| Author | Message | ||
     Anonymous |
They may rename Willow if Shawn keeps it up. He won both Formula Twins and Heavyweight Twins again this weekend, and had one practice lap below the Twins lap record -- it has to be in a race to count, however. This is all on a bike that's still running the stock muffler. | ||
| Slaughter |
I gotta say that bike is more bone stock than Anony just implied. I've seen it on the dyno - and while it's a good solid motor, there's really nothing special about it! As far as I can tell, cams are stock, compression/pistons/rotating-bits are stock, valves/top end stock - there's NOTHING that tells me that there's anything special about that engine except it's well looked-after (and that's a GOOD thing!) Shawn is working very heavily on tire selection and gearing for Willow Springs since the track is kind of unique in the sustained high speeds - but still needing PULL out of turns. I'd really like to see him enter the Formula 1 class. This is the PREMIERE racing class at Willow Springs and has a $10K purse EACH MONTH. The pace that Shawn put in his races would have put him about 5th overall in Formula One!!!! And that would be against NO RESTRICTION litrebikes. I doubt that there's a bike in the top 10 that makes much less than 190HP. ****** F-1 Finish, Number, Name, Best Lap 1 91 Jeffrey Tigert 1:21.754 2 1 Karl Lowry 1:21.795 3 2 Jeff Stern 1:24.273 4 5 Chris Duran 1:23.965 5 302 Mark Simon 1:24.396 6 418 Reno Karimian 1:24.476 ******* Higbee's best lap was 1:24.219 Keep in mind, Jeff Tigert is a development/test rider for HRC on a CBR1000RR - ALL the top 10 are on litrebikes. That ought to put Higbee's/1125R times in perspective!! It's too bad that he has prior obligations to MotoST that conflict with WSMC racing... as he and the 1125R are DOMINATING the twins classes. He won't be able to make it back until August (but that gives Eric Nolan and some of the Ducatisti a chance to make the Twins races look like they're Ducati "dominated" at the end of the year (HA! We know better!!) That's not to take anything away from Jeff Dixon running Glendale's XBRR. He came in Second to Higbee. The Formula Twins race (Buell Contingency) - was Buell 1 and Buell 2 - the ONLY Buells were FIRST and SECOND. Unfortunately the two Ducati that were battling for 3rd came together going into turn 1, one of them lost the front trying to pass under braking and they both went down. Last I heard both riders were OK (one was transported) - but there were 2 wadded up Ducatis. Eric Nolan - a VERY consistent racer on his 1098 Duck, finished a distant third after the race was finished under a red flag. You really ought to see Higbee launch! He's a freaking ARTILLERY SHELL! He can hit turn one a full half second ahead of the field! Yeah, that motor has potential that hasn't been tapped. Once the handling is dialled in, I'm betting that more will be done on the motor but he's working baby steps. Remember, MotoST is power-restricted so there hasn't been the push to squeeze more power out of their endurance-racing 1125R. You should hear the comments from the announcer and from the others in the stands. That bike is SPOOKY to hear as he comes HAULING-A** across start/finish, past the stands and into Turn One!!! The announcer actually said OVER THE PA SYSTEM that he's gotta look into buying one!!! I mean you NEVER get that kind of endorsement by a racetrack announcer. (plus, it doesn't hurt that announcer David Koenig is formerly a Twins-class racer on a TLR 1000) Man, I wish there was a good picture of Shawn racing but think about it, EVERY FREAKING PICTURE is boring - because at the first turn and for the rest of the race, the ONLY bike in the picture is HIGBEE - until he starts lapping backmarkers in the second wave (slower class) What is really cool to see is that the stuff Higbee is doing to his bike (except chain drive) is ALL stuff that any of the current 1125R owners can do TODAY - except for the suspension and notes on tire choices/settings ... those are PRICELESS! Ebear was there with his camera - we were kinda busy in the pits but there WAS a crowd out to watch! What's so cool is that the announcer burned Shawn a copy of the interview they did over the PA system and the narration he did of Shawn's first race at Willow. Worth listening to!! I gotta start writing more of this stuff down for those who weren't able to make it out to the races!!! (Message edited by slaughter on June 16, 2008) | ||
| Anonymous |
The bike Shawn is riding is one of the validation bikes used for the Laguna Seca press launch last year, updated to the final production configuration. Some of these were sold to a few dealers or teams that had racing plans, in this case Bartel's. It had miles on it, has never had the engine apart, and all the hot-rod parts on it consist of mostly suspension bits Shawn has carried out in his luggage. There a lot of racing parts coming out for the 1125R, and Shawn will eventually be running a faster bike than now. But the stocker is plenty fast to dispatch other twins. | ||
| Slaughter |
As evidenced by this weekend's racing results! Add a rider with experience and it's dispatching some heavy-hitting I-Fours!!! As more and more teams get these beasties and get some development miles under their butts, the racing is going to be interesting at the Club - and National levels. Kudos to Buell and Buell Racing on the 1125R. It's pretty exciting stuff. (By the way, I'm NOT slamming the XB's - I'm resurrecting my much-abused XB for racing again in a couple months - but in different classes altogether) | ||
| Bertman |
About as close as it gets to him.  After a couple laps it looks more like this.  Mighty lonely.  | ||
| Bertman |
Buell 1 - 2  XBRR in front of the Duc's.  | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Thanks Slaughter for the commentary. Great writeup. A little glimpse of what it is like to be there. I plan to catch some of the action later this summer when my work calms down a bit. I would love to see the 1125r kicking some ass in person. Can you tell me what kind of competition the 1125r is trouncing? 848s, 1098s, etc. Or point me to a site where I can take it all in myself? | ||
| Slaughter |
The typical competition is 1098. Last month we had Kopecky on his 999R too. Farther back we have the middleweights - they are allowed to race "up" a class - 748 and 749. RC51 You can get the race schedule at http://willowspringsraceway.com/clubs/wsmc/News.ht m Go to the latest revised schedule but keep in mind that they CAN change race order on the morning of the races - but generally that is the latest race schedule. Use that schedule to figure out which race was when and then go to http://www.mylaps.com - My Laps is the website for the AMB transponders used in the race. Times are NOT official: there may still be protests or people may have loaned transponders to another racer... stuff like that. search "willow springs" and click on the date of the event. That will take you to the Friday, Saturday practice times and Sunday practice and race times. You can see that Shawn was actually faster in practice. The wind KICKED BUTT - slowed the fastest guys by as much as 1.5 seconds. (Message edited by slaughter on June 17, 2008) | ||
| Dano_12s |
Thanks for the great write-up,keeps us on the east coast up to speed.Did a track day w/Shawn as a guest instructor few years ago,what a great guy! | ||
| Usroute66 |
Slaughter, Great seeing you and everyone at the race. Great write up, but you have to be there to really believe how the 1125r just blows the rest of the bikes out of the park. The sound that bike makes too is just so cool. It is really funny, actually. Shawn comes by, then there seems to be a pause in the race, then everyone else comes by. It is almost as if he is just racing by himself. If you can make it in August, it will be worth the trip to see him race. The XB also was in second place until two Ducs got tied up in turn one, causing the race to end early. I can't wait until August! | ||
| Rubberdown |
Very Cool! | ||
| Blake |
Way to go Higbee and Dixon and teams and friends! Thanks mucho for taking time to share the great news Anony and Steve.  | ||
| Ebear |
 Hi Race Fans..!! I think the rest of the field is over there somewhere!!  Shawn Higbee Bartels HD\Buell Pits Steve Slaughter must be talking Racing..!!!(How do I know??...well ,he's got his hand on his wallet!)  Lots of data must be collected...  Meet Mitsu...Mechanic on the 1125Race Hope I spelled it right and thanks for putting up with me!  Mitsu and Shawn going over some race setup data.  Glendale HD\Buell Pits  Glendale Buell mechanic doing race prep on the Dixon XBRR  Ernie...Glendale's Top Sales Dude ,Racer and all around Good Guy....Workin' the other side of the RR... | ||
| Ebear |
 This RR was put to use holding down the EZ-ups!!   Mr. and Mr. Dixon   Shawn... preparing...    Couldn't get another bike in the frame...1st corner..  ...#883 in 5th...  ...4th...    ....3rd.....  ....P 2....        ...A Moment of Levity.....  Sneaking up on Backmarkers....   Final Lap!!   ...Shawns Surefooted Shiny Steed....  Every time he came by here he would give us a wheely!!  Thanks Shawn..!!!Fine Show Indeed!! (Message edited by ebear on June 18, 2008) (Message edited by ebear on June 18, 2008) | ||
| Slaughter |
Cool pics Ebear! Thanks for posting em up. Kind of a shame that there just isn't anybody else in the shots with Shawn unless he's in practice or passing backmarkers. Must be a real bummer being that fast! (insert smiley here) | ||
| Usroute66 |
Great photos Eric! Only wish he could have finished the race. Well, here's to the August race. | ||
| M1combat |
Makes me smile . Thank you. | ||
| Doerman |
Eric.. Thank you so much for your excellent documentation of this race Sunday since I could not get out there this time. I think the results of this race is phenomenal! Go Buell... Go Jeff... Go Shawn.. Go Steve (in August)... | ||
| Ebear |
Well,,,wasn't it you whom asked me to go , Ozzie???...Harriet and I hung out together....I'll post one of HER tonight... AND THANK you Mr. Higbee and Mr Dixon...YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!   | ||
| Jlnance |
Is Higbee the guy who works for Buell? | ||
| Ebear |
Shawn is their Test Rider.  |
