I have decided to try my first Hill X race coming up in 2 weeks at Giants Ridge. Have always wanted to try snowcross and Hill X looks like a good alternative. Being that I'm new to racing I wanted to see if I could get some advice on a good race set-up & race prep. Getting the sled ready is half the fun. I'm wondering if I'm alright to jet down to 440's, I'll for sure run up the hill in practice and check my plugs.
Also I'm not getting a full shift out on my primary, belt is a good 1/4 - 1/2" from the top. I'm engaging at 4400-4500 and pulling to 8100 rpms.

I have a 04 Pro Xr 800 with this set-up...
I've been running mains 450 in warmer weather, 460 in colder weather
Needle clip in #3
Fuel screws- 2 rotations from lightly seated, Air screws- 1 rotation
Gears are 24/42
Primary: Almond/blue and 10-68's
Secondary: #420720 helix on steep setting and stock polaris black CC spring
Primary clutch sheave clearance is set to .020, with a new belt and center to center 11.5, off set correct, belt deflection 1.25
Stainless steel VES valves with green/yellow springs
Timing is advanced to +2 degrees
Aux tunnel cooler
Bikeman Performance trail port, SLP Head, SLP single pipe and can, SLP air horn kit, flowrites, gutted air box & EGT gauge
n2oiroc torque arm, slp push arm and 90 duro's motor mounts
121 x 14 x 1.75" track with 96 studs

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Dave

You may want a shallower helix depending on how your sled backshifts now or set your helix on the shallower angle setting. You don't want to be going up the hill and have your clutches not downshift when you need them to.

You may have to machine the primary clutch to allow for full shift out. I had my clutch balanced, .020 sheave clearance, and machined for shift out. Good way to see if you can even reach full shift without needing to machine your clutch is to take the spring out of the primary and see how high the belt rides when the sheaves are pushed together.

you dont state if your airbox is gutted but I would think your only going to be WOT for 2~3 seconds at a time so less main jet will be fine depending on the course. If you had a stock motor 420 would be the biggest MJ you would need at -10*f and a gutted box. Lean is fast! I would also think the shallow angle my have better backshift but still useing your 720 helix in the shallow angle.

Depending on the temps, go down 2-3 sizes on the main jet. I would think that it will pull the steep angle fine. Hopefully you can have a practice run to see if it bogs when landing and getting on the gas immediately. If it does, the shallow angle will recover faster.

[quote name='xc-mark' date='Mar 20 2007, 04:59 PM' post='2648184']
you dont state if your airbox is gutted

Bikeman Performance trail port, SLP Head, SLP single pipe and can, SLP air horn kit, flowrites, gutted air box & EGT gaug

Well la te da!

Bikeman Performance trail port, SLP Head, SLP single pipe and can, SLP air horn kit, flowrites, gutted air box & EGT gaug
[/quote]


sorry system overload..........

Woops, sorry. What I ment to say was thanks for the input and I'll try some of the above advice when I'm out testing.
Pockets, when I pm'd you a few weeks back with a bogging problem... it was just a fouled plug, your carb settings are spot on.
Any of you ever tried Hill X?

Hopefully I won't end up like this guy...

Can't say I have. The first race around here was only a couple years ago.

weekend temps will be in the 50's for you racing. 410 main jets, needles in 2.5.

ouchhhh.. i dont see any IQ's in there, oh wait - hes ahead of them all

That was hardcore. I Practice on the side hills and got my jetting figured out. I tryed 420 mains with the needle clip at 2nd slot and my plugs were white. Ended up using 440's and needles in 2nd slot. It was around 38 degrees Sat. and low 40's on Sun.

Got 3rd on my first heat, second race was probably my best, I had second all the way up and on the finish line & the guy behind me beat me by inches. LCQ I had a huge lead until about half way up I fouled a plug, sled started to bog and finished second.
That was a great experience, I've never had a rush like that on my sled.

more picts.

you racing again next year JDS? i am thinking about entering next years event. i assume i would be same class as you? what was the cost of racing?

i half way considered it this year, but decided i wouldn't chance it on destroying the sled... looks like fun, maybe next year i'll give 'er a rip... just for giggles... did they have a practice day???

Yep, I'm going to race in 2 weeks at Spirit Mountain and next year. I'm going to enter my 6yr old in the 120's in two weeks.
I'm not exactly sure how much Giants Ridge cost me, they have'nt debit my card yet. I was running one class, beginners 800 improved stock traction which is $25, Beginners only one time membership is $25, Insurance $25, and a 2 day ski pass to be on the hill $20-30?.
Some of the guys I was hanging out with were entering up to 5 classes. You can also run your age group class right away as well as the beginner class. Running just one class is a lot of hurry up and wait.

There were a few bad crashes that I saw from riders doing endos. If you stay on the gas off the lip of the jumps your fine, just as long as you don't get crossed up. I was getting a little in the backseat but just tap your brake to even your self out. As soon as I got comfortable in the air I wasn't as intimidated by the track.
Fridays are practice days, and then early morning Saturdays you can get out and practice on other ski runs and then once or twice up the track after the drivers meeting.
My friend that got me into this said you can go ride the skiiers terrain park at Spirit mountain for practice.
I'm still pumped, I'm glad I tried it.
Dave

so there is one more race left this winter at spirit mountain? if there is, i think i may enter it...

what did you ahve to do to enter, i want to race hillcross next year but do you have to regester with the WSA or do you just show up?

Yep, there is one race left in 2 weeks at Spirit Mnt. Supposed to be the biggest event and the track is suppose to be the best outta all of them.

You do not have to be a WSA member, just go to www.pro-ice.com and register no later that the wednesday before the race, you can register online. I called and talked to them as well and gave them my credit card info over the phone, made sure my bib # I choose wasn't taken. Once you get to the race you need to sign the waver and get a pass for the weekend (like a ski pass)

All you need is:
numbers on both sides of your sled, a neck collar (you can get them at Bob's Cycle for $35), chest protector, shin gaurds, helmet and goggles.
I had a MX chest protector on underneath my klim jacket, probably looked like a trail rider. I'm going to get an orange tekvest and a polaris pullover race jacket or something.

JD, are you racing in it? i think that i am going to. hopefully you will.

Yep, same class.

with running one class, roughly how many races did you get to do?

3 races, If I would have won my LCQ I would have advanced to the final. So you looking at 3-4 races per class depending on how you do.
You can practice pretty much all you want on the side hills till dark all weekend. On Friday you can show up at 11am at Spirit Mountain and practice all day on the Hill-X track.

i think i am going to do that. going to enter beginners 800 improved stock traction and traction even though i dont have studs, just get to run more races. we'll have to meet up. i know i have some tuning to do, so i will have to be there early friday with my parts to test some stuff out. how do we get numbers? do i register on the internet or by phone?

also i was reading the rules. your snowflap must touch the ground with the rider on it? what did you do there JD? did you buy a long one, because mine doesnt touch the ground with me on it.

1st register on their website www.pro-ice.com, thats when your pick you number, look at their point standing so you get an idea what numbers are already taken. Than after you register online call them up and confirm and they will answer all of your questions and get your credit card info.

You also need a tether for your sled. It's nice not to have studs that way you can enter alot more classes, non-traction and traction.
Semi-Pro and Pro classes pay out cash which would be nice.

There were a lot of fast sleds out there, long tracks, fully ported, upgraded sized carbs, kickass filters, high compression heads & running race fuel. Makes me wanna tear off my headlight and speedo, get some twin pipes and kick some rev's

lol i hear ya. i have tether. got everything but a snowflap that touches the ground.

as far as a sled, mine is stretched to a 136 with 1.5" paddle and crankshop twin pipes. the kickass filters dont help at all i dont think. running them now and going back to a SLP gutted airbox and intake with flowrights. colder air=more power. i can sell ya some kickass filters for cheap. friday i need to dial in jetting, only had these pipes on for a few days now with minimal test time. also got some clutch work to do which i wanna resolve friday. i hope i can compete.

also i put stiff .405 rear springs in vs the stock .342 springs. are stiffer springs better for the jumps and whatnot? but now i get no weight transfer and likes to spin on start. when i sit my 230lb ass on it, it doesnt squat at all. have another buddy sit on it, might go 1/2 down from fully standing. tempted to put stock springs back in, or do i leave stiff ones and just move the rear transfer blocks back?

JD, are you running the beginner 800improved stock traction and traction at spirit?

here is a question, can you run a 660 in 600 imporved stock or do you have to go up to the 700 class?

I'm not sure about running 660 in 600 improved stock. You can call Matt at (612) 202 9413 and he will take care of you.

I'll be running the Beginner Improved Stock TRACTION(up to 800cc liquid cooled improved stock machine)

im not wondering about racing this weekend im looking at next year. i was going to try and race hill x this year but just didnt have the time. also want to race a few cross countries next year. the 660 make this a little harder figuring out classes

here is one more question, was reading the rules again and it says ALL SLEDS MUST USE ROUND HOST BARS

WITHOUT ANY CARBIDE INSERTS
does this mean you have to run just colid stell runners with not carbides?

for next year, yes. says those rules are for the 2007 race season. was this not just the 2006 season?

thats pretty gay, must be fore safety. i dont know what would hurt worse though, 10 inces of carbide or 96 studs