| Author | Message | ||
     Halsracing |
Walt made the grid and I would bet he did it by himself. This guy digs deeper than anyone. Let's show some support. Walt put your head down and GO. TG See qualifying results @ roadracingworld.com | ||
| Jbar |
GO WALT! We'll see you in a couple of hours to show our support! It's going to be a great Buell Formula Xtreme day at Miller! | ||
| Coolice |
Good job Walt!! | ||
| Imonabuss |
Nice finish, Walt and Bison! You guys are learning the tracks and learning the bike, getting better all the time. | ||
| Court |
Congratulations Walt! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Results: http://www.amaproracing.com/prorace/raceres/rr/rac res.asp?cls=fe&snct=p5245&type=f&rnum=1&year=2007 | ||
| Walt221 |
Well, I'm back home. It was a very eventful weekend. I was able to go out and ride our A and B bikes in Thursday practice. The set-up on the two bikes were different as well as the B bike didn't have an electric shifter. Also the B bike had Pirelli slicks on it instead of my usual Dunlop's. Our B bike developed an oil leak though and we had to fix that for Friday practice because I was going to ride the bikes back to back in practice to decide which set-up and which tires I was going to use for qualifying. As it turned out I liked the A bike set-up with the Dunlop's better. It was a good thing too. The B bike's oil leak returned so we just set it aside. That's were the fun really began! On my first lap of qualifying my bike started to slow down and spit oil. When I noticed the oil I pulled of the track as not ruin it for everyone else. I moto-crossed the XBRR across Miller's rather large rocky infield to get the bike back to the pits. I didn't come all that way to miss the race! I was in such hurry when I got back to my pit that I just dropped the bike on the ground and went to work on the B bike. I threw a shifter on it, bodywork on it and went out; cold tires, low on fuel and leaking - all while wearing all my gear! I managed make it out before qualifying ended to put in a couple laps good enough to get in. Whew! After a late night trying to find the oil leak and working on set-up on what was now our only bike we were ready for Saturday practice. Of course the oil leak returned. So back to work I went. I was running out of ideas with the oil leak so I fixed the only remaining two things it could have been and went about the normal race prep (including installing new clutch plates). I was excited for the race, because I knew I could have a good pace. Even with the leak I was 24th in the morning so I was really hoping for a top 20. I got a decent start, but got hung up a little by another bike engine that let go going into turn 1. After that I started making my way up. I put my head down and got just inside the top twenty somewhere around halfway when I started to feel the bike moving around. I knew it wasn't my tire because I went a little conservative with the compound so it would be there at the end. Another lap went by and my boot started sliding on the peg. I knew then that it was oiling. However, I could look down and see it was from a different spot than before. I backed of at that point not wanting to throw it down the road. I ended up getting caught and passed by a couple cats towards the end, but all things considered 22nd is better than the alternative. Thanks to Bison for all the help and to JBar for coming out to watch. Unfortunately, this will be our last race. Bison and I had planned on doing the rest of the season, but with our recent string of luck, we've come to realize that it's too much for just one guy to handle (wrenching, set-up, driver, rider), not to mention the amount of money we're spending and getting mediocre results because of the problems. I no longer have a Buell, but maybe I'll see some of you at a club race in the near future on my old Suzuki. Someday soon I hope to be back on a Buell. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
That's what happens when you have no support. That's a damn F'n shame. H-D/Buell should be ashamed of themselves. Sorry if you don't agree, but no wonder the XBRR project is a failure. Walt good luck on whatever bike you choose to race in the future. No one here has the right to give you grief for switching. I give you credit for sticking with it for as long as you have. As you said, It's a difficult one man operation. Especially when the bike you ride is constantly breaking down. Again. good luck in your future racing ventures! | ||
| Daves |
Good job in the race. I am sorry to hear it was the last one for Bison Racing. | ||
| Trojan |
Sorry to hear your news Walt. Regardless of the politics surrounding the XBRR it is sad to hear that there is one less Buell racer out there now. Good luck with you future racing, whatever it may be on. | ||
| Walt221 |
Please don't get me wrong, I love Buell and the bikes. Doing it on your own is tough, even if you don't have problems - especially at the AMA level. Any privateer team will tell you that, regardless of what kind of bike they're riding. Why would Buell support me? Who am I? Yes, we're the only XBRR at the AMA, but would publicly helping me really help there image with anyone except people here? The answer is, no. Unfortunately people have already made their mind up about the XBRR and that's a shame. Sure it has some quirks, but the idea behind it is great. Trust me on this - we would still be out there on a Buell if we had an excess of money and could afford to go racing the way it needs to be done. I will be back on a Buell. Hopefully sooner than later. Who knows, maybe even later this season. | ||
| Elvis |
Sorry to hear about your problems Walt. I was watching your progress online and, just seeing your results on paper, it looked like you were really making some great progress from practice and qualifying to your 22nd place finish. Considering you haven't been racing in the AMA very long at all, I think that's a GREAT finish, and I was really hoping to see you race a few more and see what kind of progress you could make with a little more time. No doubt it's difficult, and I think I speak for MOST here in saying our hats are off to you and best of luck in future efforts (and let's hope they do come sooner rather than later). | ||
| Walt221 |
Maybe I jumped the gun a little bit and need to clarify a couple things. Sometimes I do that when I get discouraged. Flat out, I don't like finishing where we have been. Do I think I belong in the top 5? No, but I do think I should be in the top 15. I guess I just need to dig a little deeper and we need to prepare a little better. I don't own a Buell anymore, but I still have the Bison bike available if I choose to ride it. ref was a big help at Miller and a huge supporter of Buell racing. Like I said, I may be back on a Buell this year. If a couple things fall into place, maybe we won't miss any races after all? Who knows? One thing's for sure, ref and I aren't quitters and if there's a way - we'll find it. | ||
| Telewoodski |
Nice job Walt. I was at the race and the sound of the XBRR coming down the straight into corner one had everyone at the turn one stands asking what is that. It was awesome to see some of the looks when they found out it was a Buell. Lot's of little conversations in the stands about Buell, American made, air cooled V twin. I was smiling when I went out and got on my XB12R and rode out after the race day was over. Good job and thanks for the effort. | ||
| Slaughter |
Walt, You and Ref really deserve credit for taking it as far as you have. Club racing is one thing (fun and 'spensive for sure) - but AMA at the level you're running is something else altogether. Most folks seem clueless about what ALL the real costs add up to be. Hope you can hang in there but you deserve congrats for your efforts so far! BRAVO! | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Walt. By support I mean they've basically stopped development of the bike and it seems oil leaks are an on going problem that have given more than just you the problem. H-D should be ashamed for the fact that it seems it is they, not Buell that have effectively killed off the project. Crap, I run an XB in CCS and, thanks to guys like Mike (Coolice) and my Wife and Son, I'm able to get help in the pits and working on the bike. I can't even imagine doing alone, let alone at the AMA level. For the lack of a better way of putting, it's seems like the bike is more trouble than it's worth. | ||
| Vortec57 |
Walt. Was glad to see ya out there sportin the RR. Thanks for taking the time to sign my helmet. I got a few pretty nice pics of your bike at clubhouse corner. I'll post them up sooner or later. | ||
| Rick_a |
There's a lot of well funded and supported teams that haven't made it in the AMA. What happened to the Parts Unlimited Ducati effort? Look at the teething troubles the Ferracci MV Agusta team have been having. My hat's off to you. I've seen guys with their hands full club racing on their own...doing it at AMA level is admirable, and insane. I've followed Chris Ulrich's well documented AMA Superstock efforts in RoadRacingWorld. No small feat. I wouldn't call the XBRR a failure by any measure. Sure, it hasn't made it in the AMA, but there's plenty of 'em elsewhere, home and abroad, doin' quite well. It's not uncommon to read of them doing quite well in other organizations and in various classes. I don't claim to be an expert...just an enthusiastic fan that see's it as it is. (Message edited by Rick_a on June 28, 2007) | ||
| Schtunke |
Walt, Congratulations on a great finish. Good luck in the future. JN | ||
| Jbar |
Walt, you did a great job given lousy mechanicals. I was there in the pits as Walt gridded up for the Formula Xtreme race...what a rush! I saw the rear tire after the race and it gave me chills...for Walt to finish at 22nd with over half the race on a 1" wet stripe on the left side is simply unbelievable. It's a shame that Buell hasn't supported the XBRR the way it should...the 2007 Buell continguency money, the life blood of privateers, is not geared towards taking a new, prototype bike to the AMA Proracing level by privateers. That needs to change. Period. My XBRR is in the shop having had 1) an oil leak in the pushrod gasket and 2) a primary chain tensionser that got loose and chewed up in the primary. We all realize that these bikes are >not< production, but every other manufacturer puts gobs of support behind their racing efforts and racing technology. The Buell/H-D dealers also need to support this effort; very few are... My most memorable time at the track (aside from the AMA action) was spending time with Walt and Ref. These two enthusiasts are what make this sport happen day in and day out. I hope that you stay in the game, Walt, whatever you ride! My Buell cap is off to you both. | ||
| Kds1 |
Hey Walt, Good job on the efforts, man I feel the alone part....we are racing watercooled twins and beat them alot, the Buell is a competative racebike, sometime I think the program is in the wrong hands, but thats just my view, wish I had one at the shop... If I had the capitol to fund an RR we'd certainly have one, but the 9 will have to work till I can do better....keep up the good work no matter what you ride!!!! Kevin www.kdfab.com |
