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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 17, 2008 18:03:34 GMT -5
Let me begin by Thanking those from this site who helped me out.
Al, Matt and Julez.
Matt for helping me drill my bolts and printing out my numbers. Al for lending me his Drill. Julez for lending me his whole exhaust system!!!
Race on Nov 16 was tons of fun!
I was pretty bummed to have only churned out 1:35's but getting acclimated to the bike and crappy 208 tires werent easy at all. I had tons of fun and I'll have other races in a few months.
I will continue to run on Dunlops but I will be on the new NTEC 209s and hopefully the killer NTEC 211s.
Lessons learned: Tires and proper suspension set-up do affect your lap times. Seeing my lap times on Saturday come down from 1:43s to 1:38s was great but it was a lot of work and it took a vertical learning curve. Speeds and Lap times attained from the get go are fast! I need tire warmers too! I was out there putting around for a lap or 2 in order to achieve proper operating temperatures on my tires before I could do my practice laps.
There is sooo much to say and share with everyone!
Racing definitely is more expensive and much much much more hectic than trackdays but I love the atmosphere, the competition, the knowledge and comraderie.
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 17, 2008 18:14:22 GMT -5
So I left Friday night to avoid Freeway closures due to the fires and stayed at Motel 6 just north of Rosamond.
Saturday morning, I went through tech my bike and failed.
I had to take my bike down to its skin. I forgot to lockwire my radiator and all its clamps and a few other nuts and bolts. I had tons and tons of drilling to do early in the freezing morning to catch the 8 o'clock tech-inspection deadline. Drilling isnt easy either! Aaaahhhh! So I pass Tech, Rider's meeting was at 8:30 then we hit the Tracks from there. I was in the Middleweight Novice Class so I didnt have much time to get myself together and in the right mindset.
Getting in and out of the Track isnt exactly like Trackdays, its got more complexity. Your practice times are called and if you dont make it, you miss your precious chance and time at practicing and setting up your bike to the Track's conditions that day. I wasnt paying attention one practice session and did an extra lap. At that time, I was still running 40's per lap and next thing you know, Mod Prod class was out there with me and passing me inches away at every turn! I pulled in as soon as I realized what was going on and went straight to the bathroom to wipe my butt clean cuz I pooped my leathers from the repeated close passes! I kinda liked that I made that mistake though cuz I was exposed to the faster guys and I got to experience first hand how fast they were and how they bahaved out on track. Everyone, as competitive as they are, are all Courteous out there! Your first competitor is usually the first to come and give you help!
Oh yeah, there were quite a bit of Racer Chicks.....mmmm, so hot and soooo fast! WooHoo!!!
There were a few AMA riders there including Josh Hayes who will ride for Yamaha AMA Superbike next year. There also tons of Road Racing World kids on 125 and 250s, yeah, they were friggin fast too!
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 17, 2008 18:27:33 GMT -5
Im cutting this short because I dont wanna bore those who have decided to read all this.
So SUNDAY, RACE DAY; we had only 2 practice sessions in the morning and that was it. I was happy with what I had in the first session to I sat out practice 2 which I shouldnt have. After practice sessions in the morning, Races are begun. I was in Race #14 so it was around 4 p.m. Every minute that passed were just Nerve Wracking!
I finally go out for my Warm-Up lap, I was randomly placed in Grid #16 of 23 since I was a New Racer and my practice didnt matter I guess. My bike dies just behind everyone and I was around the 30 grid somewhere in the back while everyone was in place ready to go. I try to get my bike going but it doesnt start. I wave to the Officials to get their attention as I was instructed to do on Saturday in case I needed more time to prep before they start the race. Officials dont see me being OUT OF GRID and Waaaay in the back of the field so they start the race.
If youve been to the Big Track, you can relate to this.
Everyone goes around Turn 1 and I FINALLY get my bike going!!! Im pissed! I take off and ride the clutch a bit but the bike is carrying the front wheel througout first gear bounces off the tarmac as I shifted into 2nd gear then finally gets planted into 3rd as I enter Turn 1.
So, 23 guys in the field, Im dead last, Big Track at Willow Springs is a very fast track! Top 6 guys are in this Novice Race as their Final Race before moving up to Provisional Expert and these guys were comfortable in the 30's!!!
Anyway, I just kept my head down and went for it. I ended up 10th and I had 3 bike in my sights but I just ran out of laps to catch them! My bike was underpowered compared to everyone I raced and I had crappy tires but oh well, no excuses here, I will make ammends next time out! ;D
Im glad I wasnt in too bad of physical shape because it takes a lot of energy to run races!
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 17, 2008 18:36:58 GMT -5
In closing, 208s wore out waaay too fast but then again, I used them on Sat and Sun practices then the race whereas everyone else had installed NEW tires for the freaken race! GGRRR!!! I was no longer mad at the end of the race because I did my best with the bike that I had, the tires that I had and the settings I had. Cool down Lap though, I was already day-dreaming of coming home and sharing my experiences with everyone when I wasnt fully paying attention entering Turn 1. I ran over the inner curbing (candy stripes) and got pushed out the dirt outside Turn 1. YES, it was embarrassing because everyone in the bleachers at Turn 1 saw it, it was caught on my someone's DSLR camera and it was also on video camera which I got to see afterwards at the pits hahahahhahaha!!!!!!!!! Im glad I came back in 1 piece and Im glad I got to bring home my Race Bike in 1 piece as well. It was tons of fun and I hope that those who are willing to step away from Trackdays and Push the envelope try Racing because it is very competitive, fun and its got a steep learning curve which helps greatly. See you all at the Track. ;D Thanks to everyone here on the forum for the moral support and Thank you once again to Al, Matt and Julez. I finished the Race 10th and 5th fastest in Lap Time. Not bad for a Rookie like me on a Home-Built bike with borrowed exhaust system, crummy tires and no engine or suspension goodies. Yay!
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Post by almighty1 on Nov 17, 2008 22:31:44 GMT -5
Good job Mayo! I'm sure you will do better next time now that you have experienced it. I wish I am half as fast as you are. Anyway, I just want to look good. hehehe. I'm too old to race so looking good is my priority. hahaha! kidding.
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 14:31:46 GMT -5
At the Grid...
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 14:34:56 GMT -5
Problems... I was mad at the Officials at this point.
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 14:38:34 GMT -5
And there they go through Turn 1! I think I finally got going by the time they exited Turn 2! I had sooo much ground to make up.
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 14:57:27 GMT -5
Turn 3. It's lonely at the back of the pack...
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 15:33:17 GMT -5
Saturday morning practice going slow: Turn 4 Turn 2
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 15:36:48 GMT -5
My Race Bike on Tire Warmers 2 hours prior to my afternoon race...
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 18, 2008 15:48:00 GMT -5
2 1/2 Prior to my first race, notice the Borrowed tire warmers werent quite plugged in just yet...
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mr240
Full Member
Posts: 212
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Post by mr240 on Nov 18, 2008 17:42:38 GMT -5
Nice pics. I was thinking about racing. Besides prepping the bike, what else do you have to do before you can start racing.
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 19, 2008 1:32:15 GMT -5
Register and Complete New Racer School then you can start racing. New Racer School is held every month so maybe you should do it in January. ;D That way, we will both race together in Novice Middleweight Group, assuming that youve got a 599-650cc displacement bike. Make sure that youve got Transportation to the Track, Proper Gear, a bit of $$$ and lots of time and dont forget to bring some speed because there are tons of fast guys and gals out there.
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Post by MaYo (((d[0_o]b))) on Nov 19, 2008 1:44:32 GMT -5
MR240
If youre seriuosly considering racing, WSMC has cancelled their Race Series at Streets so ALL Races in 2009 will Only be held at the Big Track.
I hope youve been to that track before because experience at that track certainly helps especially when youve got transponders timing you automatically everytime youre out at the track and if your times dont cut it, you wont Graduate Racer School and you wont receive your Novice License and you wont be allowed to Race.
If youre comfortable in running Top 10 in B Group or if you belong in A Group at Trackdays, you should be fine racing. You'll just have to get quickly accustomed to racing inches away from the riders youre racing.
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