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Pit Lane Gossip
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Date: 02nd September 10
Headline: AFB Racing Open Sport Review
Contributed by: Nick Saunders 
After a long lay off, the team arrived at Shakespeare County Raceway full of anticipation. The clutch had undergone some major surgery and fears of a leaking rear cylinder appeared to be put to bed.
Things didn’t get off to the best of starts, with a primary drive belt breaking on the first run of the weekend and the rear cylinder appeared to be showing signs of a leak. The rest of Saturday was then spent leak down testing and investigating the broken belt. Both issues were solved and we were ready for Sunday.
The weather was the winner on the Sunday, with a very windy start to the day we finally made it to the pairing lanes at around midday. Around 10 minutes before we were due to run, the heavens opened and we found ourselves seeking refuge in a 40ft container behind the start line. (Thanks to the crew for that). Once the weather cleared up we returned to the line, the result being a great launch but tyre went up in smoke at around 300 ft.
On studying the video footage along with discussions between rider and team, it was decided to take some weight off the clutch and soften things up for the Monday so not to overpower the track.
The result on Monday was a first run of 8.50 @ 160 mph followed by an excellent 1 hour turn around by the team and an 8.32 @ 155 mph. Back to back runs have given Shamus and the rest of the crew good confidence coming into the National Finals. Hopefully the power taken out of the bike this weekend can be re-instated to get the bike down into that 7 second bracket.
See you at the Pod!
Date: 31st August 10
Headline: Team Kendall Racing Ready for the European Finals
Our thanks to Swedish TFB maestros Soren and Peter Svensson for sending us their European Finals preview:-
"This coming weekend we will travel over to our team mate’s The Lindahl brothers Pro Mod teams workshop in Vargön and load the bike, all our tools and racing equipment in their coach and on Tuesday afternoon next week it will be one its way to Santa Pod for the upcoming final of the UEM series 2010.
Most of us in the team will fly in to Stansted International Airport on Thursday lunch and drive to Santa Pod and the rest of the team will meet up on Thursday evening at the track and we are really looking forward to this race, where we will try to improve our previous personal best of 5.917 sec. and 236 mph and our own European records at 5.97 sec / 236 mph..
After the race at Gardermoen we have been checking all engine components carefully and everything was found OK, which means most certainly that we can add some additional power and some more clutch at this race, if we will get the right track conditions. Some of you might remember during the previous races that we have entered this season that we have hade some serious problems with our transmission belt when we have added some power and at this race we will try a new type of transmission belt, that broke both at Mantorp (snapped off) and at Gardermoen (rinsing all teeth of the belt) during the qualifications and hopefully this will solve the problem.
Depending on the overall conditions we will have to tune the bike for a bit colder weather than at our previous race in Gardermoen and with some luck and really good air (that usually appears at Santa Pod) we will hopefully get a bit closer to some new record setting runs.
This year at the European Finals we will be selling our new T-shirt at the track (we apologize for the delay last year) and we also have our new “Hand Out” available that we will give out for free to all our fans as long as they last.
This year as well as last year we will have some friends coming over to Santa Pod that will join all the rest of our fans at the grandstands and we promise you all that we will try to put on a good show as always.
A big THANK YOU to all that makes this possible:
• Kendall Motor Oil in Sweden, supplied by Sollebrunns Oljeservice
• Samek Tool AB, who makes some of the best moulding tools in the automotive industry in Sweden
• CemeCon A/S, one of the best coating companies in Europe when it comes to camshaft coating etc
• Real Form, product development within mechanical design
• Romnet, consultants within computer network favours etc
• All our families and friends
For more information about our previous achievements and updates during the off season please visit www.billetracing.se (in English).
Our thanks to our good friend Patrik Jacobsson from www.racebilder.nu for the pictures in this report.
Best Regards from Peter and Sören Svensson, Team Kendall Racing Top Fuel Bike"
Date: 31st August 10
Headline: AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships heat up Bonneville
Some of the fastest motorcyclists in the world take to the Bonneville Salt Flats today as the 2010 AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships kick into high gear near Salt Lake City. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) will certify numerous land-speed records expected to be set at the event, in classes featuring everything from 50cc mini-bikes to 2,000cc-plus purpose-built high-speed motorcycles.
"From the venue to the machinery, land-speed racing is one of the more unique types of motorcycle competition, and the AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships, promoted by BUB, is the sport's premier event," said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. "There is a lot of thrilling action on the salt this week on many different levels. No question about it, land-speed racing is so engaging because each class has its own competitive landscape, with different personalities vying for the top of the box."
One battle that is capturing a lot of attention in 2010 is the race for the top time for a sit-down motorcycle. Richard Assen and 2008 AMA Female Rider of the Year Leslie Porterfield are two of the top competitors for this honor, which recognizes the fastest one-way run on a traditional-styled sportbike rather than a purpose-built, streamlined land-speed racer.
Last year, Porterfield achieved the feat with a pass of 240.382 mph in the 1350-APS-BF class. However, Assen claimed the class record, which is based on an average of two runs in opposing directions, with an official time of 236.01 mph.
"Interest also is running high in our electric-powered classes," Bromley said. "Several competitors are eager to establish records with this new, non-traditional technology, and it is an area that is ripe with innovation.
"That isn't limited to the electric classes, though," he added. "You can spend an entire day just checking out amazing technology in the pits, all designed for one purpose: to simply go as fast as possible."
The current outright motorcycle land-speed record is held by seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr, on the Denis Manning-built No. 7 streamliner. Carr upped the record last year with a two-pass average of 367.382 mph in Bonneville's measured mile. The previous record was 360.913, set by rider Rocky Robinson and builder Mike Akatiff in 2008. Current records for all classes can be downloaded by clicking HERE.
The AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships run through Thursday, Sept. 2. Results will be available at AMARacing.com and SpeedTrialsByBUB.com following the event.
Date: 30th August 10
Headline: Mosten Raceday
Hans-Jørgen Hitz has been in touch to let us know the latest information for the 2010 Mosten Race Day Mosten, which takes place in Ørsted in Denmark next weekend 2nd - 5th September is now online.
Click HERE to view.
Date: 30th August 10
Headline: Ray Feltell's bike located
Further to correspondance between us and Ian Feltell, son of the late dragracing personality Ray Feltell he informs us that he has now located one of his father's bikes and plans a full restoration.
Ray, famous for his single and twin Triumph engined bikes broke World 1/4 mile records and alos enjoyed a stint on four wheels until his untimely passsing.
Good luck Ian!
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