| Author | Message | ||
     Englishman119 |
The 3 of us meet up this weekend at Oak Hill Raceway near Henderson Texas for a weekend of racing organized by CMRA. Oak Hill is described at a "Technical" track. What this translates to be, is a track that has mostly blind corners changing cambers, changing elevations and plenty of lumps and bumps where you don't need them. Track knowledge is everything! This is not a track where you can learn it in the morning and win races in the afternoon and mistakes are usually punished with a lay down - There, that's my excuses out of the way!!! So......... Saturday I entered the GT race (30 minute timed race) for practice. My lap times pick-up as the race went on and got a little more comfortable with the track. I deliberately do not to race anyone, just practice. My only real "moment" in the race happened while I was bedding in a new set of "special" brake pad supplied Buell Race Support. These things really worked and got better and better as the laps went by. On the only straight on the track, you brake from about 100mph to almost walking pace for sharp lefthander. As the pads bedded in my braking distance reduced big-time. And I was now playing with the brake distance when I felt the handling at the back get very strange, but I squeezed the lever a little harder and then I realized my ass was higher than my elbows!!! I'm estimating it was about an 80 mph stoppie that was several hundred feet long…..and the edge of the track approaches!!! I brought the back end down, braked again, rolled off the end of the track, stopped braking and let nature take its course through the grass. Fortunately I managed to keep it upright as I wobbled through the countryside, but it was a hairy moment. So my stunting ability improved during the day as well!! Re entered the course, no harm done. Apparently the corner Marshall's found it very entertaining. SUNDAY - Sprint Race Day On Sunday Morning we all get 2 practice sessions. The grass in the paddock area is wet from dew so that means the track may be damp in the shadows as well. The practice sessions are carnage with fallen bikes at almost every corner. Bikes are slipping and sliding all over the place mostly due to over exuberance, cold tires and not thinking that if the grass is wet the track might be damp in places too. I cut both my sessions short for self preservation. Blake and Scully do not turn up for practice as they have logged about a 1000 miles each on the track in the past. Instead they have a leisurely breakfast and arrive about 10.30. Now theirs confidence for you!! So my races:- Middleweight Sportsman - This is a very short race for me. A good start and I'm in around 3rd place into the 1st and 2nd corner, passed by another bike into turn 4 but I'm right with him. On to final corner (8) of the first lap I do not apex the corner late enough and run very wide at the exit. I'm going off the track (again!). In fact I'm now in the grass going down hill back towards turn 5. The XB's famous handling is not so good in 3ft tall grass down hill. Again, my luck is in as I manage to roll to a halt in the mud. Feeling a little shaken and not knowing if I have and damage or how much mud Im carrying, I call the race over for me. Next Up Lightweight Supersport Almost an uneventful race. Someone leans on me in turn 5 and I have the bruise to prove it. Finished 11th. Final Race - Thunderbike In this race I get to run my XB against Blakes 1250cc Nallinized Tuber. Blakes in row 11 and Im in 12 just behind him. Green flag - go. Another good start and I've got my wheel in front of Blakes for about.....oh.......10ft. We are in the middle of a big pack and I slow to the rider in front. Mr. Blake rides around the outside! I manage to get behind him at Turn 2 again and think about a move on the inside at 3 (Where he told me was a good passing place)….but all I do is think about it. For the remainder of the lap all I hear is the roar of his pipe and a face-shield full of track debris that his bike throws up. At my bogie corner (8 - See 1st race above) Blake gets away from me. As he settles in to his race rhythm, his 100hp at the back wheel is too much for my XB + Plus the guy can ride. At the end, I think Blake finishes 7th and I'm 9th. All in all it's a great weekend and good to meet some BadWebers; Blake, Skully and Cowboy, all good guys. Next time Blake, next time!!!! edited by englishman119 on October 04, 2003 | ||
| Daves |
Damn, wish I could race with you guys! Ride to the edge! Dave Iowa HD/Buell (Buell Cycle Center) |
