[Heavy-Dee]

Warbird Racing April 30, 2006 - Race Report

The Dawning

Why "The Dawning" you ask? Because I feel like I'm making some progress, and that there is more on the horizon. Like I'm beginning to feel some of the things that I've been able to imagine in my head since I was a little kid. For the first time, riding a motorcycle is beginning to feel like I've always thought that it should feel like. The major difference was discovered in practice on Friday afternoon. I was complaining about not being able to weight the outside peg and lean off of the bike AND pull/push on the outside of the tank to lean the bike when my racing buddy (fearj) said "Don't weight the outside peg, weight the inside." I was baffeled at first as Bob Stanley (owner of Fasttrax) had taught me the opposite. But as I began to think about it, it just seemed to make sense. The next time out on the track it felt much better. I was actually able to lean off of the bike and get my head out over my clip on and to the side of the windscreen. The bike was leaning. It was stable. And I was controled. Wow, what a difference.

Sunday was shaping up to be a nice day. It was cold-ish in the morning which made my wife unhappy, but it warmed up. I got 3-4 practice sessions in, and was feeling better each time. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said about my front tire. It wasn't wearing very well, and my confidence in it was lacking. During practice I was really trying to focus on getting my weight over that front wheel and lean off of the bike so as to keep as much contact patch as possible. Also, the tire was low about 2 lbs so I found some air and put it back up to 29 lbs. hot.

I was slated for two races. 600 Superbike, and Unlimited Superbike.

600 Superbike
I was gridded 8th behind fearj. I got a decent start despite the guy gridded in front of me (in 5th) being right on my front wheel. I went by him on the start, but he repassed soon as my tires were cold (no tire warmers, lunch break, and aforementioned tire concerns) and I was taking it easy for a bit until I felt them sticking a little better. About mid-race I had never really let the guy out of my site, and decided that I was going to catch him. With in 2-3 laps I was on his wheel and setting him up. I couldn't get him out of the carousel on the back straight, even though I thought I was faster than him through the kink and through T12. I followed him for 2 more laps and finally got past before T1 and never saw him again. The rest of the race was uneventful, and I only got lapped by the winner of the experts, late in the race. Final position 5th to fearj's 4th. Not too bad. Fastest lap was ~ 1:18

Unlimited Superbike
I was gridded 3rd of the novices, and after my "success" in 600 SB race I was feeling pretty confident. That is until the start and I couldn't seem to make up any positions on the holeshot. (WTF? I'm good at starts!) Then on the first lap everyone and their mother went by me! "Holy crap, there are liter bikes in this class! How did I not know that?! Oh well, let's see what we can do."

The race was uneventful. I lapped a (really) slow person that must have been gridded behind me b/c I had never seen them. I was basically on my own the whole race, but I was feeling fast and confident. My form was feeling better and my lines were definately "smarter". I finished 6th, and fastest lap was ~ 1:19. I was suprised that my fastest lap wasn't faster, but that's fine.

In all it was a successful weekend. At this race last year I was turning 1:24's - 1:20's. So I think I'm starting from a good place for the season.

Next race is at Putnam which I won't make. However, Fasttrax is offering to sell a "One Race" license to racers of other organizations for like 25 bucks or something if you'd like to race at Putnam. No other org races motorcycles at Putnam, so it could be a cool opportunity. PM me if you are interested.

I'll be racing next in June. See you then. Until such time, Peace and Good Karma.

~ Dan

[ND4SPD]

Nice going bud. Maybe by the end of the season I'll do a sprint or two

[bwhip]

Congrats on your success and progress, and thanks for the write-up. You guys are making me want to race (if only a track were closer!).

[abtech]

Maybe I'm misreading something, but if your tire was at 29 pounds hot, it was way too low by conventional wisdom. If it was really warmed up and you had started with 29, it should have been around 35. A hot tire that you mentioned was 2 pounds low (27 pounds?) would have a cold temp in the low 20s even on a pretty cool track.

What was the cold pressure before you went out?

[Heavy-Dee]

Originally Posted by abtech

Maybe I'm misreading something, but if your tire was at 29 pounds hot, it was way too low by conventional wisdom. If it was really warmed up and you had started with 29, it should have been around 35. A hot tire that you mentioned was 2 pounds low (27 pounds?) would have a cold temp in the low 20s even on a pretty cool track.

What was the cold pressure before you went out?

You might be on to something. I was thinking that my hot temp should be ~29, but that's probably not right. Dang. No wonder that tire didn't wear well. Man I'm lucky.

Need to pay better attention. Thanks Ab.

HD

[gt702]

Just think how fast you would be if you started with 30psi cold (good rule of thumb) and had confidence in that front. Congrats on a good start to the season.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee

You might be on to something. I was thinking that my hot temp should be ~29, but that's probably not right. Dang. No wonder that tire didn't wear well. Man I'm lucky.

Need to pay better attention. Thanks Ab.

HD

now next time get out there with the right pressures and I wanna see 1:16-1:17s.

sounds like it was fun even with your little worries. congrats on 5th.

[Heavy-Dee]

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

now next time get out there with the right pressures and I wanna see 1:16-1:17s.

sounds like it was fun even with your little worries. congrats on 5th.

I've done 15's. So the goal for the year is 13's before the end of the season.

HD

[BDA116]

Which track was all this at?
Where are the pics?

[CBRVFR]

I like the paint job your dad did on the bike, HD

I've read (Twist if the Wrist I, if I recall correctly) and been told about the outside peg weighting thing, but since when I lean off my reach to the outside peg is tenuous at best, I just ignored it.

I'm happy for your success. Say hi to Jim for me.

[Pete]

Way to go, H-D!!! Excellent job!

[Heavy-Dee]

Originally Posted by BDA116

Which track was all this at?
Where are the pics?

I've just got some snapshots my dad took. See the first post. I'm in contact w/ the track photog to get some good ones.

I think I'm going to get Dad to paint the lower the Insignia Yellow of the number plates. If he feels ambitious he may do the black/yellow checks. But the bike needs something to make it "pop" more.

HD

[Red Rider]

Congrats man! I'm envious of you guys starting out the racing season.

[gt702]

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

I've read (Twist if the Wrist I, if I recall correctly) and been told about the outside peg weighting thing, but since when I lean off my reach to the outside peg is tenuous at best, I just ignored it.

I've heard weighting the outside can help with feeling traction, but don't really know. When I took Code's school many years ago, he referred to pushing the outside peg as his "power steering" and was left with the impression that it really only applied to getting more leverage on the bars to turn in faster (a Code tenent). I'd be interested in knowing more on that too, but for now, weighting the inside is just so much more comfortable.

Report definitely has me missing my old racing days. Good luck the rest of the season.

[Fearj]

very nice report . you did excellent in both races. the only bitter-sweet side to the story was that you didn't have the opportunity to introduce yourself that the cute little EMT. maybe you should have complained of heat stress.

if you get any pics from Speedy Pete...please post 'em.

[Hammer]

Congrats on the finish.

Fastrax is on the weekdays isn't it?

Originally Posted by Pete

Way to go, H-D!!! Excellent job!

+1

[Heavy-Dee]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Fastrax is on the weekdays isn't it?

Only the Putnam round.

HD

[Heavy-Dee]

Added race pics from Speedy Pete in the first post.

HD