Some superb pictures from the official photographer at Santa Pod. Kind thanks to Ian Blackett (www.blackettphotography.com) for permission to use them.
14.1245 seconds @ 96.53mph ... the quickest recorded time in the UK by an electric motorcycle.
The hard work has paid off - we set out to beat 14.998 seconds and smashed it. Here are some shots from the paddock on the day...
For more details see www.weald-evt.co.uk
All re-assembled, and off to Shoreham again. This should have been for ITV Meridian to film us, but they cancelled so we took the opportunity to do some 1/8 mile testing and data collection. This would be our last chance to test before Santa Pod.
Because we hadn't been able to do a full 1/4 mile run we checked our stats against the 1/8 mile time set by Kingston University back in 2009. We seemed to be about level with their bike and were still pulling strongly, so, as best I could tell, all was looking good...
According to the data it looked like we could run slightly longer gearing, so I ordered a new rear sprocket from B&C Express - the largest one they do at 60 teeth. These guys do a brilliant service with one-off sprockets made-to-order in just a couple of days. With Santa Pod just a couple of days away the bike was in bits again whilst I modified the drive...
Next stop Santa Pod... For more details see www.weald-evt.co.uk
Off to the test track to see how the changes fare. Once again we had a beautiful spring day with great weather.
Unfortunately, on the way there, Rob with the bike in the back of his van had to take emergency action to avoid a cyclist and the fairing took quite a hit, so we're running without it today. We'll need a new one...
I'm pleased to say all went well with the bike. As we need a new fairing Rob offered to get 'Dark Rider Paint Works' to paint it. He took the seat and tank unit with him to get those done too. A couple of weeks later, just in time for our final test before Santa Pod they arrived looking fabulous.
For more details see www.weald-evt.co.uk
Back in the workshop to modify various parts as a result of feedback from Rob Moon at the last test. Mainly this involved changing the seating position, fairing height, replacing the fork oil seals, the front disc, and the master cylinder seals.
So the bike went up on the bench and strip-down commenced...
For more details see www.weald-evt.co.uk
The bike is back in the workshop ready for adjustments, parked alongside the speedway project (see www.electricspeedway.posterous.com for details of this)
I was delighted to have our local MP, Charles Hendry, UK Minister for Energy, come to see what Weald EVT are up to. He spent over an hour learning about what we're up to and asking how he could help.
He wrote about the visit on his website...
After a very successful first test it's back to the workshop to make a few changes. Nothing major, little things like damper settings, seat position, lowering the fairing so Rob can tuck in more. The drive-train behaved faultlessly all day.
Some more runs. Rob completes a couple of shakedown runs and identifies a few things to adjust...
At last, the first chance to get out on the test track. It's a straight 1/4 mile run end-to-end so we couldn't get full speed out of the bike but Rob was just short of 90mph just past the eighth-mile mark which bodes well for our proper 1/4-mile runs.
Who's who? Well, I'm in the blue jumper or green polo-shirt, Owen Evans (http://www.furnacedesign.co.uk/) is in the grey T-shirt - he organised getting access to the track - thanks Owen! - and Rob Moon is in the black jacket or racing leathers. We managed about 6 or 7 trips (12-14 runs up the track and back) during the session.
Follow the action from unloading the trailer through to loading up at the end of the session. In this set we unload the bike, Rob checks it all out, and prepares to take his first run...
For more details see www.weald-evt.co.uk
There haven't been major updates recently, it's all focussed on making small changes and improvements. I stripped the larger battery pack down to improve the enclosure and make the mounting more secure, which took a while to sort out, and I've been generally tidying up and checking everything fits and works as it should. I also used the opportunity to take a lot of pictures (see below) and a couple of videos.
Some shots of the drive train...
And the bike with the bodywork fitted...
For more details see
www.weald-evt.co.uk
Phil Edwards is a designer, engineer, and thinker.