Bojan and Team Trackoholics at Nelson Ledges (WERA)

Red Rider · 07-14-2004, 6:03 PM

Some of you may remember Jim Sheldon from Trackoholics who was at the Fireblades@Grattan III event helping Bojan Milijkovic get his new Gixxer set up. Jim posted a report on "Boo's" first time racing at the WERA event at Nelson Ledges. Great report about some great racing!

Team Trackoholics

NinerPilot · 07-14-2004, 6:43 PM

Way to go Boo! Jim, was #201 Novice Ryan Gordan there? I dont kow what all races he does, but he is a first year novice and is absolutley smoking... If you guys come down to Nashville in Sept let me know. Ill play host and help you guys as much as I can.
Chris

Heavy-Dee · 07-14-2004, 7:12 PM

Dudes. Boo is one fast dude. We had a fun weekend. W/in a few laps Boo was runnin' 1:14's, and then the first race ran 1:11's.

Fritz Kling broke his own track record and ran a 1:07 something.

HD

NinerPilot · 07-14-2004, 7:26 PM

Oh, and isnt the National WERA race at Grattan this weekend? Why not race on home turf? Even if he is still a PN, they can waive the requirement for a national if you ask. Would be lots of good experience and if he finished in the top 15 in a sprint race, he would get an invite to the GNF in Atlanta in October. The GNF is a week-long racing extravaganza not to be missed.
Chris

HondaGalToo · 07-14-2004, 7:27 PM

Way to go!!!

I hope we get a report from Mid-O!! Best of luck to you there!!!

abtech · 07-14-2004, 7:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NinerPilot

Oh, and isnt the National WERA race at Grattan this weekend? Why not race on home turf? Even if he is still a PN, they can waive the requirement for a national if you ask. Would be lots of good experience and if he finished in the top 15 in a sprint race, he would get an invite to the GNF in Atlanta in October. The GNF is a week-long racing extravaganza not to be missed.
Chris

I hope Jim reads your post, as I was wondering the same thing . . .

NinerPilot · 07-14-2004, 8:09 PM

I sent him an email too just to make sure.
Chris

Trackoholic · 07-15-2004, 9:43 AM

Thanks everyone for the props. Yes I think Bojan is the real deal. He is very adaptable to setup issues and is able to ride around a lot of problems (at a fast pace) without over complicating the problem. (a Rossi trait)

Kent from Sport Rider has an excellent articlein this months Sport Rider on Rossi and bike set up issues. Boo really fits that profile.

Our current and biggest problem right now is (1). He has ridden very little over the past 2 years.

(2). He is coming off of a litre bike and is just getting used to the 600 and how to ride it. We both feel that he needs more seat time on this bike.

(3). We started off with someone elses front suspension setup and have had to completely redo that and then work out a set up that he liked (we spent 2 hour discussing his take on the bike last night)

(4). He is not good or should I say he has not been taught the proper starting technique and his starts are horrible. We are planning a day on a dirt bike where I will be working with him on getting a good launch.

(4). The usual money issues. Wow this amateur racing is expensive. The inital setup issue cost us 3 tires right off the bat and we bought 2 more at Nelson. We believe that we have resolved that issue. Never the less it took some money out of the fund.

With that said, we are trying to take this one step at a time. I would like to see him last at this and he has the speed and courage to run with the fastest guy. All out speed, courage and total fearlessness is not an issue with him, just ask Dan. And he is very smart.

I am trying to put together a good sponsorship package and last night I succeeded in getting Kushitani to help us out in a bigger way than they might have with another racer because of my trackday involvement with them. Thats a start. We are working on a lot of other folks as well.

We also want to begin looking at a liter bike for next year.

As far as the National at Grattan. We discussed that last night and may or may not go. Yes we know that a top 15 gets him an invite to the GNF. And yes he knows Grattan well having run in the 21's in the past. I will talk to him again tonight and see what we think. Pro's and Con's.

Bottom line is that I don't want to throw him to the wolves to early. He needs some seat time and we need to work on his starts. We want to run with the big boys and we feel that he needs some time to build himself up to that level and we really need to get some base settings at the tracks he will be running at.

There are so many great experts that he would compete against that I want him to have everything in order so that there are no excuses why we can't run up front.

I'm open to any comments and suggestions.

By the way. I want to than Dan for coming up to Nelson and helping us out. Thanks to Frank as well, he is a wealth of information and help.

Jim

phozed · 07-15-2004, 11:20 AM

awesome write-up on your site Jim and I know I'll be reading about Boo in RRW soon!

Since I know so much about going fast (LOL) I'd say let him at least try and secure a GNF spot (top 15 finish at Grattan? If Boo can't do that then I'm really depressed - but approach it like it's a test-race and if things go good...) then go embarass some of the Fast Guys at Atlanta only if you think he's ready, but this way at least he's got the option!

Heavy-Dee · 07-15-2004, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackoholic

By the way. I want to than Dan for coming up to Nelson and helping us out. Jim

Anytime. It was lot'o;fun.

Kuss929 · 07-15-2004, 11:59 AM

Great write up and great results.
I am glad that I got to meet you and Boo at the Grattan days. Keep up the great work and post up all your results as well.
Best of luck.

Trackoholic · 07-15-2004, 12:17 PM

I have to say thanks to the Fireblades group. You folks are really cool and I've been reading up on the issue of allowing other bikes in the group and as much as I would say ya do it. I think that you all based the whole fireblades thing on Hondas and as someone who you all let join (dispite not owning one. Although I did own an 87 VFR 750 back in the day) I'm greatful. You have a great forum with little BS.

There are so few that are able to grow and still be good. This one is.

Far as Bojan goes. I can't say that we are making the GNF a priority at the moment. We want to do it. The bike lives at my house and all of the mechanical stuff is done there so we do talk almost daily. We just don't want to go to fast. He has had some huge crashes in the past and I am trying to get him to calm down a little and think a bit more.

Money as with every racer is a problem. My thought right now is to let him get some seat time. Try to throw out an impression on potential sponsors andwork on a serious program for next year. I think we will be able to petion WERA to move to expert whenever we feel ready. I mean he says he's ready now.

I just feel that guys like Denning and Junge, Kling are still a notch above and I think seat time will build his confidence in the bike and his ability to ride it smoothly and quickly. Afterall he is representing Trackoholics

I do appreciate you guys helping out and I need to get some .org stickers from Frank to throw on the bike. If thats ok with you all.

Also, my goal is to run a team out of Trackoholics next year and so we will probably be looking for 2 or 3 more riders to work with next year. Novice and expert. This would encompass the entire country, not just the local area. I will keep you all posted as to what that plan will be.

We are doing this for the racers. Like the trackdays it's all about having fun!

Thanks again.

J