We set a record at the World of Speed. Stainless and I and his friend Bark decided to stay over a couple of days to watch the Shootout. I was more interested in the Mike Akatiff liner and the Mike Charlton jet bike. Rocky made two runs today. I talked to Rocky after the first run, and he said the liner was pulling to the right, he thought it might be wind, but it wasn't. After the run they decided that it was the rear chute doors. When they received the aerodynamics report, they had adjusted the rear doors to an inch and a half opening. They felt that this hadn't worked, and readjusted the rear doors to a knife edge as originally designed. They then taped some aerodynamic improvement things onto each side of the parachute doors. Then they turned the bike around and made another pass. No improvement. The last I heard they took the bike back to the pits. It's hearsay that they are removing the doors. They're planning to make an early morning run. Rocky says that the bike has more power than it ever has before, and if they solve the handling the record is in sight.
Now for the Mike Charlton jet bike. The first day was eaten up with problems with the fuel pressure to the gas tank. Mike tried to start the bike several times, but due to low pressure it never really started running like it should. The fuel pressure problem was solved, and then there was starter problems. They disassembled and cleaned the starter, and determined that the 24 volt battery pack was not doing it's thing. I offered mike my batteries and my battery charger, which has a 200 amp starting circuit. The jet bike was on the trailer. I told Mike to follow me to the Red Garder. My trailer was parked alongside Stainless' trailer. We hooked up my starting batteries, and with my 200 amp booster circuit, and with his generator mounted on the front of his trailer, providing power to my battery charger, the generator was able to spin the jet engine fast enough to turn the fuel on and hit the ignition switch for a clean start. So he'll more than likely be able to make a run tomorrow morning.
Max