3 more trophies for the Monster!

fasterblkduc · June 16, 2008, 07:05:19 AM

I just got back from another great race weekend. My first three races resulted in a 3rd place in each one. In the fourth race I was in first place and pulling a bigger gap going into the last lap when disaster struck. The rod end snapped in two on my ride height adjuster! The mounting threads sheared. Luckily it happened right as I straightened up after exiting turn 9 at BIR. I was full throttle just going under the bridge when the back end dropped

The frame landed on the rear tire and the bellypan started scraping. I pulled off and watched my first place disappear.

I'll update my website soon with a full race report.

Statler · June 16, 2008, 07:25:37 AM

congrats on the three podiums. Too bad about the mechanical keeping you off the top step for number 4. that failure sounds...er...exciting.

Pakhan · June 16, 2008, 07:42:02 AM

Gratz

fasterblkduc · June 16, 2008, 07:54:53 AM

Thanks! Yes exciting in a strange way I guess. I walked away and the bike is fine. If it was about a second sooner, I would have been fully leaned in a turn. I try not to think about that or what would have happened if it was T1 or T2. T1 is the fastest turn in North America. On the Monster that means that those two turns are full throttle in top gear or approx. 125 mph. Hate to think about suspension failure leaned over at 125.

Slightly off topic but cool facts...For those not familiar with BIR, it is a favorite track of many AMA guys and some of the WSBK riders that used to race there because of the long straight going into T1. Miguel Duhamel has the fastest recorded speed through T1 at 196 mph from the last AMA race in 2005.

I remember sitting in T1 watching a FX guy dragging his exhaust all the way through the turn! We are talking making big sparks at approx. 175 mph! He did it on every lap too!
For us 620 racers, we've got it easy...just keep the throttle pinned at maximum velocity from T10, down the massive front straight, through T1, and through T2, all the way to T3 where we downshift twice.....piece of cake

Matthew J. · June 16, 2008, 03:12:18 PM

Thanks for representing.

Duc L'Smart · June 16, 2008, 04:18:04 PM

Sounds like a LOT of fun

Congrats

NuTTs · June 17, 2008, 11:53:42 AM

Congratulations! Post up some pics when you can.

Grio · June 17, 2008, 03:21:49 PM

YES! Nice work!

fasterblkduc · June 17, 2008, 06:00:46 PM

Thanks guys. I'll update my website with new pics soon. Right now, I'm having a technical difficulty with it

I'll post back here later when it's updated.

Cabbie · June 18, 2008, 03:41:12 PM

Way Cool!!! Congrats on the podiums!

As far as the suspension failure.. What do you think may have caused that?? Scary to say the least! I would have had to have someone pull the seat off my butt after that one.. SERIOUS pucker factor!

fasterblkduc · June 18, 2008, 05:56:34 PM

Quote from: Cabbie on June 18, 2008, 03:41:12 PM
Way Cool!!! Congrats on the podiums! As far as the suspension failure.. What do you think may have caused that?? Scary to say the least! I would have had to have someone pull the seat off my butt after that one.. SERIOUS pucker factor!

Good question. I had the ride adjuster made because the back end of the Monster needs to go way up to get the weight forward and achieve the right swingarm angle. These things have to happen to make it track worthy. So the rod is fine but the ends were purchased from Mcmaster Carr and that's what broke. The rod ends that they have are NOT high strength. I'm not sure if it was stress from normal racing conditions or if one of my two low sides on this bike put a stress crack in it that finally gave way. It is scary. It's scary knowing that it could have gone at any time without warning.
On the DML, there were several threads about DIY ride height adjusters, and I was a contributer to some of those threads. There were others who sourced rod ends from the same place. All of those people who did this same mod should be aware of what happened to me. I am now searching for high strength rod ends, as well as trying to find out if the superbike, or ST ride adjuster will go long enough for what I need. It may be more cost effective to just buy one of those instead of buying expensive rod ends. Either way, I'm not putting the same one back on, and hope that no one else has the same problem. If one of these breaks at the wrong time....

fasterblkduc · June 20, 2008, 04:26:15 AM

Ok, the website is updated now with a June race report and some new pictures. I was having technical difficulties with it so if anyone can't get the photos to work let me know. Just click on the link in my signature below.

I may add some more photos soon but for now at least someting is there.

Cabbie · June 20, 2008, 07:31:39 PM

Nice website there man!! Some more shots are always nice eye candy, but that is a nice one!

fasterblkduc · June 21, 2008, 06:41:06 AM

Quote from: Cabbie on June 20, 2008, 07:31:39 PM
Nice website there man!! Some more shots are always nice eye candy, but that is a nice one!

Can you see the photo section? There is a navigation bar at the top of the homepage that may be too hard to see. I'm curious if you saw that from the way you worded your response. I'm just wondering if people are not seeing the other pages on this website

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3 more trophies for the Monster!

NuTTs