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The Buell Race Story
I started racing November 2001. At first, I was doing about 1:50 laps.
I got down to 1:40 almost immediately which was really encouraging. Unfortunately,
I stayed there for a LONG time. I decided it was "the bike",
so I started dumping money into it. New Penske rear shock and mount, better
rear-sets, better clip-on's, etc. etc. etc. After the cash hemorrhage
stopped, I occasionally got into the 1:36 range, but not consistently
and there were more than a couple of 1:40's on the lap timer when it was
all said and done. I was bummed. At one point I had spent two full weekends
adjusting the suspension settings and thinking I was making progress,
only to have it all for naught when race time came. I had gotten programmed
into this pace, it was really comfortable, and I was able to do everything
really consistently, but it was slow. The great thing about it was that
everyone was really helpful. Jody, Dominic, and Sharyn had lots of good
advice. Sharyn is running quite a bit faster than me on her 125, so I
take her advice seriously.
It's been a real experience. I have crashed, twice, and it really did
slow me down for a while. The first was in practice on the Streets, where
I tucked the front end in turn 3. Couldn't figure that out for a while,
but I think I overloaded the front by not getting on the gas early enough
and it couldn't hold the line I had. The second was in turn 9 on the big
track. I was making a pass, and I contacted the other rider somehow. We
both went down, unhurt, but with much thinner wallets when it was all
over. I couldn't bring myself to pass for a while after that. My bike
is down on horsepower, and I have to do my passing with corner speed which
frankly scares me witless. The first time I made a successful pass, I
did it WOT in turn 8 on the outside. For those who don't know Willow Springs,
WOT in 8 means knee on the ground at about a buck 30. What a rush! I had
him into nine, but he beat me to the finish. (Buell vs. R1, not going
to win a drag race...) I was sure that was the fastest lap I had ever
run. I checked my lap timer and it was a .... 1:40. Damn.
Anyway, I stopped playing with the hardware and started working on the
wetware. I am exploring traction, learning to feel my tires. I am trying
to brake later into turn one, moving aggressively into 3, and using the
dang front brakes after the exit of 4b before blasting into 5. I am making
real progress through 8 and on into 9, which is important because that
goes to the straight-away.
19Jan03 - I know I am hooked now, because I decided it would be cheaper
to loose 10 lbs than it would be to buy 2 HP. So I did. I haven't weighed
185 since I got married. I am not sure if this is a good thing, but I
have to admit I am having a great time. I don't know if this is why I
am going faster, but I ran consistent 1:34's with a best of 1:33.2. Dang,
sort of have to move my goals a bit higher now. I have been working with
the rear suspension, and I think I am getting it. Turn 4 is starting to
smooth out, and I can go WOT through 8 now. If I can get into 1 flat out
in 4th, I will get another second I think.
March 03 - I ran a good race, but the bike blew up at the finish line.
After a year and a half of racing, on a bike that started with 23K miles
of hard street riding, it called it quits. The autopsy showed rear piston
with a large section missing. I am blaming it on running too hot a plug,
but maybe it was just time. The bike was rebuilt and put back on the street
where it has become a commuter. From this point, I started racing the
Ducati 748R(S)
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