Immediately after practice, the Pros form a line for their tech session. First the spreader bar (which many failed) and then sound testing. Referee Bob “Smitty” Smith announced to expect the spreader bar when they arrive for the first moto.
One-by-one they take the test. The spectator turn-out was quite large. Several would fail the first test and be forced to come back for a second.
The way it works is to set the meter a distance of 20 inches from the end of the exhaust which a little string cut to the right measurements making it easy to set up.
Then a simple device is placed to feel the vibrations of the bike and show you when you’ve reached the required RPMs of the bike brand and a reading is taken from the meter.
A quick run-down of the levels. As always, Tim Farr reads the lowest decibels at 98. White Brothers does good for Tim, with two wins under his belt with a more than legal exhaust.
Smitty wasn’t kidding when he said he’d have the spreader bar at the line. Keith Little’s mechanic rides it through and fails, sucking up the bar. The weight difference between him and Keith was enough to make that much of a difference and when Keith rode it through he was okay. Whew!