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Dr Chris Jones doing his best to channel Burt Munro in Australian TTXGP
1st July 2011
From Voltron Press release
Perhaps better known for his research as a plant biochemist, Dr Chris Jones has built an electric superbike destined to race in the first round of the Australian TTXGP, Eastern Creek Raceway, Sydney. In circumstances not unlike those of New Zealand motorsport legend, Burt Munro, who set about braking records on his Indian motorcycle at Bonneville, Chris's creation is destined to make Australian racing history.
“It started out as an idea to make an electric motorbike. I wasn’t content building an e-bicycle, especially since I am quite familiar with steering my 1100 cc Blackbird around a racetrack. I needed more power!” Chris explains. Many days and nights were spent raising the ire of his neighbours, with the occasional bit of launch testing outside his house.
Over the last two years Chris set about building Voltron. He picked up an RG250 chassis from the wreckers and soon realised that much work was needed. After rebuilding the forks and brakes, it was time to electrify the bike. Inspired by the inaugural TTXGP winning bike, he decided on the twin-Agni motor setup, with the power supply coming from the proven high-power Kelly controller. Local Perth engineering firms were called upon for fabricating the motor mounts and battery racks.
It is managed by the proven EV-Power BMS module system with all the failsafes you would expect for such a build. His Cycle Analyst records power usage in real time, and acts as a ‘fuel’ gauge. He has seen 620 amps at 96 volts going through the controller. That’s about 60 kilowatts of power at the motor shaft.
Like Burt, Chris lives a very long way from the action, and has had few opportunities to test the bike fully. Nonetheless, the bike has been crated and is already on it’s way across the lonely Nullarbor Plain. Chris will fly to Sydney for testing on Friday, with official races being held on the 2nd and 3rd of July.
“I’m not too hell bent on winning races – I’m just stoked to see my machine in full swing, and have some fun. It has about the same kind of performance as a 350 cc gasser, and weighs about the same. It should be a blast, and I’m proud to be part of the movement!” he said.
Chris does not have any formal sponsorship for his tilt at the TTX-GP, but was kindly offered some replacement motor shafts and brushes from Agni Motors. He is still open to any propositions. “The president of my local Electric Vehicle Association handed me $100 and said, ‘here, I hope this helps!’”. Don’t worry mate, it already has!
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