It rained a lot!! I got one run in due to the weather.

It was a very slow run due to a rush to put the bike back together after repairing the damage from the previous Wednesdays test day.  In my haste, I had put the throttle cable in the wrong position, and although the nitrous was switched on, and purged it didn’t activate.  After looking around the bike and found the problem was an easy fix and not a wiring nightmare, I was relieved to say the very least.

However it didn’t do me no harm, as the cold weather didn’t make for the best track, despite the valiant efforts of the track crew. Ken Cooper in the other lane has nitrous and over powered the track somewhat…… 1 – 0 to me Ken!!  It might have been slow, but I still crossed the line first!

Up at the top end, rather than wait for the big tow back, Chris came straight up to get me,  we took the bike back to the pits, gave it a quick check over, re fuelled it, and told Lizzy it was her turn!!

Now she can tell you in her own words what it is like to ride a Funny bike.

“Kev got back to the pits before the rest of the guys, and told me I was riding it.  Time for the excuses to stop, no turning back now.

Got my leathers on, and my nerves had taken over a bit.  Sat on the bike waiting for the last of the demos to run, and was told I would be the last run of the day, after Eric Teboul…. But in the opposing lane he went up on, due to the hydrogen peroxide leaving a film on the track surface.  Went through everything that Kev, Chris and Ken had told me, did the practices of the launch (Now I know that no amount of practicing will ever prepare you for that !!!)

Fire force went up, then Eric, who didn’t have a good run.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the spectators leaving the stands, so felt a little better that not many would be watching me make a complete idiot of myself!  ( I was told after that the commentator, announced that there would be one more rider, Kev’s girlfriend and crew, and first time riding the bike and apparently most of them sat back down to watch, possibly to see carnage about to happen!!  When you are focusing, you really don’t notice the crowds)

Got to the bleach box, I was shaking by this time, and trying to remember what I was told. Kev started me up and I tipped the bike to one side, brake on, and cracked open the throttle.  The burnout on one of these machines is phenomenal, I would have been happy with that, but Chris beckoned me out, and I tried to drive out of the burnout, which in 5^th gear, is not a good idea.

Don’t remember too much about anymore of that, apart from not getting full throttle once on the 2 step, and had to stop and grab another handful.  The bike dragged me over the line (hot clutch still from previous run) I did not want to let go of the button, but deep breath and off I went!!

But what I will say to anyone bearing in mind this was a normally aspirated run. NO-ONE will ever describe the force of the launch, and this was not expected at all. I quizzed Kev, Ken and others, but they never told me about this this big red light then coming on, and I thought I had done some damage, and was going to punch the gears to 5^th and cut the engine, when I realized I was still in 1^st gear and that was the shift light… doh!! (as Kev said, "like it never happened to us " ,short shifted a couple more and then it flew!!   Incredible!! ( You can find the video on you tube, just type in lizz mccarthy......!! and take the mickey... but  I have done it... try it yourself it is not as easy as it looks and you might like it !!)

 Anyway... Bumpy finish, and I slowed down, visor up, and swore at lot to applause from the guys!!  I had just made my first run on a Funny Bike, first time with slick and bars or anything with that big a cc, and run a 9.1 at 142mph!!!!  

didn’t see the finish gantry, but saw the line of bikes at the top end, so thought I better slow down….. It’s a

Thanks so much to Dicko and Sarah for letting me do it, and to the track crew, Ken, Kev and Chris, and everyone who came and said how well I had done.

Will I have another go….??  Hell yeah, if Kev will let me.  Now all I want is one of my own!!

Wonderfully terrifying!!"

Back from Bulldog yesterday, I checked bike over, Lizz sorted out the clutch, re loaded the van and off to Hockenheim for the Nitro Olympix tomorrow morning!!

Find the report of the Germany experience in our race reports section (Womans logic!)

7th August 2008 - Racing against time

Three trips later to Ken Coopers we will see you at the Bulldog

Update from the Garage 1st August 2008

We were so organised and set for the Bulldog and geared up for Hockenheim, and then went to the mid week test day at Santa Pod. Chris,  Ian and Barry were already there when we got there, the Super Crew, (I really couldn't do it without you) sporting the biggest diesel genny which was on the go, fuelling a small urn full of boiling water for coffees and the outback barby ready for breakfast!  By the time Lizz and the crew had snaffled food from the Cooper camp and got everything else together, it did look a rather professional Hospitality set up!  Thanks to all for that one!

Bike out of van, wheelie bars on and ready for the first run.

The run straight out of the van 7.51 with a 1.15 60 foot and 174mph, still the bracket bike!  Lizz videoing every move made on the burnout, the launch etc, so not able to say "but I didn't do that, did I??"  Thanks, Mr Naylor (I think!) for the use of video.

Back from run, Ken came and took a look at the carbs, and advised that bike was running super rich, but the air was not very good, very hot and humid. Adjusted the clutch and set off for another run. This time the bike 7.55 with a 1.12 60 foot. The speed and time was down, but the 60 foot was better!

Clutch adjusted again, and let the bike cool down, so had some lunch.  Off again, and again, another 7.5 with a 6, slower mph, but a 1.117 60 foot. !!!

Watched all the runs on the video, and Lizz started singing the birdie song. My left arm lifts as soon as I let go of the button, now being threatened with a Velcro strip to attach said arm to side!!  But in my defense the bike was going straight and not hot footing it to the left as it /I had been in previous meetings. 

Time for a Team talk... the decision was made that we needed more power though the top end, it was obviously the only way to get the bike to go any faster.  We agreed that we had reached the end of the line with the size of the jets that were already in it, so before I could change my mind, we changed them. 

We had a half hour call before the track closed at 5, so at 16.59 I launched the bike, it charged off the line, and I lunched it!

Before it all went wrong, the bike launched so well, just took off!  A 1.11 60 ft and 3.00 330ft!!!! On the video there was a cloud of smoke before then, and then this horrible (almost like on fire) familiar gargling noise, so shut the bike off and rolled through with a 8.2.....................  

We have ideas why this may have happened, but having no data as the logger didn't record the run... it's happened, it's just one of them, and now we are doing our best to resurrect some parts.

The damage: - head and piston, and stuff, Say no more. All being well, we will still be out for the Bulldog at the weekend, Hockenheim the following week, and Avon Park the week after. Optimistic??  Stay tuned!

Big ups also to the following:-

Ken, Chris and Ian for, well, everything!!

Dave Branch for not laughing at what I need mended

Pete Donaldson  http://peterdonaldson5305.fotopic.net/ - Great photos as always

Barry for the superb cleaning job on the bike, you didn’t have to, but the bike looks great…. Beer on us next time we see you.

Dave Holland for the wildest 7.2 we have ever seen!!

Ric Naylor for the PB…………… noisy git….. But 138 mph on an RD!!!!  Lizzy enjoyed herself crewing for you and being back to 2 strokes, (just for the day Ric!!) but is now deaf as a post!

Also a big welcome, and hope you had a safe journey, to Sue Whitlock, one of our Sponsors now living in St Lucia, visiting England for a month. It's been a long time,  See you at Shakey ?

Truck Show 28-29 June 2008 Demo runs and track time! 

Firstly we must thank the organizers for such a well run event and thank you for having us.   We met a lot of  very interesting and quirky characters, who not only were interested in  trucks, but also interested in the bike, asked a lot of questions and watched our runs, and came back to see us to ask how we were getting on. Thanks guys.  One young girl in paticular, KC, who informed us that she was definitely getting a motorbike when she was older.  Nice one!!  

I must also apologise to my poor Lizzy for running her ragged……….. The last experience of crewing for a bike “proper” was for Jade Racing when Sefton was racing…. And lack of, in her words “half the engine and the bloody rattley stuff on the top was never there, and what the f** is a cam chain” etc etc, must have been hard. 

I will  say, I  especially missed my Crew Chief, Chris, who called once to apologise for his absence, and a few times after that  called to find out what the heck was going on, and if was I ok, thanks mate.

It has been hard to set the new bike up this season so far with the weather,  which has so far been appalling and the demo runs at this show without  the rest of my crew was not a hoot and a holler …….. But we did it. (Sort of)

Gippy, great mate, on the end of the phone when we could get hold of no one else, thanks again, and good luck to you on your European Tour in Pro Stock.

First run out of van 7.575 at 166….. Lizzy, (we thought) clicked data logger on far too early, in between seeing me straight, and getting me straight….so no data for that one. (As it goes Graham came to see the logger that evening, and it was it logger having a paddy) BUT IT WAS DEFINATELY A 1.10 60 FOOT!!!! (Timing ticket says so)  Bit chuffed with that one, the clutch settings are working!

Second run…… going left again, but still a reasonable 1.12 60 foot but all over the place…….  But worse to come, Lizz came to get me, got on the ped… we moved a bit and the whole darn thing locked up, with her “F*** “stop you b*****d”   with her feet off the pegs and firmly planted on the floor.   I tried to blame her for knocking the gear lever, but when I had to take the chain off to tow back, realized it may be more problematical, we would have to look at this. The chain was so tight, it was unbelievable.

Back to awning, Chris will relate to this…. Me under bike getting oil in my eye and yelling at rookie (Lizz) “pull, push, pull out etc” (nothing sexual) we changed 2 selectors as a matter of course, Lizzy did the clutch, and ready for following day.

Third run was an interesting one.…. My left handed gremlin, re appeared observed by Dave Friend… I, for no reason, physically turn the handle bar to the left on launch as soon as go onto the two step ………… if anyone has any ideas…. Names and address on a post card please. But better that, I think Lizzy is trying to finish me off..  Gary did point out that as he was in the burn out box, waiting to run, couldn’t figure out why she had given me the ok to go.  Realise now she had not gone far enough back to see the racing line……………… and set me up to go straight facing the eight mile mark. L  But I went straight for it!!  (STRAIGHT, not left!)

Got to top end, the 60 foot was still a 1.12, had the time been any better, we will never know as the logger has now got an electrical problem, which needs addressing before the Wednesday test and tune end of July.  Great weekend never the less.

Thanks to to Seff and Lisa for helping us pack up at the end.

Thanks to Pete Donaldson as always for the pics, although the one of Lizz is a bit dodgey!!

June 18 th - Straight from the “Racers mouth” 

After the achievement and success before curfew stopped play at the meeting at Shaky, where I got into the final, the Summer Nationals at Santa Pod was hard for me.

A certain comment rattled me, which brought around a change of routine, which in retrospect was a very bad idea.  This in turn had a knock on affect of me racing like a complete idiot.

After speaking with Chris, and getting some great advise from Ken Cooper and Dave Beck, and getting my head around a few things, my last run was a good one, even though I was knocked out in the first round of eliminations against Tim Blakemore.  To have beaten him, even though I was off the line quicker, I would have to have pulled something very special out of the hat to beat his 7.0 to my 7.5!

 June 1^st Latest Ramblings

The result over the meeting was a happy one, apart from rain, and the curfew stopping us from running in the final. What an achievement for a first time out, and no time to have tested the bike beforehand!!  The bike pretty much did what we expected, and the whole team is really pleased with it so far.

The timing ticket for the last run was as follows:-

REACTION      0.212

60 FOOT         1.134

330 FOOT       3.068

1/8 MILE        4.718

MPH               147.23

990 FOOT       6.144

¼ MILE          7.461

MPH               174.79

Did the usual maintenance when we got home, then the leak down test.  Found that some of the valves needed attention, and that was it! Excellent!

Bike now ready for the Summer Nationals at Santa Pod, and we will see what happens there. 

We didn’t enter the Main Event so did a spot of crewing and cooking (Cream Teas and Bar-be-que!)  Lizz for Richard Gipp in Pro Stock, and Kev, for  Jones and Friend in Top Fuel. Proper bus mans holiday!  And it rained again, and rained some more, so by Sunday having grown webbed feet, and rising damp had set in we came home again.

Are we ever going to finish a meeting this year?

Kev Checking out Gary's opposition!!

HOT OFF THE PRESS 1/5/08

Gone Racing........!!

could we clean up with this new clutch setting??

April 27th 2008

At 3 minutes to midnight on Friday 25th April, the bike was at last ready to be fired up on the Saturday.  Being good neighbours, we decided we had better warn our street what was happening, by the afternoon, the whole village knew. Don't you just love villages and the jungle drums!

Saturday loomed, Big Chris arrived, and several cups of caffine later, decide it was time to check the bike over with a fresh pair of eyes to see if there was anything we had missed. All that was needed was couple of loose bolts tightened, and a nut to put on the seat!

First part spin bike over with Lizz in the jump, to get the oil circulating, and then over to Kev.

Started the bike up for real, she burst into life, all the hard work made so worth it, but the crispest sweetest noise ever! Sounded great!  Cooled her down, checked for leaks- there were none - checked we had put oil in - we had!!  Mr Cooper, thanks mate, another fantastic job. Started her up again, just to make sure it wasn't a flook, checked the clutch, and all seems a ok.

The bodywork is striking, it was the first time that Lizz had seen it in the flesh, and was astonished, the graphics are perfect, thanks to Chris for that one.

We are all very happy to say, we knew were were cutting it fine, but we can say for sure, see you at the track next weekend...... WE DID IT!!

APRIL 5TH 2008

We trundled down to SL Racing in Maidenhead, where Steve has been doing a few mods to the bike, and putting stuff in places we couldn't.  Thanks to him for a great job, as always, and for the coffees too!!

The bike looked very naked and sorry for itself when we fetched it, but after a few hours, she scrubbed up very well indeed - still looks naked but we need to do a complete re wire before anything else gets done, and only a few weeks to do it, as Lizz has already entered the bike for the Springspeed Nationals, and we want to try to get a test in too.  So no pressure at all really!!

JANUARY 2008

The new bike is coming along slowly as the house move is getting in the way!  The Engine is ready,thanks to Ken Cooper, the bodywork has gone to the paint shop, the tyre has come out of the suitcase; all we need is the garage to nail it all together again!.....................

Can you tell what it is yet??

Meanwhile....

No turning back now.... the Comp bike has gone!!  John came to fetch it on a wet and cold Saturday in the middle of January! 

If he is grinning like that with no engine in, what is he going to be like when it is running and he is on it!!!??

Good luck to him in his new venture, and lets see if he can win a Championship as the chassis has done, quite a few times!!

February 2008

The engine is back, Graham from Revolution Custom Paint (0118 9574 577) called to say the bodywork was ready for collection.  He has done another amazing piece of work.  The bodywork has now winged its way to Chris for the graphics, the nose cone and mudguard came home for Lizz to have a look at and take the obligatory photos!! (see below!).  Thanks again to Chris for doing what he does, and all our very patient Sponsors!! 

We still not moved yet, and never before do we need the garage so badly as we do now.  Very frustrating.

MARCH 2008

At last...!! we have a moving date, and are leaving Arlesey for Woodford Halse (in between Shakespeare Country Raceway and Santa Pod - class move!!) on the 7th March.

All has not been that easy as I have been working all week leaving Lizz to pack and box everything up, and she starts her new job on the 10th, the phone line is not going to be installed until the 18th, and reception for our mobiles is rubbish, and no internet until the week after due to a change ISP. We may be a bit quiet, but that doesn't mean that there won't be a BIG update when we are back up and connected!

Get moved, get sorted,Lizz starts new job, and then get the bike up and running, and all being well, will be out at Shakey on the 3rd May for the Springspeed Festival.

Look who's on the flyer!!!!! (no, not the car!)

Hurrah!!  We have moved into our new home.  Still up to our eyes in packing cases, but the priorities, the garage has had a new floor and a lick of paint, and at last everything is in one place, all bar the caravan and all important drag bike.  We have settled in ok, Lizz started her new job the day after the move, so has been very tired! I have 5 weeks ish to get the bike finished, and attempt a test and tune before the Springspeed Festival in May at Shakespeare County Raceway.

The Easter Thunderball 2008

(photo taken from web cam at Pod)

Don't think we need to say anymore really!!  Like idiots we went up anyway, I had some bits to collect from various people for the bike, and sell some tyres, we were also meant to be crewing for Paul Marston Racing, the team that Lizz has been doing the stats for, for  some years.  We left Woodford Halse in a snow storm, and when we got to Pod, the snow was still falling.

The Track crew made a super human effort inbetween snow flurries to try to get the track dry, and just as Pro ET was called the snow came down again.  It was freezing cold and the wind was biting. The bikes were not able to race at all due to the adverse conditions, and many went home.

Then it hailed, and stopped as quickly as it started and the sun came out!

Track crew worked so hard, they were not going to give up, and it was looking hopeful that we may get to go out, but it just wasn't to be.

 The meeting was called for that day, so we went home.  The day after it was a total non starter, but Monday saw some track action, while we stayed at home, and sorted out the garage ready for the impending arrival of the bike.