Race Report for Week 1: April 29-30, 2000
The first race weekend of the 2000 season! The questionable forcast
is nowhere to be seen, and the team is greated by fantastic spring New
Hampshire weather! Great finishes all around, and only one crash!
Find all of the weekends race results at the LRRS website here.
Man I love racing. Don't ask me for specifics, I just know that I'm completely addicted.
It was good to see a bunch of you show up for the first event of the season. With three races on Saturday I kind of kept to myself (even more so than usual) but I trust you were all suitably entertained.
Big thanks to our pit wenches especially Adam who came all the way from CA *just* to help us. :)
Huge thanks to Kit for saving our canopy from flying away at about 4am Sunday morning. It was heading for certain death in the skanky water across the road from our camp area.
Big huge thanks to Galen and Kevin for making my bike rock! I don't recall ever passing anyone on the front straight (not counting out braking into T1) in my previous two years of racing. *Maybe* once or twice. This past weekend I did so on several occasions.
My bike rocks. I was riding a bit sloppy this weekend (got better through the weekend) and I've already cut a second off my previous best lap time and turned several 1:27s.
Got to the track Friday for afternoon practice. Went out for the first session keeping the revs below 5K to break in the new piston. About 5 laps - good enough! Next session I let it rip. Did I mention my bike rocks?
It's a little cool out but Saturday turns out to be gorgeous despite
the dire weather forecasts. My first practice goes well and the new
system of assigning people to practices seems to have worked out well.
Speed differences during practice appear to be much more reasonable.
About one lap into my second practice I'm come on to the front straight
and can't upshift. My shift linkage had come loose where it attaches
to the lever. I put up my hand and enter the hot pit from the end
of the straight. So much for practice. I find a new nut and
make sure I locktite it. :)
Saturday, Race 3, GTL - 21st
http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf/2000/april29_30/sat3.pdf
Got my butt kicked. Lots of SVs out there. Didn't help
that I blew T1 early on trying to out brake an SV and ended up going around
the NASCAR oval putting me DFL. Worked back past a few folks before
the finish. I could tell this was my first race of the year as I
had to remind myself to relax periodically. Luckily my Fog City face
shield kept my visor from fogging on those occasions that I was working
too hard.
Race 6, GP Singles - 6th
http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf/2000/april29_30/sat6.pdf
Uneventful. I ran by myself for most of the race and only
one junior got by (on an RS125 of course).
Race 9, LW Sportsman - 7th
http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf/2000/april29_30/sat9.pdf
Good ride. I get stuck behind Nick on his MuZ for a couple
laps but duck under him in T9 and quickly put him well behind me.
As a junior last year I was always chasing Nick (already an expert) but
could never quite put him behind me. This year my bike is built to
the same level as his and I beat him in all three races we had together.
:) I catch and pass three bikes from the first wave and likewise three
juniors from the third wave catch and pass me, an SV, an Aprilia, and an
EX. The EX (#294) rider is fast and smooth and is definitely the
one to beat among the junior EXs.
I change my oil Saturday evening but I'm too tired to finish up the details and leave it for the morning. I just to need to add Golden Spectro and wire everything up. I put a piece of duct tape over the ignition to remind myself there's no oil. :)
Sunday morning is cool once again but it doesn't look like it will
rain. It is quite windy though. Rob and I keep the garage door
closed and huddle around our heaters. Neither of us is in a big rush
to make first practice. Rob goes out to corner work for the first
sessions and I finish safety wiring my bike after the oil change.
There's still some time left in my first practice when I finish so I go
out for a couple laps. After my second practice I notice a bit of
oil burning off my engine. I stop by the BikeWorx garage on my way
in and Galen discovers a loose breather hose. He reattaches it for
me and I head back to the garage and clean up the bike.
Sunday, Race 9, Super Singles - 6th
http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf/2000/april29_30/sun9.pdf
Get stuck behind Nick again for way too many laps. This cost me as I finished *just* behind two riders, one I was catching and one had just passed me a lap back. I finally out braked him into T3 but the lead pack was long gone by then. I cross the start-finish for my last lap *just* in front of the lead rider from the first wave (Formula Forty) on his TZ250.
Overall a most excellent start to the new season!
Short version:
I survived the first race weekend of the 2000 race season, with
two solid finishes in the top 10, coming away with 6 points for the weekend.
Even though I was fighting a bad cold and had not been on the track since
last October, I finished both races in the top 10, didn't crash and was
running only 2 seconds off my fasted pace last year. Not bad!
Saturday, Race #1, GTU:
http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf/2000/april29_30/sat1.pdf
Sunday, Race #2, MWGP:
http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf/2000/april29_30/sun2.pdf
Long version:
Although I had every intention of heading up to the track on Thursday
to run open practice and get rid of all the winter cob-webs, fate would
just not cooperate. Between coming down with a bad cold, a questionable
weather forecast, and a workload from hell at work, I was forced to skip
Thursday practice. I was also unable to make practice on Friday because
I had to close on my house! So I would be heading to the track bright and
early on Saturday, for the first time of the year.
Saturday AM:
I wake up at the ungodly hour of 4:45am, get showered, and set
to go. Around 5:20am, Adam and Reto show up (Reto, up before noon,
whoa, there must be something wrong). As luck would have it, Adam was in
town from the west coast and was able to make the race weekend (he secretly
wants to move back to the east coast, but just won't admit it). We
make sure we have everything, and are on the road by 5:30am.
We arrive at the track by 7am. I'd pre registered, so I was able to get through that line nice and quick, but there are new transponders this year, so I still found myself waiting in a line from hell to get my new transponder. Adam and Reto head in with my car, to start unloading and get the the bike ready while I wait. Back in the garage I say hi to the whole crew. Tim Atwood, Dane Walther, Dave Siple and Andy Ettingger are there, getting set for their rookie races. Rob and Bruce are also there setting up. Scott was there in support mode, as his bike was not yet ready, but he came up to help out. I gather my gear, and get teched.
Practice #1: Out for the first time since last August. I take it easy. The bike feels good, but I don't. The cold is kicking my ass, and I find myself getting very tired, very quickly. I cut practice short.
I pull the wheels and run over to Street and Comp to get my new slicks mounted in time for my second practice.
Practice #2: First time ever on slicks. I circulate nice and easy to get used to the tires, and let them come up to temp. By the end of the practice, I'm still only running 1:30's, about 12 seconds off pace. Grrr. I also cut this practice short because of fatigue.
Sometime mid morning, Derek B. shows up for his first experience of moto racing, and to get some new tires mounted on the Connie. Later in the afternoon, we were also treated to the company of Bob M. and John F., aka, Falvio, who took some kick ass photos. I think we are going to make him the team photographer. :)
Race #1, GTU:
My first race was GTU, a 30 minute endurance race. I was
grided on the 3rd row, and got a good start, going into turn one with the
pack. But as the first few laps started to click off, it became obvious
that my cold was getting the best of me. I was having a hard time
breathing, my eyes were watering, and I was generally feeling like shit.
After about 3 laps, I started to loose touch with the lead pack, and I
came to the decision that my plans for this race had just changed from
finishing well, to finishing. I backed off, and settled down.
My pit board indicated to me I was riding all alone for the mostpart, which
was nice, it took any pressure off. Toward the end of the race a
few bikes did catch up to me, but I wasn't in the mood to fight for position.
When all was said and done, I came away with a 10th place finish, and 3 points. I was happy. I was running 1:20's and 1:21 for most of the race, about 3 seconds off pace. Not too bad considering I had a cold, and this was the first weekend of the year. back in the pits, everyone who say me commented that I looked like shit. Thanks guys. :)
After the race, I cleaned up, and hung around to help out everyone else. I forgo going out with everyone for dinner because I was feeling bad, and instead headed home, not wanting to spend the night in a test with the cold I had. I was home by 8pm, and in bed by 9pm.
Sunday:
I slept in, not setting my alarm, hoping to kick the cold.
No such luck. :( I arrived at the track around 9am to find
only Rob and Bruce, huddled in the garage around the heaters. I unpacked
and went out for my one remaining practice. I felt better than the
day before, but was still not at 100% I was still only running low
1:20's.
Race #2, MWGP:
Once again I was grided on the 3rd row. I got another great
start, and found myself going into turn 1 mid pack. The field soon
spread out, and I found myself in a battle with 3 other bikes. About
mid race, I find myself being slowed down by the other bikes, and going
into turn 3, go for an inside pass. I make the pass, but going into 4,
one of the bikes, #505 I think, get his position back. Grrr.
I bide my time, looking for an opportunity to pass again. On the white flag lap, I'm right on the tail of all 3 bikes. This is it, I think to myself, I can get them all in 1, or at least one or two of them. But we came upon some back markers, on of which cuts right across my line, forcing me to stand it up, hard on the brakes. I opt to go around the turn 1 oval, rather than risk throwing it away, which dropped my back far enough to make a pass out of reach. I finish the race in 10th, another 3 points.
I spent the rest of the day helping Rod and Bruce, and corner working turn 2, where I picked up more bikes than I care to count.
Overall, a great weekend. It felt great to be back, see familiar faces, and be back on the track. On Monday I was back on the track as an instructor for the Team Lady Luck Track day, and was feeling even better, so I am confident come the next race weekend, I'll be in the teens, and finishing up front!
I'd like to thank the whole team for their help throughout the weekend, and for putting up with a grumpy, sick me. I'd especially like to thank Reto and Adam for their help around the pits. Adam all the way from the west coast, and Reto getting up before noon. I'd also like to thank everyone who came up to watch and cheer us on, and to congratulate all the new racers! And finally, I'd like to thank all our sponsors, who make racing possible.
This is going to be a great year, methinks!
Saturday:
Race 3: GTL 15th in class, 38th overall.
Race 9: LWSS 11th in class, 47th overall.
Sunday:
Race 6A: Production Twins, 3rd in class, 18th overall
I showed up Friday afternoon for the Penguin open practice, and I'm glad I did. The rain from the morning had dried up, leaving the track nice and dry. It was good to get back on the track and try to remember all my braking markers, shift points, etc. Since I had dropped a tooth on the EX500's front sprocket, all the shift points had moved around, but my drive out of corners was greatly improved with the engine revving a little higher.
I was a little nervous when I pulled up on the grid for Race 3, the Lightweight GT endurance race. This was my first race as a Junior, and I didn't want to get my ass handed to me in my helmet. I got a good start, but turn 1 was a parking lot on the first lap and I lost a few positions. I settled down and tried to stay with a group of SV650's that we're slowly pulling away from me. I managed four laps at 1:28.6, and then heading into the turn 12 right-left combo, the front tire hit the concrete patch, hopped more than normal, and I was on my butt watching sparks fly off my bike as it slid into the dirt. The EX hit the dirt and flipped in the air, landing on its left side. Picked it up with the help of a cornerworker, made sure everything was there, fired it up and took off. Halfway down the front straight, I thought I saw a crack on the left handlebar, a went through Nascar turn 1 to check it out. With the blessing of the cornerworker there, I got back in the race, but was way behind.
Once back in the pits, got out the hammer and hacksaw, and with Scott's help, put a new handlebar on. Its good to race a sturdy bike...
In race 9, I could see that my stock EX would have some problems against the bikes that were lining up with me. SV650s, FZR400s, built EX500s, etc... Again, good start (easy to do on the EX ) and made it through the turn 1 parking lot. I got past Paul Conley in turn 9, he getting back past me in turn 3 in the next lap. I went around the outside in turn 11, be he followed two experts that made a sandwich out of me on the exit of 6. He got an excellent drive out of turn 12, was opened up a gap I couldn't close.
Sunday, race 6 was split, with Experts in race 6 and Juniors in race 6A. This race made the whole weekend worth it. I was on the right of the grid, all set up to be on the outside of turn 1 off the start. Get a good start and go around the outside of the pack in the first turn. I end up third on a few laps in, the leader pulling away and me closing on second place. I pass him braking into turn 3, and spend the rest of the race making passes on lappers that I thought he couldn't also make, to open up a safety gap. Last lap, and closing rapidly on an Aprillia RS250 in turn 11. I decide to play it safe and not stuff him into turn 12, but he's so slow through there my drive out onto the straight is ruined. On my left, I start to see an EX500 pulling up on me. I scream at my bike to go faster, but he gets me at the finish line by a foot.
Good weekend I think was had by all. Only the EX's in our garage crashed and the weather held. But last night, while cleaning up the EX and rerouting some drain hoses, I noticed that it the snorkels to the airbox come off pretty easy. Hmmm. I still have that Factory jet kit to put in sitting in my toolbox. I could order that K&N air filter that I've been wanting to get... A little more power wouldn't hurt.
Scott did not race this weekend, but instead played pit tootsie! :)
Did not race this weekend.