4/28-29/07 , 1st CCS Weekend at Loudon
Coming off the Moto-ST race one of the things we needed to improve on was vehicle weight. We started off looking at each section of the bike and for the time being we decided to focus on the bike’s primary and tail section. First off we decided to remove the starter from the bike (8 lbs), which required coming up with a way to get the motor going. To solve the problem, we took a control stock go kart motor from our old karting days and developed a Moto-GP style starting kart. (See a short video of the J.E.T. starter kart)

In addition to removing the starter, we did some research and got hooked up with two companies Pickarski Racing Components and Evolution Industries USA. Pickarski Racing Components makes high performance light weight low output charging systems for Buells and Evolution Industries USA makes aluminum crankshaft sprockets and clutch baskets for Buells and Sportsters. Pickarski’s stator and rotor weighs aprx. 5 pounds less than the stock components. Evolution’s aluminum crankshaft sprocket weighs 1 pound and the clutch basket without the ring gear weighs aprx. 8 pounds. With the change in these components we have been able to shave off 11 pounds in the primary alone. We are trying to help both companies as much as we can with the development of their products.
In the tail section, we removed the stock plastic trunk kit (under-fender guard). We chopped the sub frame in half and welded in a brace for the tail section. We also re-welded the battery box for a YUASA YTX-07A battery (4 lb weight reduction in battery change). Total tail section weight savings was 3 1⁄2 lbs and the bike now weighs 382 lbs dry.

For the sake of time and desire to improve as a rider we decided to leave the same engine in the bike that we ran at the Moto-ST race in Daytona. We were confident that the J.E.T. modified XB9R motor would still be race-able even though it had over 5 hrs of race/practice time on it, and we were right.

Thursday Practice:
We arrived at Loudon for Thursday afternoon practice. We were only able to get three sessions in because a Jap bike puked oil all throughout the entire track. We were able to get within 2 1⁄2 seconds of our last years best time which was with an XB12 engine (J.E.T. modified of course) and old practice/race tires from Daytona.

Saturday, Race Day #1:
Our first race of the day was an Expert GTL race. We were still on an old set of Pirelli DOTs, we got a good start to the race, I was running in the top ten, I was holding my own and then the race was red flagged half way in. On the re-start I didn’t get a good launch off the line and probably ended the first lap in about fifteenth. I ended up finishing 11th with a fastest lap of 1:20.309.
The next race was the Expert Thunderbike race. I got a good start for the race and finished 5th for the first two laps and then was red flagged again. On the re-start again I didn’t get a good start. The Evolution Industries USA clutch works great, but it has taken me a little while to get over how grabby the stock clutch was. I ended up finishing 7th. We mounted up Pirelli DOTs for this race.
The next race was the Expert Light Weight Grand Prix race. I got a really good start and was in the top 5 for probably the first 4 laps of the race and I ended up finishing 6th. Saturday I was able to do a little thinking about what areas of the track I needed to work on and I woke up Sunday morning ready to ride hard in Expert Supertwins and the Expert Light Weight Superbike race.

Sunday, Race Day #2:
Sunday morning I woke up to a wet, but drying track. Our practice session was not fully wet so I went out on DOTs just to get the feel of them on a slick track. My first race of the day was Expert Supertwins. I practiced the starts a couple of times, had them nailed and got a great start for the race. I got into the first corner in 5th place after starting 8th. An Aprilia Mile crashed in turn three and bumped me up to fourth behind a 1098 and an SV650. I made quick work of the SV650 and made off for the 1098. I was able to catch the guy on the 1098 and pass him coming onto of the front straightaway a couple of times, but his 45 HP advantage would get him right back by me coming into the first turn. A different guy on another Aprilia Mile also passed me due to his HP advantage and I ended up finishing the race in 4th. The race to follow was Expert Light Weight Superbike. I started on the inside third row behind Rick Doucette, nailed the start and come out of turn 2 in fourth place. I was able to pass Doucette coming into turn three for 3rd place. As the race progressed I was able to make good use of lapped traffic and finished the race in third place, attaining my first podium finish as an Expert.
The Evolution Industries clutch and sprocket worked perfect. With the weight reduction on the primary components I noticed an improvement in acceleration. The clutch is a very smooth unit. The Pickarski charging system worked flawlessly. It was able to maintain battery voltage all weekend. It is a real charging system for real race bikes not like the overweight TC/Sportster unit.

All in all, it was a great first weekend at Loudon and after a few adjustments we are looking forward to the next weekend at the track (5/12-13).

Special thanks to Evolution Industries USA and Pickarski Racing Components Corporation for their product support.
-Robert Johnson #802