If you like our site, please consider joining our club!
By joining you will help ensure that we can continue to provide this service
JOIN HERE!

German Singles Drag Race

User avatar
San Arthur
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

German Singles Drag Race

Post by San Arthur »

My good friend Chris King lives in Alpine, Texas.
Image Image

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

Image

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

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

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?
Image

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.
ImageClick-Here

Suggestions for a fun race? Race could be next weekend.
San Arthur in San Antonio, Texas
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD

User avatar
jwonder
Posts: 784
Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2016 7:50 pm
Location: Long Island, New York
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 7 times
Contact:

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by 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!!
James Wonder
Vice President, Vintage BMW Motorcycle Owners
2022 BMW Friend Of the Marque
Long Island, New York

dosgatos
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 2:58 pm

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by 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.

User avatar
schrader7032
Posts: 9016
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:00 am
Location: San Antonio, TX
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 29 times

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by 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? :lol:
Kurt in S.A.
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.

User avatar
San Arthur
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by 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
San Arthur in San Antonio, Texas
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD

User avatar
bmwsog
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Mar 19, 2014 2:53 pm

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by 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....
LTC R Marriott--Current-1951 R-51/3
1962 R 69 S 1975 SS R-90 S
Past:1974 SS R 90 S, 74 R 90 , 77 R 100S, 1960 R 50/2,1973 R 75/5, 1977 R 75/7, 1977 R 100 , 1972 R 75 /5

User avatar
San Arthur
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by San Arthur »

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

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.

Image

Image Image Image
Image

Click Here for video

I had what I think amounts for a 2 HP of breakfast. I lost any advantage I could have.
Image
San Arthur in San Antonio, Texas
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD

User avatar
San Arthur
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Race morning

Post by San Arthur »

Race morning.

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

Last minute tunning for both German singles.

Image

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

Image

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.
Image

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

Image

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.

Image

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

Image

ImageClick 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!

Image


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

Image

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

ImageClick for video

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

Image

It was great fun and love riding the roads around Alpine, Marfa, Ft. Davis and the McDonald Observatory.
San Arthur in San Antonio, Texas
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD

User avatar
San Arthur
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Next BMW Single Cylinder Race

Post by San Arthur »

Drive back home.

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

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

Image

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

Image

Image

ImageClick 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!!

Image

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?
Image
San Arthur in San Antonio, Texas
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD

User avatar
San Arthur
Posts: 577
Joined: Sun Apr 22, 2007 2:08 pm
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Has thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: German Singles Drag Race

Post by San Arthur »

jwonder wrote:
Tue Aug 10, 2021 11:52 am
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.
San Arthur in San Antonio, Texas
'58 R26 '76 R90S '88 R100RS '94 R100GS/PD

Post Reply