[929flyer]

Had I been a student of physics or realized the law of space (that two objects cannot occupy the same spot). *I'd be in a whole lot better shape now.

The story goes like this; *Over the course of 4 practice sessions on Friday and the first practice on Saturday, I was getting frustrated by riders that were utilizing much slower corner speed than myself. *I found myself routinely 'checking up' and following the riders through the corner to only then have them out accelerate my bike towards the next corner, then park themselves once again. *I was practicing in the lightweight group that consisted of many bikes that had more horsepower than my XR, anticipating racing against many of these same riders and I needed to start making a plan on how I was going to handle this situation come race time.

After consultation with a couple of other experienced racers I realized that I needed to venture off the typical race line and start making passing moves on outside of corners and by late-breaking into corners. * In this first practice session on Saturday morning I had over the course of several laps start experimenting with some of these moves. *A couple of times working out very successfully and unfortunately, quickly giving me confidence that this is working pretty darn good.

Well, I come flying down MAM's 2300 ft. long straight-away giving up several bike lengths to some riders ahead (about 3 of them). *Heading into turn 1 (90 degree right hander) they slow tremendously. *I head to the outside thinking that I can pass 2 of 3 riders, slip in behind the 3rd for a little kink left (turn 2) and be set up for an inside, late-breaking, pass going into turn 3 on the 3rd rider. *Well my closure rate around the outside was way more than I ever imagined. *I knew they had slowed, but not that much. *I pass the first two bikes in a blink of an eye and find myself just bearing down on the 3rd. *I try to slip inside of the 3rd rider for turn two, I'm on the brakes, he has swung wide (something else on this turn that some riders do that I can't figure out), making me think I have a gap to slip through and he flicks hard left coming right down at me. *I try to head for the weeds without washing out my front in the process, but my reactions were to slow and he slams into the front ride side of my bike. *We weave together momentarily, then my taller bike goes flipping over the top of his lower rear tail. *Down I come crashing to the asphalt on the back of my right shoulder. *Basically landing on the shoulder blade with a huge thud.

Upon my impact with the ground I immediately felt snapping, cracking, tearing and popping. *I slid to a stop after maybe one tumble and knew not to move. *I didn't even make attempt to get up until I did an internal inventory. *Let's see, feet can move, hands can move, neck still moves, thank GOD I'm not paralyzed at least.

Then after a few more moments the pain in my shoulder area and the middle of my back between the shoulder blades starts making itself known. *I decide that I'll wait here until the medics arrive. *

Of course, they start putting on neck collars, putting me on a spine board, strapping me down all over the place and talking transport. *I'm thinking, hold on one moment. *I haven't signed off on a transport yet. *Let's see what the hek might be the problem. *Plus, I have a bad lower back. *As any of you out there with a bad lower back will know, a long ride strapped down to a spine board is going to be hell. *

So I run some more internal diagnostics and decide that I'll refuse transport to get my damn ass off this thing and I'll get myself to the hospital another way. *Which is where the fine fellow tigerblade came in. *He very graciously took me in and then went back to the track to load my stuff up for me. *I hope everyone will give him a big pat on the back for his generousity. *I'm owe him a dinner, beer and probably a new bike!

So what did I learn. *Racing is a blast, but sometimes it's lessons hurt. *Looking back I've tried to think what I would of done different. *With my intentions of finding ways to pass and not loose my momentum. *I guess I needed to pay more attention to closure rates and realized that I was way faster. *AND/OR not bought into that slim light in the tunnel that I could sneak by the 3rd rider and headed for weeds sooner.

Don't know for sure, but hopefully by reading this you will get something out of it that can be learned without making my mistake.

[929flyer]

BTW, I just wanted to add that the other rider did not go down. *I certainly am glad for that. *It was my job to safely find a way to pass. *I didn't do so. *Even if I don't 'get' the other riders line. *It's still my job and responsibility to find a way around that doesn't involve us hitting each other. *I failed to that and I have the pain to remind me.

Just wanted to make sure that no one thought I was blaming the other rider.

[Chain]

If you're strong enough to hoist a cup of java and feel up to getting out of the house, give me a call later this week. Get well soon.

[Bacchus]

I guess riding on the track w/much less experienced riders is always a potential recipe for disaster, no matter what strategy you might employ. I have never been on a track (yet) but can just visualize your dilemma. Anyway, again, glad to hear that your spirits are up - heal soon!

[Heavy-Dee]

Hey Tigerblade. You are THE man. We all should have friends like you.

HD

[abtech]

929Flyer: First of all, my hat is off to you for recognizing what happened and not blaming the other rider. From TB's other thread, I understand that the other rider was on a GP bike. A few years ago during a solo GTU (600's, 250's etc.), every bike on my team got smacked by a 600 in various turns at Grattan (we had 4 riders all on TZ250's). Every contact happened during turn-in, as the 600 riders all just thought they could power through the inside, while we swept out to make the corner. The only problem with this is the GP bikes do this to maintain corner speed and not just to burn real estate. One of my teammates was hit 3 times by the same rider during this race (which got sort of heated until my teammate closed the door on him for good and showed him the lawn on the exit of the bowl).

According to your replay, it seems as though the other rider wasn't going very fast, but I can almost guarantee you that he was taking a classic line that is required to go fast on a small 2-stroke with a narrow power band. I really don't know the solution to this issue, as my suggestion to let GP bikes only run against other GP bikes has fallen on deaf ears for the past 30 years. I finally quit racing CCS when they put the 600's together with the 250s several years ago (a 600 can run in about 8 classes, while the 250 was legal in only 2, so when they bumped the 250's up to MW GP and I nearly rear ended every 4 stroke on the track about a dozen times, I decided it was time to look somewhere else).

I realize that this was a hard lesson learned, but hope that someone starts putting together a few classes specifically for the motard type of bike so you don't have to 'deal with it' just to be able to race.

Make certain they keep an eye on your lungs (see my post in TB's other thread) and get better soon!

[G-Force Junkie]

Ya, that poping, crunching sound really sucks! Get well soon.

Mike (broke collarbone 3 weeks ago on the track)

[Northy]

Get better soon. Let me know if there is anything you need help with.

[929flyer]

Chain, have to see if the wife will even let me outta' the house!!!!

Northy, thanks for the offer dude.

G-Force junkie, second time for me.



abtech, your right about the lines that GP guys need to carry the corner speed. *My XR may not have the HP, but it does have some torque to get off the corner that a GP bike doesn't have. *I guess the reason I say that I don't understand the line used is because they (some GP riders) and many other riders use the line through this section. *BUT, having witnessed and talked to many riders on various machines that run really fast laps, this is not a line through this section of track that is ideal. *So therefore I say I don't understand it because it has been apparent to me for over a year that the line does not pay with faster lap times.

It sounds like bragging so I therefore hate to say it, but I'm lapping a dirtbike, down 15hp at the rear wheel to an SV, in the average SV lap time neighborhood. *That in itself means that I'm making it up somewhere. *Combination corner speed and/or the racing line I use. *But somewhere I have to make up for the hp I lack that means less stomp off the corner and much less top speed. *Especially when you figure in my aerodynamic losses. *

Probably just sounds like bragging, but I don't mean it that way. *I never even made it to the race to prove anything did I. *I have nothing to brag about then. *It's all coulda, shoulda, woulda at this point!

Maybe another day.

[ccwilli3]

Kris, aka tigerblade, said you were fast and I saw it at jennings...

You got ever right to brag! Down 15 Hp on a sitting way up high dirt bike with no aerodynamics and still running the same lap times, yeah, you da man! Not to mention those things really don't have the top end... Thats one hell of an accomplishment because those built SVs scream!

[929flyer]

Now hold on ccwilli. *I'm not talkin' any 'built' SVs here. *I do believe that at most were talking a jet kit, pipe and some suspension work. *I want to make sure we're talking an average SV with a good rider. *

The built SVs here at MAM are getting into the low 1:40s. *With a feller' by the name of Ed Key from WI who is lapping an 800cc SV in the 1:38 to 1:40 bracket. *He won the FUSA Thunderbike race here at MAM over Memorial Weekend in May. *

Just making it clear before a whole bunch of built SVs start screaming 'bring it on'.

[tigerblade]

929flyer : *With a feller' by the name of Ed Key from WI who is lapping an 800cc SV in the 1:38 to 1:40 bracket. *He won the FUSA Thunderbike race here at MAM over Memorial Weekend in May. *

That's definitely not your run-of-the-mill SV Ed has there.

[Chain]

929flyer : I have to make up for the hp I lack that means less stomp off the corner and much less top speed. *Especially when you figure in my aerodynamic losses.

With you being 6'10' and 260 pounds, I agree!

[ND4SPD]

Chain : Quote (929flyer @ July 07 2003, 11:18pm)I have to make up for the hp I lack that means less stomp off the corner and much less top speed. *Especially when you figure in my aerodynamic losses.

With you being 6'10' and 260 pounds, I agree! *
Is that a fat joke?

Sounds like you got bragging rights there flyer! WTG!

[929flyer]

Thanks Chain, * , for making it sound like I have overcome even greater disadvantage! *Big man on big single takes on all riders... *