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[Harlan]

Hello fellow electric motorcycle enthusiasts.  I just wanted to extend an invitation for everybody to join us on the track.  M1GP and Hollywood Electrics have partnered up to offer an electric motorcycle class.  All electric motorcycles are welcome. 

The next race is coming up the weekend of March 9-10 at Willow Springs' Horse Thief Mile.  Please check out the M1GP website for more information and feel free to contact me directly if you have any specific questions.

Best regards,

Harlan Flagg
Hollywood Electrics
harlan at hollywoodelectrics.com

[Rexbo]

I won't be there this round, but once I get my bike all set up, you'll see me out there!

[pres68y]

Harlan has also been very helpful in selling us a 2013 Zero MX and providing support.
We are setting it up as only a flat track machine. It seemed that the short time and
high intensity of flat track might be a good application of electric motor power.
We'll see. The machine now has 19" Dirt Track wheels and Goodyear DT tires.
The suspension was lowered about 50% in the rear (shock travel was 76mm, now 36mm)
Also the front forks were lowered about 76mm. A low cg helps make sliding easier.
Otherwise it's pretty stock motor/battery wise. The weight is down to 215lb with 1 battery.
We'll just have to see how much penalty it will experience with one batt vs two.
(a 40+lb high-cg weight savings has to help handling, but performance wise is unknown)
The 1st race for it will be 20 April at the SCFTA track in Perris, Calif.
That track is short with a good cushion and the races are all less than 5 minutes.

[protomech]

Flat track racing sounds fun. Just watched "On Any Sunday" a few weeks back.

Please update with a race report afterwards!

[pres68y]

We got some nice starting exposure (& experience)
http://www.todayscyclecoverage.com/wordpress/2013/04/21/dateline-perris-preview-of-scfta-round-four

[jazclrint]

Did you run both batteries, or just the one?  As far as suspension travel, have you actually reduced travel, or just softened the spring so it sags more?  I assume this is a typical flat track practice?  Thank you.

[pres68y]

I had planned on using just 1 battery (save 40lbs up top) but AJ Hateley liked it
better with both batteries... so I left it that way. To me it seemed to have an
excess of power for that track.. wheelspin most of the way down the straightaway
seemed wasteful.. maybe even slower. In two weeks there is a bigger flat track we'll run
at Willow Springs and I'll be sure to try it both single and dual batteries. The stopwatch
overrules what 'feels' like it's the fastest.
I reduced the rear shock travel from about 72mm to 36mm by machining a 36mm spacer.
Machined the id about 0.5mm bigger than the shaft and milled a 3mm channel down
each side for shock oil transfer. Next I cut 36mm off of the spring and smoothed the end.
Did a similar mod to the front forks -however, they were shortened by 76mm.
Refilled with 3w synthetic shock oil -but probably should have used 10w oil.
They appear ok bouncing it in the pits but seems like they are a bit soft out on the track.
Making a good dirt track chassis out of the ZeroMX is a work in progress.
We still have rake and trail to work on. I give it about a year to get most of it dialed
for the different tracks around SoCal.
Right now they are letting us ride it in our regular classes. If we piss-em-off then we'll
only be able to run it in the "electric class".. of which there is only one entry now!  :-)

[benswing]

Nice article!  I'm excited to hear about your adventures on the track!

[WindRider]

Great article.  Best of luck to you on the track and keep us posted with the results. 

[pres68y]

Sorry I've been remiss in posting our progress but it seems other things overrule it.
On 18 May @Perris I actually got a Dirt Track class win against the other IC machines.
The track promoter said he thought that was a "Worlds First" for electric motorcycles.
Hopefully, that is true.
(however, that and also a dollar gets me a cup of coffee).  :-)

The suspension (particularly the rear) has gone thru a number of iterations and still changing.
The power delivery, while good, is too 'explosive' so it makes smooth power delivery a problem on a dirt track racing surface.
Since Dirt Track (oval) racing is high-intensity and short duration it fits well with electric drive.
(plus a good exercise routine for this 72 year old body)
The machine comes with two 40+lb batteries but I found out I can run practice, heat & main
on just one battery. (its a short track) So that saves 40+lbs up top and improves handling.
The batteries are located tandem in the frame and using just the rearmost one gives a lighter
front end loading. That makes it easier/quicker to change lines in the apex during cornering.
Much more work is necessary to make it a 'Pro class' racer but the progress is interesting.

[protomech]

How does running with just one battery affect power delivery and acceleration? You're much lighter with the one battery and I think that'd help initial acceleration .. are there any regions where you feel the acceleration is stronger or weaker with the single battery module?

[pres68y]

Yes, due to the lighter weight it seems to get off of the gate a bit better with one battery. (less chance of excessive wheelspin).
Using just one battery seems to make very little difference. It's got about all the power that the available traction can absorb (much extra wheelspin just slows it down). It appears that just  duration is the primary difference between running with 2 batteries vs one battery.

[s-miller]

Hi Harlan !
How was it today on the Santa Maria kart track ?
http://www.smka.org/

(Maybe to soon...I know I'm a few hours before you in France !)