| Author |
Message |
    
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 10:05 pm: | 
|
And now, finally Steve, the photos that you have been so patiently waiting for:
The Grande Shrinkage Tour
A band of seven bikes and their riders left East Texas on a cool October morning last fall. We were all looking forward to a four day weekend with lots of beautiful scenery and twisty roads. We were on our way to NW Arkansas, camping at Petit Jean State Park.
Here is a shot of Mather Lodge:
At the end of each day, we retired at the lakeside camp sites enjoying a few beverages:
|
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 10:34 pm: |
|
We were entertained by a group flying parasails just across from us on the little lake:
Mostly Buells were in attendance, but other makes were represented as well:
|
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, February 25, 2007 - 10:42 pm: |
|
The roads in the area are unbelievable:
The curves in that picture occur in less than 100 yards.
And finally, a shot of Steve's beautiful XB12R. Steve amazed everyone with wheelies and stoppies in rain on the way home. He proved his point many times over. There is more grip than you may think even in the rain.
We managed to get in a lot of riding with no mechanical or electrical problems and no crashes. However, there was one problem: One of the guys left his wallet sitting on a gas pump after a fill up and did not realize it until the next stop. He rode back to the previous station in the rain, only to discover that his wallet was gone (big surprise).
The surprise was yet to come. The next day after he got home, a gentleman called and told him that his wallet had been recovered with several hundred dollars and several credit cards intact. Just goes to show that there are still honest people out there.
Keith |
Loki
| | Posted on Monday, February 26, 2007 - 01:51 am: |
|
Wow!
Those XBs rally camo my ancient looking Tubie.
Just wait though.... The RS will stand proud this time around. |
Skully
| | Posted on Monday, February 26, 2007 - 09:53 pm: |
|
Post the photo that you sent earlier of your RS. |
Loki
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 12:44 am: |
|
you mean this one....
|
Loki
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 01:12 am: |
|
|
Loki
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 01:15 am: |
|
|
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 08:49 pm: |
|
Very nice! |
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 09:40 pm: |
|
On Any Sunday at Oak Hill Raceway
Or
How I Spent My Birthday
“It was a great battle…”
Valentino Rossi
Little did I realize how true those words would be, both on and off the track as I began to prepare for the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association’s season opener at Oak Hill Raceway in East Texas. Here is an aerial view of the track:
It all began a couple of weeks before the race by removing old race rubber from my spare set of wheels and putting brand new Pirelli Dragon Supercorsa Pros (SC1 and SC2) back on. The Friday before the race, my 2003 XB9S with 30,000 miles on the odometer looked like this:
|
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 09:49 pm: |
|
It was still rigged from our annual fall trip to NW Arkansas and dirty from being ridden in the rain. See entry above.
I set out to perform all of the standard 30,000 mile maintenance (oils, filters, primary chain, cables, belt, TPS, etc.) whilst installing the previously prepared race wheels and tires, belly pan, new brake pads (Nissin 804), and the required safety wiring. Saturday morning, the bike looked like this:
My friend Jason showed up to help keep me focused and load my truck. We then proceeded to the track to set up our pit, register, get the bike inspected, and in general, prepare for the two afternoon sessions of practice.
|
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 10:05 pm: |
|
Saturday afternoon is clear, very windy, and cool. We arrived at the track to find it is packed with what turns out be over 500 entries! All goes well at registration and technical inspection. The XBs are so simple they pass inspection with ease. Then it is a waiting game. It seems that 3:30 will never arrive. I begin to wonder what I didn’t do. I also wonder how I will perform after 7 ½ months absence from the race track.
My wife and I have spent the better part of the last year and a half purchasing land, designing a home, building it, selling the old one, packing, moving, unpacking (mostly), all while trying to keep a semi-normal life. It has not been easy.
Finally, I hear the call for Lightweight practice! My Crew Chief, Steve Semeniuk (Steve899) and Chief Mechanic, Jason Waits, rip off the tire warmers as I let the XB’s engine warm. I head out onto the track, taking it easy for a couple of laps before I let the hammer down. The results? Trust me, the MotoGP guys won’t be asking me to carry their tire warmers let alone ride their bikes. I was horribly slow.
Next session goes a bit better. Even though I exercise regularly, I had forgotten how physically demanding riding on a race track can be. I’m still horribly slow. We call it a day and head home for a home cooked meal and a couple of beers.
Sunday morning dawns clear, cold, and nearly windless. The first practice session is at 7:45 for the Lightweights. Steve and I decide to sit it out. We arrive in time to get the generator running, the tires warm, fill up the Buell’s tank, and get me into my gear.
At 8:45, the second and last round of practice begins. I set out, and this time, though I’m still pretty slow, it all feels more comfortable. The session is over as soon as it starts and I head back to the pits.
Next comes the riders meeting and more waiting. Finally, the races begin! My class is fifth in the morning series. I sit through the first three patiently waiting. Finally, the fourth race begins only to have a crash and a delay as the track is cleared.
The race director calls the fifth race before the track is ready and so we play the waiting game. I begin to worry that my tires are getting cold. Finally, we are allowed on the track for a warm up lap. I stop at my assigned grid position. There are two classes racing at the same time so we are separated on the starting grid.
The starter holds up the 1, then the 2, the 3, and waves the green flag! For some stupid reason, I think we are starting in two separate waves and end up near the back of the pack. Turn 1 is always scary as everyone is trying to get through. Somehow, there are no crashes and we are off!
I have lost several places with my poor start that I must now make up. I pass a few riders only to be out-braked going into Turn 7 and can’t help but laugh. It’s the same guy that did it to me in the same turn last season!
I manage to get back around him on the next lap and continue to work my way forward. I finally catch up to Eric Falt, an expert class rider and has carried the CMRA #1 plate in the past. He is a great rider and a gentleman on and off the track.
I trail him for at least two laps before I am in a position to pass. Eric is a much better rider and is carrying more corner speed so I am forced to try to not lose too much ground in the turns and pass on Oak Hill’s short straights. I pass him between Turns 6 and 7 only to have him out-brake me going into 7.
I trail him again but am able to pass before getting back to Turn 2. Eric shadows me and shows me a wheel at nearly every turn but never makes it unsafe. I am laughing inside my helmet at how much fun we are having. I am wondering how I am ever going to pull enough of a gap to prevent Eric from passing me on the last lap.
(Message edited by skully on March 04, 2007) |
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 10:29 pm: |
|
I finally pull a small lead on Eric and the next thing I know, the starter is waiving the checkered flag! Of course at this point, I have no idea where I finished, only that I had a great battle and a great time.
About an hour later, as we are standing in line to get a gnarly burger, I find out that I placed second in class out of nine! It was a great way to end a perfect weekend, and to top it off, my birthday.
Many thanks to my Crew Chief, Steve Semeniuk, Chief Mechanic, Jason Waits, and my biggest supporter, my wife Angela. I was also quite happy that my friends Ian, Karsten, Christina, Matt, Jeff, and BadWeB owner, Blake came out to watch. My son Colby and his fiancée, Sarah, were there also much to my surprise.
Crowd Control, Jason Waits
The Crowd, (My Wife Angela)
|
Skully
| | Posted on Sunday, March 04, 2007 - 10:32 pm: |
|
Matt, Crew Chief Steve Semeniuk (seated), Blake (tailgate), and Jason
|
Steve899
| | Posted on Monday, March 05, 2007 - 09:49 pm: |
|
where is the video? |
Skully
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 01:02 pm: |
|
Hey Crew Chief! I received two of the files last night but did not get a chance to download them both. I will tonight! |
Steve899
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 06, 2007 - 10:54 pm: |
|
cool ! |
Skully
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 11:14 pm: |
|
You talkin' to me?
|
Steve899
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 - 11:36 pm: |
|
I look serious in that pic, But the truth is my face was frozen like that due to the sub Artic conditions we experienced,notice my jacket, it is full of tiny holes , not the best choice, the Hot Chocolate helped.
I was a great ride that weekend! |
Skully
| | Posted on Friday, April 06, 2007 - 01:39 pm: |
|
DarkHorseMoto Featured in CMRA's Inside Line
http://cmraracing.com/pdf/2007/Newsletters/mar07cable.pdf |
Steve899
| | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2007 - 10:03 pm: |
|
Now that is cool Keith, makes me want to own a Buell
That's right I already do! |
Skully
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 01:10 pm: |
|
Did I ever tell you that you are a nut? |
Dtx
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 01, 2007 - 08:17 pm: |
|
Have any pictures from Arkansas last weekend? 
Drake |
Loki
| | Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 08:57 am: |
|
Drake,
How was the ride home? |
Dtx
| | Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2007 - 06:34 pm: |
|
It was good (and windy!).
So did anybody get pics from the weekend? |
Skully
| | Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 01:16 pm: |
|
Bryan - Did you go test ride the TT? have you sent your photos to Blake?
Drake - Blake said that he was going to be to collector of photos but with him losing his phone, it has been difficult getting in touch with him. |
Steve899
| | Posted on Monday, May 07, 2007 - 09:47 pm: |
|
got 30 pics, sent them to Blake, don't know if he got them? |
Skully
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 - 09:53 pm: |
|
Hmmm. I'll send Blake an email. |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 06:48 am: |
|
Steve,
By email or CD/DVD via mail? If by email, then no luck.
Probably need to limit emailings to less than 10 MB each. |
Steve899
| | Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 09:50 pm: |
|
10 mb you say. I will send alittle at a time. |
Steve899
| | Posted on Thursday, June 28, 2007 - 11:04 pm: |
|
ok |
|
