After having ignition problems at our last two outings (Barber & New Blaine) which resulted in DNFs, I decided to give PVL a try. I installed new PVL ignitions on Christopher's and the Brian K loaner (Six Day –Sachs) Friday afternoon. (My BB Berkshire is still down with a busted piston). It took about 3 hours for both bikes. I set the timing at 2.8mm (0.108"). The install was a piece of cake. We headed to the races at Aonia Pass, GA. Saturday & Sunday. Our Penton's won everything in MX (8 motos), not just class wins but first across the finish line against bigger and more modern bikes. In CC we were 1 & 2. I'm a believer. It also helped to have fresh Doug Wilford engines. The interesting thing is that the engines are stock except for 28mm Mikuni & PVL. I'm trying to convice myself that reliability is superior to high performance if the HP engines fail to finish.
The Brian K bike is a 6A with heavier crank. With the PVL small internal rotor, the engine revs quicker and is a pleasure to race. The PVL on Christopher's 6B makes the engine into a real "revy" machine and is good for an experience/aggressive rider. In slick conditions the 6B might need an additional flywheel weight. It is great to have this adjustability. With the PVL, our ignition problems are behind us ... and so is the competition :D
Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN
Hey Ernie,
As you're finding out, a well tuned, reliable Penton can win without all the trick, high performance stuff. Reliability is much more important than wringing an engine within the last few horsepower of its life.
Great job at Aonia Pass!
Kent
Kent,
Your words are so true. However, maybe it is my early background racing Hodaka's where we were constantly installing reed valves, raising exhaust ports, shaving heads, drilling holes in pistons, down pipes ... that makes me want to hop-up my engines. Not always the most wise thing to do, but it sure is fun when it works! That said, 2007 was a learning year for us. We were racing "unknown bikes" and were lucky to not have any more problems than we did. In 2008 we hope to have 2 mostly stock motor bikes to race CC, 1 complete spare "mule motor" bike in stand-by and 1 hot rod for MX. We better get to work and ... we are HAVING FUN.
Ernie P.
Chattanooga, TN
Ernie and Kent: Thank you for your comments. It is difficult to preach reliability and get the point across when talking to old "H" brand riders.
Have Fun!
Doug