Team Alf’s Endurance Racing - 2008
Team Alf’s Endurance Racing recently competed in the 2008 24 hour motorcycle endurance race at The circuit De Bugatti Le Mans. 19th - 20th April 2008.
Returning to the race event two weeks after testing at the same circuit, the team were hoping a top ten finish would reward all the hard work and investment by Alf and his small but dedicated team.
The Kawasaki ZX-10R Was retained after 2008 after it’s debut at the same circuit last year. There were many reasons for not campaigning the all new ZX-10R which boiled down to an already mainly prepped set of matching 2007 models.
The spec is endless with many bespoke parts and to source the similar kit to fit the new bike would have been nigh on impossible without factory or race support which The team don’t currently receive, being as it is entirely funded by Alf and some very important sponsors without whom the team could not exist.
Why after so many years the team have not received the credit they deserve after so much faith in the product, time, development, investment and sheer determination I am not a party to, but it does show commitment to the product and the belief that there is no better bike than a Kawasaki and to prove it they are prepared to enter it into (to my mind) probably one of the sternest races out there. Le Mans and most other 24 hour races are such gruelling events. a true test of any machine’s prowess.
Here now follows a spec sheet of the machine, just in case you were wondering how close to standard it might be.
Superbike TTX Rear shock. That’s right it might just as well be made of gold!
Harris off set yokes
Complete QD assembly for both wheels. No messin’
Twin 4-pot endurance monoblock calipers
Hideously expensive ultra special endurance compound pads for aforementioned calipers, (at least two pairs of fronts throughout the race).
QD Staubli assisted brake line fittings
Goodridge Hose. Thanks to the guys in Exeter!!
AP 2 pot rear caliper
4 sets of 16.5 inch Marchesini mag wheels
305mm Brembo front discs
24 litre fuel tank incorporating seat unit filled with anti explosive spongy stuff
Twin fuel fillers to fit dump tank. Large!
Adjustable ratio Brembo front brake master cylinder
Fairings and bodywork all light weight race use only.
Skidmarx screens. Top screens lads, Road or race these guys probably do one for your bike
GPR radial steering damper. Like what the latest Blades are kitted with.
Harris QD clip on handlebars
Huge radiator and bespoke ‘swell pot’
Full Akrapovic exhaust system
Power commander mapped on own dyno plus quick shifter
Switchable mapping
Standard engine except blueprinted and modified gearbox
Uprated clutch
Quick action throttle
AIM Dash. That’s one of those expensive set of digi clocks that store data and allow downloading of all the info collected whilst the bike is circulating.
Suspension potentiometers
Lighting system modified to suit regulations
Luminescent number board Alf was really chuffed with that little bit of trickery
Carbon/Kevlar engine and frame protectors
Swing arm mods to aid QD of wheels
Bespoke sub frame, battery tray and brackets
Rodamoto rear sets.
Cross over linkage for gear shift Road or race.
That’s about it without going into too much detail, naturally there are two similar bikes pretty much kitted the same. It’s fair to say the bike took its fair share of race incidents, but the bike pushed through it all to record another finish for the Worthing based team.
Race finish 31st out of 56 original entrants. Fastest lap 1min 42.5
It did however increase the carbon footprint somewhat…
Consumption consisted of
674 litres of special petrol, only sold at the circuit and mandatory usage
3.5 litres of oil
16 front tyres Dunlop by name with differing compounds to suit race conditions (plus three wets)
19 rear tyres, as above (plus five wets)
3 sets of bodywork
1 footpeg
1 gear change lever
2 handlebars
Pair of twist grips
Various engine guards.
Getting the show on the road for the one race is like a Pink Floyd album cover, the equipment is endless, and it’s all gotta fit pretty much in a 7.5 tonne truck. Including fully equipped mobile kitchen and food, tents and marquees, timing box and equipment, miles of cable and racks of tools, lighting gantry, chairs benches, bedding, the list of minutei goes on, but enough impermanent infrastructure if that’s not a contradiction of terms to feed, clothe, cook, house, and support twenty people for well over a week for most of the team.
The race day alone usually involves a typical red eye of 40 hours, not counting the travelling, organization, night practice qualifying and practise sessions, when you hear about mechanics ‘working through the night on the telly,’ it’s true, if there is a problem, a tweak or an adjustment it has to be done regardless of the time of day it is.
Oh and by the way t all costs a barrel load of wedge, so please don’t be shy if you think you can help the team, they are a friendly bunch and welcome any assistance you can. If you can’t, grab a team shirt from the shop in Dominion Road Worthing, all the proceeds get pumped back into the team effort.
Just one more list to go…
The sponsors so far
Dave Evans Marks Bloom Accountancy
WEMoto West Sussex, parts and accessories guru’s
The indomitable ‘Turps’ Hi Vac Engineering - Hastings
Silkolene oils
Goodridge Brake lines
Chris at Skidmarx screens
Dynojet UK
Paint by Laurence at ARC
Nick at VA signs
There’s a bit of video footage accompanying this blog Soon) after all the words, the pics you see are from ‘Yeah him again JB‘ with a link to his total album of pix covering the event, so you can see for yourself.
The bike has not been cleaned or prepped after passing the finishing line and getting clearance from park ferme.
For more information on prepping your bike or just needing race parts ordered fitted etc, just nip in and say hi to Alf,and or call the shop number. They do have a dyno at their disposal and know how to use it for any set up or engine mapping you may require.
Enjoy the pix and the video clip.!!
DT6.5.08
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