Bronze Bushings were usually used,
because "YOU CANNOT" (according to "them") use stock bushings. But, I do remember using the stock phenolic bushings, also shimmed up to
eliminate all excess sideplay. Shims are available through Yamaha.
I think that the reality was that bronze s/a bushings were better than
worn out and unshimmed phenolic (plastic) bushings Legal
Other famous cheats:
Pat E. - Drove around in the old, rust-rotted,
widened Cycle World van, sponsored by magazine editor, J.U. Rode a CB400 Hawk. Whined
about everybody else who rode RDs and how badly they all cheated.
He was one of the best diversionary cheats. He used a standard wire
spoked,
disc braked front wheel from a "different model", so he could run a wider,
lighter front wheel and a disc brake. Nobody figured it out till the
bike had been retired. The original Hawk came with a disc braked Comstar wheel OR a drum braked wire spoked wheel - but NEVER a wire
spoked, disc braked wheel! Gee, we were fooled by those guys! I
think, maybe it was a dohc wheel hub.
He was the only person who ever protested me and won. That was for using
a front stainless steel brake line. The whole story was that it was a
local race, I went early to the shop on Sunday, loaded the bike into the
back of my 63 Chevy pickup or "ute". As I left the parking lot
I looked back in the rearview mirror and saw my front brake line damaged
from a fall that occurred during the last race weekend. I turned around
and put the only brake line that we had that would fit and I wouldn't
get fired for using (I'd get fired for stripping a new bike)! It happened to be
a stainless line from he parts department. I took a chance as far as a
possible protest, and
well, got caught. Could have won the championship that year if not for
that. Oh well!
Ran around and protested anybody and
everybody he could. It seemed like he did it every race. Probably just
my memories of the late 70's, early 80's - but not too far off. Was the
same guy who grabbed my right knee with his left hand and started to
pull himself past me on the slightly left hand straight to the finish
line. He let go when he saw a right foot raise up and place itself
menacingly in front of his faceshield (very flexible when I was younger!). Of course, when he was pulling on
my knee, it was behind a wall, not in view of anybody. When I raised my
leg to threaten, well, naturally, it was as the wall ended and EVERYBODY
at the finish line watched as I "kicked off the challenge by and took the win. Would I ever kick another rider to cause
injury? Not really.
Got back though a couple of times - once, ran the TZ fender during a race.
Lighter and more rigid than my braced R5 front fender, though it didn't decrease
lap times. At the end of the race, I pulled into the pits and Deborah and I
unscrewed the 4 6mm bolts in a frenzy, grabbed the TZ fender, opened the
hood of the 63 Chevy and threw it into the engine compartment and slammed the
hood shut. On went the heavy, braced R5 fender. A minute later, stomps over and looks at my bike.
He looked puzzled. He says, "I thought that you were using a different
front fender." I said "Oh". He stared a bit longer and walked away.
The other time was that, the kickstarter , which according to the rulebook,
"may not be removed" had folded out in front of my shin in
practice and
was in the way in general otherwise. I took it off and zip tied it under
the engine. The rulebook said you couldn't "remove" it, it didn't
say you couldn't "move" it. So, after the race, comes
over, as usual, to look at every competitor's bike. He inspects the bike
and asks why I removed my kickstarter. I think I told him to just go
away. 10 minutes later, ., Bill Ralston (the Race Director), and the
small horde of protest monger voyeurs comes over and surrounds the bike.
Bill says "., here says you removed your kick starter."
"No, I didn't - don't you see it?" "No." I got out of my chair,
went over to the bike and leaned it over a little bit - "See it, now?"
"No." Leaned the bike over a bit more, "See it?" "No". A bit more and Bill sees it
attached under the engine. "Hmmm" he says. I tell him that the
rulebook says that you can't "remove" it - it doesn't say you can't
"move" it. He opens the rulebook and reads the book to himself. Without
a pause, he turns to ., says "Sorry, ." with a chuckle and walked
away. Leaving . standing there.
As far as extra legal stuff in this production class - the top guys in
the class policed themselves (between themselves). We pretty much did the same things to our
bikes to keep the rider skill in the top 3, the most deciding factor. I
can't think of any thing that any one of the RD guys did that was a
clear cut, race winning change. It still all came down to what happened
on the last lap in traffic - who got lucky and who got
"skunked" in traffic. Gennady Liubimsky and I split wins at
about a 50/50 ratio. At this time, D. wasn't a potential
winner - though, later, D. went as quick as we did, maybe even
quicker, and won a fair amount of production races. But, later, I do
remember him getting protested in a different class for a ported motor
or something similar and losing.
So if you think nobodies cheating....
be sure, be careful and be RIGHT when you protest!!!
Submitted by C. Grebsivlas
| TL-float height gauge | The only way to accurately measure float heights. Works on nearly every carburetor. | recommended tool |
~$49.95 USD |
|
|||||||
|
LINKS People ask me how I select the below links - as they aren't all mc related. The below links are people and companies that are consistently impressive with their continual uniqueness and dedication to providing traditionally valued, quality products and services. Marc |
|||||||
 |
EFI and Carb Tuning by Wheelsmith Racing | ||||||
 |
The Rich Oliver
Mystery School will help you discover your hidden inner strength.
It will challenge you. It will teach you a new way of thinking, and a new way of riding. You can take your riding to an exciting new level! We use a variety of proven drills and training techniques. Practicing these techniques with our Yamaha dirt track trainers will enhance your abilities both on the track or the street. It doesn't matter what you ride or race, the Rich Oliver Mystery School improves everyone's skill level and mindset! |
||||||
 |
Factory Pro Spring Special! Book a sightseeing flight
over the Wine Country or a Kamikaze aerobatic flight or a biplane flight
over Infineon Raceway, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco
Bay for one or two during the spring and get a free souvenir t shirt! 707 938 2444 |
||||||
|
|||||||
| The extension of the laboratory
for engines of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology was completed
in about 1935. Its architect was Rudolf Otto Salvisberg (1882-1940).
He had a successful career in Berlin but returned to Switzerland after
the advent of the Nazis. His architectural style was somewhat similar
to that of Erich Mendelsohn. The staircase of the laboratory is in normal
use but well preserved. Edited to the tunes of Chemical Residue by Herbie Hancock. |
|||||||
|
Maybe in next rewrite, he'll fix the ignition timing and dyno chapters... Otherwise great book with great starting ideas. |
||||
|
My bible |
||||
|
The little blue bible for quick references and little known facts. |
