|
||
|
Inside Line Motorcycle Racing | |
|
I spent a little time with the carburetors trying to get rid of a little "hole" in the power when getting back on the throttle in corners. I leaned out the idle mixture a little, and it did seem to help.
I was thinking about changing the tires (BT-56's that have been on since I got the bike), but decided that they had one more day in them... There was no practice day this weekend, just racing starting Sunday morning. It turns out the tires had most of a day left in them.
The weather forecast had been calling for rain or at least showers, but in the end we had a wonderful mostly cloudy day.
There was some confusion in the tower this weekend because we were a short-handed a scoring person or two. The grid positions shown for the morning qualifier race were changed while we went out on the tire warm-up lap. I had memorized my position, so I didn't double-check it and discover the change. So I ended up starting in the wrong wave -- I raced around with the 650 twins. I got some good lap times chasing those guys, but I ended up in the last grid position for the race.
I got a good start, so being at the back of the pack didn't hurt me too much. It was Racer X, Jim Kennedy, Steve Supple, and I as we set up for turn one. I braked later than Steve and got past him, then Jim seemed to be taking it a little easy in turn one, so I squeezed inside him going into turn 2 -- sorry, buddy, I hope that didn't seem to impolite!
I kept Racer X in sight for the first 3 or four laps. We began catching 650 twin traffic, and I was having a hard time getting around the guy riding Mike Schmidt's old EX-500 (well, it's not a 500 anymore). I had a scary moment when somebody right in front of the EX decided to pretty much park their bike in turn 7. The EX rider swerved to the side, but slowed way down, too. I couldn't see a way around the 2 bikes, and I lofted the rear tire off the ground for quite a while braking for that. Of course, Racer X had a huge lead after that. I passed the parker in turn 2, and got the EX shortly afterwards.
Racer X didn't make any serious mistakes, and I never saw him again. Then it was just a matter of making sure Jim didn't catch up to me, and I came in 2nd.
In the 450 Superbike race I had fun chasing the SV650 superbikes around. I did pretty good and had fun.The results showed me being behind an FZR600 which shouldn't be legal for the class, but I think they'll get that straightened out eventually. I'm usually the first non-SV finisher in this class, which would be 4th if the FZR 600 is disqualified.
I don't really have a chance of winning in this class, but I signed up to get more track time and have fun. I did pretty well in the morning qualifier, qualifying 10th or so in a field of more than 20. My tires started to slide around a lot in just the second or third lap of this race, so I didn't push very hard. It's good to know that the Bridgestones are predictable when they slide, and it's good practice for me to feel the sliding and try to get comfortable with it.
I was having some fun dicing with Daniel Fukai on his 600-motored FZR-400. His jetting was way off, so I was keeping up with him pretty well. Unfortunately his jetting got worse as the motor got warmer and he pulled off after 5 laps. I ended up finishing 12th.
I won $40 in the Team Fight Against Tobacco 450 Supersport class sponsorship -- thanks, Dave!
Thanks to all the OMRRA turn workers, registration folks, and other volunteers who make OMRRA race days possible.
Thanks also to my sponsors Bridgestone Tires and Lockhart-Philips USA.
Many thanks to my wife, Julie!
|
|||
|
Inside Line Motorcycle Racing Home | |
|
|
Previous (June at Seattle) | Next (July) | |
|
|||
Copyright 2002 Inside Line Motorcycle Accessories LLC