Race Report for Week 5: July 29 - 30, 2000
Find all of the weekends race results at the LRRS website here.
Overall a good weekend for me despite making the wrong tire choice *again* for Super Singles. The 1:25s are coming more consistently and with a best of 1:25.179 I'm on the verge of breaking into the 24s. I'm starting to successfully apply things I learned in Penguin Pro School and, while voices in my head are usually a bad thing, I feel like I can hear Eric Wood talking to me in various corners around the track. :)
A big thanks to Modern World Ventures and their Fog City Face Shield! This year's weather has been very damp and the FCFS has been invaluable. I know it's working well because I can see the fog forming around the lower edge of my face shield beyond where the FCFS covers.
I arrive at the track a little after 7am on Saturday morning and make it through registration fairly quickly. I seem to have been bumped to the yellow practice and welcome the extra time to get unloaded and tech'ed. I get to tech and Brian scolds me for arriving with my lowers on. Doh! I've only been using my lowers since the AMA nationals and dealing with them still hasn't become second nature.
I have a new front tire to scrub in so I take it easy for the first couple laps. I wasn't sure how I'd feel in the faster practice but it wasn't a problem. The session was pretty full, however, and an announcement was made that either the practice would be split or a few (15 or so) riders could volunteer to move down to the red practice. I have no problem being in the slower practice and get restickered and head out for the second red practice. I need to work on my passing but otherwise feeling pretty good.
Dane gets intimate with the pavement in T2 and I skip the riders'
meeting to take him to the hospital in Concord. Every time I hit
a good bump in the road I could hear him take a sharp breath. Unfortunately
for him the road to the hospital is maintained about as well as a two lane,
back woods road in the middle of nowhere and pickup trucks are not generally
know for their plush rides.
Race
6, GP Singles - 10th
I'm gridded in the second row and get an OK start. The field
settles out quickly and, as is often the case, I find myself chasing Brian.
Around lap 3 or 4 I catch and pass him on the straight. Next time
around my second downshift going into T1 didn't feel like it took.
It actually did but it gave me a moments pause and I go into T1 pretty
wide. Coming out of T2 Jack motors by. I keep him in sight
for a bit but he soon pulls a gap. Once again only one junior got
by.
Talking with Brian and Jack after the race they both give me grief
about my wide T1 entrance as they were both close behind. Oops!
Race
9a, LW Sportsman - 10th
Another second row grid but I'm about mid-pack going into T1.
In T1a something causes Bob's rear tire to break loose and the resulting
bobble and recovery sends a few riders into the grass but luckily all manage
to stay upright and keep going. Deja vu and I find myself chasing
Brian. I eventually manage to come out of T12 right behind him and catch
him before T1. I put my head down and really try to hammer because
I know Brian is right on my tail. I see Micky Curry up ahead but
with only 2 laps to go the gap looks too big. Last lap and the gap
is shrinking rapidly! I think I can catch him and by T9 I know that
I'm within striking distance. T12 I'm right on his tail and now I
know I have the motor to beat him to the flag. 0.2 seconds is my
margin at the line. Less than a second covers me, Micky, and Brian at the
finish.
Sunday morning and surprise, surprise it's wet. It isn't raining for the first practice but the track is wet and I decide to wait. Second practice and this time it *is* raining. Sigh. With the Pilots still mounted I skip both Sunday practices for the second weekend in a row.
Around Race 4 I mount up the rains as it is still raining.
And just like last race weekend it starts to clear as I finish safety wiring.
Argh. Race 8 and, while there is a light mist in the air, the track
is pretty dry. Paul tries to convince me that we have plenty of time
to swap wheels but I can't be bothered. (Slacker. -Editor)
Sunday,
Race 9, Super Singles - 5th
I'm gridded on the outside of the first row. Looking around
me I find that everyone has their dry tires on. For the first time
that I can remember I'm actually hoping that it starts to rain! On
the warmup lap my lowers are rattling. Doh! I had removed the
lowers to drill some drain holes for wet races and had forgotten to zip
tie the two holes where I don't use Dzus fasteners. There is no danger
of them coming off so I'm not too concerned.
On the first start the first and second waves get off and then a crash forces them to hold us on the starting grid. Jim is next to me and I can see that he's getting concerned about his engine over heating. Riders from the first two waves start to come through and regrid in front of us. Still no go and as my temperature gauge reaches 90C I shut my bike off. Jim, Bob, and Galen are now rightfully agitated and we're *finally* given the signal to take a half (cut through the T3-10 gap) lap and reform on the starting grid.
An OK start but I'm on my rains and I quickly start to drop back. 2 laps in and the race is red-flagged again due to 3 riders from the Formula 40 group having gone down in T2. It's going to be a while and they let the bikes without starters to go back to the pits. Brian has leaned his bike against the fence and I get him to hold mine for me. I run over to the fence where the SRNE guys pit and ask Brian Yoo for a couple of zip ties to take care of my fairing. Thanks to both Brians!
We're told we have 6 laps left. I get a good start and for the first time pull a small wheelie off the line. Bob pulls ahead and swings to the outside. He's ahead going into T1 and as I dive for the apex Galen is right beside me. I swear I could raise my right elbow and tap him and I'm completely comfortable going into T1 three wide with Jim on the outside of Galen. Going into T1 at the start of the race has always been the least comfortable part of racing for me and I tend to back off a bit if it's crowded. But lately I've been getting good starts during Super Singles. A couple of reasons come to mind. I know and trust all the guys in the relatively small group (7 entries this weekend) that make up the grid. And the last two times I've been in my favorite spot, the outside of the front row.
Again I soon drop back due to my rain tires. I'm pushing harder than I did the last time out and while I do get lapped it is only by the top 2 riders of the first wave. My rear tire is pretty toasted. Given the weather we've been having all year, I'll have to be more open to the idea of a last minute tire swap.
I'm hoping for a completely dry weekend in August!
Once again, my race weekend started off on the wrong foot. Early in the week my car, a.k.a., my tow vehicle, decided to die on me. After an all night session of wrenching, I came to the conclusion that it was beyond what I was going to be able to do, so I threw in the towel, and had it towed to the mechanic. Now, how to get to the track? Luckily Tim's brother, Tom (they're twins) was going to take Penguin on Friday, so I was able to send the racebike and tools up with him. Bruce took everything else, and I ended up loading up the Givis, and riding the XX to the track.
Friday:
I arrived at the track around 11:30, and setup. Tom was already
there taking Penguin, and had unloaded my tools and the F4 for me. I had
some work to do on the F4, so I set to that. First thing install
new chain and sprockets. Sounds simple in theory, but I managed to
break one of the breaking pins, and bend another. It took me entirely
too long, but eventually, I was successful! Next, I swapped out the
rains for a set of Pilots, and went to sign up to work a corner/practice.
The day was hot and humid. Between practice and sitting out in turn 2, I was exhausted. After the day was done, I got the bike teched, and pulled the wheels in anticipation of mounting my slicks that were coming up with Bruce the next morning. Dane arrived and unloaded the FZR and all his gear, and Tom got his license and registered for his races. For some reason, I let him sign up for MWSB, and told him he could use the F4.
We all head out for some pizza, then come back and finish up getting ready for the morning.
Saturday
The morning started out very foggy, but that soon burned off and
left us with a hot an humid day. First order of the morning was to get
the slicks mounted up. I ran the tires and rims over to Street and
Comp to get that taken care of. My first practice went well, but
I was getting held up a bit by slower traffic. One thing I did notice
was that my brakes were not as sharp as they should be, so when i came
in after the first practice, I took a trip over to Street and Comp to get
a new set of HH's and some new brake fluid. Between practices I swapped
the pads out, and ran the bike around the pits to bed in the new pad.
I went out for the second practice, and got two laps in before the red
flag came out. I called it a day, and came into the garage to let
the pads cool
Race
#1, GTU (Gridded 3B)
I got an OK start and got around Tony, who started on pole, going
into turn 1. I was running right behind bike #345, who was slower
than me, but I could not get a clean pass around him. I crashed last
week in turn 2 trying to pass he same guy, so I think I was a bit gun
shy. On the second or third lap, I missed a shift going into turn
1, which gave Tony enough of a gap to get around me. He was held
up by #345 for a few laps as well, but got around him, it took me another
5 or 6 laps to do the same, so Tony pulled a decent gap on me. #17
got around me when i missed another shift in turn 3, and quickly got by
#345 and Tony as well. As the laps started to wind down, the heat
started getting to me. I was catching up to Tony, but running out
of laps, and strength. When the checkered came out, I was in 8th,
one back from Tony. Tony also got a faster lap time than me, getting
the point in our little wager for the weekend.
I spent the rest of the day working on the F4, watching the rest of the team and garage race, taking pictures, and helping out wherever I could. I also took some time out to pick up Dane from the hospital after his little high-side in turn 2. Separated collarbone and fractured thumb, on different sides! Ug!
Sunday
Woke to a wet morning. It had rained on and off during the night,
so the track was wet, but drying out. By the time my practice came
around, the track was dry, so i went out on slicks. The sky was threatening,
so I kept an eye out. After about 5 laps, it started to sprinkle.
I was behind Jeff Wood, also on slicks, and when he pitted, so did I.
The the skies opened up. I mounted the rains and went out for a wet
second practice. I felt good. I like the rain. I pulled
off several 1:34's in the rain, about 5th fastest in practice.
Race
#2, MWGP (Gridded 4a)
It was wet and raining. I knew this was my best chance for
a good finish. I got a good start and was with the lead pack for
the first several laps. Slowly, I started to loose touch with the
leaders, but soon found myself all alone, with no one to race. Which
is good, and bad. With no one to push me, I tend to back off a bit.
I pulled a 1:29 in the rain, and came home with a 6th!
Spent the rest of the afternoon helping Kevin and Bruce with their races and spectating.
I would like to thank Tom Atwood and Bruce for all their help in getting my gear to the track. Tim Atwood for riding my XX home, so I could use his car to get my stuff back on Sunday, and the whole team for their help and support this weekend! Also, Street and Comp for getting me my tires when I needed them, and the parts as well. Not to mention Fog City, without whose inserts, I never could have seen during the wet race on Sunday. And to the rest of our sponsors, who make the racing effort possible!
Did not race this weekend.
Did not race this weekend.
Hmmmmm What to say what to say. After 15 years of riding and racing I'm still learning things everyday. That's what makes this so fun and so cool. Even when you don't have the best of weekends. This was one of them. Once again thanks to all our sponsors for helping us and a special thanks to my teammates for dealing with my bike transport issues.
All in all it wasn't a bad weekend it just had it's frustrating points. Rob Opiela had already delivered my bike, blessed soul that he is (THANKS ROB), so when I arrived at the track at about midnight on Friday all I had to do was toss my stuff in a corner and bed down for the night. It turned out to be a night of mosquito bitten dreams. grumble.
7am. Wow it's nice to be back here!! I've not raced since the National warm-up due to moving and other issues. Well up and off to registration, then tech then back to the garage. Other than the weather, which turned out to be foggy and damp for the first 3 groups of practice, all was well so far. Actually one of the least stressed morning I've ever had here. I should have known better.
When I warmed up the bike first thing in the morning it was doing a little stuttering. I checked things over and chalked it up to sitting for a month and a half possibly a little water in the gas. I drained the float bowls and dropped in some fresh combustibles and went out for practice number. Mid 1.25's That's closing in rapidly on my best from last season and two seconds faster than my first practice. I was feeling really good.
Sat
Race 9a LwSportsman
This race is my warm-up for production twins on Sunday. I've
been able to run consistently in the top 7 and was expecting to do better
this time after all the stuff I picked up in Penguin Pro-School.
I'm gridded on the 5th row behind Micky Curry and Bruce Leung. The flag
drops and I got a great launch. It's pretty tight going into turn 1-1a.
I took my standard outside line and got by another 3-4 riders. Somewhere
in the (front) middle of that pack Bob Robbins either hit or got hit and
this caused an incredible amount of brake squealing and last ditch (I'm
not gettin' taken out) efforts by a rather significant number of the group.
I managed to stay inside and the first 5 of us started to clear off.
About some time in the next two laps I was passed back by several of the
much faster sportsman bikes including but just barely Bob Robbins.
I think was in 10th here. I was nonetheless having a blast and running
one of the better races, in terms of focus and consistency, of my life.
Bob Robbins, on his thumper managed and I managed to have a very fun spirited
little dice going. For those of you who don't know Bob; he has this
ability (partly due to the fact that he's a big guy and partly due to skill)
to make himself very W-I-D-E. He did it to me for most
of the last sportsman race in June and by the time I got around him I couldn't
catch up with the next group. Even though we laughed about it later
I had no plan on letting that happen. Well luck and a small pack
of riders shined on me going into T3, a turn I really like to pass in,
and I managed a nice neat dive under Bob and two others to put me in 7th(I
think). At his point I think I was more driven than I had ever been.
I was really making a conscious effort to not only hit every one of my
reference points but to make myself AS W-I-D-E as possible.
I managed to hold Bob off for the next 2 laps and in the process came within
2 tenths of my personal best.... Exiting turn twelve on lap 5 the
bike all of a sudden lost power. Bob and Chuck Chiounard (who could
have passed me at will) came by like a freight train "**^%$$&&
no not AGAIN ##*^%**** " Then the power came back on.. "okay let's
go forward" I'd already lost about 100 yards on them and Micky Curry had
come by as well. I make it through 1-1a-2 with no problems and then
it starts bucking again then it clears out. As I exit T4 going up the hill
it dies again and then picks back up. I'm so frustrated and angry
that (this is the second race weekend that I've been plagued with weird
problems and it's ruined any chances at coming in anywhere decent in the
championship) that I slam my hand down on the gas tank. Later I realized
that I know have a large dent in the tank. The bike fires again and
I figure just let me make it around. I thought I had looked back over my
shoulder before rolling back onto the line but I must not have and I scared
the shit out of Brian Meyette. It's not like me to make bonehead
moves like this. I'm usually pretty focused and safe about my racing.
Well, I rolled down the hill and parked the bike in T10 until the white
flag lap and then just followed the last guy in and took the checker very
frustrated and very disappointed. Back to the garage. After
dinner and much late evening fiddling I discovered that I'd dropped a carb
needle. The aluminum needle had gotten very badly chewed so I needed
to find replacements. So off I went scrounging. The best I
could manage was a pair of stock needles from my good buddies and travel
partners Matt Lai and BJ Worsham. I reassembled the carbs to a "suggested
baseline" set my alarm for 7am and went to sleep.
Sunday, 7.43am
Hmmmm earplugs in (never had a problem hearing the alarm) alarm
ringing for 40 minutes, garage full of teammates working and not only do
I not wake up on time but nobody woke me up. Sh*t. Oh well
truly nobodies fault but my own. The tone for the day is now set.
I've got two practices to get these crabs, YES that's it CRABS, set right
and installed. First I try the suggested baseline. Result?
Horrible. Then I try another suggestion. WORSE. Then I go back
to good old fashion logic. Put the carbs back where they were with
the original needles, use the one original needle that is good (at least
I'll have one carb spot on) and shim the stock needle up so that it's static
height is one washer higher (it had a shorter taper and overall fatter
shaft) than the original needle and cross my fingers. The answer
to come during race number 9 errr ahhh oops that would be number 6....
Worked like a dream. Now if only I had been ready this could have
been good.
Sunday
Race 6 Production Twins(conditions spotty wetness on and offline
everywhere)
Remember when I said waking up late was going to be the tone for
the day? Well, for some stupid reason I got it stuck in my head that the
LWPT race was #9. Since the weather was so foul this morning and
the US Marshalls were so short
handed I went out to corner work figuring I'd come back in after race 5
and relax for 40 minutes before going out in race 9. Well I got back
to the garage and everybody was running out to watch their friends. I'm
like "Ok whose in this race?" then I check the schedule and see that it's
me. The warm-up lap has already gone off and I'm still in my jeans.
I rush into my leathers and run out figuring I can at least get my track
time and credit for a finish. Just after I exit the pit, but I'm
not quite on track yet, the red flag comes out. Okay so I tuck in
behind last bike and we tool around back to the pre-grid. I'm thinking
"Jeez I'm lucky". So now we're sitting on the pre-grid waiting for
the clean-up to finish and the restart. As I start going over things I
realize I didn't add gas and I had no earplugs. They really do make
a difference. After some stressing and a little running around I
manage to get someone (whoever you were thank you very much) on the other
side of the fence to run around with their gas jug and splash me a gallon.
Once on pre-grid you can leave but your bike can't. Op ok it looks like
we have a longer delay so I run over to a vendor just outside the pit gate
and grab some ear plugs. Just as I get back it's the 5 minute board
comes out and we go out for warm-up. First thing I notice is there
the track is wet and dry. So now on top of the fact that my brain
is scrambled I've not run this track in the rain for better than a year.
I've no idea what the traction is going to be like and half the field is
out on DOT rains. Suffice it to say that even though I got a great start
everyone came back past me and I tiptoed around for 4 laps before I realized
there was a fair bit of traction out there if you stayed on the line.
Four laps, and a very well behaved set of carbs, later I managed
to regain enough ground for a 6th place finish.
Well, that was my weekend. How was yours? Truth be told though
I did not have a very successful weekend and it was certainly fraught with
moments of frustration I really love racing motorcycles.