| Author | Message | ||
     01lightning |
The race results on roadracing.com left one guy out for some reason. I was 5th out of 7 in the 1000cc class. http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=4 2154 Thankyou guys for advising me to race now rather than waiting til i think i am 'fast enough'. This website and the opinions of its members really got me thinking in a different way. I never let anyone know at TPM that I want to race until this weekend. Man, its a whole different world and I dig it. I was talking to one of the scary fast riders who is also a coach and wen I said I wanted to wait until I was ready the dude jumped down my throat and basically said the same thing you guys said- the sooner i start the sooner I will get faster. All that being said here is the low down of the race. First, I had the willies. My last track day(sept 12) I had my first crash on my CR, first crash on the track. I can only assume I hit the brakes while leaned over way too far and flew over the bars at about 65. My shoulder/collarbone area is all jacked up and my left elbow/forearm are still a little swollen. I think I'm ok though. I was planning on taking it easy my next few sessions until I got back in the groove. Well...kinda tough in my situation since I work for he club in the morning and ride in the afternoon. The race is right after lunch- basically my first session since the crash day. ( i did ride the next session after I crashed on the 12th...adrenaline musta killed the pain maybe?) I did talk to the owner and he did let me suit up before lunch and get a session in. The only problem was it was pouring and I had only ridden the rain once prior. So I rode. Wasnt ripping it up but since I was already going slow, worked on my lines and all. OK, after lunch, race time. Its spitting and the track is kinda wet but dry in some spots. I was pumped about the start since I drag race my CR and know I can leave way better than most of these guys. I know they will eat me alive after turn 1 but I wa confident I would be in the mix. So, the 2 board comes up, then the 1 board, 1 board goes sideways(green flag next) and guess the frig what...when I i went to rev it up,,I STALLED. My bike rarely stalls. I get a hand up but its too late, the green flag waves. I think I'm gonna get run over, but the bike starts and off I go-not with my well thought out launch- with my panic launch which aint good, fast or pretty. There was one guy that I know I am faster than racing and he is long gone . I really wasnt pushing because the track was wet and honestly I was a little afraid since I lost traction pretty good on my first session. I'm not making excuses, I just wish I would've been able to ride like I ride for the race, not the way I was riding if that makes sense. I did pass two guys but that was it...the first pack was so far ahead I couldnt even see them. But hey, I told myself I was going to do it no matter what and I did so its a good thing for me. Thanks guys. I will be attending race school next week at summit and trying it again. I will get my race license and race next year. This so friggin cool man! On a side note, I received so many great tips and so much great instruction this weekend in 2 days of rain I cant wait to try to put it all together.My body position was crossed up pretty bad until now.I finally did get an almost dry session after the race and was riding beter than ever. Cant wait to race again! Thanks again guys. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
 Welcome to the addiction! | ||
| Imonabuss |
Cool! Years of incredible fun await! | ||
| Jng1226 |
Congrats! You survived and learned a lot - what a great start! | ||
| Not_purple_s2 |
Cool, congratulations! Question: Are you running a steering damper? If so how'd you mount it? | ||
| Rodrob |
Congratulations! Now your screwed. | ||
| Smoke |
LET THE SPENDING BEGIN! CONGRATS. tim | ||
| 01lightning |
No, I dont have the steering damper. I was going to have gpr make one but I think I'm going to swap fronts with an R and then I'll get it. Yea, the money.wow. I was looking at the race schedule and man its going to take a bunch o'cash to do the whole season by the time i factor in race fees,tires,gas to get there and basic accomodations...that adds up quick. anyone need a bucket truck?  | ||
| Jdugger |
I figure it's about $1,000 all in to do 3-4 sprint races per weekend. That's why I'm planning to just do the local races. That's 4-5 races a year. And, I'm joining a novice endurance team on an old bike, so that's not too expensive. Guys that do all 10 rounds and travel, etc... youch. | ||
| Nattyx1 |
Racing is expensive. IF you feel the need, like from deep inside, then NOT racing is sheer torture. So you gotta ask yourself the same question warriors have asked for eons: "What price glory?" Looking back, including the crashes, the all night bike building in a van while en route to a race, the shoveling into the money pit... I remember the feeling of competing, of speed, of pushing myself and growing as a rider, of the one win I had. THAT stuff is what stays with you. I don't remember my checkbook balances or whether the ccard got paid that month. The point to me is: life is short, so if you are a racer, then you gotta race. And here's a simple but often ignored tip: if money is an issue, then figure out ways to cut corners on hardparts and work on your riding skills -- that's FREE. So many guys had to have the hottest cams or special valve jobs or custom titanium exhausts etc. And then they'd get out there and run the same lap times basically. Why? Because their brains weren't faster even if their bikes were. Waste o' money until you are getting 100% out of your bike everywhere on the track -- till then, it's YOU holding the bike back, not the other way around. Pic below: Me on one of my last race bikes - I wanted smaller grids and a more mellow scene, so I went vintage. This one was a vintage ahrma sportsman 750 - BMW r/75. Wish I still had it.  | ||
| 01lightning |
i hear ya Natty...cool pic by the way. I will find a way to make it work. My bike is stock except for protection(engine guards,frame pucks,sliders) and I'm not riding it to its full potential yet. It IS me holding the bike back at this point. I'm considering a trade for an R...kinda scary since I know my bike rips like 10 men...never rode an R.. | ||
| Gearhead |
Nattyx1 words are SO true!! I'm happy to report that I managed to slice an average of three seconds off my lap times this year at Blackhawk but then Todd Evans runs 1:16s on a cold day riding a stock XB12R with the belt drive! It's rarely the bike, it's the rider! Todd, whom I never had the pleasure of meeting, has saved me a bunch of money this winter after seeing how quick he is! I'll use that cash for more track time, now!! |
