MPS/Thyen Racing
Pro Mod Race Report
About the bike: This bike is a totally unique combination for Pro Mod. It starts with a highly modified Suzuki Hayabusa powerplant with an MPS billet block, JE Pistons, Crower rods, Cooper Performance cylinder head with Kibblewhite valves, APE springs and cylinder studs in an Innovative Performance Racing chassis. It features what we call “MPS Lethal Injection,” a combination of MPS Spyder Dry Nitrous system and the new Holley Dominator ECU. This custom EFI/nitrous system controls all motorcycle functions including data logging. It is currently the quickest and fastest EFI/Nitrous motorcycle.
11/13/2011: MPS/Thyen Racing Get First Win!!! We had made several changes to the bike since the last time out and were hoping to run in the 4.20s at the Manufacturers Cup. This is the biggest all motorcycle drag race event in the world, so we wanted to do well. The first run on Friday’s test session was a 4.41. We had a gremlin that would wind up costing us 2 of the 3 qualifying runs. Our backs were against the wall for the final round of qualifying. We were the next to last pair out and needed to run a 4.237 or better to qualify. We ran a career best 4.235 to get in the show in the 16th spot. The last bike to run was Mac McAdams who wasn’t yet in the show either. Mac runs a nice 4.199 to bump us out! That was a big let down to not get to race the main event. But, because of the large number of competitors, the Manufacturers Cup runs a B race for non-qualifiers in Pro Comp and Pro Street. In the first round our competition left before the tree was activated then tossed a rod out the front of the engine. The debris from his engine explosion came across the track in front of Mike. Mike shut it off early, dodging the connecting rod, to get the win. The second round we ran a 4.32 to get the win. We ran 4.24 against Perry Hollie to be the winner of the Pro Comp side of the race. |
9/12/2011: Disappointing Outing At ADRL Dragstock For MPS/Thyen Racing Pro Mod
With the fire damage finally repaired, we loaded up for much needed testing before ADRL Dragstock in Rockingham. We headed to Carolina Dragway and made three 330 foot hits resulting in our best 330s ever and one hurt motor. Changing engines made for a late start on our trip to Rockingham. US 1 between Columbia, SC and Cheraw, SC now gets my nomination for the one of the world’s bumpiest roads. We arrived at Rockingham at 3:30 AM with parts tossed all over the inside of the trailer. After a few hours sleep we prepped the bike for the first lap. Optimistic we had a good tune up, we expected to run in the high 20s. The first pass netted a disappointing 4.40. We had softened the tune up because we weren’t sure what hurt the first motor. We quickly took apart the first motor to see if the damage was tune up related. We decided it was not tune up related and got more aggressive with the tune up for the second qualifying lap. This resulted in hurting our last motor and ending our weekend. This weekend was definitely a disappointment and not what we had envisioned. In spite of the disappointing weekend we learned a lot and will continue to work hard at making the little “Busa” faster.
08/03/2011: MPS/Thyen Racing Pro Mod Suffers Fire Damage! “I’ve got really really bad news” then a pause. I’m thinking
someone died by the tone of Mike’s voice.
Multiple scenarios are playing out in my mind. “The bike caught on fire and burned.” This isn’t a good thing, but better than some of the things I was thinking. Mike was outside the garage talking with a neighbor when he noticed the dull orange glow through the window of his garage. The LiPo batteries we were using exploded while charging, sending flaming parts of battery all over the bike. Mike put out the fire with a garden hose, saving his garage and possibly his house.
I believe there is a lesson here that we all can learn from. When we got the batteries, we installed them the way the person we got them from told us to do it. We bought a specific fixed rate battery charger to charge them, but they never seemed to charge fully, so Mike bought a special LiPo battery charger.
Without going into details, the directions for charging the LiPo batteries weren’t followed to the letter resulting in the batteries exploding. If we had done our due diligence and researched those batteries BEFORE we started using them we would have never made the mistakes we made. We made lots of mistakes with the care and handling of those batteries. There is 
nothing wrong with using this type of battery, however be sure to do the research and get the proper equipment to service them. This lesson applies to each part you put on your bike. Make sure you understand what it does and how it does it BEFORE you use it. Knowledge is power, the better you understand your equipment, the easier it will be to do well and stay safe.
We won’t be able to make the MIROCK Summer Sizzler event this weekend in Rockingham, NC. Look for our return in Rockingham, NC on September 9-10, 2011 for the ADRL Drag Stock VIII where the Phoenix will rise from the ashes!
07/24/2011: With temperatures in the 100s being the norm at the WPGC Bike Fest at Maryland International Raceway this past weekend, tuners were challenged to say the least. “That kind of heat makes it very hard on people and equipment. Our first qualifying lap on Saturday was at 1:00 in the afternoon and track temp was already 145 degrees. The bike had a little stumble off the starting line and went a 4.39. We made some changes to the fuel delivery for the last qualifier that got rid of the stumble and ran a 4.33. We had anticipated going at least in the .20s but the heat was throwing us a curve.” The Sunday morning shakedown run turned out to be exactly that as we shook the tire and ran 4.36. We were worried about the tire shake and made some changes for the first round that we thought would cure the shake. We were able to sneak past a breaking Mac McAdams in the first round with a less than stellar 4.46. We had gone the wrong way on the tune up and knew we would have to step up in a big way if we were going to get around the number one qualifier, Casey Stemper in the next round. Mike knew he needed to cut a killer light to have any chance against Stemper. When he relaxed his thumb to go for that .000 light the switch broke contact and the bike launched. The red bulb glowing in our lane meant the race was over for us.” Said Dan Rudd.
06/29/2011: The MPS/Thyen Racing Pro Mod Hayabusa made its maiden voyage at Thunder Valley Dragway in Bristol, TN last weekend. Testing on Friday gave encouraging results with a best of 4.45. Qualifying #8 with another 4.45 and a very conservative tune up. We decided to turn it up a little for our Sunday shakedown run, which netted a 4.39. A few chassis adjustments and we were ready to take on our first round opponent Rob Hunnicutt. Rob was superman on the tree and ended our day with a holeshot win 4.38 to our 4.36. “All in all, it was a great first outing for our team. I was impressed with Mike’s riding, making 8 straight as a string passes in a row. That gives us some good data to tune from. Low ET of eliminations was only a 4.24 because density altitude was at almost 4800 feet. That makes our 4.36 even more impressive.” said crew chief Dan Rudd.
