Race Report: July 27-28, 2002
Find all of the weekends race results at the LRRS web site here.
Friday - 07/26/2002
Saturday - 07/27/2002
Second Practice. The bike is handling good, but the jetting may be a bit rich. I focus on my lines in the really crowded practice and decide to re-jet before my race.
Race #6: GP-Singles - 5/6 entries (8 points)
After the race I called Yukio for some jetting advice (make it MUCH leaner) and I reaplced the reeds, clutch plates, and clutch springs. All of the clutch springs that had been on the bike were shot. I also went down three main jets sizes based on Yukio's recommendations. A quick lap around the pits showed a vastly improved clutch. I was ready to redeem myself in GTL tomorrow.
I spent the rest of the night enjoying the great company of everyone who came up to watch team daemon (and eat at our bbq) followed by a couple of beers and the great sounds of the Matthew Stubbs band!!!
Sunday - 07/28/2002
Race #1: GTL - 13/25 entries (0 points)
Next Thursday I am also looking forward to trying out the F4 which Team Daemon is planning to run the Team Challenge Endurance race on!!!
I packed up Thursday night, but had a busy day at work and didn't leave for the track until ~2:30. I got to the track in time to swap my tires, register, and tech the bike before dinner.
First practice. Early morning practice was nice and overcast in the high 60s. I jetted the bike for conditions and went out to play. The bike felt good and I ran my best time of the year so far in practice - a 1:30 flat.
By registering early on Friday, I got the pole position for the amateurs. That, combined with running great times in morning practice, had me psyched to do well in the race. I got an OK start, but soon realized that the bike was jetted too rich and I had almost no power. I decided I wanted to do the best I could and latched onto the nearest amateur, cornering as hard as I have all year. Halfway through the race I had almost no power at all and it felt as if the clutch was slipping. I held onto 5th place (VERY close to the fourth place finisher), beating two juniors in the process.
A nice overcast morning - 70 degrees and about 70% humidity. I was very interested in going out in practice to try out the new jetting. Once on the track, the difference was astounding. I had tons of power back and getting 1:30s was much easier. I was now REALLY psyched for GTL.
Armed with a good running bike and mentally on from two good practices, I was ready to do well in GTL. Unfortunately, I got a horrible start and was close to last into turn 1 - no good!!! I passed ~5 people going into turn 3 on the first lap and just kept pushing all race. After passing a few more people, I got an almost clear track and ran a personal best lap of 1:28.8!!! Unfortunately, I then came up on a GTO rider on a GSXR 750. I could get by him in a few corners, but he get screaming past me on the straights. I REALLY need to learn to pass into turn 1 so I can use my corner speed to my advantage against big bikes like that. My lap times were consistent 1:30s, but I feel like I could have definitely dropped lower than 1:28.8. I am REALLY looking forward to next race weekend.
My best weekend yet of the season-things seemed to really come together for me on the track, the bike ran the best is has all year, and it was one of the most enjoyable weekends socially to boot.
Thursday - 7/26/2002
Friday - 7/27/2002
Saturday - 7/28/2002
Race #10a: Lightweight Sportsman – 8/15 entries (5 points)
Saturday Night - 7/27/2002
Sunday - 7/28/2002
Race #6a: Production Twins – 5/9 entries (8 points)
Summary? I shaved a lot of time this weekend and I feel like I can get a second more from T6 and T3. I’m still slow in T3 but gaining confidence. I continue to improve my transitions (T1-T2, T12) and body positioning is becoming more natural. I got my knee down in T1, which was exhilarating at 80 MPH or whatever it is I’m doing there.
Thanks to the team and our great sponsors and all of our friends that came up for the races and barbeque and whatnot. See you all Labor Day!
This thing called work is starting to cramp my style, and my boss won’t give me the time off to go practice, although I really wanted to get a solid couple of hours of riding in.
I’ve got a normal-sized case of the pre-race-weekend nerves. Despite the fact that the trailer is 90% packed, I manage to fuss for 3 hours packing and digging out the transponder (thanks Bruce) and whatnot. It’s hard to describe-it’s not fear, just a sort of anxiety and tension. I turn in early and Inger comes over so we can depart together in the AM. We’re staying up near the track on Sat PM for a change.
We get up to the track by 8 and I register for LWSP. I decide to skip my first practice in favor of a non-rushed setup. Methodical works better for me, and helps my rhythm and state of mind. Conditions are about perfect-70 degrees or so, over cast, and dry, although showers are forecast. Second practice goes good, I do a 1:29 or so which is faster than usual in practice for me. Getting out early gets me lots of clear track and I like that-I’m going to go out early for practice from now on. I get a good groove, feel really good, even though I narrowly missed getting punted off the track as I was passing one of the Experts who takes the super-deluxe wide line through T6. I just managed to drop back in time to save my skin before running out of track, and found out later that Inger had the pleasure of watching the entire non-incident from the T6 grandstand. Back in the garage everything was great-the usual suspects were all there although I was hoping to see Tim and Scott and neither made it as it turned out. I did a good once-over with the bike and got it all dialed in, adjusted the chain and clutch, and tried to help out Dane and Paul and Jim. We had a larger-than-normal amount of visitors-mostly folks from the NEDoD list that came up for the day and to see Kit and her band play in the Goodyear garage that night. My race is blissfully split, although I’m dead last on the grid. I’m ready to go, calm nerves, feeling great.
Gridded next-to-dead-last as it turns out. I am psyched. I line up carefully and aim at the spot to my right. I’m planning on going between the two in front of me and then driving for the outside, sans prisoners. 3, 2, 1, 1-board goes sideways and Nick whips the flag out fast this time. I get my best launch of the year, and pass about a row and a half of traffic before I even hit third gear. I get to the outside cleanly and on the gas, get a really nice pick set for me on T1 and take a couple more bikes right there, and two more in T2. From there the race was pretty uneventful actually, other than the fact that I was feeling great-almost 100% over the T3 willies, and hard on the gas. My transitions were good, and I figured out that I could do T1 much faster than I had been taking it, basically a gear higher and with less braking, applied later. I passed people twice in 1 around the outside that way, capturing the inside line for 1A and getting much better drive than the passee out of 2 as a result. I’ve definitely got something going there at the moment. The first time I tried it I was really fighting the butt-puckering urge to slow down but then it just clicked from there, and 1A-2 was of course taken faster as a result too. T3 is now my slowest spot on the track and I’m giving up time in entry speed, by braking too much
and too early, resulting in lower corner speed there. I’m getting on the gas early and getting good drive out and up the hill, and I’m on a good line and all, I just need to do it 5 MPH faster, as it’s about the only place I’m getting passed. I got a chance to watch Dana Temple go through 11-11A in practice, and it opened my eyes a bunch. I had been reflexively shifting all the way into 5th gear, requiring three downshifts between the entry to 11 and 12 and sometimes I’d only grab two and get a lousy drive out of 12. Following Dana’s example, I tried just screaming it into 11 in 4th, grabbing one downshift in the left-hander on a tight line using more engine braking, then another while upright before the chicane. I was smoother and faster as a result and came out of 12 in the powerband and that’s what got me greater speed on the straight. I picked up time like that, and along the way also finally figured out how to position my body for the T12 chicane. As a result I was getting much better drive out of 12 and into top gear earlier on the straight. It’s funny how it all seems unlinked at first, then flows together as I’m learning more and more about how to get around. I finished the race in 8th place, but more importantly knocked over two seconds from my fast-lap time, turning a 1:26:08, yet touching nothing to the ground save my knees and toes. The combination of the spring and shock work plus better riding and body positioning has expanded my cushion, and I feel like I can get another second with more speed through 3 and 6.
The team puts on a pretty rockin’ barbeque for our guests. We have steak tips and salad and grilled veggies and bread and beer and it’s great. Kit has managed to convince her bandmates to trek up and they entertain us in the Goodyear garage for a while, although we’re woefully short on beer. I crash early as is typical and Inger and I slink off to the Lovejoy B&B for some sleep.
Inger and Calvin and I arise and are fed a smoking breakfast by the folks at Lovejoy, and we make it to the track for two practices. I take it pretty easy, feeling good.
Gridded on the pole, I get a lousy start and get passed before 1 by Murf, Baldwin and Endris. I manage to hang onto 4th till the last lap when Steve Murphy passed me on the inside in T3. I try and get him back but he holds me off and finishes a second ahead of me at the line. The good news is that I ran a 1:27, and while slower than Sat it is still a good fast lap and I’m getting accustomed to going through T1 much faster. That seems to be where I am making up the bulk of the ‘found’ time. At the end I get a touch of the hesitation again. I tell myself it’s my imagination and forget about it.
Friday - 07/26/2002
After the day was over, a bunch of us headed out for dinner, then it was an early night, as I was beat from being out fairly late Thursday night.
Saturday - 07/27/2002
Second practice went well, the new tires were sticking and I was feeling good.
Race #1: GTU - 12/17 entries (0 points)
I then set my eyes on Pete, and was closing in on him fast when the red flag came out on lap 16. Now this race usually goes 23 laps, so I know if I had had another 2 laps, I would have got Pete, and I was only 9 seconds behind positions 8, 9, and 10, so who knows how I would have done.
After the race I basically just relaxed and hung out in the garage with everyone that had shown up to check out the races. It was great to have everyone come up, it really is much more fun to race when you have fans! After the races were done for the day, TDR fired up the grill and Nils put on the grill master hat and went to work. After everyone was sufficiently stuffed, we all headed over to see Kit's band jam the night away. What a great night! After the band was done, I hung out a bike with the LDR/Bikeworx/Axljak crew. Sitting there, I was looking at Bruce's back up bike, the one Chad was racing this weekend. Then looking at the schedule for Sunday, then looking at the bike some more. The gears started clicking. I decided it would be fun to take it out with the rest of the guys on Sunday in Super Singles!
Sunday - 07/07/2002
Red practice: Took the MW out. Took a few laps to sort of get my bearings. The bike was missing slightly at high RPM's, but even so, in 3 laps I was running 24's on it! This is going to be fun!
Took the F4 out in blue practice, to make sure riding the MZ hadn't messed me up at all. It hadn't. My goal for th day on the F4, 16's.
I opted to bump up to yellow practice on the MZ, since I was passing everyone in red. This may have been a mistake. Very crowded. Galen had made a jetting change, which helped the top end, but the bottom end suffered. Oh well. I'm just going out for fun!
I opted to skip the second blue practice on the F4, to save the tires and my body.
Race #2: MWGP - 10/18 entries (3 points)
We re-gridded, and went out for the second time. this time I didn't get nearly as good a start, loosing positions right off the start. I put my head down, but something just wasn't clicking this time. I was only able to run 18's and just couldn't get into the race. I did manage to salvage 10th place out it though, running most of the race alone.
After the race, I went to check on the MZ. Chad had had to pull off during race 1 due to fuel issues. Galen thought he had fixed the problem, and wanted me to take the bike for a loop around the pits to make sure. But when we started the bike, it made some very bad metal sounds. Crap. The bike was done for the weekend. So much for racing Super Singles. (sigh)
I then had to try to get credit for the race I was not able to run. So I left the track on the quest for some M&M's to help me in my cause. I filled out the request for action, and crossed my fingers.
When I got back to the garage, I was informed that I had been paged over the PA system. So I went to check that out. Turns out I was needed to cornerwork for a short amount of time. That turning into all freeking afternoon. So by the time I got back to the garage, everyone had cleared out. I packed up my stuff and headed out.
Overall, a fantastic weekend. My best time of the year, a great showing by the NEDoD crowd, great food Saturday night, and great band, man, it just doesn;t get any better, does it? I hope if you didn't make it up this time you will for the next one, and especially for the Labor Day weekend, when we will be running the 3 hour endurance race again! See you at the track!!
Having (mostly) packed the night before, I got a fairly early start to the morning and made it to the track by about 10am. This time, however, I had a passenger. Last Tuesday night I brought home Blossom from the Buddy Dog Humane Society, a 6 year old mutt who was making her first trip to the racetrack and seemed to be looking forward to it with great anticipation! I started to unload, then went to go play with the Penguin Roadracing School. Other folks started showing up as the day went on. Galen actually showed on Friday with his son Chad, who was going to race for the first time.
First practice. Bike felt good and I was just working on getting everything to click. We were back to the normal turn 12 configuration, so I wanted to make sure i remembered how to do that, and to get a good drive onto the front straight. My practice was cut short though, as the bike started to slide around a lot. I was running on old tires, hoping they would last for practice, but I guess not. I came in, and did a tire swap.
I had pre-entered so I had a good grid position, on the outside of row 3. Awesome. I got a good launch and made my way through traffic in turns 1, 1A, and 2. Heading into turn 3 I was in a solid 6th place or so, right on the tail of the lead pack. Awesome! I just need to stick with those guys, and I'm golden. I put my head down, and did something right, pulling a 1:17.4 on lap number 2, my fastest lap of the season! For the next several laps I clicked off 17 and 18's, keeping the lead pack right in sight. I had my eye set on Gus, I wanted to pass him, badly. But on lap 7 or so, I started to fade, having gone out to hot, too fast. Chris Reynolds was right on my tail, and showed me a wheel a few times. I was able to hold him off for a few laps, but he finally got by me. He was soon followed by Dave Schweitzer and Pete Douvris when I made a few mistakes, missing a shift here, running wide there. They started to check out from me a bit, and that fired me back up again. My time dropped back into the 17's and 18's and I started to catch up to Pete and Dave by a few seconds a lap. Coming out of turn 12, I was right on Dave's tail. He ran a bit wide, and we were side by side down the whole straight, waiting to see who would brake first. As it turned out, we both waited to the last second, but I was on the inside and Dave's tires were going, so he opted to take the Nascar turn 1 route.
Woke to a nice morning. I got up early and headed to registration and signed up for the race on the MZ. Ran back to the garage, put my numbers on the bike, got it teched with my numbers and waited for practice.
Once again I found myself on the outside but this time of row 4. I got a great start and flew into turns 1 and 1A, slicing through traffic. Then in turn 2 I had to check up and a few bikes went down right in front of me. Going into turn 3, I expected the red flag to come out, but it didn't. My second of hesitation let a few bikes by me. I realized they were going to let the race continue, so i put my head down and tried to make up for lost time. But coming through turn 10, the red flags were finally out, as it turned out, for another incident in turn 6.
Did not race this weekend.