WIR’s Top 10 Bikes – er, Boats…
The lowdown on Wisco-
As you know by now, we here at Creative-Riding are into a little-known but growing faction of drag racers up in Wisconsin known as WIR’s Top 10 Bikes. If you write that closely it looks like WIRTOPIO’S BIKES, leaving many of us to wonder, ‘Who is this Wirtopio, and what are his/her bikes?’.
It turns out that Wirtopio is not a person, but might as well be a malicious wizard who maligns the skies over Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna. It seems that, even in the midst of summer, Wirtopio is summoning rain and wind that could inspire Gordon Lightfoot to write another ballad about the legend near the Great Lake that the Chippewa called Itchee Booti… the Wreck of the Betty White, Junkyard Dog or Scrap Pile.
Despite their best efforts, the List crew has only been able to hack out a few rounds of racing in between squalls, breakdowns and taco benders. The podcast also been a notorious damper on the WIR Top 10 races, as each time they are anticipated in conversation, the next round runs afoul.
It’s almost uncanny how crazy the weather and other shenanigans have been, Wirtopio the Weather Wizard not withstanding, so we’ve enlisted the help of a Wisco native to help shed some light on the recent updates and racing attempts.
Who better to fill us in on the happenings in Kaukauna than NitrousChris, current #3 on the infamous list.
What the Shit?/Photo-Chris Singsime
The Following words by NitrousChris:
The “list”
UGH! mother nature hates us! 3rd event was a rain out, make up date was a rain out, And now our 4th event was rained out after 1st round! The weather looked sketchy most of the drive up, but they got the track dried and the sun even came out! we got 2 test runs in before we went into list races. The track was LOOSE to put it best. First pass I spun at the hit and most of the way down. the cool, damp weather did a number on the available traction! I made a shock and tire psi adjustment for my 2nd pass. It was ALMOST a good pass! ran clean but still had slight tire spin. But it was better and we all have the same surface to fight! So I started to get ready for first round against Gulmire. He had lane choice since I called him out. I knew I cant to chop the tree down to hang with him on the slick tire bike. I didn’t see his time slip, but I think I actually got the tree on him, but it was short lived. I got into tire spin about 30 feet out and he pulled out on me. I tried to catch him but with no nitrous I wasn’t gonna make it up fast! about 300 feet out the bike nosed over real bad. It happened so fast I wasn’t even sure of the cause. It came back on real quick, but the race was over. The bike still seemed to be running good, so I was confused. But anyway, losing to Gulimire is fine by me! he puts in the hard work and effort and was the better rider on a faster bike that day. At the turn off after that pass, I thought…its dark as shit down here and smells like rain! I headed back to the pits and the rain came! Too much too fast and the track was soaked, just couldn’t get it dried. That led to some good pit chats and the plan to go get Mexican food! Gulmire, Schuh, Durant, and myself headed out to eat mass quantities of spicy goodness! Unfortunately the weather kept a few people on both lists from trying to make the trip. Been a broken record kid of year. But now is the break I have been nursing my wounded bike to. She was huffing oil pretty good Friday, and I have been collecting parts for a mid season upgrade and refresh. Since KOTS, I have had 2 cylinders down about 60 psi on compression and the crank case vent catch can, fills up and spits oil. I have stainless valves to put in, new cams, valve springs, bearings and rings. there is 3 seasons on the top end stuff! Hope to make it to the 18th event (make up race).
Throttle bodies/Photo-Christopher Minnich
The rest of the 1st round list races that night, were not SUPER exciting because of the no shows, and the people that wanted to try to gain spots got stuck waiting for first round to pan out, it really was a mess. Jake Roberts broke an axle adjuster and kicked the chain off after one pass so he was out. Michelle had a bye run and it was a good pass! Aaron schuh is doin real good on his stock wheelbase 1000 and is super close to a 9 second pass! I wish I had more overall details on everyone for ya, but I got busy on the tuning and laptop business, looking for a reason my bike nosed over and cleaning oil off EVERYTHING! oddly enuf I found my issue on the drive home. I was thinking, it wouldn’t nose over so hard like that just my getting into the rev limiter, I bet the key switch has a short (its a little fella for a golf cart) So when I got to the shop I started the bike in the trailer and started to flip the key chain around. SUPRISE! it cut the bike off! THE GOD DAMN KEY CHAIN WAS CATCHING WIND AND TUGGING THE KEY AND KILLING THE BIKE! FUUUUUUCK! LOL! I already ordered a key switch eliminator from woodcraft. If we didn’t tinker and try to overcome our competition, we would get bored!