The home of automatic scootering

Dyno dash to SRT

IBSC members Connor and Lindsay journeyed from Kettering to get to Banbury for 8.30am to meet others braving the weather. At 9.30 they were still waiting for other people – great start! Undeterred, Conzo, Lindsay and Goodship began their main journey via twisty country roads to Stratford, then on to Alcester where Kyle and Nathan waited patiently! “I could have had another hour in bed,” commented one of the Birmingham/Nuneaton boys. We headed towards Evesham and CS Phoenix; the first relief was getting there without asking for directions; the second was that Lindsay only had minor repairs to carry out – let’s leave it at that, shall we Connor?

A quick chat and a roll of duct tape later, we headed for Stroud, through Cheltenham, onto some of the smoothest, twisty roads we’d ever ridden. McDonald’s next for a quick check to confirm we were on the right track, plus a double cheeseburger – 2.8 miles from SRT! We finally arrived at a small industrial estate on the outskirts of Stroud to be welcomed by happy faces, a bacon bap and a cuppa.

Then we saw the amazing blue and white SRT183, built by Shiny for a customer and he explained all that had been done to this amazing Runner. Then out came the original, the Gilera Runner SRT183 #1 – the one seen on the drag strip – something you don’t fully appreciate until you see it for yourself. “Anyone want a go?” Shiny
asked! Most were too scared to try.

Amazed by Nathan riding so far on a 50cc Ice, Shiny decided it should be first on the dyno. “No air cover, it’s a 50 and he rode 80 miles,” Shiny shouts. “So what's it gonna be then? 3.5bhp? 4bhp?” Shiny said... 5.71bhp! No one could believe it for a 50cc Ice!

Next up was Goodship’s Dragster; 15bhp was shouted as a guess... 16.31bhp – a surprised, happy Goodship began seeking advice from the SRT team: A main jet change and a lightened flywheel were needed and 1bhp would be added. Big smiles!
Jimi’s turn. Would his Dragster 180 beat the 172? His skelly-looking Drag showed a great line on the dyno and 15.83bhp with little advice from Shiny. Jimi’s eBay account needs to be used on a better filter.

Now – The one we'd been waiting for... 22bhp? 24bhp? 19bhp? Connor’s VXR200 monster achieved 16.64lb-ft and a 98mph readout! “It’s all about the torque, that’s what makes you go,” claimed Shiny.

Lindsay’s turn(s)! 10 dyno runs later we discovered a standard VX125, can be a monster with an hour’s work. Rollers and variator changed (thanks to Connor), tyre pressures sorted, a few ‘Shiny’ touches and we watched Lindsay give his new improved VX a ride round the block, returning with huge smiles. “You lot go now and I’ll catch you up,” a happy Lindsay shouted!

Visitors came and went; the arrival of CS Phoenix’s crew burst new life into the day as an Aerox 70 was dyno’d at an impressive 10bhp. Connor’s disastrous day continued when his CDi problem foxed everyone. Every panel was removed, wires checked and the CDi was located and replaced with a Malossi unit, but the VXR200 wouldn’t start. Shiny concluded that the CDi was wrong! Wanting more from his Ice 50, Nathan had his flywheel lightened and acceleration improved. Possibly the Ice could now hit 6bhp.

The day drew to a close as the CS Phoenix lads headed home. The rest of us departed for Banbury with Nathan, Lindsay, Connor and Goodship getting fuel at the start, then we cruised along with only a minor stop by the Gloucestershire police. By 9pm we were back in Banbury. About 1400 miles had been covered between around 12 auto riders, some travelling 200-plus miles to attend.

Massive thanks to all who made it; to CS Phoenix for getting his guys to support the event; and especially to Shiny, Kim and Scott at Shiny Red Tuning for putting on a great day, making us welcome and for allowing us to see what they do and how they do it.