Commando racing Mosport video

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Doug MacRae

Doug MacRae

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Video I put together from my race at the big Vintage Festival at Mosport a few weeks ago. I get a flyer start, lead most of the race but end up in a battle with a CR750 Honda, a Rickman Trumph Triple and a few others, it was an excellent race.
I missed some practice and two of my races due to a magneto problem that I finally diagnosed as being the mag mounting plate being broken on the inside where you couldn't see it which would explain it's inexplicable loosening. I mounted and wired up an electronic ignition, duct taped a battery inside my front fairing and away I went.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKw6IR-X3BA&list=UUrdIsqkpsY5bR1-LDwMVDSg&index=1&feature=plcp[/video]
 
Excellent video, thanks for posting.
Are you running three GoPro cameras or similar to get the footage?
Do you know what is causing the smoke build up on throttle off/overun/
Regards Mike
 
Two Gopros and I edit in a little practice footage. Motor is a new rebuild, little smoke is because we don't run exhaust valve seals, it puffs exactly like the other motor did.
 
BTW, when you watch it, change the quality (on the little cog wheel under the video) to HD, it looks much better...
 
Exhaust valve guides should never see engine vacuum as valve closed on compression and combustion and high pressure gas escape outward on opening. Smoke on let off is classic intake guide sucking oil in, as that valve is open and sees manifold vacuum. Ring blow by classically smokes on throttle. It could act as a bit of secret weapon, if you've ever ridden behind a smoking engine its a bit annoying to over whelming if breathing hard though mouth in excitement. I can't even see my bud Wes smoke but sure can smell it when he throttles up. Love the horizon acting like a banking flight instrument guage.
 
Thats awesome Doug! full credit to you, looks like you run a few more laps per event than we do downunder, what gearbox are you running?
 
Gearbox is a Triumph 5 speed cluster in a NRE (Nourish) gearbox shell. Works well but I have had a few problems getting the occasional false neutral out of it if you are not nice and positive with your foot- the one in the race shifting from 4th to 3rd was particularly untimely. Love to get one of those TT boxes from down under.
I had wanted to play with the gearing a little but spent my time playing with the mag- gearing is very close though, going shorter would cause problems in some corners, good in others.
 
For the handling, I put a post up before under 'Race Commando handling secrets' you can look for.
The motor has Steve Maney cases and alloy barrels, a 2.2 kg lightened crank, one off rods, big valves, 7S cam, etc. around 12.5 to 1 comp., twin 38mm Mikunis feeding 1 3/4 ID pipes.
 
I remember my first time to Mosport several years ago. I felt like I was doing okay, then Dougie came by me in Turn 4 like I was tied to a pole! Showed me the fast line. I had a bit of learning to do! I've since gotten a bit faster through there. 8) Thanks Doug.

One thing that these videos don't show is the elevation and subtle changes to camber, etc. Turn 2 at Mosport is one of the trickiest turns to nail of any track out there. It doesn't look like much here, but it's so oddly shaped, with camber that rolls off on the outside, up over a hill and down. All this with very little runoff and pavement patches that make the racing line about twelve inches wide. Great when you finally get it sorted.

Nice race, Douglas. Wish I had been there.
 
Very cool video!

I am envious of you guys that have the resources to build, maintain and race a bike.
Quite plainly, I can't afford it.

I guess my only recourse is to live vicariously through you guys.
Keep posting videos Doug!
 
I just watched the whole race, while sitting here in this South Carolina Hotel waiting for my flight out to Afghanistan, it was great to look at , thanks for posting it Doug. This site will keep me going during the comming year and help me to get through this 12 month contract I'm starting. Thanks again,Cj
 
cjandme said:
I just watched the whole race, while sitting here in this South Carolina Hotel waiting for my flight out to Afghanistan, it was great to look at , thanks for posting it Doug. This site will keep me going during the comming year and help me to get through this 12 month contract I'm starting. Thanks again,Cj
Click to expand...

Thumbs Up, CJ
 
[quote=". Love to get one of those TT boxes from down under.[/quote]


When I ordered mine,I didn't specify which way the gear change was to operate. There are two types of selector drum available, and I am arranging a change-over so my box becomes one up, five down. It is a silly minor thing, but I cant correct it by simply crossing the linkage and putting one lever down. The other day I tried to ride the bike with the new box fitted. The lever was too low and I couldn't pull it up to get what I thought was first gear. Turns out I was in top gear, and the motor still pulled it. The clutch was smoking, but I thought I had just added a tooth too many to both engine and gearbox sprockets. When I got home I pulled the primary chain off it and started counting - the direction of the change was the reverse to the Norton box.
The $5000 is a big investment. I sold a good TZ350G to buy the TTI box, but I am certain the gearbox is at the the performance heart of the bike, and worth it. I simply made a decision about what I really wanted to race.
I really liked your video, Doug. When I get the Seeley out next time, I will do an 'on board' and upload it, so you can see what the 6 speed box does.
 
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