Race Report for Week 3: June 12-13, 1999

The third LRRS weekend of 1999 greeted the team with great weather, a great crowd of spectators,  and a new track layout to learn. Changes to turns 1, 8 and 10 meant the team got to learn a whole new, much faster track.  Bruce came up on the Thursday before to get a head start on learning the new layout, while Paul and Kevin went out for Friday practice to do the same.  This weekend was also the Team Daemon Racing Bikeweek Kickoff, which was a complete success!  The team invited all their friends, families, co-workers, and sponsors out for a fun filled day at the track, including track tours and a BBQ lunch.  What a great turnout!

The weekend did see two casualties, with both Bruce and Rob going down during their races, but like true, die-hard racers, both got up, brushed themselves off, and finished their races!  Rob came away from the weekend with the best results, coming home with a 2nd in LW Sportsman and a 3rd in Production Twins (Am).  Kevin also brought some wood home from the weekend, pulling out a 2nd place finish in his Production Twins race (Jr/Ex).

Both Paul and Kevin came back to the track after the weekend was over to take the 2 day Penguin Pro Roadracing school, and learned A LOT, so look out for them in the following weeks!
 
 

Find all of the weekends race results at the LRRS website here.



Saturday
Practices went well for all the team members.  Everyone who had not had a change to ride the new track configuration on Thursday or Friday used the morning practices to try and get a feel for the new track layout.  And those who did have a chance to practice on Thursday and Friday, used the practice to get a better feel for the track.  While the very first practices were a bit damp, due to the early morning fog, the sun soon came out, and the day warmed right up.
 

Race 1: GTU Jr/Ex:
First out was Paul on the newly painted F4.  Paul was gridded on the 7th row, due to a registration snafu, but that didn't stop him from getting a great start, and jumping ahead a row before turn 1.  However, all his work was for nothing, as an incident in turn 12 brought out the red flags.  The first restart was almost a carbon copy of the first, with Paul getting a great start, but this, too, was to end with the red flags coming out after only a few laps.  On the 2nd restart, Paul let the clutch out with a bit too much gusto lofting the front wheel skyward. Once he got the F4 under control again, he put his head down, dicing with a few bikes in turn 3, but running a great, consistent race.

Race 4: LW Supersport, LW Sportsman Jr/Ex:
This race saw Bruce and Kevin running in LW Supersport and Scott in LW Sportsman.  This was the first race as Juniors for both Bruce and Scott, as well as their first race on new bikes/motors, so both of them took a little while to get going in this race.  Kevin, on the other hand, was taking no prisoners. Fighting his way through traffic to a 5th place finish!

Race 5A: LW Sportsman Am:
Rob got a fantastic start in this race, jumping forward almost two rows.  Rob had a lot more confidence with the new track layout then a lot of the other riders he was racing against, passing on the brakes going into turn 1, and on the outside of turn 9 going into the newly widened turn 10.  Rob worked his way through traffic, and when the red flag came out late in the race, he walked away with a second place finish.  And his first trophy!

Race 6: GTL Jr/Ex:
Bruce took it a bit slow at the beginning of the race, but it didn't take him long to start putting his head down and pull in slower traffic.  This is a 30 minute race, so there is a lot of time to work through the pack.  Bruce's times slowly dropped as the laps ticked off, getting down into the 1:30's.  Going for a pass into turn 3, Bruce was late on the brakes, a bit too late, and the rear wheel came out from under him.  Bruce ended up in the tires, but a quick check of the bike revealed no major damage, so Bruce got back on and finished the race in 13th position!

Race 7: MW Superbike/LW Superbike Jr/Ex:
Once again, Paul was gridded mid pack.  He got a decent start and held his ground, but was not able to make up as much ground as he would have liked on the lead bikes.  Once again, running a consistent race,  running some of his fastest times, he finished mid pack in the super competitive middle weight class.

Race 8: Production Twins AM:
Rob started on the 3rd row, and ended up going into turn 1 in 6th position.  Like the race before, he soon found himself all alone, with no one close in front, and no one in sight behind.  On the last lap, he dialled it back a clip, to make sure he didn't throw away a good finish, and came away with another trophy, a 3rd place finish!

Race 8A: LW Superbike:
The first race of the weekend for Kit.  She got a poor start, and then got held up by traffic, but she ran her race deliberately and consistently, finishing 26th out of a grid of 35.
 

Race 11: MW Supersport/Supertwins Jr/Ex:
The last race of the day, and the first money race of the weekend.  Paul ran another consistent race, not making any mistakes and riding consistently.  There are a lot of REALLY fast riders in this race, since it is the money race, but Paul still managed to finish mid pack.
 

With a long day of racing, entertaining the guests, and working in the pits, the team retired to the canopy to enjoy BBQ under the stars, as well as a few BEvERages.  Chef Lambert cooked up quite a feast for the whole crew, sparing no expense!
 

Sunday
Once again, the morning started off foggy, but the summer sun soon came out and burned off all the fog, leaving another beautiful, New Hampshire day.  Practices went well for all, with Kevin taking the F4 out for a spin, since his bike was getting a carb swap.

Race 1A: GTL Am:
This race saw Rob on the second row.  At the green flag, he gets a great start and is first into turn 1.  By turn 3, though, several of the 125's have passed him, and he is running in about 5th.  However, the race is cut short by a red flag.  Back to the grid to do it all again.  Once again Rob is first into turn 1, but like the first time, the 125's manage to get by him.  Trying to carry as much corner speed as possible, Rob looses the rear of the EX on the gas exiting turn 2.  He renters and manages to come home with a 15th place finish.  And 1 point.

Race 2: Production Twins Jr/Ex:
This race saw Kevin fighting it out to the bitter end.  When all was said an done, he walked away with the fastest lap time for the juniors, and a second place finish.  Next time, we fully expect him to come home with the 1st place trophy. Read his account of the race here.

Race 3: LWGP AM:
Kit got held up at the start of this race, getting stuck behind a stalled bike on the line.  As a result, she found herself all along for a majority of the race,  but still walked away with an 11th place finish.

Race 4: HW Superbike/MW Grand Prix Jr/Ex:
This race saw Paul dicing with 4 other bike for a majority of the race.  Paul finally triumphed and got by all of them, and started to pull away, but ran out of time.  But still managed to finish solidly mid pack.

Race 5: GP Singles Am/Jr/Ex:
Last race of the weekend.  Scott got a great start and was able to hold onto position, even though the jetting on the bike stills needs work, finishing 5th.  Bruce go a bad start, but was able to pick his way through traffic, finishing ahead of Scott in 4th place.

Overall, a great weekend for the team.


Individual Racer's Reports



Paul's Report

Whoa, new track.  This should be fun!

Since my parents were in town, I did not have a chance to head up to the track for Thursday practice, so I made every effort to make it up on Friday, to at least see the changes to the track before I had to race on it!  Got to the track and was met by Scott who helped me unload and get set up. Managed to get out for a few practice sessions to size up the new track layout.  Wow, much faster than before. Turn 1 turns in earlier, and allow you to carry much more speed.  The same thing in turns 8 and 10, both much faster now.

After practice, head over to registration to get that out of the way.  Turns out, for whatever reason, my credit card on my pre-registration didn't got through!  So, do they call me?  No. They wait for me to get there, then add me to the post registration list.  Great.

Friday night, we head into Concord for some dinner, then do some shopping for supplies for the BBQ and the crowd of people we are expecting on Saturday.  We get back to the track, put all the food away, and turn in for the night.

Saturday: Wake up to a slightly foggy morning.  Get some breakfast, and make sure the bike is ready to go.  I decide to go out in the yellow practice, since I still don't know the new track at all.  Turns out there are so many riders that they split the practice!  So after my first practice, I decide to  move back up to the blue practice, to see if it is less crowded, and to be able to follow some of the really fast guys.  By switching to the new practice, I was able to get an extra session in.  :)

Race #1, GTU:
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Due to the pre-registration snafu, I was gridded on the outside of the seventh row.  The green flag drops and I get a great start, jumping the row in front of my.  But I get held up in turn 1, which put me solidly in mid pack.  After only a few laps were completed, the red flag comes out, due to an accident in turn 12.  We all returned to the pre grid, where I was met by both Adam and Rob with gas and water.  Pit crews are awsome!

We go back out for our warm-up lap and re-grid.  The start was a repeat of the the first one, with me getting a great launch, and jumping ahead of the row in front of me.  But, once again, I got slightly held up in turn 1. And once again, the red flags came out after only a few more laps of the race, due to another accident.  With just under 1/2 the race complete, we head back to pre-grid to regroup, get something to drink, and check the gas.

On the 3rd restart, I do not get nearly as goo a start, and loft the front wheel.  I sort the bike out, and start putting my head down to work through the pack.  Going into turn 3, a bike dives into the inside of me and passes me, but he float wide on the exit, allowing me to take back the inside line, and re-pass him.  A few laps latter, he makes the same move, but this time, he makes it stick, so I sit on his tail for a few laps, trying to get around him.  When all was said and done, I pulled out a 22nd place finish, out of a field of 39.  Not bad for my first race on the new track, but not great.  I checked my time, mostly 1:22's with a few 1:21's.

Race #7, MW Superbike:
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Once again, due to the pre-grid snafu, I was gridded back on the 7th row. I once again got a decent start, but got held up in 1.  I have to learn how to have faith in the tires, and just rail around the outside.  Anyway, the race was mostly uneventful, just like I like it!  No major mistakes on my part, I managed to pass a few bikes, and at the same time got passed by a few, but I managed to come away from the race in 15th, out of a grid of 24.  Still finishing mid-pack.  Hmm.

Race #11, MW SuperSport:
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The money race, and the last race of the day.  For whatever reason, something just did not "click" in this race, and I found myself just out there for the ride.  I rode a very consistent race, but at the same time, not a particularly stellar race.  Towards the end of the race, a few of the SuperTwins bikes passed me, but I still pulled out an 18th place finish out of a field of 27.

After the races, I left the track with my parents to drive them to the B&B they were staying at, and to grab dinner with them.  By the time I returned to the track, everyone had retired to their tents, and I was greeted only by Cooch, faithfully waiting for me.

Sunday:
Tried to sleep in a bit, but Kevin decided at 7 am that it was time for me to get up, yelling into my tent.  Practices went well, I started to get a feel for the new course, and just how fast I was able to go through turn 1 now.

After practice, I went out to cornerwork turn 4 with mike Lambert, since the USMarshalls were a bit short.  I left before race 3 to get ready for my race, and left Mike to cornerwork.

Race #4, MW Grand Prix:
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My one and only race of the day.  I got an ok start and started to work my way through traffic.  I soon found myself behind a group of 4 bikes.  They were all going sower than I would like, and set myself to the task of getting by them.   One by one I passed each bike, and one I past them, I started to pull away.  Even getting held up by the slower bikes, I still managed to pull a 19th place finish.

I would like to thanks everyone who came up to the track this weekend.  My parents, my co-workers, and all my friends.  It is much more fun racing when you know you have people in the stands cheering you one.  I would also like to thank our first rate pit crew and the whole team for their support.  And finally, I'd like to thanks all out sponsor, without whom, we couldn't do what we do.



 

Bruce's report

It's late Thursday morning and I'm supposed to pick up my bike and head to the track to break-in my new motor.  I went with a 2mm overbore and a different cam in an attempt to match the power of my competition in the LW classes.  When I get to BikeWorx Galen is just buttoning up the motor.  I lend a hand and we get the bike back together.  After a couple blasts through the parking lot with no leaks and no engine parts flying through the air, Galen declares the bike ready to go.  I load up and hit the road about 2:30p.  I should be able to get about an hour of track time in.

I get to the track a little before 4 and Kevin Kennedy unloads my bike for me while I go pay Ted.  There are a lot of racers present, no doubt trying to learn the new track configuration, and the practice has been split into sessions.  Looks like I'll only get about a half hour on the track.  I have a little time before my session starts and I spend it riding around the infield, giving the motor some gentle break-in time and taking a peek at the reworked corners.

On the track I'm short shifting and just getting a feel for the new layout.  The motor feels good but it's a little hard to compare to the old one while breaking it in.  The new layout is fast!  With only a half hour on track and not being at race speed I can only guess but I'm fairly sure I'll be a gear higher going into T1 and wide open through T10.

Session over and I load up the bike.  Kevin notices that one of my trailer tires has a HUGE flat spot.  The wheel rotates freely so it's unlikely that it was dragging.  I didn't really notice it coming up but at 80mph the tire probably wasn't spending much time in one spot.  I throw on my spare.  Better now than on the highway.

A bunch of bicyclists are getting ready to go on the track and I strike up a conversation with one of them.  He has a trick carbon fibre front rim.  He takes it off and hands it to me.  It weighs less than one of my boots and probably not much more than my pair of gloves.  $400, tire not included.  He says they reach about 40mph coming out of T9 into T10.  On half inch wide tires.  Wearing lycra.  Those guys are nuts!

Before leaving I set up the team's canopy and snag a picnic table.  We expect a good crowd on Saturday.  I also have a chat with Tony I. and get his thoughts on the new track.  On the way back I give Galen a call. I was going to mess with him and tell him my engine blew up but he sounded a bit stressed so I just gave him the good news.  :-)

I had hoped to get up to the track Friday night but as usual there's always too much to do and too little time and I can't leave work early. I put on my shiny new junior number plates and load everything up for an early morning departure.

Saturday morning and it's foggy.  Get to the track a bit before 7a and wait in line to register.  I didn't pre-register because I figured I wouldn't be running up front in my first weekend as a junior.  Not to mention I hadn't decided which races I was going to run before the pre-reg deadline had passed.  I enter GP Singles, GTL, and LW SuperSport (next time I'll do Sportsman instead of SuperSport).

I take it easy in the first practice.  The track is still a little damp and I don't entirely trust the Michelin Pilots in the wet.  For the first time I run the engine to redline and notice a stumble up top.  Not too surprising that the jetting needs a little work.  At Kevin's suggestion I put the stock air filter back in (I basically had a piece of foam in there) for the second practice session.  It helps but I obviously need to work on getting it setup properly.  It is, however, good enough for this weekend.

As I'm putting on my tire warmers I notice a bubble on the left side of my rear tire.  Damn, must be my blistering corner speed!  Not.  I quickly run the bike over to Stough at Michelin/MotoRace and have him take a look.  He thinks my tire pressure is a bit high (not that that alone would have caused the problem) and asks me to come back once the tires have cooled down.  He marks the sidewall so we can keep an eye on the blister.  After the way too long riders' meeting (over 1000 entries and it's only Saturday!) I stop back over and Stough sets my tire pressures and I calibrate my pressure gauge to his.  Mine reads a pound low.  I compare to Kit's (which I used to set my pressure that morning) and hers reads the same as mine.  The low reading and rise in ambient air temp probably both contributed to the too high pressure.  I was setting tire pressure in the morning and running all day with that but I think I'll start letting the tires cool after practice and check again at mid-day.

At some point Steve D. from SRNE showed up and introduced himself.  He had taken us up on our offer to get his tires changed track side by ordering replacements from one of our sponsors, Street & Competition. We finally decided that Adam would help him remove his wheels and run them over to S&C while I was out in my GT race so they could use my bike stands.

LW SuperSport - Race 4:
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After checking the gridsheet earlier in the day I realized that I really wanted to be signed up for LW Sportsman (both are run together).  Oh well, next time.  Expert LW SS are wave 1, expert LW Sportsman wave 2, and all juniors wave 3 (with LW SS gridded ahead of LW Sportsman).  I get my usual lousy start and I'm near the back going into T1.  I settle in and catch up with a junior on an EX500.  He slows me up in turns 1, 9, and 11 but I'm not feeling aggressive enough to try passing him and my motor isn't strong enough to pass him on the straights.  The leading experts start coming by around lap 6.  Jack goes by coming out of T2 and the bum doesn't even wave!  Checkered flag and my first race as a junior is complete.  I end up 13th and turn 1:32's. My previous best on the old track was 1:33's though I was most consistent turning 1:35's.

Back to the garage and I discover that the blister on my tire has popped and cords are showing through!  This is not good.  I waste time riding the bike over to Stough and he tells me to get the wheel off so he can change it.  I tell him I'm in Race 6 and he says no problem.  Luckily Race 5 has been split and I have a little extra time.  At least he was able to dig out the proper size tire while I scurried back to our garage.  Adam helps me remove the rear wheel and, displaying extraordinary Go-Ped skills, balances the wheel on the Go-Ped, holds it in place with one foot, and navigates the infield over to the Michelin garage while I follow behind on my pit bike.  See, all that time we thought Adam was being a big goof on the Go-Ped he was actually training for just such an emergency!  While we wait for the tire we hear that there's some sort of delay in Race 5, buying us even more time.  Stough suggests I go out on the cool down lap of Race 5a to get an extra lap scrubbing in the new tire.  Back to the garage and we get the wheel mounted with time to spare.  I relax.  Slightly.

About half way through Race 5a I head out to pit road and let them know that I'd like to go out on the cool down lap.  No problem.  Hang out here and we'll let you know when you can go out.  Bzzt.  Race gets red flagged near the end and I can't go out.  (Eric?  Was that you?)  Oh well, I'll have to make do with my one warm up lap.

GTL - Race 6:
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Another slow start.  I take it easy for the first couple laps (~1:33's) and then put my head down and start charging.  I see Mark up ahead in the distance on another Skorpion and set my sights on him. I slowly start to reel him in.  Prior to this weekend I was only dragging my knee in T9 and, before I crashed there last year, T6.  As the gap between us shrinks I find myself dragging a knee in Turns 1, 2, 6, and 9.  My times drop steadily - 32's, 31's, 30's...  I'm right on Mark's tail but I'm not gaining ground on the straights.  I should be. I just had motor work done and he hasn't.  I really need to get my jetting figured out.  I should be making low 50's for HP while the stock Skorpion makes mid 40's.  He's braking earlier than me for T3 and I decide to make my more up the inside on the brakes for T3.  He starts to brake...  I brake later...  yikes, I'm in hot...  look up the hill... lean...  lean...  ziiip...  the rear wheel goes and I back it in to the tires.  Corner worker helps me pick it up and move off to the side. Let's see...  two clip-ons - check, front brake - check, clutch - check, shifter & rear brake - check, lock to lock turn - check, nothing leaking - check.  I'm out of here!  I re-enter the race and a couple laps later take the checkered.  I end up 13th again and I didn't even finish last!

Saturday evening I change the oil (yep, new motor, little metal bits) and filter and install a water temp gauge.

Sunday morning practices go pretty well.  Scott and I hook up in the second practice and come in grinning ear to ear.  Scott led for about the first half until he blew a shift coming out of T6 and I took over the lead.  We catch up to Chuck and stay behind him for the rest of practice.  Chuck also comes in grinning and thanks me for pushing him during practice.  He heard me behind him the whole time.  We were pretty even most of the way around the track except for T9 where I had to back off a bit.  During a race I probably would have passed him but I'm a bit too laid back in practice.  Need to work on that.

Race 5 - GP Singles:
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My only race of the day.  Yet another lousy start. I *really* need to work on that.  I'm behind Paul C. and take too long getting by him.  Where's my extra HP!?  I make zero ground on him on the front straight.  I finally get by in T3 a couple laps in but by then I can barely see Mark G. in the distance.  I run the rest of the race essentially by myself.  Only the top expert catches me before the end. I turn 1:31's and end up in fourth.

So I survive my first weekend as a junior.  I click off several 1:30's for the weekend which is 3 seconds faster than my previous best and 5 seconds faster than my usual times.  All I need to do now is get my jetting sorted out...

Big thanks to Stough of Michelin/MotoRace and Adam for helping me with my rear tire.  Thanks to Galen of BikeWorx for building me a reliable motor (we'll find that missing HP yet!).  Thanks to the Team Daemon pit crew, friends and family who came out to help and/or just watch the races.  Thanks to Graham P. for taking some awesome pictures!  (See http://stargraham.org/loudon/) And of course thanks to the rest of Team Daemon's sponsors: Factory Pro Tuning, HJC, Jodi F. Solomon Speakers Bureau, Lockhart Phillips, Fog City/Modern World Ventures, North Reading Honda/Kawasaki, PK Suspension/GMD CompuTrack, Parametric Technology Corporation, Sharkskinz, Spectro Oils, Street & Competition, The KneeDragon, Vanson Leathers, and Woodcraft/CFMotorsports.


Rob's Report

Entered three races, got two trophies. Pretty good ratio, I think. :)

Arrived trackside around 6pm on friday, proceeded to set up camp and unload the truck. Did a track walk to see the changes to turns 1, 3 8, and 10. Bleed the brakes on the EX in a vain attempt to get the lever a little firmer.

Saturday, wake up at the ungodly hour of 5:30AM. Can't sleep anymore. I think I was the first one to take a shower that morning. The fog was so thick, you could barely see the grandstands from the pits. Yeah, the first practice was a little damp.

Race 5A:
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Race 5 was split into 5 and 5A since so many people had showed up this weekend, and it was all Lightweight Sportsman. The new track configuration was fast, and during the morning practice I could tell that alot of racers were not very comfortable with it. I was gridded in the middle of the pack, and got a tremendous start, passing at least a row and a half. I was having a lot of fun this race, passing people on the brakes into the much faster turn 1, and on the outside of 9 into the widened 10. The track walk the night before really helped, and my line exiting turn 12 was helping me run much faster down the straight. Around lap 6, I started looking behind me, wondering where everyone was. I blew my entry into turn 3, running wide. "Hmmm. Should've been passed there. Where is everybody?" White flag lap, I'm a little slow through turn 2, and I hear someone behind me. Heading down the straight, they get closer... Until we both see the red flag in the turn 3 flag station. Whew! Finished 2nd. My first trophy!

Race 8. Gridded 3rd row:
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Before the start, I always point towards a gap in the row in front of me. The racer on my left had the same idea about the same gap, and I had to let off the gas  a little and head to a gap on the right. Even though I had to let up, I still was 5th - 6th into turn one. Again, towards the middle of the race, I was all by myself. Looking under my arm on the main straight, I didn't see anyone too close, so I slowed down on the last lap as to not throw away a good finish. Ended up 4th overall, 3rd in class.

That night, did absolutely nothing to the bike. I love racing EX500s... :) Oh wait, I put gas in it... Went around with Kevin, feeling other EX500 brake levers in the garages, looking for the key to firm brakes. The newer EX's have 14mm brake master cylinders. The old spongy ones have 1/2". Hmmmm. Had a most excellent dinner that night. Thanks Mike!

Race 1, Sunday. GTL, 30 minute lightweight race:
------------------------------------------------
This was a tough one. I was on the second row of the grid, but the grid had a few Honda RS125's and a Aprillia 250. As the starter slowly turned the 1 board sideways, I let the clutch out to the engagement point. Green flag, I'm off like a rocket. I'm first into turn 1! As I flip over to the right for turn 1a, two RS125's go flying past me. Turn 2, the Aprillia goes past. Hard on the brakes into turn 3, stuffed on the inside by a SV650.... I manage to hold onto 5th-6th place for two laps, then a red flag. Back to the grid to do it all again. On the start, I'm first into one! Turn 1a, I'm third. Turn 2, I'm fourth. Now I'm pissed. I do my best to stay with the last RS125 that passes me, by my EX500 just can't carry that much corner speed. I'm getting on the gas as soon as I can exiting corners, braking as late as I can. Then it happens. Exiting 2, hard on the gas, hit the pavement transition, rear end whips around, and I see sparks fly off my bike as it slides into the tirewall. The cornerworkers push the bike to the edge of the track. I sit there for a minute... Duh! Go reenter the race! The EX starts up after cranking for a bit. The left handlebar is a little loose, but OK. After bending the clutch lever back into place, start out again. I am now a man on a mission, to pass back as many bikes as I can. I think I got four in one lap, but the tires are fading fast, as I'm sliding more than I'd like to be. I cross the finish line 15th. I'll take my one point, thankyouverymuch.

For the rest of the afternoon, I pack and turn into team photographer. After packing, I check out the EX's tires. Hmmm. The K591's are almost down to the wear bars. New tires for next weekend.

I managed to get my lap times down to 1:30, but need to get around 1:28 to be competitive in the Junior classes. Kevin runs 1:25's, and Bruce ran a 1:29, so I need to pick up the pace a little. Maybe team track walk friday night before the next race weekend so Paul can show us what he learned in Penguin Pro School?

I need two more races to be able to move to Junior, but I might wait until my lap times improve. Besides, collecting trophies is fun.

Thanks to the Team Daemon pit crew, friends and family who came out to help and/or just watch the races. You guys make the weekend so much more enjoyable. Thanks again for your help. And of course thanks to Team Daemon's sponsors: Factory Pro Tuning, HJC, Jodi F. Solomon Speakers Bureau, Lockhart Phillips, Fog City/Modern World Ventures, North Reading Honda/Kawasaki, PK Suspension/GMD CompuTrack, Parametric Technology Corporation, Sharkskinz, Spectro Oils, Street & Competition, The Knee Dragon, Vanson Leathers, and Woodcraft/CFMotorsports.



 

Kit's Report

What a beautiful weekend.

This weekend was "shoestring budget racing", since I'd bought a trailer during the week and had Bikeworx help me figure out what I needed to make a run-of-the-mill trailer become a race-bike hauler, plus I'd had my leathers repaired. This didn't leave a lot of time or money for bike prep, but I did manage to get my brake problem from the previous race weekend rectified.

I had to pack much more stuff than usual this weekend, because I had a passenger, plus a lot of extra stuff for the sponsor weekend, but we managed to get it all attached firmly to the trailer and jammed into the car. It was not the most efficient packing job I've ever done. ;)

Rob and Scott and I managed to find the quick line this weekend, and pre-registered on Friday night again. I tried to find more suitable races this weekend, and registered for Lightweight Superbike on Saturday, and Lightweight Grand Prix on Sunday. I turned the bike back from a street bike to a race bike, but managed to thoroughly baffle myself by attempting to attach the front number plate to the mirrors. (Hey! Wait just a dang minute, here! Race bikes don't have mirrors!)

It was wet on Saturday morning for amateur red practice, and speed and confidence are difficult when you're out there first and drying the track for everyone else. The Fog City faceshield really worked, though! I spent time in my first practice trying to learn the track, instead of making good time. Second practice was better, but as in previous weekends, I was totally feeling the limitations of my suspension and the instability caused by shifting or revving anywhere between 7-10K RPMs.

I seemed to learn the track pretty quickly, in comparison with others out in my second practice. The track was making some of the racers squirrely, and it was easy to pass them in places where they didn't know the track as well. Carrying speed through corners is a lot easier than on the previous track configuration, and a lot of people hadn't figured that out yet.

The race was okay, but not great. I got a poor start, and a really clumsy and bad rider got ahead of me. He was faster in the straights, but totally dangerous in the corners, and since he was all over the track, I couldn't pass him safely. Finally I just gave up on him and let him get a bit ahead, and then continued the rest of the race essentially by myself. When I got lapped by the leader, he seemed to pass awfully close, but I didn't think too much about it. (Later I'd discover that this seems to be that guy's trademark.)

Sunday's practices were much the same as Saturday's. Wet in the first practice, better conditions in the second, giving me enough confidence to feel the bike's problems again. Came to the realization that the new configuration of the track leaves me no good place to shift into between Turns 10 and 11, and I may have to do something about the gearing of the bike.

The Lightweight Grand Prix was a hoot, although somewhat disappointing. These guys are *fast*, and I much prefer this race (#3) to Race 10, Lightweight Supersport.  Unfortunately, the guy in front of me stalled at the start, and I couldn't get around him because the people gridded behind me were popping through all my available paths. As a result, I didn't really get to follow anyone around the track this race, either, which I find to be the most beneficial to my racing. (I just wish I could do it every weekend.) I came in 11th.

I didn't manage to get any lap times all weekend, unfortunately. :(

I corner worked on Sunday, so packing up to leave started late, and then became another nightmare of inefficiency, what with all the extra stuff and a new trailer to fight with. However, eventually all went well and I trundled home with bike in tow.

Special thanks to Galen and Kevin at Bikeworx for all the trailer help, and to our sponsors and pit crew.


Scott's Report

gottafinishthebike!gottafinishthebike!

With the last week before the June race weekend left, I decided to take the week off and dedicate it to finishing the bike. Without boring you with the details, I had to mount the oil tank, buy and fit the oil lines, build and mount the exhaust system, mount test tires, mount the front brake, fit and mount the body work, safety wire everything... and get up to the track to practice on Thursday - I almost made it. With the blessed help from my neighbor, Paul Tarves, who *wanted* to help, (he works at a metal shop locally), I finished up the assembling Thursday afternoon and headed up to the track arriving about 7 PM. I unloaded the bike and gear and got a much-needed good nights sleep.

Friday dawned with good weather as a went about doing the finish work on the bike - rubber seat pad, number plates, By Friday 1pm I was ready to start it for the first time in 3 years - it's loud, I mean life-saving loud. I had no chance for tuning, or track riding, but a brief blast out through the tunnel and back verified that everything was working sort of right. I'm still having mid-to-high speed carbureation problems, but the handling is superb.

I signed up for LW Sportsman and GP Singles races, Sat. and Sun. respectively. Practice Sat AM was rough; I didn't know the engine characteristics, I was forgetting the GP (reverse) shifting pattern, changes in the track layout, and general racing attitude was weak. With the engine struggling to make any decent power, I finished the Sportsman race in 12th with 4 points to begin my Junior apprenticeship. It was probably a good way to get back into racing.

Sat. night I adjusted the valves. They were inconsistent and I hoped that would improve the running of the engine. It did, but only  marginally. The first practice was damp, so I took it easy. The second one was warm and dry and Bruce Leung and I hooked up for some very decent practice laps. I finally started feeling the groove  and putting the races pieces together. My lap times were still 2 seconds off of my best time, (1:34's), mostly because of the loss of any top end power. I got a good start in the GP Singles race and held on for a 5th place finish and 8 more points.

I now have 5 weeks to solve the weak-running engine problem. I've consulted with a couple of experts and have tests to run to isolate the problem. I'm expecting better results next month!

Big thanks to all our sponsors: Factory Pro Tuning, HJC,  Jodi F. Solomon Speakers Bureau, Lockhart Phillips, Fog City/Modern  World Ventures, North Reading Honda/Kawasaki, PK Suspension/GMD CompuTrack, Parametric Technology Corporation, Sharkskinz, Spectro Oils, Street &  Competition, The Knee Dragon, Vanson Leathers, and Woodcraft/CFMotorsports.

My thanks to Galen of BikeWorx for bunches of the little stuff that adds up and counts so much. Thanks to the Team Daemon pit crew, friends and  family who came out to help and/or just watch the races.



 

Kevins Report

Boy what a week this had been.  Let's see it all started on Thursday 6/10 at about 5pm.  Left work, lost my bike keys (they jumped out of the tired ignition of the VFR), found my very mangled bike keys in the middle of the street 45 minutes later after driving 8 miles in a one mile radius around my office.  After finding my keys I then proceeded to "split like a glick" (that would be defined as lanesplitting in traffic moving faster than 40mph...60 in this case) all the way up the Southern State Parkway to the illustrious Mr. BJ Worsham's place.  BJ "race partners 4sale" and Matt "I'm on Coffee!" Lai where kind enough to take me on as a travelling partner for this weekends festivities......

....On the road again ;-)   We arrived at Loudon around 2am and Matt and BJ proceeded to toss me and my goods into the TDR and then headed for their own appointment with sleep.  Hmmmm..on bed roll, one sleeping bag, one hard concrete floor (to tired to set up tent) and one set of earplugs later and I was snoozing away on the floor of garage 12South.

Friday Morning dawns bright and clear and I proceed to futz around for most of the morning doing odd-jobs.  I think I helped Scott a little with the mutant and then went and helped John Dahl get tires mounted on his mutants.  A little later I refreshed the fork oil on the EX and dropped the needles one clip to see if I could straighten out the carb problems I've been having even since I installed the stock pipe.  ....aahhhhh now I can relax for a little while before the afternoons practice session.

Friday Penguin practice.... This is my first look at the new track and I'm not to sure what to do with it.  First impressions are that it is much faster and that it's going to be a lot more fun...  The bike is now lean and bogging/stumbling.. 1.30s and back to the pits to put in fresh plugs and figure out the problem.  Second Practice...  I'm starting to figure out some of the new sections of the track and the bike is a little better but still lean.  high 29's.... Third Practice and I've now moved the clip back up a half step and It's still not right @%%&^%  I've no clue what the problem is but Bill Martovich is bringing me a set of bone-stock carbs this evening so I'm going to leave it alone 'til then.

Saturday Morning..  after much futzing/cleaning and the invaluable help of Mike Lambert we installed the stock carbs and
I get ready to go out for practice.  First the bike won't start and then it starts HARD but is leaking gasoline from the gas feed tube between the carbs... **&##% I've missed my first practice and probably won't be making the second round.  Oh well, here we go again yank the tank and the carbs and go looking for the problem... At this point we discover that the feed tube has blown O-rings and we go in search O-rings.  It was a quick search.  Our next door neighbors (thanks folks) had an O-ring kit so it was down to stripping the bank in half and installing the new O-rings.  At this point I was coming to realized that I was not going to make the second practice and I was very unhappy about it.  Well, this is were having great team-mates comes in.  Paul, knowing how important it is to get some practice in, offered up the F4 so I could turn some laps.  I left Mike Lambert (THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU )  to the carbs yanked on the leathers and out I went to do battle with a new bike and my old nemeses (BJ and Matt).  After getting passed by a few Ex's I started to figure out the bike and turned it up just a little.  I couldn't very well let my travel partners run me down when I had 50 ponies on them.  27's on the F4.. not as easy to ride as an EX but unlike and EX it definitely has brakes.  Now there's a novelty after 2 years on an EX.

Saturday Jr/ex LW Supersport:
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If I recall correctly I was gridded in row 13d  BJ and Matt (the two guys with whom I really have to battle) Where gridded one of two rows up on the right....  The flag drops and off-we-go....  I manage to jump about a row and a half (as do Matt and BJ)I make for an inside line into T1...  As the group funnels down to the line in one a get held up and have to roll off to get in line.....  As soon as we exit T2 I start picking my way through traffic.  By lap 3 I've passed all but 4 of the Jr LWSS guys and a number of the EX lwss and lwsp guys as well.  I'm now doing battle with Micky Curry.  Boy Micky sure does do a good job of protecting the lines. I know I can go faster I just can't get around him. I made an attempt in 1a but didn't protect enough so he came back on the drive out of T2.  Another attempt was made in T6 but again I lost the drive. It was a fun dice.  Finally, on the 5th lap, I got smart and rolled back a little cresting 5 so that I could get a good look at where he was going and what my options were  I made a charge around him in the bowl.  This time it worked and I immediately put my head down and made a run to the next guy in line.  I passed the next fellow on the brakes into T1.  At this point I got site of the 4th and 3rd place Jr lwss riders and I was pretty sure I would catch at least one of them before the end.  White flag lap and I've caught up with 4th place in T9.  I try to make a run up the inside but there is no room and he closes the door.  I new that I didn't have the power to outdrag him to the flag so my last ditch effort was to go around the outside in 11 and dive into 12 first.  Well, that didn't work either this fellow was smart he held me at the entry of twelve and parked it on the exit.... all my drive was lost I'll have to think about this one again.  5th place!

Sunday Morning practices.....  Learning the track more and more and I know I have a good chance at a win in the PTWINS race this afternoon.  Matt (the person with whom I will battle for that spot) and I proceed to spend lunch time trying to psych the other one out.

Race 2 Jr LWPT:
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I'm gridded at 14D.  Matt and BJ are gridded in 14A and B.  This time it occurs to me that the old T1 line might work very well for starts, so I line up as for to the right as possible.  The one board goes sideways an the flag drops.  I get a very good launch (so does Matt) and proceed to blow past at least three rows before heading up the outside of the pack into T1/1A.  As I come into the pack at 1A I realize that I've got a chance (if he doesn't see me) of getting in ahead of Matt at the apex of 1a...... Sh*t no such luck.  Matt spots me at the last moment and slams the door on me. I drop into line about two bikes behind Matt. This is going to be a fun race.  As the line funnels out of T2 a group of about 5-6 starts to pull a little distance on the rest of the pack.  I'm in the 4th spot and Matt is in the front.  Going into T3 I pass into 2nd on the brakes.  Now it's just Matt and I and we proceed to run nose to tail for the next two laps...  I'm not sure if this is right but I seem to remember that I passed him going through 1-1a-2 at the beginning of the 4th lap.  I lead for the next lap and thought that I had pulled some distance on him.  Going into T3 on the 5th lap Matt makes a banzai pass on the inside (we spoke about this later) that forces me all the way out to the tires and causes me to shut off and run up on some of the curbing at the beginning of T4.  Once again I'd lost all my drive and Matt had gained about 7 bike lengths.  We more-or-less stayed this way for the rest of the race. I'd catch up over the hill and lose ground on the front straight.  I have to get this jetting right.  A little traffic later on gave me the opportunity to close the gap to 3 lengths but I just couldn't get any closer. Well, 2nd place and a 1'25.043 (fastest lap for the JR's) and I'm looking forward to the Pro-School.  Next time the first spot is MINE! ;-)

Well, now it's time to pack up and make a run back to NYC.  Back in NYC I grab some shuteye, hop on the street bike and make a dash back up to Loudon to meet Paul for the pro-school...  Honestly I've been having severe problems with my neck and shoulder and they would have kept me home If I hadn't left all my gear at the track.  So back to the track and back on the bike for the school.  Even with all the pain it was quite fun and a definite learning experience.  23's-24's.  Buy Wednesday evening I was needing to get away from the track and thought that I could make it to Montreal for a few days.  I made it to Burlington Wed night and Montreal early Thursday morn.  Time to relax and visit some friends for a day or two and then back to NHIS for the National on Friday night.  Well, that's all for now you can read about the National elsewhere.

My Sincerest thanks go out to the TDR racing crew (especially Mike L. for all his help with the carbs) for a superb weekend.  Thanks also go to our, way cool, sponsors without whom we couldn't hope to be as successful as we are.  HJC, Parametric Technologies, Jodi F. Solomon Speakers Bureau, Street and Comp,  Fogcity, Lockhart Phillips, Spectro Racing Oils, Woodcraft, and my personal sponsors Vlahakis Investments and King Motorcycles of NYC.  Thanks also go to the SO for her understanding of my "need for speed" ;-)