PROJECT ZIPPART DEU

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Zen-like: Josh Brown contemplatesthe next race

WORDS: CHRIS HALLIDAY

PHOTOS: PAUL ROBINSON

& STEVEN LEATHERBARROW

PROJECT ZIP

SANTA POD

Head to head:Josh Brown vsJamie Newbold

A lot has happened since our last report, some component changes have been made and the future for our Zip in

2010 has now been set. Our Polini Evo 3 Zip project has progressed from us wanting to play with something a little different, to us entering the BSSO arena in 2010 for what will hopefully be a great year for scooter racing in the UK. Wish us luck!

All this came about via the Josh Brown camp. Some of you may well ask “Who’s Josh Brown?” Well Josh is a racing champion. During 2009 at the tender age of just 14, Josh entered his first BSSO championship piloting a 77cc Malossi-powered Piaggio Zip and ended up victorious. Next year’s competition may prove more difficult but it’s

not going to be boring with our little Polini popper being a 70cc. 70cc as opposed to 77 or 80cc, is this really feasible? Well we don’t know for certain but we’re going to have a good time finding out! During the next racing season, engine development will be taken care of by Darryl at 50cc Tuning in Doncaster. After years of supporting Josh we’re pleased to say that this will continue. The more support the merrier we thinks.

ELVINGTONPED STOP(LITERALLY)

ELVINGTON

So after some dyno testing in the capable hands of 50cc Tuning, we started to get excited, our Zip was delivering just over 20hp, which was to be expected, but the way it delivered was perfect. We were now ready to go and our next destination was Santa Pod Raceway for a spot of drag racing action.

This was to be Josh’s first outing on the Zip and we were hopeful he wouldn’t be too disappointed with the lack of cc’s compared to his ride during 2009. So what did he make of it? Well he came back smiling and although Josh had a disappointing run what with a strong head wind and some traction issues, we had an engine that might just do the job in next year’s BSSO championship...

Our next task was to pump more fuel into the Zip and try and up the power. A more sizeable carburettor fitted and a few dyno runs later, along with the odd tweak thrown in for good measure (thanks Darryl), we saw Daisy (our Zip) gain an extra 3hp and that’s what we wanted, next stop Elvington...

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PROJECT ZIP

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.comELVINGTON PED STOP (LITERALLY)

After a disappointing session at Santa Pod we were looking forward to a second round of testing at Elvington. The conditions were cold what with it being October and coupled with the grippy track we felt optimistic. After fitting the bigger carb and a few more tweaks to the engine, our little 70cc popper was still showing good power, to be honest a little more than we expected. As Spiderman’s Grandad said before keeling over, “with great power comes great responsibility”. So with that in mind you would have thought we would have had all bases covered and at least remember to keep an eye on our little Italian friend when it comes to temperature, errr actually we didn’t...

So you might have gathered that our meeting at Elvington also ended in disappointment.

One run up the strip for Daisy piloted once

again by the Zen-like Josh Brown started well

and looked like it was in for a good time, only to be cut short by a cold seize in the last 100 yards and a gentle roll over the line at 60mph. We think our time was 15.8 seconds but if this is different I’m sure someone will remind us.

So there you go, trials and tribulations. Things can only get better as the song went and for some of us we at least got the chance to put names to faces with the guys who’ve been going to these race meetings for years. Next time we’re going to take our swear box with us, the language was so colourful we might end up with a second Zip... n

Our friends at Yasuni have kindly donated a supply of C30 Carrera exhaust systems for us to give away to you lucky people, namely riders in the BSSO 2010 series. All you have to do to claim one is: a/ be a rider in the BSSO 2010 series and b/ have a compatible Piaggio or Minarelli engine. Simply call us on 01226 630020 to claim your free exhaust.