Brammo Owners Forum
General => Brammo Racing => Topic started by: protomech on August 28, 2012, 11:09:28 AM
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What?
Race 4 of the North American TTXGP electric motorcycle race. This is the final race of the NA championship, though there is a World Final at Daytona later this year.
Where?
Miller Motorsports Park, near Tooele, Utah. The race takes place on the East Course, a 2.2 mile 12 turn asphalt raceway (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miller_Motorsports_Park_-_East_Course.svg).
When?
Saturday September 1 and Sunday September 2.
Miller Motorsports Park has yet to post a detailed schedule of events for Bike Fest 2012 (http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/events/minor-events/bike-fest.html). Practice will run from 8-11 AM both days with racing starting at 12 PM.
TTXGP site seems to indicate race will be Sunday Sept 2 @ 1925 UTC = 1:25 PM MDST (12:25 PDST, 3:25 EDST).
Who?
To be updated: likely Brammo, Lightning, Zero w/ KK, VT BOLT
Empulsebuyer will be the forum's feet on the ground. You can follow him on twitter @empulsebuyer (http://twitter.com/empulsebuyer).
Why?
This race will determine the 2012 TTXGP NA champion. Brammo and Steve Atlas currently lead (http://www.egrandprix.com/results.php) by 7 points, and are on track to take home the gold unless Lightning and Michael Barnes can rank two or more positions higher than Steve Atlas.
Both teams have been plagued by failures earlier in the year.. Miller should be a very close race and both teams will be riding the line between pushing for more speed and maintaining a reliable bike.
Also, because racebike. Duh.
How? [can I follow the race activity]
Follow EmpulseBuyer on twitter and bug him about posting updates : )
I haven't been able to find any live audio or video feeds of the track. Will keep looking.
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Nice summary Proto! Yes, feel free to bug me everyone :)
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Nice summary Proto! Yes, feel free to bug me everyone :)
Are you bringing the whole family? (Wife and MiniEmpulseBuyer?)
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Are you bringing the whole family? (Wife and MiniEmpulseBuyer?)
This could be an interesting B-movie series:
- EmpulseBuyer
- The Bride of EmpulseBuyer
- The Child of EmpulseBuyer
;D
About audio. I wonder if there is some smart phone technology that would support streaming audio. E.g. loading up Google+ Hangout on your smart phone, and then giving us a running commentary.
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About audio. I wonder if there is some smart phone technology that would support streaming audio. E.g. loading up Google+ Hangout on your smart phone, and then giving us a running commentary.
Google Hangouts would be awesome. There are other apps that allow for live video - QIK is one. Kind of depends on how advanced EB's phone is.
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Smaller event. No BrammoGirls.
I do think Shelina might be there....if Brammo plans to race the TTX bike.
Gavin
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They could obviously race the TTX bike on its own. I'm somewhat doubtful they will have 25 complete Empulses prior to this weekend - we've certainly seen a few running around, going out for demos and the like.. but 25? Certainly we've heard no press releases from Brammo announcing shipping bikes.
Without 25 production bikes, the Empulse TTX can't compete in eSuperStock. Because of the way Brammo designed the battery pack, they can't simply pull two modules and compete in TTX75. Brammo could build up a custom 7.5 kWh pack, or - if the rules permit it, I remember a great deal of confusion on this score - limit energy draw to 7.5 kWh using its existing pack.
The TTX surely can defeat the Zeros on the track, and I suspect it would leave the VT BOLT behind as well. But without being able to compete in one of the limited classes awards, the TTX will come DFL against the Lightnings, Empulse RRs, and Muench bespoke race bikes.
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No, Im just going to be there by myself. The wife hates road trips... I love em. Plus mini-empulsebuyer probably wont enjoy a 10 hour car ride.
I have an HTC Thunderbolt, its pretty much a total POS and the battery lasts about 12 hours just in standby, BUT Its rooted and Im betting I could get google hangout to work with it, just never tried. Fully charged it should last the entire race though... not sure what kind of vantage point I will have.
Nice chucky reference Freepz, lolz.
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Let me know if you want to test out Hangouts.
I had an HTC EVO 4G for about a year - loved it - and then I accidentally poured water on it. Toasted the volume up/down button because (I'M AN IDIOT) I tried to turn it on and mess with it right after I doused it. Now I've got my first non-HTC phone in awhile. It's a Samsung Galaxy Nexus. I love it - but the battery life sucks.
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interesting! Brammo enthusiasts are also HTC users!
HTC One S for me
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I bought a Verizon LTE Nexus when they first came out, took it back before the return window expired. Battery life was Not Good, but I liked the rest of the phone.
Now I have a GSM Nexus on T-Mobile .. battery life is really pretty good.
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Back on topic... :)
(http://brammoblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/imagefromurl.jpg)
bikes heading to Miller...Look great.
Interesting that they are doing 2 different fairings....either they are testing to see which is better, or the riders like different styles
Gavin
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The background bike might just not have its side fairings on.
Love the Brammo / #1 logo on the front of Steve-O's bike.
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Gonna finally get to see these beasts in person!
I leave saturday morning and plan to arrive in Tooele, UT around 3pm. Staying at the Holiday Inn Express 6 miles away from the track. Sunday I will depart after the festivities for an early morning arrival back in Denver.
Very excited!
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(https://p.twimg.com/A1rm0f3CUAA9UlS.jpg:large)
Wish I was there...
Gavin
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(https://p.twimg.com/A1pap4UCYAADPx9.jpg:large)
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Anybody know what teams are racing?
G
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Anybody know what teams are racing?
David Herron just posted an update on todays action wich explains the competing teams
http://www.electricracenews.com/2012/09/walking-pits-at-ttxgp-miller-motorsport.html (http://www.electricracenews.com/2012/09/walking-pits-at-ttxgp-miller-motorsport.html)
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Thanks for that article. In summary, here's the list of teams:
- Be-Ev Racing
- Brammo
- Virginia Tech
- Zero
As long as the bikes work well, I think that Brammo is going to get the top two spots today. That's going to give them a lot of points (25 + 20 = 45 points) in the North American Constructors competition.
According to the TTXGP scoreboard (http://www.egrandprix.com/_riderchamp.php):
- Lightning (3 bikes): 62
- Brammo (2 bikes): 61
- K Squared Racing: 38
- VIRGINIA TECH BOLT: 29
- Ritz Racing (2 bikes): 26
- Martin Szwarc Racing: 25
- OMRRA Racing (2 bikes): 18
- ProtoMoto Racing: 16
- Motorcycle.com: 13
- Muench Racing: 10
- Zero Motorcycles: 7
- BE:EV.com: 6
- Moto Czsyz: 0
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Well SteveO was in first place after Seca...so if he finishes, I think he, and Brammo, win.
Gavin
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Just arrived fellas... Need to eat and do a few other things, then its off to the track with the camera. Should get there shortly after 4pm local time. ;D
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Cool...sounds like the atmosphere is very low key and intimate...vs Seca which was insane.
Have fun. Say hi to everyone. Get down in the Pits.
Tell Rupal hi too...and Eric...and Steve....etc etc..
:)
Gavin
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Cool...sounds like the atmosphere is very low key and intimate...vs Seca which was insane.
Have fun. Say hi to everyone. Get down in the Pits.
Tell Rupal hi too...and Eric...and Steve....etc etc..
:)
Gavin
I missed qualifying by minutes... :(
Made it to the Brammo garage and took some pictures, discovered that my camera is sorta weak, but had a great time. I feel kinda like a tool though because im here by myself trolling around with a camera. A bit awkward, but these Brammo guys are super friendly, especially Joe Wismann, Eric, Aaron, all of em really. Definitely good people here.
Got a chance to talk to E-Boz, probably one of the coolest guys I have ever met. Saw Steve-O wandering around too, hopefully I will get a chance to chat with him tomorrow. Good times.
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I feel kinda like a tool though because im here by myself trolling around with a camera. A bit awkward, but these Brammo guys are super friendly, especially Joe Wismann, Eric, Aaron, all of em really. Definitely good people here.
If it will help, you should consider yourself to be a reporter, bringing news and information to all of us at the forum who couldn't make it over there.
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Just in case anybody isn't reading this on facebook...
Eric Bostrom took 1st place at Miller. Steve Atlas took second. That's 45 points for Brammo, which means that they win the North American Constructors competition.
- Brammo (2 bikes): 106
- Lightning (3 bikes): 62
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Congratulations to Eric, Steve, and Brammo!
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Press release from TTXGP (http://www.egrandprix.com/news.php?id=310):
Eric Bostrom made it look easy for Team Icon Brammo taking the chequered flag, but the TTXGP North American Championship 2012 title belongs to his team mate Steve Atlas whose performance throughout the season awarded him his second consecutive win.
An achievement made all the sweeter given the back injury he picked up in Sonoma.
Brian Wismann, Brammo's Tech Chief said "Team Icon Brammo are exceedingly happy with this storybook ending to a season that began as a nightmare with the double crashes at Infineon (Sonoma). This team deserves every bit of the satisfaction of a double-podium and consecutive NA championship having put in an incredible effort to get the bikes working well for these two talented riders. We're just now hitting our stride and Daytona can't come fast enough!"
The day started early with warm up sessions for all racers taking place in this weekends races starting at 8am. The sky as bright and the air are crisp for today's championship decider. By race time, the sun was high and the track was hot! The excitement was in the air as teams bucked down and prepped their bikes ready for the TTXGP North American championship decider.
The race was exciting with the real dog fight between the guest riders from ARHMA, Kenny Cummings, Andrew Cowell, Anthony Burrows and TTXGP favorite Kenyon Kluge. With identical set-ups these four riders saw a lot of swapping around but in the end the most experienced electric bike rider reined Supreme and Kenyon took home the eSuperstock cup.
Kenny Cummings, an AHRMA regular said "this was one of the best experiences of my race history, the ebikes just work so effortlessly that you can totally concentrate on the ride experience, the race lines and body positions became all important. I know when I get back on my classic bike, I will be a better racer for it. Everyone should try it and then judge"
Matt Kent for Virginia tech Bolt put in a sterling effort and took home the TTX75 cup. He had been battling bike set up all weekend long but it seemed the teams decision to revert back to an old set up worked for him as he had a flawless race that saw him take third position on the podium and third place in the TTXGP North America Championship 2012.
This is how they celebrated the win:
Electric Motorcycle Motorbike Burn Out Miller TTXGP North America 2012 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-j7ocPep_4&hd=1#ws)
Eric was on major form today putting in a lap record for electric bikes at 1:38.480, an amazing achievement given this is only his second electric race forcing Steve Atlas to settle for second place to secure his championship. This was a team strategy from the get go and the plan worked beautifully for them. Upon being asked how he felt about becoming the North America Champion two years in a row, he replied... "I am ready for the world championship, bring on Daytona"
Fighting talking [sic] growing the anticipation for the TTXGP WORLD FINAL 2012 taking place in Daytona on October 19th.
Position. no. Name Team laps total time best time best speed
1 32 Eric Bostrom Icon Brammo 8 11:37.437 1:38.480 80.422
2 1 Steve Atlas Icon Brammo 8 11:54.125 1:39.937 79.250
3 72 Matt Kent Virginia Tech Bolt 7 11:451.79 1:53.555 69.746
4 96 Kenyon Kluge K-Squared Racing 7 12:22.633 1:58.281 66.959
5 60 Andrew Cowell Andrew Cowell Racing 7 12.36.697 1:58.417 66.882
6 17 Kenny Cummings Kenny Cummings Racing 7 12:42.214 2:01.578 65.143
7 435 Anthony Burows Anthony Burrows Racing 7 12:42.357 2:01.533 65.157
8 64 Jeremiah Johnson BE-EV.com Amsoil Racing DNS
TTXGP North America 2012 Rider Championship TOP FIVE:
Steve Atlas Team Icon Brammo 65 points
Kenyon Kluge K sqaured Racing 51 points
Matt Kent Virginia Tech Bolt 45 points
Eric bostrom Tam Icon Brammo 41 points
Michael Barnes Baracudda Lightning 38 points
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Nice write up. I am impressed that:
SteveO wins two years in a row...GREAT JOB. (especially after Infineon)
Eric Bostrom comes in 4th place overall with having raced only 2 times. Outstanding.
Gavin
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I took some video at this race but my camera wasnt quite up to the task... very blurry, this was probably user error ::) . I did get a sweet flyby of Eric on a practice run though. I will upload that soon.
BTW, anybody know of a good video editing program? Gavin, I have the same laptop as you MBP 13, isnt there a program that comes with the Apple?
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iMovie does some...and even Quicktime will let you trim the clips down.
I liked the old iMovie better...I also like Final Cut Pro...but more than i need...and expensive.
Gavin
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(http://brammofan.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/millerwin.jpg)
The Brammo Boys
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iMovie is what you want.
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Brian Wismann on twitter posted that the Empulse RR bikes were faster around Miller East than the latest literbikes at a recent CycleWorld test (http://www.cycleworld.com/2012/08/03/2012-superbike-shootout-by-the-numbers/).
Miller West "Exotics":
1:34.94 Aprilia RSV4 Factory
1:35.45 EBR 1190RS
1:35.31 Ducati Panigale S
1:37.10 MV Agusta F4 RR
1:36.58 Honda CBR1000RR
Miller East "Workhorses":
1:40.74 Honda CBR1000RR
1:40.93 BMW S1000RR
1:41.22 Suzuki GSX-R1000
1:41.57 Kawasaki ZX-10R
1:41.84 Yamaha YZF-R1
Indeed, a 1:38.40 best lap for Eric Bostrom is more than two seconds faster than the best literbike (Honda CBR1000RR) tested on Miller East. On the slightly faster Miller West, the higher-spec $23k Aprilia RSV4 Factory and $40k EBR 1190RS bikes are less than two seconds faster than the CBR1000RR.
Different day, different riders, and comparing street-legal (barely) gas bikes to pure race electrics.. but the electrics win.
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Interesting that Steve Atlas was 1.5s slower at Miller. Atlas was 0.6s faster at Laguna Seca than his teammate, though EBoz mentioned that his bike started to slow very soon into the race.
Not sure what else to draw from this. Steve Atlas is a very fast rider. Eric might be faster. Or he might know the track better.
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2011 Miller TTXGP Results (http://www.egrandprix.com/news.php?id=249):
1 Shane Turpin Motoczysz 1:31.533*
2 Tim Hunt Lightning 1:39.604*
3 Steve Atlas Brammo 1:42.331*
4 Thad Wolff MotoElectra 1:45.472*
5 Ely Schless ProtoMoto 1:58.375
6 Ted Rich Lightning DNF
2011 was done on the Miller West track, which is approximately 4.2s faster than Miller East (per CW's superbike shootout).
That puts the 2012 Empulse RR at around a 1:34.2 laptime - approximately 8 seconds faster than 2011.
The TTXGP report mentions that MotoCzysz's transponder failed during the race and that the laptime was capture manually - David Herron's (http://www.examiner.com/article/motoczysz-sizzles-ttxgp-finale-while-brammo-wins-the-championship) always excellent race reports indicate an approximately 1:35 best lap.
Steve Atlas finished 1:04 behind Shane Turpin, or an average of 8s per lap slower.
Tim Hunt finished 0:30.3 behind Shane Turpin, or an average of 3.8s per lap slower.
These two data points point towards a best lap in the 1:34 to 1:36 range for MotoCzysz .. which means the 2012 Empulse is right at that level too. Herron says Shane Turpin is a staggeringly fast racer at Miller, and holds the fast lap record at the track on any bike.
Given the rider advantage to MotoCzysz, you could make a reasonable (if speculative) argument that the 2012 Empulse RR is faster than the 2011 MotoCzysz bike. Huge improvement for Brammo.
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A fun comparison -- if somewhat stretching -- is the Lightning bike, as it's nominally available for sale. At Laguna Seca, it was slightly faster than the Empulse RR in Steve Atlas's hands. Supposedly Brammo has worked on the bikes since - let's say it's as fast as the 1:38.40 laptime turned in by Eric Bostrom.
$40k boutique Lightning electric vs $40k boutique EBR 1190RS. Electric wins.
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I actually figured SteveO would go a bit slower this time:
A) He finishes, he wins the Championship. A good reason to go fast, but not push it too hard.
B) There is no B
Still Eric and Steve are both very good riders...It will be interesting to see how it goes next season. Both are all about the TEAM, but you get on the track and all bets are off till the checkered flag.
So the first couple of races of next season should be fun :)
Gavin
Beating the litre bikes is a big big deal...cool stuff.
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E-Boz Flyby:
http://youtu.be/oon6IFqx_dQ (http://youtu.be/oon6IFqx_dQ)
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Great shot! But the sound was a little confusing. :-\
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Great shot! But the sound was a little confusing. :-\
Yeah there were other motorcycles out doing practice runs unfortunately...
Im looking at a better camera too... the one I have got busted up a little during go-cart racing with the Brammo fellas. Was in my pocket and got a little crushed, frame is broken :( but still functional. Looking at 3d capable cameras, possibly for Daytona!
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Awesome job by the ICONN-Brammo team! I was very happy to see the Va Tech team getting 3rd place, too. This race couldn't have gone any better! :D
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There could have been an Empulse TTX in eSuperStock.. because 25 Empulse Rs had been sold. That would have been better.
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Press release on the TTXGP race:
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/team-icon-brammo-takes-first-and-second-place-at-ttxgp-north-american-championship-race-168613816.html (http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/team-icon-brammo-takes-first-and-second-place-at-ttxgp-north-american-championship-race-168613816.html)
Team Icon Brammo Takes First and Second Place at TTXGP North American Championship Race
ASHLAND, Ore., Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This Labor Day weekend was anything but tranquil for Team Icon Brammo. The team's newest addition, legendary superbike racer and former AMA champion, Eric Bostrom, took first place at the TTXGP North American Championship race at Utah's Miller Motorsports Park. The team's defending 2011 champion, Steve Atlas, took second in the race as well as the TTXGP North American Championship 2012 title for leading the season in points.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120905/SF68126 (http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120905/SF68126))
Race fans were wowed by Bostrom's record lap of 1:38.4, which was quicker than all the 2012 superbikes tested at the track months earlier by CycleWorld magazine. This time was faster than all but one of the gasoline-powered bikes racing at the track this past weekend in the AHMRA race series.
With the points scored, Brammo finished the season with an Atlas win of the Rider's Championship, by Atlas, as well as the Team/Constructor's Championship, a difficult feat to achieve in any race series. This feat is made all the more impressive by a relatively rocky start to the season with two crashes at the opening round at Infineon Raceway resulting in a back injury to defending TTXGP champion Steve Atlas and a broken wrist for AMA Superbike stand-out Steve Rapp.
Team Manager, Brian Wismann, commented on the win, "Team Icon Brammo are exceedingly happy with this storybook ending to a season that began as a nightmare with the double crashes at Infineon (Sonoma). This team deserves every bit of the satisfaction of a double-podium and consecutive national championship having put in an incredible effort to get the bikes working well for these two talented riders. We're just now hitting our stride and Daytona can't come fast enough!"
While this race marks the end of the North American TTXGP season, there is still the combined TTXGP and FIM ePower World Final in October, which will be held in the US for the first time at Daytona International Speedway. Brammo expects to see the toughest competition yet at this event, as all riders and teams will be vying for the title of "2012 World Champion."
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Hmmm, after reading the write-up on Autoblog...
EB, you're Different
and Protomech, are you PR?
Anyone else care to reveal themselves?
I just go by David over there, although I know of at least one other David that comments there and he doesn't seem to be too smart. Soo, if you see any dumb comments, just go ahead and give the credit to the "other" David.
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I don't often comment on Autoblog; but when I do, I do so under the sobriquet 'protomech'.
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Hmmm, after reading the write-up on Autoblog...
EB, you're Different
and Protomech, are you PR?
Anyone else care to reveal themselves?
I just go by David over there, although I know of at least one other David that comments there and he doesn't seem to be too smart. Soo, if you see any dumb comments, just go ahead and give the credit to the "other" David.
Yeah, im Spiffster over there and just about anywhere else. Not even sure where I got that from. I had actually tried to change my name on ABG but it messed my account up... so just Spiffster will have to do now.
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well, looks like I got autocorrected there , huh?
"PR" had a post comparing the electric and gas bike times. Knowing that you had a similar post (and your name starts with "pr" I figured it was you. Guess not. Oh well, 50% is pretty good...in baseball
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Pretty neat coincidence, but just a coincidence (http://www.google.com/search?q=protomech+site%3Agreen.autoblog.com).
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well, looks like I got autocorrected there , huh?
"PR" had a post comparing the electric and gas bike times. Knowing that you had a similar post (and your name starts with "pr" I figured it was you. Guess not. Oh well, 50% is pretty good...in baseball
PR is from Colorado, so is 1416... hmmm, Im not sure but I think that's 1416.
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hmmm, Im not sure but I think that's 1416.
Who is 1416?
I've never heard of him...
;)
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1416... to 860. That's a healthy move up the queue. So PR == 860 confirmed then?