Project Badger

As we take stock of Project Badger, and set forth our program for 2012, different agendas, priorities and goals have come into focus.

Thus, the time seems right to announce that Project Badger and Ace Engineering have parted ways. Like I said, different agendas. The Badger is increasingly getting more serious about its race program; while the focus at Ace has always been on developing a powerful, well mannered street bike. So a big thanks to Ace, and especially Chumma, for all their hard work and contributions to getting Project Badger off the ground. Thanks, fellas, and best of luck to you and all your future endeavors.

But as they say, "when one door closes, another one opens". So as the next chapter begins, Cycle Icons is pleased and really excited to announce that we will be bringing the Badger's engine building in house, working in conjunction with our new sponsor and technical partner, Hitchcocks Motorcycles.

Anybody who has spent any time around Royal Enfield motorcycles knows Hitchcocks. Based in the U.K., they are the world's preeminent  source of RE spares, accessories, and performance parts. They also bring to the table an unrivaled depth of experience with the brand, and of course, their vast technical knowledge and R &D.

Project Badger is really looking forward to working with Allan and the folks at Hitchcocks as we set out on building the Badger's new powerplant.

So, full steam ahead as we push into 2012!

Cheers,

It's been a while. While we've been busy with other Winter projects, the Badger has been enjoying a quiet, well earned, hibernation. Well it's time to wake it up. If 2011 was one for the books, 2012 should be even better. We have scads of exciting news and other goings on to share. Details to follow.

In the meantime, a little eye candy to get the juices flowing again. From last year; the Badger caught in the back yard, bathed in very pleasing late Summer light.

Stay tuned, lots more to come...

Cheers,

Going into Sunday, a helluva weekend was shaping up, with a spontaneous reunion of sorts set for Oakland Valley Raceway Park. Not only was Scott's dad, Frank going to be there, but also his lovely wife Sandy, and daughter Hannah. Hannah set to make her flat track debut no less. Bill was going to be there, unfortunately without his RD350 based flat tracker. But he brought his leathers, and would get some seat time on something. My daughter was up from D.C., and best of all wife CJ figured this day was going to be too much to miss, and took a day off from the gallery, and joined us. Rounding out the entourage, was of course Mark and Ron. This group of friends probably hadn't all been together in the same place for 15 years. Nice.

We gassed up and hit the road 6:30 Sunday morning, with the plan basically being to take route 206 all the way up, briefly into PA, and then into New York. Kind of tedious; but a pretty ride, with 50 mph-ish speeds and nice hills to help finish the motor break-in.

I rode about the first 90 minutes, through Princeton to Somerville and into Bridgewater. With the weather just having turned distinctly Fall like, I under-estimated the chill, but a beautiful ride, none the less. Mark took over for about the next two hours it took to make our way to OVRP, and he seemed to be enjoying every mile of it. Again, the morning chill not withstanding.

What a beautiful day. Mark up ahead crossing the upper Delaware river as we get close to OVRP. 

At the track. The lovely Ms. Mugavero enlisted to hold up the bike while I pull the side stand. Mark readying the front number plate for installation.  

The conversion from street trim to flat track race trim complete. Scott and Frank had a conversation about which classes to enter the Badger in, and both agreed it would be most competitive in "750 Ironman Brakeless". I get the 750 and Ironman part, but brakeless? WTF? So pulling off the rear brake cable and pedal wound up being part of the prep. I'm eager and scared at the same time to see Scott on the bike. Oh, to be young and fearless.

The bull ring that is Oakland Valley Raceway Park. 

Oh yeah! Scott hits the track, first practice. My hearts beating a mile a minute, as I'm not quite sure what to expect. 

Going a little faster as Scott adjusts to the bike and finds his way. 

A little faster still. And really looking good. Though he's not completely comfortable on the bike yet, I'm thinking we might have a good fight in store, as Scott seems to have some of the opposition well in hand. 

Between practice sessions with both Scott and the Badger beaming.  

The optimism of the day was to be short lived, however. As Scott was waiting to get onto the track for his heat race, we noticed the drive chain had popped off. Another WTF? We rolled it back on; but as Scott put the bike into gear, a big clunk, with the chain popping off again. With the heat race an obvious no go, we push the bike back to the pits. A lot of brainstorming going on. We notice a broken chain adjuster on the left side. The wheel is canted to the right and rubbing the swing arm. Well, that makes sense. At Frank's urging we get it back together for a test around the pit. Press it in gear.... Boom. Stall. Let's get it rolling and ease it in gear.... better, but with the lever at the bar, with a bit of throttle ... we have a clutch in name only. Frank suggests we can push Scott to the start of his feature. I'm thinking between no brakes and no clutch... that's a little much to deal with. We're done for the day. We throw the bike on the truck, and we'll await the autopsy.

In the meantime.....  

Scott on his regular Yamaha mount, in the midst of an epic save. Going for it is an understatement.  

Scott's 500cc Masters heat race. Is this a private fight, or can anybody join? A lot of clawing going on all over the place.   

Also in the meantime, Hannah finding her way around in her race, and looking good! A family that races together ....

Scott's dad, Frank showing some style. Note the front tire, in relation to the rear. If there any question where Scott might get it from.... you plant potatoes, you get potatoes. 

The autopsy and post-mortum.

Burnt toast! The clutch has been a weak link since day one, going back to Mid-O. Time write the big check and go for the Bob Newby racing clutch I'm thinking. It's hell trying to put all that Fireball power to the ground.

But, as I was going through the bike last Tuesday, and getting ready to throw the cover back on, I noticed this. Hell, yeah! The weekend was disappointing in some ways, cause I think we could have had a race. But; damn, certainly can't say Scott wasn't trying. I chuckled; put the cover on, then tipped the bike over to see how far over you have to be to scrape that case. Pretty far. That made my day.

So, the day was a mixed bag. Highs and lows. There is nothing like racing to help you break shit. But. We're gonna keep badgering on, and get'em next time.

Cheers,

Leon

Sometimes, seems like no matter how you try to plan, it always comes down to the wire.

With the new oiling improvements and top end buttoned up, the plan last week was to put some break in miles on the bike early in the week and with parts due to arrive later in the week, start the conversion to flat tracker Thursday or Friday. Saturday could be devoted to final tweaks and tuning. Ride up, race Sunday. Perfect.

The break in was going swimmingly, with nice weather, cool temps and the bike running well. Well, up until Thursday, when it developed a pretty horrible flat spot-stumble off idle. Some bad gas? Spent all day Friday chasing it to little avail. New pilot jet, drained the tank, new gas, cleaned the carb in the ultrasonic..... Seemed better, but still dodgy. Adding to the frustration, the new pipe and seat didn't arrive. 

Saturday is going to a little busier then I had hoped, or wanted. And a bit of a compromise and scramble.

I had been trying for the past couple of weeks to get with friend of the Badger, Sammy Sabedra. Sammy had offered to hook us up with some race tires for the weekend. Until a broken back (suffered on the way to the track) sidelined him a year or so ago, Sammy was a nationally ranked pro flat track racer himself. After some fits and starts, we arranged to meet Saturday morning. So a run out to Pottstown, PA to meet Sammy to pick up the tires. The exchange done in the Wendy's parking lot of some shopping mall just off the Royersford exit. Nothing like leaving that till the last minute. But, thanks Sammy for hooking us up!

I make it back to the shop about noon. With the bike running questionably, and armed with tires the I hope fit, we start....

The blank canvas, Badger version 1.0 stripped to its bones...

The first order of business, mount up the rear tire and hope we have clearance with the swing arm. Its tight, but we see daylight on both sides, and spins freely. Praise Jesus! That question answered, full steam ahead.

By 4:15, we have the front end back on, and new bars installed. The bars courtesy Lloyd Vintage. Thanks Corey!

Mark showed up a couple hours ago with the new tank, with of course, the paint still wet. Time to mock it up, including that fancy Borrani wheel that came with Sammy's front tire. It's gonna be a rush job, but I'm diggin' it. I'm thinking that wheel is too cool to not try and make work. Next step? Fire up the lathe!

Taking down the stock RE front axle to 15mm.

It's starting to get late, so we ran to the Home Depot before they closed at 10 to get some 1/2 inch pipe to do up some spacers. A little more turning and cussing, and viola! A very groovy front wheel set up.

After fiddling with a few other things, pegs, tank, etc., it's off the jack and back on terra ferma. It's also after 2 AM. With a 6 AM scheduled launch to the track, better get this show on the road. Gotta button up a few things, and then a test ride.

4:00 AM, test ride around the the compound.

6:10 AM, Sunday, Sept. 18. The Badger's road wheels installed for the ride up to the track so as to not tear up Sammy's race rubber. A quick shower, change of clothes and a jolt of coffee. Next stop, Cuddebackville, N.Y. and Oakland Valley Raceway Park!

For those who truly can't get enough of this; the link to Ron's excellent photo album of the build:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2349751433852.129156.1552086062

Next up, Sunday. The ride up, the racing, and the post-mortum. Stay tuned. 

A lot must be, well, a lot. Coming out of the Mid-O race weekend, we're pretty confident that we answered the question, that yes, a top end can get too much oil. Yeah, I'm on board with the "low pressure, hi volume" oil philosophy, but geez, enough already. So the boys in R & D set about figuring out someway for all that oil to make its way back to someplace in the engine, rather then it making its way out of the engine.

Larger and more drain holes, that's what we need!

And in our usual sophisticated fashion, that's exactly what we made. Courtesy Chumma and his Craftsman drill.

With our street tuned Ace Fireball engine never having experienced the sustained stresses of the race track, I'd say let's chalk it up to a low tech, yet compelling example of racing improving the breed. Badger's adapt. The Badger's next race adventure on the 1/4 dirt oval of Oakland Valley Speedway will be the first test. Stay tuned. 

Cheers,

Leon