Originally published at: http://esk8.news/10-questions-with-moe-stooge/
We live in a world obsessed with speed, and in esk8, there’s one name that is synonymous with the pursuit of performance: Moe Stooge. Every aspect of his race boards are custom designed to to offer a stable platform to test the upper limits of forward velocity. While Moe is a strong racer in his own right, he seems equally happy to play the role of owner/team manager and put all of his support behind Stooge team rider Jason Lucier.
Luckily for us, he took time away from the world of esk8 land speed records to answer ten questions:
1. What first got you interested in electric skateboards?
2016 dirt Midget racing season ended in October and my daughter wanted a winter project to pass the time. We took my son’s dusty Park Board off the shelf and installed some remote control car stuff on it and made our first E-board. At this point I had no idea about the community and what was happening in it. I don’t even think I had seen one at that point but that’s what got me started.
What captured my interest was the builders forum. The builders, developers and idea people in the forum are impressive. That’s what got me.
2. Have you always chased speed?
I grew up in a racing family. My dad raced, my brother races, my kids raced my neighbor’s raced my friends race. Who did I miss? When it comes to speed, I call it calculated risk management. Been doing that since my first tricycle.
3. How did your racing partnership with Jason Lucier come about?
The first time I spoke face-to-face with Jason was at World Cup last summer. It took about 2 seconds hanging out with that guy to figure he is a racer with similar interests. Jason mentioned that he did not know if his parts would be in on time to make the Barrett Junction UP-Hill race. I offered the SRB V3 as a ride if parts didn’t show. He cleaned our clocks at Barrett. And again at BakO12 up-hill, breaking 50mph through the radar traps. At the moment he is just on a different level.
4. What plans do you have for future racing events?
Apr13, K1 speed Carlsbad CA. In door Kart track Esk8 race 30 racers signed up.
May19 Backside Brawl Uphill. Santa Ysabel, CA
June22, 23 Maryhill Uphill (in the works)
July13 Derby Days 4.6mile Redmond, WA
The downhill community has allowed the Esk8 group to piggyback on their events. Hope is to continue to grow this relationship as we grow uphill racing.
5. Would you ever consider going after the world record held by Mischo Erban?
Built the board, had the rider, filed the paperwork with Guinness. Funding and venue put the brakes on the project. Hats off to Max Capps. Radar clocked 63mph on his first and only day of testing. Without a doubt, the right guy for the job. 75 was in the bag and ready for delivery.
6. In addition to your street and race wheels, will you be bringing other gear to market?
Currently working with BRP on a 78mm version of the race wheel for top mount closed deck DH and esk8 application. Prototypes are made and being tested.
For me the process isn’t about bringing a product to market. It’s about having an idea in your head. I need this to do this so I can do this. Maybe some smart business guy will someday come along and make something of this. That’s not me.
7. You are on the leading edge of the Gear Drive front. Do you see helical ever becoming the norm?
For the current pinion/spur setups, helical gear has no performance advantage over straight cut. Arguably because they have more tooth contact helical may be considered stronger. Helical need precision machining, produce axial thrust, require precision alignment and need constant lube in a debris free environment. A properly setup precision straight cut gear in lube can be nearly as quiet without the machining costs and adverse side effects of a helical.
If a silent gear drive is what the people want I’m sure the market will comply. Me, I want the noise. It keeps the competition aware of what is about to happen.
8. What would you like to see more of in Esk8?
Racing! It has a tendency to turn off a larger part of the community. I completely understand. We put on an asinine show of speed using our skill and equipment. At the moment our sport is in its infancy. There is still a lot here to learn and figure out.
What I would like to see is racing classes sorted by skill level, mph and wheel type.
A place where anyone can show up, be competitive at their skill level and run out of the back of their car on any given weekend for little cost.
If we get kids racing, we can make a sport.
9. What would you like to see less of in Esk8?
Drive system failures. Was on my qualifying run at BakO12 when my nearly 2-year old motor went phase to phase internally at 40+. Post race inspection found the end cap had been rubbing on the windings the whole time. You’re only as good as the last guy’s work. Could have been avoided by taking it apart and giving it a thorough inspection and clearancing the cap. A good delivery system is worth the money/time you don’t have to spend on/in the Emergency Room.
10. What breakthrough will help you the most in reaching that next level?
Currently in a very good place with the electronic delivery system I am using. With 12,000 watts available on a single axle, nothing gets overworked except the rider. The tunability is excellent.
Next big challenge will be getting the motors off the axle. Weight on an axle limits its performance. Central 3rd member style ring & pinion with drive shafts. 60v 12kw single motor AWD. That’s what’s in my head for the next level.
