| Author | Message | ||
     Paint_shaker |
May 30-31 @ Jennings. I'll be racing Sat and Sun. I am still sorting the suspension settings, but hope to give them some American made hell!! Unfortunately, I will miss the next 3 races due to budget constraints. I will be back for the final round at Jennings in August!! | ||
| Paint_shaker |
If the rain keeps up down here, I may have to campaign a jet ski!! | ||
| Fast1075 |
Man, the nonstop rain in beginning to get on my nerves. I am sprouting pin feathers and webbed toes...  | ||
| Smoke |
GOOD LUCK to you this weekend Laird!! bring home some hardware. tim | ||
| Paint_shaker |
On the way to the track. | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Friday; Along the way, we stopped at Gainesville H-D/Buell to see Paul and I was pleasantly suprised by some addition sponsor support!!! Big thanks to you Paul!!! We arrived late in the afternoon hoping to get a concrete pit. Upon entering the track, we found.... pit road was like a ghost town!!! There were only 4 pits taken and we had our choice. After setting up, I went for some practice time. As luck would have it, I was hanging the rear end waaaay out in turn 13 and ended up putting it down in the sand, the pit bike that is!!! I decided to switch to Bridgstone tires. With the additional support from Paul, I was able to round up three sets. Saturday; RDGlider and his wife showed up to cheer me on. With the new tires, a slight tweak in the suspension system and the warmer weather I didn't know what to expect. I went out for my first practice with the 750s and was feeling OK, but I got jammed up behind another rider for most of the time. My best time from this was session was a 1.29, but I felt I could have done better. My second session I went out with the 600s. The bike felt great, the tires were sticking and I had clear track in front of me. I was hoping to crack into the 1.26 range. I was really suprised when to learn I clocked a fast lap time of 1.25.7 (my best so far)!!!!! I skipped the remaining practice sessions and waited for the Lightweight 20 lap Solo. Race time; I am lined up against built SV650s, 1 expert in front and 2 other novices in my row. I nearly got a holeshot,but ended up 2nd behind the expert rider into T-1. For half the race I was able to hang with him pretty good. He was slowing me in a few corners, but I was not able to capitalize. About lap 13 I was getting pretty tired and let the second place novie around me. My plan was to keep up, but I was wore out and resigned myself to finishing the race in 2nd place. The really good news is unitl I got tired, my lap times were in consistent 1.26- 1.25!! All in all, it was a great day, filled with a great day of racing!! __________________ Buell, because sometimes rice is not enough!~ Not so registered trademark of Paint Shaker Inc. P.S. 2nd place paid $30!! (Message edited by Paint shaker on May 30, 2009) | ||
| Sd26 |
Sweet, Paint! You've got more tomorrow. Good luck! | ||
| Spectrum |
Awesome news and congratulations. I hope to get down your way one weekend and watch you run. | ||
| Smoke |
congratulations Laird!! Good luck today. tim | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Sunday; For both pratices I chose to work on my starts, thus my lap times were nothing close to normal. Race 1 HWT Superstock; Since I was the only rider who signed up for HWTSS, WERA Lined me up with the C Superbike (modified 600s) experts and novices. This was a 2 wave race with the experts in the first wave and the novices and I in the the 2nd. I was 2 rows back from the C group. The 2nd flag waved and off we went. I got by 1 or 2 going into T-1 and 1 or 2 more coming out of T-1. I was hanging with them for a couple of laps, then remembered all I had to do was finish the race. I slowed slightly and flagged some of the them by so they could get in the mix for points against their class. I did my best imitation of Danny Eslick as I took T-13 super tight and found out that a knee slider does not slide too good over sand/grass. Got lapped by the experts (the top 4 were running 1.17s!). Finished the race 1st in HWTSS with average lap times in the 1.26/1.27 range. Race 2 LWTSB; It was rather warm (90 some degrees for the start); My main rival is in this class. I led him for half the Solo20 the day before and was hoping I could hold him off for a mere 8 laps. They line us up, 2 rows back from the 4-5 LWTSB Experts. Green flag drops and I came from the back with a pretty good head of steam. About halfway through T-1 I find myself behind the leader!!! I keep on him and hope that my rival got stuck behind the other guys. Cross flags come out and I am still 2nd overall, 1st in my class. The tires were sticking and I was running good so I decided to try and brake a little further into T-1. Unfortunately, this threw me off the race line and slowed me down. The leader began to slip away and next thing I know my rival passes my in T-7. Then they both began to slip away. I was never able to reel them in, and they got about 5-9 seconds ahead of me. The tires only slipped once when I was off pace in a turn and tried to get on the gas just a bit early. The rear then let me know it wasn't happy!! I didn't crack a 1.25 in the race, but I was consistent with 1.26/1.27s. We packed up, grabbed the trophies early and headed for the steak dinner I promised!! Overall, not a bad weekend. We switched to Bridgestone 003s, did some very minor suspesion tweaks and posted my personal best lap time for Jennings. Many, many, many thanks to Paul @ Gainesville H-D/Buell for sponsor help and to Mike, Paul from Ocala, Joe and my dad helping in the pits!!! You guys were invaluable!!  More pictures soon! | ||
| Smoke |
good job Laird!! tim | ||
| Xoptimizedrsx |
round 4 atlanta. with a new bike to test on round 5. the new bike may make round 4 but thats pushing it a little. great Job done. I believe we have the suspension on its finale adjustments for now on bike 1 now to do bike #2. i'll be ready by 2 pm on thursday for road atlanta. seat taken. book my slot. | ||
| Smoke |
see ya there Mike. tim |
