Vetter fuel economy challenges 2012

[sendler]

Craig Vetter is organizing fuel economy challenges. The goal is 100 mpgUS, 70 mph into any head wind, sitting upright and comfortable, and carrying four bags of groceries (or all your camping gear and clothing for a cross country tour). The next one is at the AMA Vintage Days, Mid Ohio, USA, July 20th. See you there.
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http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/470...PG%20Main.html

[sendler]

Craig and Allen among others will be there with their newest nose design and the Perinthians broke 130 mpg last year with a traditional head forward landspeed fairing.
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Maybe someday one of the major bike makers will sell us something like this for our commuting and cross country tours.
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[sendler]

The top photo is a pre gen Ninja250 and the other is a Honda Helix scooter. They are running longer gearing but the engines are stock. The Ninja is regularly breaking 100 mpgUS which is an accomplishment at that speed because Craig insists on hammering the bikes at 10 mph over the speed limit on the super highway to weed out any whimpy competition vehicles. He wants real cross country worthy vehicles to result from these contests. They must do 70 mph into a 30 mph head wind. A top speed of 100 mph air speed in other words.

[sendler]

Next week Thursday. Here is the latest info from Craig.
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"We will be at a private meeting at 5 pm, Thursday evening July 19, at the parking lot behind the Comfort Inn Splash Harbor, 855 Comfort Plaza Drive, Bellville OH 44813. You are invited. Bring cold beer.

We will meet... get to know each other... discuss the route and rules, etc.

http://www.craigvetter.com/pages/201...nge-rules.html

My wife, Carol will be on hand with her 4 bags of groceries to confirm that you can carry her groceries acceptably. If you cannot carry groceries, you can still ride. You cannot be considered as a winner. Read the rules above.

We will meet the next morning Friday:

8:30 AM Vetter Vintage Days Fuel Economy Challenge Staging (Ride Staging/False Grid)
9:00 AM Vetter Vintage Days Fuel Economy Challenge (100 mile ride)
11:30 AM Vetter Vintage Days Fuel Economy Challenge returns to AMA/HOF Tent

The route will be less than the 100 miles of last year. I have Grand Marshal duties at Vintage Days. This should make the electric folks happy."

[sendler]

My phone was dead off and on so the only photos I got of the streamliners were the couple I took at the 1/2 way break.
Craig Vetter on the left. He sold 500,000 windjammer fairings!
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Alan's bike on the left is sporting the new nose that Craig is selling. It appears to be the calmest bike in the group from buffeting on the highway around trucks. The silver diesel with the salt flats bodywork was the worst in rough wind but best on fuel at 136 mpgUS. Vic's green campaign sign machine did well on fuel but required some impromtu surgery to keep it cool during the 105F temps he and Alan rode through on the way to Ohio from California.
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My "plank" style luggage system may actually improve the aerodynamics of my red CBR250R while carrying all my camping gear. I got 105 mpgUS.
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[choneofakind]

Neat!

I'm just excited to get 58 mpg with a full intake and exhaust...
Posted via Mobile Device

[sendler]

The guy on the new gen ninja uses longer gearing and got 76 mpg.

[sendler]

Results from the Mid Ohio Vetter Challenge. I did well at 105 mpgUS considering Craig likes to push a tight group so you have to use your brakes often to stay in formation. I will definitely have a truncated tail on the CBR250R next year and may try a little something with the excellent nose he is selling.
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1. Fred Hayes, 143.6 mpg ( Hayes Diesel streamliner , overall winner)
2. Vic Valdes, 119 mpg ( Kawasaki 250EX streamliner )
3. Dale Van de Ven, 106.4 mpg ( Hayes Diesel MD670A , used B30 diesel , alternate fuel winner )
4. Ben Scloop 108.5 mpg ( Yamaha 185 streamliner )
5. Alan Smith 101.9 mpg ( Kawasaki 250EX Vetter/Smith streamliner )
6. Craig Vetter 84.8 mpg ( Honda Helix Vetter streamliner)
7. ? Boyd 57.6 mpg ( B50 diesel powered car)

Other notables who did not meet the Vetter Challenge 4 grocery bag carrying rule :
Scott Endler 105.6 mpg, Honda CBR250
Keith Gerlach 85.6 mpg, Kawasaki 2012(?)Ninja 250
? Dennnis 52.3 mpg, 1973 Honda CB350F
Tim Weaver 51.8 mpg, Honda 650
? Goff 48.1 mpg , HD Sportster

Electric Bikes
? Gelbien, 1.82 cents/ mile
? Podolefsky , 2.07 cents/mile

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