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12-year-old junior rider Charlie Ollinger has named/nicknamed his
streamliner "Weaselbike,"
and on Tuesday morning he qualified by riding it under control in windy
conditions. |
Here's the 108-tooth chainring on the Slovenian Eivie bike. Yes, I counted
them. Notice that
it wraps only partway around the outside of the drive cogs; this reverses
the direction the wheel spins, since the rider is on his back riding headfirst. The bike only
has 5 speeds.
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Jeff Bales works on his Lunatic Fringe streamliner. Jeff got a good maiden
voyage on Tuesday
morning despite gusty winds. He rode without the canopy and found that the
winds didn't seem
to bother the bike's handling at all--he could ride in a straight line
wherever he wanted to on the road, so he received clearance to run on S.R. 305 tonight!
Modifications made yesterday and today include improving clearance for the rear wheel,
replacing the wireless camera system with a wired system, inserting rubber dampers for the
fairing, and constructing wheel disc covers.
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| Jurij (Yuri) ? constructs plastic wheelcovers for the front of the
Slovenian Eivie bike. |
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This is the view
from the launching area, looking north on S.R. 305, about 20
miles south of Battle Mountain. Note the duct-tape staging
numbers on the right lane. Also note the interesting contrast
between flat valley floor and rugged surrounding peaks.
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| Sam Whittingham warms up on a trainer at the start area Tuesday
evening |
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Thom Ollinger's Coslinger Special waits near the start area Tuesday. Thom
scratched his run
because of gusty wind conditions. It used to be a camera bike, but after
Sean Costin crashed
it racing at the Northbrook, Illinois velodrome in 2002 the decision was
made to raise the
seat angle and add a canopy.
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| Joe Kochanowski puts some finishing touches on the chassis of his Varna
clone streamliner. Note the complex joints and tube angles, which were beautifully welded. The
long projection out front is to support the fairing. |
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Damjan puts final
tape over the fairing of the Eivie streamliner, while Bill
Patterson watches the jerry-rigged ventilation unit pumps air
to keep Matjaz cool. Just prior to launch a plastic window
will be fitted over the opening above the rider's
head. The two fairing halves are actually screwed together, so
it takes some time to get the rider out
after a run.
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Matjaz Leskovar
warms up on the "backwards" Eivie bike Tuesday
evening, while mechanic
Damjan ? looks on. Notice the huge 108-tooth chainring, and
also the navigation mirror in front of his face. The yellow
hose is used to pump air for ventilation into the fairing to
keep the rider cool while waiting to launch; it is powered by
an air-conditioner fan "borrowed" from the nice
silver rental truck! |
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Rob Wood's Norus
streamliner (left) and Thom Ollinger's Coslinger Special share
space in Rob's trailer. They came from the Dayton, Ohio area.
Hanging in the background is Rob's Barcroft Oregon FWD
lowracer.
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Three bikes wait on
S.R. 305 for their runs Tuesday evening. Fred Markham in the
Diablo Mephisto is near left. Gardner Martin's Virtual Rush is
behind the Mephisto, and the Eivie "backwards" bike
is behind the Mephisto. Behind the Eivie bike is a semi,
patiently waiting during the half-hour road closure. He wished
us well when he was finally
released! |
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The Eivie "backwards" bike is successfully
launched on its way to recording a 63.25 mph
speed Tuesday evening.
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Mack Martin and Gardner Martin launch the Virtual Rush containing Mackey
Martin on Tuesday
evening. Mackey recorded a speed of 52.68 mph |
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Joe Kochanowski waits in his Varna clone for his Tuesday evening launching,
as various race officials, other race teams, and volunteers watch (or not).
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| ? launches Joe on his maiden run, which netted him a speed of 45.92 mph in
windy conditions! |
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Charlie Ollinger (left) and Chris Broome lower the canopy of the Diablo
Mephisto over Fred Markham before his Tuesday evening run.
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| Final preparations are made to Fred Markham in the Diablo Mephisto before
he launching for his Tuesday evening run. Fred dropped a chain at mile 3.5 and coasted all
the way in, for possibly a new WHPSC coasting record? |
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Sam Whittingham adjusts his helmet as ? readies the launching dolly for the
Varna Diablo. Sam's wife Andrea Blaesecki prepares to help install the canopy.
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Sam is launched on his way to a 76.61 mph run Tuesday evening.
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