Team 3Up Racing - She lives!
 

Some of you may have read the thread where I asked for suggestions for a race team name. Well, the final choice was:

3UP RACING

For those with any interest, here is the latest update. I'll try to post additional updates as they happen and a diary of our racing success (or lack thereof).

Our team logo has been derived from a somewhat well known brand. Maybe we're hoping to get their sponsorship as well. :lol: (Hey, no s******ing at the back at my meager Photoshop skills!)


Bike preparations have started before Christmas, which must be a new record for us. Usually, it's all last minute stuff, although I am sure there will still be things that get sorted the morning of the first race.

My two mates on GSX-R750s have only minor preparations mostly limited to things like oil and filter change, new chain & sprocket, plugs, brake pads, etc. Basic stuff, really. It must be nice to race a production road bike that has long maintenance intervals.

For my own bike, it is slightly more involved. The engine is finally out of the bike and arrived at AJ Racing for a complete rebuild. Alan has already started dissassembly and I dread to think about all the bits that will need replacing. Here is how it left my place (minus the "top hat" enclosure):


The rest of the bike should be in decent condition. It will need a fork service, new brake pads all around, master cylinder rebuild, full brake service, full clutch service, and a few crash repairs such as new clutch cover, new peg and lever, etc.

We decided to spend a bit of money on fairings. You might say it's foolish and wouldn't entirely disagree with you. But, it will make for some great promo shots before any of the three bikes turn a wheel in anger. We plan on approaching some local businesses for minor sponsorship. Great pictures combined with a few trophies from last season should be good enough to mitigate the running expenses, hopefully. Guido (Cope Images)has graciously offered his by now very professional services to take proper snaps.

The fairing design is loosely based on Kenny Roberts famous Yamaha "speed block" scheme, although the yellow has been replace with red. We don't need a colour handicap! :lol: I'll post picture of the fairings when the painter is done with them, hopefully next week.

In the mean time, if anyone is able and willing to offer website services, preferrably on a pro bono basis, we would be delighted. We have a web site template (Dreamweaver, I believe) but don't have the skills to make it "work" for us.

Regards,
Felix

[Edited on 28-1-2005 by Felix]

[Edited on 25-3-2005 by Felix]

Look forward to seeing the paint job
I will have to try and keep track of the meetings you are racing in and try and get along and watch this year.

Felix

With the website, if you transfer your domain to One and One .co.uk and go for the Instant Domain (I Think) at about £2 a month they give you an 8 page website which is simple to do. I did mine in about an hour in total!

Good luck this year Felix - when I saw you at Donny you were mighty quick so I'm glad you didn't choose to run in Desmo Due :D

:lol:

Nice one Felix, look forward to seeing the (unscathed) bikes when you get to Donny/Oulton.

Does this mean that I can't park a yellow one in the same garage? (then again it might be a black one by then ;) )

About time, amen to that!

I did consider the DesmoDue but as I mentioned before, it just didn't fit with my plans. I am sure it would be good laugh to duke it out with you lot. In fact, I'll have to come and spectate for the first race. I'll be sat at the first corner of the first race.:D

And, Lily, 3Up is already a crowd. What are we gonna do when you'll make it 4?:lol: Colour clash will be the least of our worries! You're welcome anytime.

On the website front, we've already got a domain and space sorted, just need some content management. Too little time...:puzzled:

[Edited on 28-1-2005 by Felix]

Cheers Felix, if I get organised I will let you know and will stock up on biccies or even bring homemade cookies :)

Wish i could help on the website, but although its something i wouldn't mind having a go at I don't have any experience. maybe drop CRM250 a u2u as I know he has done another site and he might be able to give you some help or pointers.

Latest news is that my two mates were not too impressed with my initial efforts on the logo. So, another couple of hours later, we have version 2. What do you think?




[Edited on 1-2-2005 by Felix]

Felix,

Think the logo is looking pretty good mate.

As far as the website goes. I'm happy to have a go for you if you think my meagre efforts are to your liking / requirements.

Give me a shout if you do.

Gc

Race dates have just been confirmed:

2005 RACE DATES

• CROFT SATURDAY / SUNDAY APRIL 2ND / 3RD (Confirmed )
• ANGLESEY SUNDAY / MONDAY MAY 1ST / 2ND ( Bank Holiday )Confirmed
• CADWELL PARK SATURDAY / SUNDAY MAY 14TH & 15TH ( Full circuit )
• DONINGTON PARK SUNDAY MAY 29TH (National circuit )
• MALLORY PARK SUNDAY JULY 17TH ( CONFIRMED )
• SNETTERTON SATURDAY / SUNDAY JULY 23RD & 24TH
• CADWELL PARK SATURDAY / SUNDAY AUGUST 13TH & 14TH ( Full circuit )
• OULTON PARK SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3RD ( Full circuit )
• MALLORY SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11TH ( CONFIRMED )

If you're interested in having a laugh (at my expense, most likely) come to the Cadwell, Donington, and Oulton Rounds. As much I would like to do all of them, it isn't likely to happen due to time constraints. The rest of the 3Up Racing Team (2Up I suppose) should be at all of the rounds.

Well, quite a bit has happened since the last update. All three bikes are fully prepped and ready to race. Just today, with the generous help of Guido of cope-images, we finally been able to document the finished product. Unfortunately, our third team member (also a Suzuki GSXR-750) couldn't make to official team photoshoot. Nonetheless, the result was worth all the hard work and we can't wait for the first race at Croft (see above for dates).

Here are a few samples of Guy's handy work:






[Edited on 20-3-2005 by Felix]

Nice work Felix, looking good!!

would make sur eyou get booked on the August No Limits day at Oulton as I believe its booking up fast!

I need at least another five seconds before i consider applying for my licence so I reckon I may be spectating not racing :D

So, where are at time wise around Oulton, Lily?

The Bikes look great and will certainly get noticed among the sea of semi standard paint jobs on the grid.

Good luck for the season.

Regards,

Cheers, Garry. What are your plans for the season?

Garry's plans are to Beat Deano on his 998R and Andy on the Spiderman Aprillia, that way he stands a chance of wining the North Glos SoT championship.
But Garry will still have to keep a eye out for last years championship winner Mark as CSC Racing have still got there 996RS and intend to do the odd round when they're not racing in europe.

Felix your bike looks awesome I think a feature on it in Pronto is in order.

Thanks, Kev. It's been a LOT of work. And money. Pleased with results, though, especially the paintwork, even though it will likely not last very long.:(

Kudos to Fordie for mocking up the Rossi speedblock paintjob in red. Not all stickers are on yet. Still lots of panel space available. Any sponsors out there?:lol:

Here is a high res shot:

Plans
 

Hi Felix,
Plans for this season at the moment are to try and do the full calendar with NG in S.O.T - there are a lot of circuits that I have never been to so I will have a lot to learn.

I would also like to do the odd meeting with other clubs if possible i.e New Era and I really like the idea of the DP F750/Twins so might even make it to a meeting with you and the lads.

Regards,

Best of luck for the season, Garry. Yeah, would be fab to be on the same grid with another DSC member (aside from Weeksy, of course). I aim to be at Cadwell and Donington in May (see above for dates).

The 750/twins, or Thunderbikes as DP now calls the class, is really full this year. The grid at Croft in a week's time is full! That's 40 riders! Last season is was about half that size. It's mostly GSXR-750s, a number of Aprilias, a few Ducatis, and the odd ZXR, etc.

Hope to see you there!

After the static photo shoot last weekend, it was time to tie up all the loose ends and fire it up.

After filling all the vital fluids, double checking all the bolts, nuts, clamps, screw, filler caps, electrical bits, it was time. With the coils disconnected, the starter is turned a few times to get oil up to the heads and build up some oil pressure. Then, reconnect the coild, press the starter, and she fires on the first spark! Let her get fully warm and give her some careful revs and everything looks good.

That's it! She is ready to race! Can't wait.

Lastly, I weighed the bike front and rear, fully wet: full water, oil, and about 10 laps worth of fuel.
Front: 84 kg
Rear: 75.5 kg
Total: 159.5 kg

And that's with a starter motor and bigger battery! Well pleased with that as it means it easily get 1 HP per kg. At a guess the dry weight is probably around 150 kg. Should be fun!

[Edited on 26-3-2005 by Felix]

Boy I wish I was there when that beast sparked into Life Felix.

Thought I heard something today when pottering in my Ducati graveyard of a garage.

P.S. Did U get my email re. case study text???:puzzled:

Spk soon GC

52.6/47.4 front to rear split sounds pretty good to me :D

Felix,

What have you done to the bike to shed so much weight? My SPS sems to weigh considerably more than my mates GSXR1000 (haven't weighed it but just pushing them around and up into the van mine is definately much heavier and its got shed loads of carbon bits and light weight wheels etc.)

Nothing, it's the way it came from Ducati.