The Good
I finally stepped up to a modern GP bike going from a 91 Honda RS to a 96 Honda RS WOW!! what a different machine. I set out to get as much track time I could with my new steed. I needed to make up for time missed with my 91 falling apart during Saturday practice sessions to not be able to make the race on Sunday. I also wanted to do a track I never been on before this may be a bad thing with a new bike, but I told my self that I would just take it slow, and work on my setup for next weekend WSMC race.
The Bad
I ASSUMED that CCS was running practice sessions on Saturday I kept looking on their web sight waiting the schedule it to be posted OK its posted on Thursday before the race weekend, and look only one practice session on Saturday NO!!!. I almost didn't want to leave the house to be in a race on a track, and a bike I never raced before I knew I was asking for it. OK back to reality I needed the track time and Vegas why not. I signed up for 2 races on Saturday GP singles, GP lights, and the USGPRU event Sunday a 12 lap race. Just to let you know two thing the (1) PA system for the track was not working so they had guys riding around on scooters yelling out race numbers and first, second and third calls. (2) I put my self in the wrong race on the entry form. I went to look for my spot on the grid for my race HAY I'm not in the race so I go into the office to see what was going on we get the paper work corrected but buy that time I missed the First call for my race. When I come out of the office I see all the 125GP racers taking there tire warmers off and getting ready to get on the track YES just what I needed to see.
The Ugly
I run to my bike get my gear on take the tire warmers off (I never got any heat in the tires) drop it off the stands roll it off the table hit the on switch and I off I miss the warm up lap so I had to wait for every one to come around and then take my grid spot witch was kind of a good thing because the bike was not up to temp anyway. I take my grid spot get my shield down get the reves up the start board 3,2,1 green flag go I go about 6 feet and the bike dies? The starter tries to push me with no avail. So I sit on the other side of the hot pit wall watching the race, and thinking why won't the bike start?? Then it comes to me in my rush to get out on the track I forgot to turn on the fuel switch that was the fasted $70 I ever spent (the cost of the race entry). Crash truck comes and gets the bike and its back to the pit I pop off the tank to conform my thoughts yep its the switch.
I had a few hours to get ready for the next race and the bike was not turning as fast as I like it. I lowered the forks to 17 mm from 13 mm what I didn't do is raise the rear end before the next race. The next race comes up I get out for the warm up lap, and take my gird spot 3,2,1 green flag I'm off VERY VERY SLOWLY I gotta work on my starts DAMM!! I'm in last place bike was Turing very well so much I was digging the pegs in the second to last turn before the straight on the third lap I'm still in last place but making up some time (Didn't I say I was just going to take it slow) well here goes that turn again the peg and toes slider are working overtime so I sit up and take a trip off-roading and about to come out on the other end of the track 'O' $h!T. I don't want to get T-boned by the fast guy who are most likely closing on me from the rear so I HIT the brakes and take a dirt bath I roll out onto the track get up take a look up to see if any one is coming I still have two turns before they come I get off the track. Half the bike it still on the track so I just wait till all is clear and drag the 160lb bike buy the rear wheel off the rest of the track. I'm 2 for 2
I get my ride on the crash truck back to the pit look at the damage not much just the upper cracked nothing duct tape can't fix. Pack the truck and head to the Hotel. I walk the strip with the Wifey and go to an all you can eat seafood buffet. We Finnish off a bottle of wine and go gamble my luck changed on the slots I won $110 Yes make up for some of my race fees. Sunday morning I get to the track early get all the rocks out of the belly pan tape up the upper and head to teck. I got back to the pit and raised the rear riding height put the warmers on and got ready for the first practice session things went well the bike was still turning a lot faster the front wheel was staying on the ground out of the corners and the peg was not digging into the track in the second to last turn. After practice there was the USGPRU qualifying so I just put the warmers on and got a lot do drink. I qualified just where I wanted the very last spot. 3,2,1 green flag I'm off VERY VERY SLOWLY for this 12 lap race what am I doing out here I never raced more than a 6 lap race. The race went well I got Lapped Twice buy the fast guys & girl, but I was determined to finish a race this weekend I completed 10 laps the fast guys, and girl completed 12. I was just happy to complete a race and get what I wanted to do this weekend get some track time, and get a feel for my new steed.
I Sorry for the long post
I finally stepped up to a modern GP bike going from a 91 Honda RS to a 96 Honda RS WOW!! what a different machine. I set out to get as much track time I could with my new steed. I needed to make up for time missed with my 91 falling apart during Saturday practice sessions to not be able to make the race on Sunday. I also wanted to do a track I never been on before this may be a bad thing with a new bike, but I told my self that I would just take it slow, and work on my setup for next weekend WSMC race.
The Bad
I ASSUMED that CCS was running practice sessions on Saturday I kept looking on their web sight waiting the schedule it to be posted OK its posted on Thursday before the race weekend, and look only one practice session on Saturday NO!!!. I almost didn't want to leave the house to be in a race on a track, and a bike I never raced before I knew I was asking for it. OK back to reality I needed the track time and Vegas why not. I signed up for 2 races on Saturday GP singles, GP lights, and the USGPRU event Sunday a 12 lap race. Just to let you know two thing the (1) PA system for the track was not working so they had guys riding around on scooters yelling out race numbers and first, second and third calls. (2) I put my self in the wrong race on the entry form. I went to look for my spot on the grid for my race HAY I'm not in the race so I go into the office to see what was going on we get the paper work corrected but buy that time I missed the First call for my race. When I come out of the office I see all the 125GP racers taking there tire warmers off and getting ready to get on the track YES just what I needed to see.
The Ugly
I run to my bike get my gear on take the tire warmers off (I never got any heat in the tires) drop it off the stands roll it off the table hit the on switch and I off I miss the warm up lap so I had to wait for every one to come around and then take my grid spot witch was kind of a good thing because the bike was not up to temp anyway. I take my grid spot get my shield down get the reves up the start board 3,2,1 green flag go I go about 6 feet and the bike dies? The starter tries to push me with no avail. So I sit on the other side of the hot pit wall watching the race, and thinking why won't the bike start?? Then it comes to me in my rush to get out on the track I forgot to turn on the fuel switch that was the fasted $70 I ever spent (the cost of the race entry). Crash truck comes and gets the bike and its back to the pit I pop off the tank to conform my thoughts yep its the switch.
I had a few hours to get ready for the next race and the bike was not turning as fast as I like it. I lowered the forks to 17 mm from 13 mm what I didn't do is raise the rear end before the next race. The next race comes up I get out for the warm up lap, and take my gird spot 3,2,1 green flag I'm off VERY VERY SLOWLY I gotta work on my starts DAMM!! I'm in last place bike was Turing very well so much I was digging the pegs in the second to last turn before the straight on the third lap I'm still in last place but making up some time (Didn't I say I was just going to take it slow) well here goes that turn again the peg and toes slider are working overtime so I sit up and take a trip off-roading and about to come out on the other end of the track 'O' $h!T. I don't want to get T-boned by the fast guy who are most likely closing on me from the rear so I HIT the brakes and take a dirt bath I roll out onto the track get up take a look up to see if any one is coming I still have two turns before they come I get off the track. Half the bike it still on the track so I just wait till all is clear and drag the 160lb bike buy the rear wheel off the rest of the track. I'm 2 for 2
I get my ride on the crash truck back to the pit look at the damage not much just the upper cracked nothing duct tape can't fix. Pack the truck and head to the Hotel. I walk the strip with the Wifey and go to an all you can eat seafood buffet. We Finnish off a bottle of wine and go gamble my luck changed on the slots I won $110 Yes make up for some of my race fees. Sunday morning I get to the track early get all the rocks out of the belly pan tape up the upper and head to teck. I got back to the pit and raised the rear riding height put the warmers on and got ready for the first practice session things went well the bike was still turning a lot faster the front wheel was staying on the ground out of the corners and the peg was not digging into the track in the second to last turn. After practice there was the USGPRU qualifying so I just put the warmers on and got a lot do drink. I qualified just where I wanted the very last spot. 3,2,1 green flag I'm off VERY VERY SLOWLY for this 12 lap race what am I doing out here I never raced more than a 6 lap race. The race went well I got Lapped Twice buy the fast guys & girl, but I was determined to finish a race this weekend I completed 10 laps the fast guys, and girl completed 12. I was just happy to complete a race and get what I wanted to do this weekend get some track time, and get a feel for my new steed.
I Sorry for the long post