flying mile or kilometer. I can't speak for the other organizations but the LTA measures speed using two sets of timing lights 132 feet apart (same as a dragstrip.) Most places measure one mile but LTA measures 1.5 mile speeds because there's so much shutdown room. Current LTA bike records are at: http://media.wix.com/ugd/3bd111_5729e405308b45319da5b779870c6bef.pdf (http://media.wix.com/ugd/3bd111_5729e405308b45319da5b779870c6bef.pdf) (all the way at the bottom.) If you want to poke around the rules, go to loringtiming.com or just post any questions here. :)
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As a further example, I hold the A2 and A3 voltage records. My bike had a 96S pack which was mostly charged for my first run at that event, so I set the record in A3. The voltage had dropped after the run so it now fell into A2, so I ran again w/o charging and set the record there. If I had wanted, I could have changed class to higher voltage (A4 or A5) and set records there too because they're open. I didn't because I'm a volunteer and needed to get back to work (which is as much fun for me as actually running down the track.)
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So I *think* a stock Zero in the LTA would race in F voltage class (105.7-132V) i.e. PE/E-F which is Production Electric/E (electric, I know it's redundant) in the F voltage division. Add a non-stock fairing and it would become MPS/E-F (modified partial streamline, electric, voltage F), etc. You can also "bump up" in voltage class i.e. run a lower voltage pack in a higher-voltage class. One bike could set a ton of records as most of them are open.
The 2013+ Zeros are nominal 102V so I think they would be in G class. There are a lot of open NEDRA records which could be set by a Zero SR (or an Empulse for that matter).
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Could be... theoretically it's the pack voltage at the starting line that counts so it might depend on how much you charge. For others reference, the NEDRA rules are here: http://www.nedra.com/class_rules.html (http://www.nedra.com/class_rules.html)
The neat thing about drag racing electric is that it's relatively easy to ride i.e. no clutch issues, limited wheelying problems, etc. plus it's pretty consistent, which is very important for bracket racing. I won our local tracks bikes & sleds class in 2015 on my converted GT550. (I also hold the NEDRA record in the 1/8-mile for DMC/A class.) You can be as slow as molasses and still win in bracket racing... (as I proved!)
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Is anyone new planning on doing any EV racing in 2017? C'mon you guys - it's fun!
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I just put a down payment on a gently used FXS (COV/demo bike, under 200 miles on the odometer). I plan on hitting the kart track at NJMP and Oakland Valley Race Park for some SM pavement/dirt action in 2017. My bike should be showing up in about a week, super stoked. I'll be sure to post pictures and videos after some track days/races.
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Glad to hear of it. Best of luck, and have fun!