Automatic Scooters

[Angus]

I thought I would start this thread for those of you who have been posting here and on FB about bringing your automatic scooters out to the track. Just to make it really clear… you are absolutely welcome. Yes we have a strong contingent of vintage scooter racers. Yes vintage scooterists tend to hang out together off the track. At the track it’s not about the ride but about the speed. Two of the fastest scooters we regularly see are automatics. There is less of a rivalry between the vintage and automatics than there is between the small frame vintage and large frame vintage. When it comes down to it, we are all just small displacement motorcycle enthusiasts. If you’ve been thinking about racing your automatic scooter, suck it up, bring it to the track, and have some of the best fun to be had on two wheels.

If you have anything to say or ask about racing automatic scooters fee free to post it here. Most of the regulars on this board have a lot of experience with automatics and can help you get track ready.

See you at the track!
;D

[Angus]

Ok, so leading by example here…

I thought I would post about my automatic racer. I just finished the Yamaha Jog racer project. I’m really stoked to get it back on the track. The first round I had it out was a bit of a let down because I didn’t have it tuned properly so the speed just wasn’t there. Also, I found it cornered really well but I was limited by shitty street tires. Hopefully this thing will be way faster and corner like a Mo-Fo with a brand new set of TT92’s!

Here’s the breakdown…

I started with a 94 Yamaha Jog I got for $100. This was basically a rolling chassis with an engine. I bought it as a parts bike off Craigslist with no papers. It has the original Minerelli horizontal engine design that has been cloned by thousands of scooters, quads, and whatnot so there is lots of parts available.

I got lucky and found a Honda Dio parts bike with a killer front end including oil shocks, disc brake, wheel, and master cylinder. I swapped the whole front end over to the Jog. I paid $140 for the Dio and I still have it as another racer project (for sale if you’re interested).

Then I did out the engine…

- 70cc aluminum big bore kit with nicasil liner and bridged exhaust $140
- Race CDI with no rev limiter $25
- Race coil $25
- Expansion chamber exhaust $140
- Race Variator with slider weights $65
- It had a malossi 3 shoe clutch but a decent clutch is worth about $60
- Malossi clutch springs $20
- Performance torque spring $15
- 14/32 upgear kit $30
- 24mm OKO carb $75
- I made a custom reed block and manifold but you can buy a performance reed and manifold for $40
- Last but certainly not least is two Dunlop TT92 Mini GP race tires 90/90-10. I found these online for $58 delivered.

I think you can add some shop supplies and misc stuff for this build of about $100. So total build cost is around $1,100 bucks. Don’t forget I also ended up with a Honda Dio for that price.

Compared to my vintage racers this is less than ¼ of what they cost. Definitely the cheapest way to get out on the race track.

[paddyfitz]

Great thread/idea Angus!

[drat]

nice thread except your wrong about the rivalry.

Let me break down all the rivalries and who is better.

Auto>vintage

Italian auto> jap auto


And for the vintage battles.... lambretta >vespa

Now let the smack talking begin...

[Angus]

This from the jockey who doesn't care what he plants his ass on as long as it goes fast. Are we racing scooters or egos? (smack, smack, smack)

[Angus]

BTW Drat, your avatar is broken. You should really get that looked at.

[drat]

we are racing both egos and scooters, so far i win both, you my Canadian friend can live vicariously thru me and my avatar, which is broken on purpose, every thing I do is purposeful obviously, and calculated to exact measures, meant to manipulate and demean. i have already won the next 3 races because of this planning, although you yourself wont be able to discern this with your slow Vespasian mind until weeks after the entire season is over.

checkmate? i think so.

[Angus]

I went out to practice at GMR on Saturday. Got lots of track time in and was having a great day until the clutch in my vespa exploded. Then this happened...

Hope my shoulder recovers by the weekend.

[Angus]

And this is how my shoulder felt after I bailed...

[society]

did your chin look like a ball sack too?

[paddyfitz]

My sources say 'yes'.
;D ;D ;D

[Angus]

Hey, how'd those get up here?

[Angus]

Ok, so I thought I covered up my huge disappointment with my auto racer fairly well when we were in Medford. After all the work I have put into that thing it should be a terror on the track. The last race I did with it I didn't use the brakes for 10 laps!

Obviously I am missing something so last night I decided to have another look. The bottom of the engine shroud, which is always covered in oil and dirt, was a bit of a give away. I pulled it off and found a significant amount of two stroke oil. Strange being that I only premix. I pulled the flywheel and stator off and found large pools of two stroke oil.

Upon further inspection the flywheel side crank seal was not only unseated and tweaked sideways but also visibly damaged. If this was one of my Vespas I would have checked all the seals before taking it anywhere near a track. Goes to show what happens when you assume.

Anyway, if I get another seal and it's puts out the power its supposed to, I will bring it to Mac for the last race of the year. Look out JJ, I will give you the race we were supposed to have in Medford.

A

[j2]

bring it. I was only at half throttle. I felt bad for you.

[scootermeister]

My name is Alan (aka Scootermeister). I'm part of the Motor-Scooter International Land-Speed Federation (aka MSILSF) in SoCal. We're not pro or anti any thing, and we had both CVs and Shifters at Land Speed 2010. However we didn't have any vintage shifters at the Salton Seat T.T. 396-Mile X-Treme Endurance Race last March. I've had private conversations with some of the die hard vintage racers who apparently seriously believe that any one who rides a CV isn't worth racing against. MSILSF has gone to extraordinary lengths to maintain a level playing field, as evidenced by the establishment of a plethora of CV and Vintage Shifter classes, with trophies awarded in evey class in which there are entries. And we award the finest trophies in two-wheel motorsports. (Pix on our website at www.motorscooterlandspeedfederation.org.)

PSRA racers, both CV/Shifter and Vintage Shifter are always welcome at MSILSF events.

Standard Classes ~ CV and/or Shifter: 50cc, 70cc, 100cc, 125cc, 150cc, 175cc, 200cc, 250cc, 300cc, 400cc, 500cc, 650cc, Sidecar to 250cc (Designated Passenger Required), Sidecar 251+ (Designated Passenger Required)

Vintage "Shifter" Classes: Class I: Up to 100cc, Class II: 101cc to 125cc, Class III: 126cc to 150cc, Class IV: 151cc to 200cc, Class V: 201cc to 250cc, Class VI: 251 cc to 300cc