German Singles Drag Race

[San Arthur]

My good friend Chris King lives in Alpine, Texas.


He is a BMW specialist, prepares BMW for serious off roading and restores vintage BMW.




Since he also owns a perfectly tuned single, I dared him to a race. I trailered Zenaida and left it in Alpine.


While both our singles have the same final ratio my R26 has 3 hp less than his R27.


I’m on a diet and I have a question, how many pounds do I need to lose to compensate for the 3 hp difference?


A straight-line race would be to boring and a Café Race is out of the question.
Instead we will hold a beer and/or bratwurst race.
Click-Here

Suggestions for a fun race? Race could be next weekend.

[jwonder]

Zeneida looks gorgeous as always!

Owning two singles and knowing their pitfalls, following would be my kind of race:

1) Stone cold start. Each kick adds 30 seconds to your start time. Obligatory 4 minutes for engine warm-up and then add the 30 seconds on for each kick. So, two kicks = 5 minutes to wait until you start to roll. Clock starts together and each starts kicking at the same time.

2) 10 mile ride obeying the speed limits. Getting the motor, etc nice and hot.

3) Gymkhana course of cones. Each cone touched/hit = 30 seconds wait time at the end.

4) Full stop and engine turn off for 5 minutes.

5) Hot start test. Each kick = 30 seconds wait time AFTER the engine starts.

6) 1 mile dash to the finish line.

You will test all aspects of the singles, and I think it would be fun. If it was closer to me I would join!!

[dosgatos]

I wish I was near you so I could enter my 1953 R25/3 in this race. It is capable of beating the average riding mower. The factory claimed 13 hp for this model, but with about 2,000 miles on a totally rebuilt motor it developed 7.11 hp on a dyno. Yet even with this limited power it can do about 65mph solo, and 50mph with my Steib LS200.

[schrader7032]

The thought of an R25/3 on a dyno just makes me smile! Hard to believe that the machine would even work for something that small and would it even be that accurate at the low end of the scale?

[San Arthur]

The race is on!
My wife and I will be driving tomorrow to Alpine and spending the weekend at the Holland.
Will be sending updates. Hwy90 to Marfa of 118 to Ft. Davis.

Saludos

[bmwsog]

This must have been interesting. Kevin Reimer's R 27 would have done well.
I still have'nt gotten my little R 27 yet.
You were in serious US Border Patrol country. Stations at Alpine and Marfa.
As a former INS Special Agent, know the area....

[San Arthur]

We had a wonderful drive to Alpine. Since we left after Lorena’s work we hit the road around 6PM.


Race morning.

You can’t start the day or a race before a good breakfast. We walk down Main St. to Judy’s Bread & Breakfast.
The weather was in the 70's, yes the 70's.






Click Here for video

I had what I think amounts for a 2 HP of breakfast. I lost any advantage I could have.

[San Arthur]

Race morning.

The pit crew was ready and enthusiastically waiting for my arrival.


Last minute tunning for both German singles.



Decided to use the Davida and remove the wind screen for aerodynamic reasons. I cut the wind like a knife.



The start line was on Hwy 118, just in front of the Alpine Casparis Municipal Airport with the finish line at the Family Dollar Store at the entrance of Fort Davis.

The race!!

We stopped for gas before heading out.


A 21.5 miles flat-out race, ok not so flat and not so much of a race.



The airport is at 4515 feet above sea level passing thru the mountains at 5000 ft, ending in Ft. Davis at 4896 feet. Divide that by 2HP and multiply by a Cowboy Breakfast, I will only say: I need a rematch.



I’m convinced the extra gravy and grits were a mistake.



Click for video of race

While in a straight line I could keep up with Chris’ R27, but as soon as we reach the hills he left me behind. (18HP at 7400rpm vs 15HP at 6400rpm) torque is everything!




After the race Lorena and I went looking for the Cow Dog but is closed until September.



Chris invited us for a late lunch at the Spicewood for great food and live music.

Click for video

And went for a night cup at the Paisano Hotel in Marfa.



It was great fun and love riding the roads around Alpine, Marfa, Ft. Davis and the McDonald Observatory.

[San Arthur]

Drive back home.

Woke up early for church and head for breakfast at Magoo’s Café.


I decided to start a strict diet soon, or get a twin.



We took Hwy 90 instead of IH10 back home. We stopped in Marathon to buy a pint of beer.





Click for video

And as tradition mandates, we stopped at the Judge Roy Bean Museum in Langtry to say hi to the super nice ladies managing the museum and stretch our legs walking thru the Judge Bean headquarters.
Is a must visit!!



Calling all German Single Cylinder Riders, would you be interested in participated in the next edition of this “race”? All BMW single cylinder, R27 and older machines are welcome.

There are several hotels in Alpine to stay and plenty of room to store trailers for a nice weekend of riding. Any takers for an October race?



Are really two jugs better then one?

[San Arthur]

Zeneida looks gorgeous as always! THANKS

Owning two singles and knowing their pitfalls, following would be my kind of race:
......
You will test all aspects of the singles, and I think it would be fun. If it was closer to me I would join!!

Thanks for your kind suggestions but after a heavy breakfast kick starting competition was not applying hahahahaha.