| Author | Message | ||
     99buellx1 |
It's track time again, here is my take on they track day at Mid-America Motorplex on Monday the 19th. The day started off pretty slow, new tires and cold temps combined with the first track day of the season saw us lapping with less-than stellar times. (in the 2:05 range) The front tire just felt like it wanted to tuck through the 12-13 chicane. The temps started to rise by about the third session and the pace started picking up and we were getting the feel for the track. After the third session Tom Manley (owner of Manley cycle in Minneapolis, and Edge race sponsor) was wondering through the paddock area so I flagged him down to ask him some questions about my suspension. He mentioned that he used to have a Buell M2 and he recommended to add some preload to my rear shock. Instant improvement! I was able to get on the power through the turn much earlier and the bike held a tighter line through the corner. The next session we were running 1:51's when we could keep from getting in traffic. The afternoon sessions were running even faster. I could feel the corner speeds increasing and never felt the bike waver we were having a great time. The speed increase was evident by touching knees in corners that I never thought it to be possible and taking the final turn to the long strait in 3rd gear instead of 2nd. It was all coming together and I was feeling great, but starting to get a bit tired. We relaxed during the afternoon break and got something to eat. And everyone was trying to decide on going out for the last session of the day or call it good and start loading up. Doug and I decided to go out and were going to feel it out for a couple laps and just take it easy. After about a lap and a half I was feeling good so we started to pick up the pace and we were moving around the track at about the same pace as earlier in the day. Then lap 4: Like I said, we were lapping at a good pace, Doug was following me and I was following another guy for most of the lap and all was good then we came around turn 11 (a relatively quick turn) I looked up and saw about 20 riders all trying to fit down the 12-13 chicane so I started to slow and followed the guy in front of me past a couple of riders and then boom, he just seems to stop in the track. Chain reaction from people slamming on the breaks for the chicane and by the time it got to me I slowed as hard as possible and ended up hitting his rear tire. I went down fast and hard! I dont remember the slide, but I slid 50-60 feet, and then struggled to crawl off the track. I was gasping for air as the hit had knocked the wind out of me, I opened my face shield, took off my gloves, removed my helmet and rolled onto my back and took a nap in the grass. Everything was instantanious for me; hit the other rider, fall, crawl to the grass, emergency personel standing over me. But everyone tells me that it took everyone a minute or two to get to me and during that time I wasnt moving. I had landed head and shoulder first into the pavement. The track personel looked me over on the track and I walked into the track ambulance where they took me into the track infermary and waited for the ambulance that was gonna take me to the hospital. After about a 20 minute ride to the hospital and alot of x-rays and a cat-scan, they told me that I just had brusing and would be sore for a few days and to watch for head injurys. So here I am with alot of bruises and stifness in my neck with an aching shoulder and a headache that comes a goes. But all in all I'm doing well, even got up and made it to school on Tuesday morning (with a little help from Amy). So far all I have is pictures of post crash bike. The pictures from the track I will get back later today.  You can see where the padding is pressed in on the forehead part of the scrape side of the helmet.        | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Craig, The main thing is you walked away!!!! | ||
| Spiderman |
ManI thought MJ was down a lot, glad your OK | ||
| Cj_xb |
Craig, I'm so sorry that happened, but glad you are okay !!! CJ | ||
| Bomber |
Craig . . .. . . . glad you're OK . . .gear is good! heal up soon! | ||
| Daves |
I'm glad you are OK too. Ride to the edge! Dave | ||
| Boomerm2 |
All that and you didn't even break anything. Good thing you landed on your head.  Really glad you're alright. You'll just have to put the X1 back together again. I'll talk to you tomorrow. | ||
| Blublak |
Craig, Sad to hear about the get off.. Glad that the most you have is a few bruises and some repairs to do. Once again, good gear and a sound plan (you knew to get off the track so you weren't that disoriented when you got off) made ahead of time keep something from getting WAY too serious. Keep us apprised of yours and the bikes status. And get better, faster! Later, | ||
| Awprior |
Craig, Glad to hear you're ok. Heal up and get that bike put back together, we have some riding to do this summer! Alex | ||
| Shazam |
Get well soon, Craig! up until then it was a GREAT day on the track! we'll dice it up again soon I hope. my lap times were about two seconds off my fastest lap last year.... The day started out real cold and I had some serious suspension problems first session, only ran two laps before I had to pull off and check the bike. The bike was "porpoise-ing" (sp?) real bad through the turns and anything more than about twenty MPH I thought would throw me off. I made some adjustments to tire pressure and pulled the wheels to check bearings, checked the head stem bearings, then I jacked my pre-load on the forks way up, I still had problems until about the middle of the third session. and then it was back to running on rails! I'm wondering if having this tire mounted on a rim and stored vertically over the winter flat spotted it? it wasn't until I was able to get the tires really warm that my wobble went away. anyone else have this happen? ended up with a best lap of 1:49:31 DaveS we missed you on monday | ||
| 99buellx1 |
Sam, What session did you run that? Just curious cuz I followed you right around the track on like the session before my get off. I'm trying to get a feel for lap times. Craig Buell Cycle Center | ||
| Naughtynurse |
Craig, Glad that you are Otay and could walk away...heal well !!! If that headache gets worse go see the MD NaughtyNurse | ||
| Shazam |
Craig, I will post all my lap times by session for you when I get home in an hour or so, I've got them stored on my training timer. that thing is awesome just for this reason and not too pricey. I'm thinking that right before the last session I was in the 51/52 range, I must've been getting tired or brain fading, because I was definitely slower than right before/after lunch. you were wailing on me in the morning sessions. I'm glad I got the bike sorted.... for a while there I didn't think I was going to get to ride hard! I second the headache thing.....pay close attention to it! hope to see you Sunday at BattleTrax  p.s. If you could use them, I've got black flyscreen and tank cover for an X1 I could "sympathy price" to the cause. I don't think your tank cover got mangled though, did it? | ||
| Sportsman |
I've never seen a Shark helmet before but after a head trauma you're noggin will forever be more fragile and easier to get a concussion so invest BIG in you're next one. If my head hits the asphalt at all anymore, I'm out like a light. It's hard to believe the pipes are'nt mashed. Glad you're OK. | ||
| Bads1 |
Hey Craig glad to hear your up and all right.On the flip side I recall Lake possibly having a X1 carbon fiber wind screen he may sell ya if ya can't get one anylonger.Headaches suck I know I sometimes live with migraines for days. | ||
| Shazam |
I didn't time every lap(left out warm-ups) but here they are, nothing spectacular but each one sure felt good. second session: 1:57:27 1:56:35 1:57:06 1:55:53 1:56:22 1:52 ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/ohwell.gif) 5 third session 1:54:87 1:53 5 1:54:19 fourth session 1:52:97 1:53:40 1:53:31 1:50:34 1:49:31 1:49:97 1:50:44 fifth session 1:53:44 1:52:22 1:52:81 1:51:13 1:52:53 1:50:65 1:50 9 1:53:21 it's easy to forget to hit the horn button for the timer when you're drag racing someone down the front straight staring at your RPM gauge. =":" "7" | ||
| M2me |
I think your rear brake pedal is out of adjustment. You might want to have a qualified service tech take a look at that.  Seriously, it's glad to hear that your injuries are not too bad. Take it easy for the next couple of weeks. | ||
| Crusty |
Craig, I hope you're feeling a little less sore. I remember how stiff and sore I would be after crashing when I used to race. Crashing always sucks. I'm glad that you don't have any serious injuries. | ||
| Daves |
How are you feeling today Craig? Dave | ||
| 99buellx1 |
I'm feeling a bit better, I keep trying to stretch my shoulder. It's really sore, and if you get it in the wrong position it can take your breath away! I don't have a single bruise on my shoulder(yet), but I do have a couple good ones on my hip. Advil is my friend! Craig Buell Cycle Center | ||
| Buckinfubba |
Craig.....how many times have I told ya to fall on yer ass....not the head... man I hope you are doing better slowly but surely |
