shaggy
08-18-2008, 10:06 PM
Bengt and Sean are tearing it up at willow! Thought I'd share some of the fun with you guys:
Well it was a good and bad weekend. Both really good learning experiences though...I learned a lot.
So on sat Beez and I rolled up to get him some practice starts and test out the clutch that he just put in. But when we got there and we kind of talked about the solo GTU race I thought it might be fun Well we got there around 3:30 and on a freaking whim I signed up for the solo GTU race...thinking I may be able to place well and also to learn how to relax out there. I also wanted to try a 20 lap race at least once. Well I signed up for the starts as well and Crew Chief Beez and I scrambled to register and get tech'd before 4PM...we were hoping for the elucide trophy. But once ready we had to get beez out there for race starts to test out his clutch. After the starts we had the soloGP/lights race and then mine...with no practice and running on the same take-offs that I bought as take-offs (ran the July race went 26s, and raced 3 races on at fontana...) So I put my settings back to what I had them before we went to fontana and rolled out for my warm up lap...man was that awkward. I hadnt been there for a month and just planned to go out and race for 20 laps....brilliant.
<---freaking idiot.
So needless to say that it was super strong winds and gusty at times. I got gridded after trying to get my tires warm, used to the bike, shake off the cobwebs, and deal with this wind. I was gridded with every one in one wave and got a tentative start since it was such a long race and didnt think about charging off the bat. I was ok following the pack until the exit of 2 when my bike was running wide and I almost collected with a rider going around the outside...this was the closest I had ever been to collecting with another rider and with little control about the situation. I for sure thought we were going to hit as he was tightening his line and I was getting pushed wide on the exit. That right there shook me up a bit mentally and had to definitely recoup after that. I wasnt really sure what was going on but I could ride the bike in the windy conditions and couldnt finish off T2 to save my life literally. I was just crap everywhere...T1 I ended up stoppie-ing because my brake lever was so far out from fontana( last time I rode because of the crake fade that I was getting) and I never adjusted it back. These were new pads and were worlds different from my old ones and had waaaaaaaaaaay more bite. So my braking points were changing from the lever position, wind, and lever pressure modulation. T2 was just a confidence nightmare as I was running mid track before the exit and couldnt finish it off at all. I had to wait until I got out of the turn to get on the gas...and my T3 which is really good sucked due to the wind at my back and getting in there too hot....dealing with the hypersensitive brakes and really bouncy suspension...I couldnt trail it into 3 at all nor could I get back on the gas where I normally do coming up the omega. T4 was a throttle control nightmare...my lines were garbage and the bike felt horrible...I was horrible. I erratically limped it through T4 and down into another cluster f*cked braking zone where I couldnt get it together. I was running that turn wide and couldnt hug 5 tight like how I normally do and was coming in to 6 waaay tight which set me up in or close to the dirt on the exit....the wind pushing me in there wasnt helping either. T7 was T7 and T8 was a nightmare with the wind...bump and felt like the whole time my front was getting blown off the ground. T9 was a joke cause I had no confidence and couldnt get on the gas where I needed to but I think it got a little better later.
Definitely tried to work on relaxing, breathing, and cussing more at myself...lol
I was just so frustrated with the bike and with myself I was just thinking about what a waste this was...gas, tires, entry fees...I was just super disappointed with myself as I was out there. I tried to push and gather a rhythm a few times but to no avail.
I ended up running miserable 29s 30s and a few 31s. About 5 laps each of the 29s and 31 and 10 of the 30s in the middle. I was so pissed at myself I wanted to just kick over my bike. lol...what a whiny bi@tch
So after beating myself up over that and a little R&R I was still up in the air about racing.
I had brought two new 209NTEC rears and were going to use them and either use my good take off front or buy a new front. I noticed that my front was chunking and it even looked like cold tear...but probably not when its 100 out
I ran the first practice sunday morning and the bike felt better without the wind, but it tore even more...I started pushing on the bike and it just felt loose and sloppy even though it was the same settings as before. I pushed on bengts bike and it was worlds different. My rebound felt really fast and so I slowed it down a bit. Its felt a ton better and on the second session bengt and I headed out...it was definitely on after he dominated me into T3 on the brakes...and stuck it. I followed him through the remaining lap and got into his draft well enough to get him on the brakes into 1...side by side after the 3 cone and stuck it. I knew he was all over me cause I could hear his beautiful sounding exhaust (we have the same one...lol) and as we came into pit...because Im still ahead...he stuffs me at the end of hot pit as we exit the track... :roflmao:
I go to get my tires mounted after Beez's race and they noticed that I had a "cold crack" which is where the tire was stored too cold and the rubber just splits...thank goodness for the tire guy noticing cause it had about a cm deep slash in it. I was going to buy a new set as that was just a little too much for me. So after debate and bengt's convincing I ended up buy a take off rear and a new front. We scrambled to get the tires mounted and on the bike...I was seriously first call when bengt started to mount up the wheels and I suited up...at final call he was still safety wiring that sh!t and had two more pinch bolts to go....I said fack it and we took off warmers that were on there for about 10 minutes...and off I went.
Gridded last I started and was in last place into T1...I got pinched off and stuck behind the train of people in one and again in 2...I got a decent drive and picked off the first dude at the 3 cones and there was another guy further up by the 1 cone but I didnt want to get stuck behind this guy for all of the omega so I let off the brakes and stuff him going into 3. It was clean but one of my later block passes. I caught up to some guy going into 4 and was going to go around him when I tried to go around the outside and had a big slide...I didnt think I was on it that bad, but it was really wide and at the edge of the track there...so it could have been way slicker out there...I ended up almost highsiding but managed to have it hook up and within a split second I got my composure together and slammed my chest back on the tank and gassed it going down into 5 where I starting sliding the front and went a little wide but managed to not lose any ground. I think I passed another guy on the outside of 8 but I almost lost the front cause it was soo bumpy out there and the wind was howling in 8. I think the next person I passed was going into 1 and I was able to get them on the brakes on the 3rd lap and from there the rest was a blur, bengt might be able to recall a little more than me, but I think that I past most everyone on the brakes either in 1 or 3 and maybe a couple in 8.
On the last 3 laps I managed to work my way up into the last podium spot and was reeling in the 2nd place guy slowly lap by lap. I got him close enough for the last couple laps but couldnt really see where I was going to get him as he was better at my weaker spots and on my good spots all I could do was catch up...well on the last lap it looks like he was shutting it down and I passed him in 8...but he managed to block pass me in 9 on the inside line but I pretty much just backed off and gave it to him...I tried to set up for a better drive and did but I couldnt draft him soon enough as his bike had a little motor on me.....I lost 2nd by 0.1 seconds :roflmao:
Ran 26s again but this time the wind was blowing strong so I think that was relatively a better time. I was soo freaking happy to finally get an expert class trophy. Not bad considering this is my 4th expert class race ever.
Should be out there again for another double points weekend...but who knows might end up there sooner...Beez is pretty persuasive.
I\/I
Well it was a good and bad weekend. Both really good learning experiences though...I learned a lot.
So on sat Beez and I rolled up to get him some practice starts and test out the clutch that he just put in. But when we got there and we kind of talked about the solo GTU race I thought it might be fun Well we got there around 3:30 and on a freaking whim I signed up for the solo GTU race...thinking I may be able to place well and also to learn how to relax out there. I also wanted to try a 20 lap race at least once. Well I signed up for the starts as well and Crew Chief Beez and I scrambled to register and get tech'd before 4PM...we were hoping for the elucide trophy. But once ready we had to get beez out there for race starts to test out his clutch. After the starts we had the soloGP/lights race and then mine...with no practice and running on the same take-offs that I bought as take-offs (ran the July race went 26s, and raced 3 races on at fontana...) So I put my settings back to what I had them before we went to fontana and rolled out for my warm up lap...man was that awkward. I hadnt been there for a month and just planned to go out and race for 20 laps....brilliant.
<---freaking idiot.
So needless to say that it was super strong winds and gusty at times. I got gridded after trying to get my tires warm, used to the bike, shake off the cobwebs, and deal with this wind. I was gridded with every one in one wave and got a tentative start since it was such a long race and didnt think about charging off the bat. I was ok following the pack until the exit of 2 when my bike was running wide and I almost collected with a rider going around the outside...this was the closest I had ever been to collecting with another rider and with little control about the situation. I for sure thought we were going to hit as he was tightening his line and I was getting pushed wide on the exit. That right there shook me up a bit mentally and had to definitely recoup after that. I wasnt really sure what was going on but I could ride the bike in the windy conditions and couldnt finish off T2 to save my life literally. I was just crap everywhere...T1 I ended up stoppie-ing because my brake lever was so far out from fontana( last time I rode because of the crake fade that I was getting) and I never adjusted it back. These were new pads and were worlds different from my old ones and had waaaaaaaaaaay more bite. So my braking points were changing from the lever position, wind, and lever pressure modulation. T2 was just a confidence nightmare as I was running mid track before the exit and couldnt finish it off at all. I had to wait until I got out of the turn to get on the gas...and my T3 which is really good sucked due to the wind at my back and getting in there too hot....dealing with the hypersensitive brakes and really bouncy suspension...I couldnt trail it into 3 at all nor could I get back on the gas where I normally do coming up the omega. T4 was a throttle control nightmare...my lines were garbage and the bike felt horrible...I was horrible. I erratically limped it through T4 and down into another cluster f*cked braking zone where I couldnt get it together. I was running that turn wide and couldnt hug 5 tight like how I normally do and was coming in to 6 waaay tight which set me up in or close to the dirt on the exit....the wind pushing me in there wasnt helping either. T7 was T7 and T8 was a nightmare with the wind...bump and felt like the whole time my front was getting blown off the ground. T9 was a joke cause I had no confidence and couldnt get on the gas where I needed to but I think it got a little better later.
Definitely tried to work on relaxing, breathing, and cussing more at myself...lol
I was just so frustrated with the bike and with myself I was just thinking about what a waste this was...gas, tires, entry fees...I was just super disappointed with myself as I was out there. I tried to push and gather a rhythm a few times but to no avail.
I ended up running miserable 29s 30s and a few 31s. About 5 laps each of the 29s and 31 and 10 of the 30s in the middle. I was so pissed at myself I wanted to just kick over my bike. lol...what a whiny bi@tch
So after beating myself up over that and a little R&R I was still up in the air about racing.
I had brought two new 209NTEC rears and were going to use them and either use my good take off front or buy a new front. I noticed that my front was chunking and it even looked like cold tear...but probably not when its 100 out
I ran the first practice sunday morning and the bike felt better without the wind, but it tore even more...I started pushing on the bike and it just felt loose and sloppy even though it was the same settings as before. I pushed on bengts bike and it was worlds different. My rebound felt really fast and so I slowed it down a bit. Its felt a ton better and on the second session bengt and I headed out...it was definitely on after he dominated me into T3 on the brakes...and stuck it. I followed him through the remaining lap and got into his draft well enough to get him on the brakes into 1...side by side after the 3 cone and stuck it. I knew he was all over me cause I could hear his beautiful sounding exhaust (we have the same one...lol) and as we came into pit...because Im still ahead...he stuffs me at the end of hot pit as we exit the track... :roflmao:
I go to get my tires mounted after Beez's race and they noticed that I had a "cold crack" which is where the tire was stored too cold and the rubber just splits...thank goodness for the tire guy noticing cause it had about a cm deep slash in it. I was going to buy a new set as that was just a little too much for me. So after debate and bengt's convincing I ended up buy a take off rear and a new front. We scrambled to get the tires mounted and on the bike...I was seriously first call when bengt started to mount up the wheels and I suited up...at final call he was still safety wiring that sh!t and had two more pinch bolts to go....I said fack it and we took off warmers that were on there for about 10 minutes...and off I went.
Gridded last I started and was in last place into T1...I got pinched off and stuck behind the train of people in one and again in 2...I got a decent drive and picked off the first dude at the 3 cones and there was another guy further up by the 1 cone but I didnt want to get stuck behind this guy for all of the omega so I let off the brakes and stuff him going into 3. It was clean but one of my later block passes. I caught up to some guy going into 4 and was going to go around him when I tried to go around the outside and had a big slide...I didnt think I was on it that bad, but it was really wide and at the edge of the track there...so it could have been way slicker out there...I ended up almost highsiding but managed to have it hook up and within a split second I got my composure together and slammed my chest back on the tank and gassed it going down into 5 where I starting sliding the front and went a little wide but managed to not lose any ground. I think I passed another guy on the outside of 8 but I almost lost the front cause it was soo bumpy out there and the wind was howling in 8. I think the next person I passed was going into 1 and I was able to get them on the brakes on the 3rd lap and from there the rest was a blur, bengt might be able to recall a little more than me, but I think that I past most everyone on the brakes either in 1 or 3 and maybe a couple in 8.
On the last 3 laps I managed to work my way up into the last podium spot and was reeling in the 2nd place guy slowly lap by lap. I got him close enough for the last couple laps but couldnt really see where I was going to get him as he was better at my weaker spots and on my good spots all I could do was catch up...well on the last lap it looks like he was shutting it down and I passed him in 8...but he managed to block pass me in 9 on the inside line but I pretty much just backed off and gave it to him...I tried to set up for a better drive and did but I couldnt draft him soon enough as his bike had a little motor on me.....I lost 2nd by 0.1 seconds :roflmao:
Ran 26s again but this time the wind was blowing strong so I think that was relatively a better time. I was soo freaking happy to finally get an expert class trophy. Not bad considering this is my 4th expert class race ever.
Should be out there again for another double points weekend...but who knows might end up there sooner...Beez is pretty persuasive.
I\/I