DURACK FUNNY BIKE
About This Project
We designed and built this bike for Greg Durack. It caused a heap of controversy before we had even started. The rules for motorcycle drag racing clearly state that all motorcycles will have motorcycle engines. This was written to stop people using outboard marine and car engines.
The bottom end of the engine in Greg’s bike is from a Kawasaki Jet Ski. The cylinder head is from a ZX12. You would think that would immediately disqualify it but the literature from Kawasaki confirm that the jet ski engine is derived from the ZX12 engine. Bazinga!!
The engine has proved to be a capable and economical alternative to other non-unit engines.
The design criteria from Greg was simple and we had to meet his goals.
1. It had to be tough, Greg didn’t want to spend all his spare time keeping it running.
2. It had to be fast. Our estimate is that it could go 6.3 @240mph. Best at the time of writing is 6.62 @ 216mph.
Greg supplied the complete engine, front end and body work. We did the rest.
The bike was awarded ANDRA Best Engineered Vehicle at the Westernationals in Perth in 2010.
Here is some additional information supplied by Greg.
Motorcycle: Kawasaki ZX12R Turbocharged, 1570cc.
Engine: Kawasaki STX15F jet ski crankcases and crankshaft with Kawasaki ZX12R motorcycle custom billet head and cylinder block designed and manufactured by Lou Cotter.
Pistons: JE Pistons, custom 11:1 CR.
Rods: CP Carrillo, custom HD 4340 steel.
Camshafts: Kent Cams (UK), custom extreme turbo.
Clutch: Custom dry pneumatic computer controlled, by Bravo Resources, Jay Upton with Bentec sintered iron frictions.
Transmission: B&J MC Sportsman 3 speed planetary racing transmission.
Turbocharger: Per4manz Turbocharging, custom 1,000 hp turbo, 75mm billet hi-flow compressor wheel.
Ignition: Dyna 4000 SuperPro.
Electronics: Racepak VS300D data logger, AMS2000 boost controller, Motec PDM15.
Chassis and fabrication: Clyde Carstairs, Bravo Resources.
Engine machining; Gavin Forbes, FME
Fuel: Methanol, 4 litres per run.
Boost: 45 psi/3.1 Bar.
Best ET/Speed: 6.62 seconds/345 kph (216 mph).
Thanks to: Clyde Carstairs Bravo Resources, Gavin Forbes FME, Grant Bojanjac Per4manz Turbocharging, and Lou Cotter.
Race Crew: Jeremey Durack, Cameron Durack, Scott Durack, part time Kimberley Durack and occasional ring in Michael Macri.
