Paint removal system

There is no paint whatsoever remaining on the forward facing edges of the wheely bars after Saturdays Kirkbride event. The amount of gravel that was pelted at them by the permanently spinning back tyre was enough to sandblast them down to bare metal.
I went up with my Nephew and regular crew dude - James. we nearly didn't make it at all after the van decided i didn't want a battery anymore and disconnected itself, i just tightened the terminals a bit and it was fine.... weird!
On arrival the track was still wet and incredibly slippery. The runway hasn't been used enough to prevent nature reclaiming it, and lichen and other greenery has started to grow all over it, so when it's wet it's slippery even to stand on.
At the riders briefing it transpired that immediately after the finish line there was a public right of way running straight across the runway, it was also used by 2 local residents to access their properties and a local HGV company. The residents were aware that there was an event going on and so would stop at the edge before crossing but we were to be aware that someone might cross. Nobody did that i noticed but the fact that Heavy goods vehicles used it, meant that there were 2 large grooves where the tyres had run over the years. With no suspension it was a hard impact when you hit those.
So other than the danger of being hit by a car, the main problems were the lack of grip and the bumps.

I've mentioned in previous posts that i wanted to go to this event to try and set up the clutch......... I didn't.
It wasn't possible, because as soon as the lockup locked the clutch up the tyre would just spin wildly, leaving black stripes right up to the point where you just had to back off due to the amount of sideways-ness that was happening. I'd use full throttle for the launch but then back off as the tyre started to spin, and touch full throttle again for a moment just after half track and that was about it.
I shortshifted gears to try and keep the power off too but without much effect. It reminded me a lot of riding motorcross or even speedway the way the back end was just permanently loose under power... it couldn't be called drag racing really but you had a big grin on your face regardless.
Some good points from this event....

• I did get used to just throwing the clutch lever out - it seemed to work well until it locked and lost traction.
• I got quite a few runs in - 6 in all so nearly doubled the number full runs I've made so far
• I realize now that a rigid - slick and bars bike is only good on a smooth and prepped track, and that just how good Santa Pod and Shakespeare county are.
• If the bopchop can survive the bumps of that track it can survive anything!
• My slick is now fully worn out so the brand new Mickey Thompson can go for the next event
• It was fun but i knew i couldn't go any faster without seriously damaging something... me or the bike. On every single run i had to tighten stuff afterwards - the shift light, despite being cable tied into place would fall out, the switches on the dash came loose and just flapped about, and the chain guard started to disassemble itself.

And lastly i suppose i better post some times ... i laughed after first one because I'm sure we went faster in the van on the way there. But anyway ... here they are:

1. 12.10 - 76mph
2. 12.22 - 108mph
3. 11.43 - 104mph
4. 12.19 - 100mph
5. 11.14 - 114mph
6. 11.44 - 111mph

60ft times were useless due to the amount of wheel spin.
I don't think i could have gone any faster and so we headed home.