78 SSR Race Team info wanted

dynofun said:
That is interesting. Gordy told me back in about 1980 that the 1978 Ski Doo SM 440 made about 118 HP and they were getting with in a couple of that. (app. 115-116) He said that at the time, there was nothing they could do to get more HP from that engine design.
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Not sure what HP you are talking about the factory or consumer? What ever it is...man that was huge for 1978 ay!!!wow - I had no idea it was that high.

HP does not mean too much in oval of snocross sled racing …I used to win 340 stock and finish top 3 in 400 and 440 against the Mercs…..with the 340. We raced it in 340 mod (with the stocker) at smaller races and usually won that to. Even today….Doo’s 440 MXZX 100 + HP sleds get less than 60HP to the track.

Kart racing – 1 HP can put you way back.

Factory engines are made in Japan – there was no mod work done here other than polishing the exhaust port. The engines were as cast. The advantage is the light weigh moving parts – lighter pistons and a pipe you could not buy and in the case of the SSR – prototype Mikuni carbs. Guess what…….the 1975 factory water-cooled had the same port timing as the free air - GYT kit

When we got to race the SSR… the USA factory sleds were not there as a reference point. The difference would be the corner entrance speed and start. The straight speed would be pretty close – and my SSR was catching them Doo’s – once I managed to get around a turn. HP was not a problem.

I had the same stock answer as Gordy - when we raced full time - if we lost a race – fans would ask - more HP ay…yep – back to the shop.

That was much easier (relating to HP) than trying to explain…

The suspension wasn’t moving right
The clutch was too loose
The clutch was too tight
The injectors were flat
Wrong gearing
Couldn’t get it around a corner today
Couldn’t hook up today
Selected the wrong gear
I made a mistake


In the SSR case – the factory engine had more HP than anybody – ( i drove the consumer and factory SSR back to back) the chassis was a mutt and the clutch was all wrong. Fixable however.
 

Wow. Been years since I posted on here but... I did talk to Dick T before his demise. He said he never raced after 1977 and had no exp or info on the SSR. I have since picked up another SSR parts sled. I hope to make a driver out of it so I can drive at some vintage events. My good SSR was on display when I last posted here. It is home now, nice to have it around. I am still looking for info on who raced what. Talked to Gordy Muetz too a while back at HayDays. He thought my 000117 may have been raced by Morio. Appatently they would add a zero to the vin/production number. I wish I could verrify that! Sorry for the long delay. I will be better in the future.
 
you can contact the Derby Track and they can run you vin and see if the sled was raced at ER along with who raced it or it if was entered to race ...there is a fee for this and it is not cheap but may be worth the money to figure out if it has any history ......there are also many tell tail signs to the factory stuff ....cylinders would have a 3 bolt carb flange for the huge mikuni butterfly carbs the cases would have been sand cast and the pipes look completely different .....better shocks up front most likely fox or a early fox float design air spring ....and all aluminum front end trailing arms included shorter tracks than the std SSR ...lots of little things
 
quote "He thought my 000117 may have been raced by Morio. Appatently they would add a zero to the vin/production number".
don't think the vin# had anything to do with the number Morio ran as in the previous year Morio along with tom marks at kalamazoo was running the # 1702 in SM3 and they had 1 more experimental sled as well which I think was #1701 I believe the 4th digit in his numbers that year designated the 2 developing sleds they were using to build the independent front suspension for the next years race model.. the SSR.
 
Hey, just happy to have some action/info on this thread. Incidentally, my SSR does have the 3 bolt flange intake cylindeers, the sand cast cases, carbs were lent out and never came back (ouch), Has Ohlin front shocks, a short (108"?) Arctic cleated track, aluminum trailing arms, steering post off-set and goes through the motor plate between the (now 8Ho) carbs, Mag chain case and a bunch of other details I am not remembering right now. Wouls still like to know its history. I ran it at a speed run many years ago and went 100 (as I recall) with no timing and huge jetting. Didn't want to hurt it...
Still looking for more info.
Thank's in advance.
Mark
 
yep sounds like factory stuff to me like I said contact the Eagle River Derby track for a fee they can tell you if it was entered there and who it belonged too ....being that in 78 you had Ito , ED and Frans there .....running for the factory then I do not know if any of the Canadian team drivers cam to ER though ....it is a gamble to spend the money as it is not cheap but at least you will know and have paperwork to prove it then

Mike
 
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