Going Racing - Unicycle Dirt Drag Racing

[RatsMC]

Well, I put this in General. It doesn't go in National even though it is racing. It doesn't go in "Too many wheels" because, well, there's only one wheel. It could go in "Off Tarmac" but that doesn't quite seem right either.

WTF am I on about? The 2011 Unicycle Dirt Drag Racing Exhibition.

If you take a look, the rulebook is really simple:



So, in 2009 the East Bay Rats, the mc of which I am a member decided to enter. A bit of dodgy fabrication later we had our entry ready. You can see one of our runs here:



We ended up making it to the finals but lost because the ECM got confused by the EXUP being fixed open and stuttered on launch.

For 2010, we returned with the bugs worked out and dominated, taking the trophy.

The 2011 race is May 1 so we are starting the prep now. Being the champ is actually tough. Everyone will be gunning for us. On top of that our star pilot (read maniac) is on tour so we have to use a replacement. Fortunately, the club also has a Baja 1000 driver available to stand in. We also have a couple of tuning tricks lined up, they are mostly secret but I'll share with you guys. we are going to clean the rust from the gas tank out of the carbs.

Current state: the bowls have been cleaned, the gas tank replaced. Motor starts and runs but idles like crap which will affect launch.

To Do:

- Pull the carbs and actually clean them, primarily the idle jets,
- The front skis tend to stick in the ground when you let off the throttle which creates sort of a very sudden, random stopping that throws the cycle to one side or the other at an incredibly high rate of speed so we will be lengthening them to create a broader surface to contact the ground.
- Testing. Take the thing out and run it under the highway with out new rider (and whoever else happens to be around).

Over the next 2 weeks I'll provide updates as our lazy asses make progress. Pictures coming soon.

[Oscar]

So, er, why is your fruitcake rider standing out back? Real men would stand in front of the motor to add more traction. I see nothing in the rules against castration / broken shins.

However, I DO have a query - how do you get people to spectate from in front of these things? Are they chained to ground zero because they are Celine Dion fans, or what?

[RatsMC]

Well, to answer #1, the motor is actually lifted off the ground by the wheel so the weight of the motor is providing the traction. If we get beat, we'll consider something more radical. Most of the competitors have just chopped the front off of a bike and attached a sled while we built an entire frame.

To your second question, I guess people are drawn to danger. Also some beer is likely involved.

To give a little more background, our rider who won last year is the direct descendent of Louis Firpo who lost to but succeeded in knocking Dempsey out of the ring. That might give you some idea of how insane you need to be.

[Oscar]

Well, to answer #1, the motor is actually lifted off the ground by the wheel so the weight of the motor is providing the traction

I saw that in the video - but when does 'a run' start? I mean, if you move the pegs forward to about where the contact patch is with the thing level with the ground and give the sacrificee two ski-pole type handles, he ( NO woman is silly enough to be seen in this sport, surely?) can lean back for the start and then throw himself forwards to counteract the torque, emulating the Rolls-Royce Flying Lady radiator-cap statue down the run. It's known as leading with the chin.

Also some beer is likely involved.

Some beer? Sort of midway on a scale of a can as 1 and the Hoover Dam as 10?

That might give you some idea of how insane you need to be.

It certainly does. This sport was invented by someone who was a frustrated BASE jumper but lives at the Bonneville Salt Flats - right?

[phil]

To give a little more background, our rider who won last year is the direct descendent of Louis Firpo who lost to but succeeded in knocking Dempsey out of the ring. That might give you some idea of how insane you need to be.

What's he like when you get in the ring back at the RMC clubhouse?

But yeah it looks like fun, I saw 'similar' drag racing on grass with snow mobiles, people get seriously into it and boy them machines can move!

10 rules! don't let DORNA get involved!

[Oscar]

Oh, FFS - I just twigged the acronym for the sanctioning body. Raise the participant beer level indicator to at least 2/3rds of the way up the scale.

So - when does this competition spread to freestyle and moguls? There seems to be latitude for development.

[Cam D]

I love the way you head flat out towards the parked pick-up!!! Looks like a lot of fun though. Would like to see some close up pics of the rig

[Cam D]

Current state: the bowls have been cleaned, the gas tank replaced. Motor starts and runs but idles like crap which will affect launch
Just realised that sounds like me first thing in the morning... before I go to work!

[RatsMC]

I'll post some pics up as we prep the thing for the race.

Oscar, I think if the competition has adopted some of our technology we'll be considering that as an option. I think the biggest concern with that design is the complete lack of steering or any controls for that matter: it is a lot easier to fall off the back than the front.

The thing that probably save the spectators from some sort of alcohol poisoning is that the event starts before noon and it is held at a rather classy event where they are more likely to be serving wine than beer though it would still be in plastic cups.

phil: our boy seems to be pretty fearless I haven't met anyone who looks forward to getting in the ring with him.


BTW, this event is just the first our annual race season. The next event is even more insane and involves no motors and the one after that involves lots of motors but no competition. I'll keep you up to date.

[Oscar]

I think the biggest concern with that design is the complete lack of steering or any controls for that matter: it is a lot easier to fall off the back than the front.

Lack of controls? Hell, man, you take a standard twist grip and place it on the left ski pole so the kamikazee HAS to lean forward to apply the throttle. Steering is accomplished by a placard out the front that says: 'Head for the Spectators and let God sort 'em out'. Launch control is the crew chief with a cattle prod.

This is obviously a sport for the intrepid, so as for egress from the machine, if the short-straw plucker has any safety concerns, see: 'Beer', above. Some sort of sports counselling may also be in order, such as shots of rodeo bull-riding with a commentary on the lines of: 'And by comparison, these machines just have one soft tyre not four hard hooves to stomp 'yer.' Maybe give him a U.S flag and invoke the spirit of Iwo Jima, or of course the 'ol reliable dangling his infant children above a tank of piranhas almost never fails.

The idea of a touch of elegance with wine and canapes I applaud, but hell, it's only a few steps from there to the combatants standing around on the start line politely suggesting that the other be the first to leave. After that, you're up for the expense of a Carl Fogarty mask for the Starter to get things moving again..

The next event is even more insane and involves no motors

So, Freeway Luge then?

[Richo]

I am thinking one of these machines would be a good paddock/campground transport on a MotoGP or WSBK weekend. Actually you could organise some after hours campground races on these, the participants and spectators would certainly have the drinking part organised at least.

[Cam D]

I've been thinking .... Z50 Hondas rolling chassis with no engines (have to mount footrests somehow). Top of the local mountain and race the kids down the bitumen roads to the bottom. I reckon it would be a blast! No where near as dangerous but something I've wanted to do for a while. Things like this just make me think about it a bit harder

[RatsMC]

I've been thinking .... Z50 Hondas rolling chassis with no engines (have to mount footrests somehow). Top of the local mountain and race the kids down the bitumen roads to the bottom. I reckon it would be a blast! No where near as dangerous but something I've wanted to do for a while. Things like this just make me think about it a bit harder

Close. If they can hit 56 MPH, you are on the right track.

[Cam D]

I've been thinking .... Z50 Hondas rolling chassis with no engines (have to mount footrests somehow). Top of the local mountain and race the kids down the bitumen roads to the bottom. I reckon it would be a blast! No where near as dangerous but something I've wanted to do for a while. Things like this just make me think about it a bit harder

Close. If they can hit 56 MPH, you are on the right track.

that's hauling! Especially in the dirt with only one wheel. Nice.

[RatsMC]

Actually, the 56 MPH was for the upcoming un-motored race I'll be detailing soon.

As for the Uni-tard, the idle jets were pulled and drilled but as is typical of a lazy or really any day, a little beer clouded the judgement and the jets were drilled out a little larger than was really called for. New jets are being picked up tomorrow. We went from bogging on launch from a lean mix to bogging on launch that results from dumping a half liter of gas into the motor.

[RatsMC]

Some preview pics. The race is this Sunday. I'll post some detailed pics after the race.

[Oscar]

Truly, biblically awesome, though I do think you could make it even more outstanding with some metalflake paint...

If you guys are not too proud to accept some transpacific assistance, I believe Gazzer McCoy might well be available for the slalom events.

[Richo]

That looks pretty wicked Rats, what sort of motor are you using (didn't see it mentioned earlier)?

[Gustav O]

Sweet stupidity.

[Oscar]

I forgot to ask - that IS Livio Suppo on the right in the second piccy, yes?

[Gustav O]

I forgot to ask - that IS Livio Suppo on the right in the second piccy, yes?

[RatsMC]

Truly, biblically awesome, though I do think you could make it even more outstanding with some metalflake paint...

If you guys are not too proud to accept some transpacific assistance, I believe Gazzer McCoy might well be available for the slalom events.

Our pilot was chosen because he is the only person who is able to steer the thing in any vaguely useful manner. Among a bunch of fairly tough biker guys, it is completely acceptable to express true fear of piloting this thing. Comments like "I really hope I don't crash it" are common. To help put things in context, the guy on the left is an AFM racer who runs both dirt and roadracing but he isn't our pilot.

The damn thing got left out in the rain for a long time which gave it the lovely patina you see there.

That looks pretty wicked Rats, what sort of motor are you using (didn't see it mentioned earlier)?

It is a 2001 R1 motor. If there had been another motor available for free, it might have been a better choice as the EXUP system has been nothing but problems.

I forgot to ask - that IS Livio Suppo on the right in the second piccy, yes?

No, but he is Italian and does have a similar voice. That is the pilot himself.

[ieism]

I have a few theories as to why this thing is hard to steer:

1. There is no front wheel obviously
2. The handlebars are not really connected to anything that moves.

You're basically riding a plank of wood on grass. Coming from a snowboard background I have a few ideas about this:

- Raise the middle of the board a little. _________-------________The tire likely digs up a lot of sand and deposits it under your board, bad for balance.
-Get a better base. A sintered or graphite base with a good hotwax would make this thing fly.
-Sidecut. There isn't any, (i.e. the side of your board is straight) so how do you expect this thing to rail a turn? I would go for a fairly agressive radius. On hard surfaces you could even add Magnetraction edges or a similar technology to improve edgehold.
-Where are your bindings man? No wonder your rider is scared of falling off.

[RatsMC]

every time we start working on this thing, everyone has a bunch of "you realize this right here is all wrong". We talk about changing it but rarely actually do much. We'll probably do an overhaul before next year and maybe we'll cut that list of "this is wrong" bits down a little. Or we might just drink more beer.

Fortunately, we've proven that 100 feet in a straight line can be accomplished so the primary design objective has been met.

[ieism]

Well it's a prototype racing series, so as long as you're winning the design is perfect. Just make sure you don't end up like Suzuki

The drinking more beer sounds like a good strategy at any time.