Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126909
~ -""" e <.D 00 C"l ~ ~ r- >- ro ~ This is the Wood-Rotax that Chris Carr rode to a third-place fin ish in the April 18 AMA Camel Pro Series National TT at Ascot Park. Wood-Rotax dirt t rack ers have put together an impressive Junior-class record in AMA flat track racing; 17 m ile wins in 19 starts. The Wood-Rotax dirt trackers Ready for action , By Paul Carruthers Photos by Kit Palmer COSTA MESA, CA, AP R. 23 Dirt tracker Chris - Carr currently sits in second place in the AMA Camel Pro Series points standings after three rounds, and in two of those rounds he scored points on a bike that is available to anyone wh o has the desire to own a truly race-ready m o torcycl e. The bike is a Wood-Rotax. (Above) The 500cc Rotax motor can be beefed up to 583cc. (Below) Wood uses a Kawasaki master cylinder and Grimeca caliper on the rear. Carr rode a short track version of the bike to finish third in the opening Camel Pro Series round in the HoustorfAstrodome and recen tly rod e the TT version to a th ird -p lace finish a t th e Ascot TT. Ron Wood has been bu ild ing an d sell ing the Ro ta x-powered dirt trackers fro m his u ltra-clean shop in Costa , Mesa, Cal ifornia , for th ree years . The success o f the bikes - 17 Junior class mile wins in 19 starts - has resulted in good business for Wood's threeman work crew . Wood has sold 115 units in those three short years. , The 500cc motors are specially made race engines bui lt at the Ro tax factory in Austria. With the op tional big-bo re kit, the engine is boosted to 5831:c and has proved its ability to ru n with any thing at a Nationa l TT or short track. T he frames tha t. Wood and crew bui ld in the Costa Mesa shop have u ndergone one revision, and both phases are currently being _ Wood-Rotax 600 Engine type .. . .•.• . . A ir-cooled SOHC single Bore x stroke .. . . • 96.7x79.4mm Diplacement •• • ••. • . . • 683.4cc Compression ratio • • • •• ; • . • 11: 1 Carburetion • • • ; 41mm Dell'Orto , Horsepower . . •. • • • • 62.6 bhp @ 8000 rpm Torque . . ..... •... . .. . .. . N.A. Valves per cylinder • •• ••• .• . .. 4 Intake valve size • .• •• • • 37.6mm Exhaust valve size • ••• • ..• 30mm Intak e lift •••• • • •• • • ••• 10.5mm Exhaust lift 10.66mm Included va lve angle . • . • . . . . 60° Intake va lve timing .. • . • • 44-68° Exhaust ve lve t iming . _.. 72-40° (measuring pt.) • •••••• . . • • 1mm Starting systam •. ; . . . . . • .. Push Igni tion. . . . . . . . .. NO electronic Lubrication . .. .. .. •.. ' .Dry su m p Redline .. . . .. .. . . • . .. 8600 rpm Gear ratios Primary 2 .376:1 Final 7 .500: 1 5th 0.913:1 4 th .. .... . .. . . ..• ... . 1.118:1 3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . • .. 1 .400: 1 2nd 2 .000:1 1st . •... .. . .•.. .. ... . 2 .909: 1 16 Frame . • .•. .• Chrome-moly steel tube. double downtube Rake • • • •• • •• • • • ••• •••• 26-27° Trail •. .. ..... . .... . _ N .A. Front suspension type Showa _ telescopic forks Fork tube diameter • • •• •• • 36mm Front wheel travel .... ..•• 6.1 in . Rear suspension type •••• •• Dualshock swingarm Rear wheel travel . . _.... 4.76 in. Front brakes . . . . . • . 11.6-in. disc Rear brakes .• •. ... 10.5-in. disc Front wheel ........ 2 .15x19 in . Rearwheel •• • • •. ... • •• 2 .76x19 Front tire .. . • •. .. 4 .00-19 Pirelli Rear tire • • •• •• . 4.00-19 Carlis le Claimed dry weight. . . .. 222 Ibs. Claimed wet weight . . .. 236 Ibs. Overall length •. : . . .. . . . . 84 in. Overall w idth . . . . . . . . .• . 32.6 in. Overall height ... •....... 46 in . Wheelbase . . • .. . . . . . . 54-56 in . Fuel capacity • • .... .• •. . 1 .6 gal. Ground clearance . . • • • .. . 8 .6 in. Seat height. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 in. Colors Red Retail price $6433