The Black Rat

[BAHNZY]

Some pics from the weekend.

The first break-down, later found out to be a blocked fuel cap. Would go about 300mts then stop, restart and good for another 300mt's. The small things that bring you un-stuck.


I think this is the first downhill with the first jump about to come at us. I dont think that either of us had taken a breath since we came onto the track!


And the 1st landing. I guess there is room for improvement 


Pretty sure this is a father and son duo. Dad was on the chair, sorry i dont have their names.


Agian not sure who this is.

[shelpi]

  good stuff, keep it comeing 

[popeye]

Good stuff, how many chairs where there?
I will have to make the journey again one year...
Last time I was there they  had pre75 all disaplines at the same time then Pre85 all disaplines at the same time was it still the same? So if you took a Pre85 road bike and say an EVO MX bike you had to chose one to ride and miss the other.......

[BAHNZY]

Good stuff, how many chairs where there?
Last time I was there they  had pre75 all disaplines at the same time then Pre85 all disaplines at the same time was it still the same? So if you took a Pre85 road bike and say an EVO MX bike you had to chose one to ride and miss the other.......

There was five chairs there, one being a modern machine. All good, learnt from all of them by watching on the sidelines whilst we put our hearts back in their cavities.
The discipline issue is still there, just got work out what it is that you want to do on the day.

[popeye]

How many sessions did you guys get each day???
Might have to make the effort next year...

[BAHNZY]

How many sessions did you guys get each day???
Might have to make the effort next year...

Same as the bike classes (3)
The guy who was running the track said that as soon as the last sidecar came of the track he would close the session, regardless of the time of the session, and bring the bikes on. He was upfront and told everyone so it worked well. All we did was complete 3 laps, come off, take a breather behind the entry shute then go back out again. We would only get another lap and we were toast anyway so 4 laps per session was enough for us virgins.

[popeye]

Well done mate I no how much effort is involved riding or swinging for 3-4 laps good effort .

[BAHNZY]

O/k, so the Bonanza is over and done and we have now physically recovered and we’re onto the next stage of the RAT project which is to get the ergonomics sorted. The passenger bar work was (at the time of the original engineering) set up for someone a lot younger, fitter & smaller and doesn’t work for us big blokes. We have some ideas on what should be in place but thought best to see what the typical or perhaps normal set up should be for something like this. We have taken some photos of the current bar work and was wondering if other sidecar owners could put up some photos of their machines so we can see if were heading in the right direction, “before” we build something that is going to be no better than what’s currently fitted.

[John Orchard]

We ran the sidecar sessions at the Mitchell ride day on Sunday, there was only one chair there but it was a hit, it was an EML with a Kawasaki EX500 twin engine fitted.

[VMX247]

RE:Swingers Bar    not the best pic,but the best for now 

and this one taken from a tv/dvd..thanks little Al 

[Simo63]

Can't help you with your bar work but just have to say what a great looking outfit this has turned out to be.  A real credit to you, well done 

[BAHNZY]

We ran the sidecar sessions at the Mitchell ride day on Sunday, there was only one chair there but it was a hit, it was an EML with a Kawasaki EX500 twin engine fitted.

John, Bumper was keen as mustard to be there but we both knew that the current set up was going to hurt one of us. All going to plan we will be there next month with the new bar work as we are both wanting to get the hang of the RAT. Thanks for sticking your neck out and scheduling the session, I think it will be a case of build it (i.e. schedule it) and they will come.

[BAHNZY]

Can't help you with your bar work but just have to say what a great looking outfit this has turned out to be.  A real credit to you, well done 

Simo, the re-build of the RAT and its accompanying credit is all BUMPER. I chined in with some un-constructive commentary given my wealth of experience with MX sidecars, but it was all BUMPER assisted by McMuffin, Mario, Bryan, Cholin’s and a host of others that paid back some favours.

[TM BILL]

That is a lovley looking build  a credit to all involved . Was the original swinger very tall ? as the grab rails seem very high 

[Simo63]

Can't help you with your bar work but just have to say what a great looking outfit this has turned out to be.  A real credit to you, well done 

Simo, the re-build of the RAT and its accompanying credit is all BUMPER. I chined in with some un-constructive commentary given my wealth of experience with MX sidecars, but it was all BUMPER assisted by McMuffin, Mario, Bryan, Cholin’s and a host of others that paid back some favours.

Okay so well done to all those people ... I reckon it's one of the best looking vmx sidecars I've ever seen (with all due respect to others).