| Author | Message | ||
     Wolfridgerider |
I am going to try and keep my posts short and to the point. I have 2 Buells in the stable. One is a 06 Uly that I bought on June 22nd last summer and It now has over 17,000 miles on it. The 2nd is a 07 Firebolt with a Lightning rear section that I got from Glitch and he now has my R end on his S. Getting to the point.... At 40 plus years old, I have been bitten by the speed bug and I am getting ready to try my hand at racing. The Uly gets all the street miles but the Bolt gets to go to the track. I have been doing a little work every night to get it closer to being a track bike. Safety wiring a bike is a pain in the butt when you have never done it before but I am almost done. As soon as my stand gets delivered I will be able to finish removing the sidestand and installing the belly pan. Yellow number plates should be in the mail which is the only thing I am really waiting on. I have a couple more track days to do this year and if everything goes well I may be able to get a race in this year. If not, I can't wait until next spring!!   That poor bike has a heavy burden on its back.... | ||
| Coolice |
You'll have a great time. First bit of advice, always have someone with you at the track. Enjoy,and the rest is just big grins  | ||
| Slaughter |
You're NOT an addict, you're not, you're not, you're NOT! See if you can pit with or next to somebody who is willing to work with you as a mentor - who has some experience! I was lucky enough to pit with Matthias Jezek and Jeff Longbottom who both offered tons of advice and spotted some really subtle stuff that helped me greatly. Just watching them getting prepared for each session really helped TONS... Get the best insurance you can afford and start collecting spares (for the bike, NOT YOU!) - you will start replacing tip-over parts in the next couple seasons. | ||
| Slaughter |
Oh and I'm glad to see you younger riders getting into the racing sport! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Coolice & Slaughter, nice to see the white number plates. I hope to have my yellow ones soon. What tires are you running on the track? The only big $$$ item I have left to but is a steering dampner. Any recommendations? | ||
| Slaughter |
Pirelli Diablo slicks. I have no classes that require DOT's and haven't run DOT's for years now except once when it was raining lightly and ran Dragon Supercorsa. They handle almost identically to the slicks - at least at the slower pace I was running on the damper/colder track that day. I am still running the Storz damper but next crash I already have the XBRR damper waiting in the garage. The Storz bends every time I fall. The RR damper requires re-locating the wiring bundle. I've read the LSL will bolt right on without hassles. Shoot Al an email at American Sport Bike and ask him the questions. The LSL really looks nice but I wonder if it's prone to fading in longer races? | ||
| Etennuly |
Wolf, Congrats on getting off the fence! Do you know when, where, or under what sanctioning body you will be racing yet? Keep us informed. You have at least one fan already!  Have you named your one man team yet? How about "Wolf Ridge Old Bastard Racing"??? WROBR for short(sounds like rubber). | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Thanks for the info Slaughter.... Hey Etennuly, you could move up here and we could start are own.... BUELL WRECKING CREW!! | ||
| Diablobrian |
The Buell community in general is very tight knit, but in the paddock they are even more so. You shouldn't have to worry too much about finding a mentor on a race weekend, as long as the other guys aren't in "panic mode" due to issues of their own. I've been a part of several cross-team thrash sessions to get someone back on the track, as have most of the racers and crew members that race Buells. It's a GOOD thing. | ||
| Coolice |
WolfRR- Thanks for the compliment on the white plate....I still have yellow. That is Dan Bilanski's XB at Hal's HD/Buell open house a couple years ago. My involvement now is the crew chief of James Gang Racing. We run the Midwest CCS/ASRA series and the MotoST series. I have raced one race this year, all the events, starting with Daytona you find me prepping our races bikes and organizing the crew for pit stops. It has taken me places I could only dream of. I still get a track day in, usually breaking in new bikes I built. Nothing wrong with that! So get to the track and enjoy, and even if your not the fastest, remember you did it! And maybe, like me, you'll connect with someone and help them out. You'll see once you start how much prep is involved. Enjoy! | ||
| Xb9 |
If you're running Nelson Ledges and need help, I'll be there. Have lot's of experience, know Buells inside out and lots of racing experience. Just PM me. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
You guys are great! Thanks for all the help and words of encouragement. Xb9 I will let you know the next time I am heading back to Nelson Ledges. Maybe I will see you there. I need to take the Racing "class" and I will I have my numbers. Any idea what they teach you? Flags? How to start? How to ride and hold the checkered flag?  | ||
| Xb9 |
The racing school takes it to the next level, they do go over race flagging, starts, procedures and protocol also. I don't want to spoil it for you but you will learn more and be prepared to not only go faster, but to participate in a racing environment without being a danger to yourself and others. Absorb and practice what has been taught, and will be taught in the race school. It is a process and takes time to learn and apply. And most important be patient with yourself and your progress, and don't get ahead of your abilities. That is what "bites" most beginner racers (and some experienced ones too ). There's always things to improve on and you have to keep working at getting better to go faster. Do you know what lap times you ran the last time out? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I was going so fast!! When I was done running my session it was 20 minutes before I started!!........In other words.... I have no idea  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
HEY Xb9!! Didn't you and I just ride to Homecoming together?! | ||
| Xb9 |
Hell Yea!  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I am having a hard time pulling the trigger!! I have had the bike up on the stand a few times and I just can't bring myself to pull the side stand off! In my mind, once the side stand is gone there is no going back...... it will be a race bike and nothing else. I have ordered TT number plates and the fiberglass one for the front. Maybe once I get everything in hand I will be able to send that round down range....... | ||
| Slaughter |
I wasn't committed til the first tip-over. After that, it got much easier! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Well, I just installed a LSL steering damper. I think it took more time to find all tools needed to do the job than it took to do the install. Pulled the rear wheel to get a new tire installed. The competition springs and number plates should be in soon. Damn!! getting started is costing me a arm and a PISSED OFF wife!! | ||
| Jflaig |
Wolf, Good luck with the racing. If you are in the dog house with the wife, at least you'll be with the bike to give it more attention before it gets back on the track. I know, that's what got you there in the first place. Just remember to have all kinds of fun out there. And smile big for those of us that can't get out there ourselves. I'm rooting for you from Ohio.  | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Just got done pulling the trigger. Side stand is now in a box, belly pan is on, test ride is complete. 1 class to go!! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 just did a double post. (Message edited by wolfridgerider on August 21, 2007) | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
Go Wolf! Go Wolf! Cant wait to help support you. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Riding the bolt tonight makes me want to put it back in street clothes for the next WVSC Rally. I can't believe how light it feels compared to the Uly. I'm glad I live in the semi boondocks so I can take it for a test ride every now and then. If you make it to Mid Ohio for the inside pass day I will bring my chaps and a umbrella for you  I almost puked... Thanks again for coming down to West by God. We will need to go burn some more miles before the snow flies | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
 | ||
| Wile_ecoyote |
I look forward to ridin with you again. THANK YOU!!! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
"Provisional Novice" That is what they call me! I just passed my Road Racer School at Nelson yesterday. I had a great time but my a$$ is dragging today. My best lap time was 1min. 23.9sec. The instructors said that was damn good for a Newbie on a Buell so I will take it. I have some pic's to post later. The Bolt got a little damage on the front fender from the LSL damper and the belly pan made contact with bumpy turn four a couple of times. Let me tell ya! When a part of your bike grinds on the pavement at speed it makes A LOT of noise. My testicles shrank a good bit until I figured out what was making the noise. I have my sites on Oct.6&7 for my first race. I think I am going to run the Mini endurance race so if you are in N.E. Ohio come out and look for #777 I will also be the guy doing this   | ||
| Etennuly |
EXCELLENT!!! 777 you are my hero! Why, if I were ten years younger and twenty dollars richer I'd be chasing you right to the scene of the crash! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
   CAUTION Belly pan makes a lot of noise when it come in contact with racing surface!  CAUTION LSL Damper my contact fender!!  | ||
| Rotzaruck |
Lookin' good Wolf!!!! Please be sure that doesn't end up reading "LLL'!!!!!! |
