Grand Prix Engine Tuners

[speedy den boy]

Just wondered if people could give the the engine tuners for the riders in the swedish gp.Thanks in advance

[Zetters]

Fredrik Lindgren Klaus Lauch

 

Andreas Jonsson Mikael Blixt

 

Pete Ljung im not sure here but i believe Jan Andersson

[Steve Turner]

Rider's don't ALWAYS use the same tuner for every engine or every type of track, so some of these are favourite regular tuners, rather than specifically for the Swedish GP.

And I'm not certain of all these either...

 

Chris Harris - Brian Andersen

Jason Crump - Dad Phil plus Maxwills

Nicki Pedersen - Brian Karger

Hans Andersen - Brian Karger

Leigh Adams - Peter Johns

Rune Holta - Fleming Gravesen

Bjarne Pedersen - Anton Nischler or Brian Karger

Greg Hancock - Bill Nilsson

Niels-Kristian Iversen - Kenneth Mickelsen (I think !)

 

I don't know who's doing Scott's engines now, maybe still Dad Tommy...and I think that both Tomasz and KK generally do their tuning 'in-house'.

Dunno anything about Lukas Dryml's engines this year.

[Zetters]

KK still have Finn Rune Jensen I hope;)?

[Steve Turner]

You are probably right Zetters, I'm not sure about either Pole

[richard_a]

Leigh adams is peter johns and brian karger now more karger in the gps i think. Chris harris is also on karger tuned engines now so i believe

[Zetters]

I hope for god sake that Nicholls have some engines from Neville Tatum these days!?

[MACK1]

Just wondered if people could give the the engine tuners for the riders in the swedish gp.Thanks in advance

3 engine tuners spring to mind, but do not know if they are still active.Guy Allot,Eddie Bull & Otto Lantenheimer(spelling?)from Germany.Anyone with more information?

[SCB]

Anyone know if Carl Blomfeldt is still involved? He's win a few World Titles that guy. Tomasz Gollob use him one year and apparently went against every thing he said and it cost him the title (2001ish)

[f-s-p]

Anyone know if Carl Blomfeldt is still involved? He's win a few World Titles that guy. Tomasz Gollob use him one year and apparently went against every thing he said and it cost him the title (2001ish)

Sam Ermolenko took up on his advice in Wroclaw (early 90's, Havelock won) and it cost him the title.

 

This is from Ermo's book.

[MACK1]

Anyone know if Carl Blomfeldt is still involved? He's win a few World Titles that guy. Tomasz Gollob use him one year and apparently went against every thing he said and it cost him the title (2001ish)

Is there anyone out there who knows what engine tuners actualy do,even vaguely?

[Engine man]

Is there anyone out there who knows what engine tuners actualy do,even vaguely?

 

 

A short summary:

 

1. keep engines maintained by replacing worn or broken parts - just like a car service

2. design, make or modify parts to improve performance or reliability

3. test and modify completed engines to obtain maximum power

4. all of above to create an engine which is ideal for the individual rider - and that's the real skill- same sort of job as a race engineer in formula 1, motoGP or world rally.

 

Having seen a few engine test results, there are significant differences even in GP rider engines. The biggest problem is that more power isn't necessarily ideal and the various ways of reducing power through trackside set-up are very rough and ready, not reliable, poorly understood, and sometimes damaging to the engine.

 

 

[Subedei]

The biggest problem is that more power isn't necessarily ideal and the various ways of reducing power through trackside set-up are very rough and ready, not reliable, poorly understood, and sometimes damaging to the engine.

 

But tinkering with his engines - and sometimes an awful lot more, such as during the SWC race-off last season - mid-meeting seems to keep Tomasz Gollob happy.

Edited August 17, 2008 by Subedei

[Engine man]

But tinkering with his engines - and sometimes an awful lot more, such as during the SWC race-off last season - mid-meeting seems to keep Tomasz Gollob happy.

 

 

Quote from one very respected tuner..." 90% of what riders think they have done is in their own head". And another quote - this one from Henry Ford - "Believe you can or believe you can't - you're probably right"

[Subedei]

Quote from one very respected tuner..." 90% of what riders think they have done is in their own head". And another quote - this one from Henry Ford - "Believe you can or believe you can't - you're probably right"

 

But the mind is often a very powerful tool for a sportsman.

 

[tocha]

I hope for god sake that Nicholls have some engines from Neville Tatum these days!?

 

I think Scott must have some guy who used to have some input into the tuning of the Reliant Robin.

 

[Chris Brown]

Dunno anything about Lukas Dryml's engines this year.

 

Was certainly Peter Johns last year Steve but not 100% sure this

[MACK1]

A short summary:

 

1. keep engines maintained by replacing worn or broken parts - just like a car service

2. design, make or modify parts to improve performance or reliability

3. test and modify completed engines to obtain maximum power

4. all of above to create an engine which is ideal for the individual rider - and that's the real skill- same sort of job as a race engineer in formula 1, motoGP or world rally.

 

Having seen a few engine test results, there are significant differences even in GP rider engines. The biggest problem is that more power isn't necessarily ideal and the various ways of reducing power through trackside set-up are very rough and ready, not reliable, poorly understood, and sometimes damaging to the engine.

Made this posting more in hope than expectation,so was very pleased with your excellent response.Thanks.I would guess that the modern speedway engine is a pretty potent piece of machinery,even in standard form,so I can well understand that a reduction in power can be advantageous in some circumstances,i.e.massive power output is no good if it cannot be translated into forward motion of the bike. P.S. Was intrigued to see that you have access to engine power outputs and wonder if you are in the tuning business?

[Engine man]

Made this posting more in hope than expectation,so was very pleased with your excellent response.Thanks.I would guess that the modern speedway engine is a pretty potent piece of machinery,even in standard form,so I can well understand that a reduction in power can be advantageous in some circumstances,i.e.massive power output is no good if it cannot be translated into forward motion of the bike. P.S. Was intrigued to see that you have access to engine power outputs and wonder if you are in the tuning business?

 

Yes - and no.

 

I am somewhat involved in engine design, and race tuning , but not directly for speedway.

 

From time to time I do have some involvement with one of the top speedway tuners - we have worked together on some projects and regularly compare notes.

 

Tuning for speedway is not so different from other motorsport in some ways - riders/drivers all have individual preferences and skill levels, and some have a better technical understanding than others, but having had some involvement across a wide range of sports, I have noticed that the similarities are strong. The grip/ wheel spin issue is more significant in speedway than most other sports, and that's where the detuning aspect comes in. In the old days, good throttle control was enough (after all that's what it's for) but not so many riders have got it now, and with the modern engine producing about 50% more power than a JAP , racing on small tracks with slick surfaces, all makes the problem a bit more tricky.

 

 

 

 

[SPEEDY69]

I think Scott must have some guy who used to have some input into the tuning of the Reliant Robin.

As far as I'm concerned there is nothing wrong with the tuning side of Scott's equipment, he alwasy has more than enough power, it's the setting up of the bike on GP race nights that seems to be the problem - normally takes at least 2 races to get it anywhere near right. Power does not equal speed and in slick conditions it is the steps the mechanics take to reduce the power of the engine & adjust other parts of the bike that can be the differnece between winning and losing. This is probably why he has taken the step (if true) of refreshing his support team - to be honest I think he was always more competitive when his father looked after his bikes on race day.