:P Not my best weekend....Friday- got in about a lap and a half for practice, dropped the SV before taking it to tech. Wished I had entered GTL. Saturday-Practice, raced LightWeight GP and found I was running WAY too lean!! Slid around on cold track and bad tires. Stood around in the cold. Got new tires for Sunday. Sunday-missed practice, (hopefully) got credit for Ultralight Superbike because I was unmotivated to put on new tires, still had on the tires from ROC Daytona, not a good idea to run regardless of the cold! Time ran long so I didn't get to race Sunday's Lightweight GP. Dropped the SV AGAIN loading it into the trailer. :-[
Not my most favoritable weekend, on the plus I did get to meet a bunch of new people and see some old (familiar) faces. BAAA! Looking forward to BLACKHAWK and Visionsports Racer U!!!!!!!
Did you do that fuel trick?
What didn't we talk about a jet change?
QuoteDid you do that fuel trick?
What didn't we talk about a jet change?
Hey Dave, Yep. I removed the fuel I had in the tank, swallowed some of it :P got some of the other to put in but never did because I wasn't going to be able to go out anyway. I'll be working on figuring out a jet change this week tho. ;)
My bike fell over in the trailer on the way up. ;D
But as for how the races at RA went, well lets just say I was not impressed by it. >:(
Road America just never works out.
The track is huge, so getting around takes longer. Takes longer to just get people off the track. But, we still have all the classes on one day, then do it again the next.
But wait...
Add four FUSA races for Sunday, FUSA qualifying for Saturday.
Really for Road America, it might be better to reduce some of the available classes.
QuoteReally for Road America, it might be better to reduce some of the available classes.
AMEN!!!!!
Take into consideration that a full cool-down lap takes an additional 3-4 minutes versus getting off at T5.
It's frustrating since it's the most expensive track we race and things never work out as scheduled...
When you guys say "reduce" available classes do you mean eliminate? Which ones?
Reducing the classes would be the only way to get it to work in the available time, but which classes do you eliminate? That would be a mess. Then if you do eliminate how much entry fee do you lose to cover expenses for the track and where do you get them back from? Higher enties for the remaining classes? That would also be a mess. Sometimes I just do not think it is viable to race at some tracks and provide everyone with everything they want. I am not sure what the answer is and I amsure that the front office would like suggestions. Oh well, I will settle for the new Classic Course at Vegas next weekend!
Combine as many races as possible.
Flat out SAY that the races will be 4 laps long.
No full cool-down laps
Do not run FUSA on a CCS weekend
So, how big was the "Fasttrax CCS" region Ê::) Did tons of people show, or was it a handfull ::)
Yep it was quite the "cluster F" of a weekend to sum it up. It was really hard to hear the announcing of the classes, and to add to that the mistakes when calling the classes and the 1-3 calls it made it worse. A full lap for cool down did seem to be too much also. It is bad for thoes that do not go to Blackhawk also...
On a positive note, they have the results posted...
Now whether they're right or not, I can't say...
Some may say that it was a bust. I personally didn't feel at all prepared mentally to race in that weather.
After last year, knowing what it takes to win, and things being different this year, I had no desire to get prepared. I left Sat. morning before practice. Sure I had a get-off in T5 (warm-up lap GTU) LOL!! but it was the most fun that I had the two days that I was there. Tires and no heat=no fun. It was good to see people tho. I laughed as I surfed the "a$$fault" LOL
picked up the bike and it wouldn't shift. Oh well, I knew right then that I wouldn't be racing anymore this weekend. This year I want to focus on having fun and beating Super Dave on his visits to BHF...
that's all.. LOL. So you can have your rain and cold weather, I'll be a fair weather racer this year. Waaa
Waaa Waaa....
See everyone at BHF...if it is nice of course... ;D
thanks again to Stumpy for the stickers.
thanks again to Brian Baker for the use of his trailer
and generator.
lil-thorny.
Well, even though it was KILLING me to not be on the grid with ya'all, I managed to have a GREAT time thanks to Bill and Claudia and Dave and all the super folks at the Midwest Safety Crew.
I can't believe how SMOOTH the F-USA guys are... they made it look SO easy!!! DAMN! THIS is some heady stuff!!
Arrived at Siebkins on Thursday afternoon, in time for registration and an evening of benchracing with all my cohorts. It was great seeing everyone again after the long winter.
Friday was quite "crisp"... spent my first day "on the job" assigned to Turn 12 (aka "Canada Corner") - with the cool temperatures, the track was pretty "greasy" especially in the morning and we pulled nearly a dozen bikes out of the "kitty litter" (pea gravel) in the runoff area. Watched a friend of mine take (and pass) the race licensing school, and cheered for everyone during the various endurance races - and OMG the Team Challenge! WOOHOO!!! (NIIIICE going, guys!!!)
Saturday was even colder - the sun never quite broke through to warm things up... my corner assignment was Turn 10A (the "Bend"). Having never seen it before, I was glad to have had the opportunity to watch and learn the "fast" way through (um, no... not THROUGH the tire barriers, LOL). I was feelin' all that LOVE from you guys as you passed by! We had plenty of run-offs but only one "incident" where a guy high-sided in the second half of the turn and I had to call for the ambulance. Fortunately, he was only shaken up, not hurt. "Bike down, rider down" is a radio call that sends a chill down my spine. We were unable to run all the scheduled events because of computer glitches which placed an even bigger burden on Sunday.
Best of all was Dave Ebben's TLR that took first in Expert SuperTwins! OH YEAH BABY!!!! Yeah, I'm a tad partial to big beastie twins.
I spent Sunday at Turn 14 - the final corner before heading up the hill to the checkered flag on the front straight. It had rained the night before, and we were delayed for at least three hours waiting for the fog to clear. The damp track combined with cold temps presented an even greater challenge to the riders. From my post I could see a steady procession of trailers and tow vehicles belonging to racers who, for one reason or another, simply threw in the towel rather than wait for the delay and harsh conditions to improve. To make up time, the sprint races were shortened from the usual 6 to only 3 laps. Despite the best efforts of staff we were unable to get all of Sunday's events in, due in part to the weather and several incidents which required extensive track clean-up.
Cornerworking is a big responsibility requiring a full day's commitment - but there is no way to get closer to the "action" and it's TREMENDOUS FUN!!!!! I found it to be a great way to give something back to the sport - plus, it's an opportunity for racers to get additional "insight" and perspective on areas of the track that may be problematic. Bill Ritger goes to great lengths to accomodate racers willing to put in a day on a corner.
I'm looking forward to pitching in again when my schedule permits.
Actually under the FUSA results, the team challenge results are not listed, just the sprint results twice.
BTW the high point of my weekend was finishing 2nd in the leightweight team challenge on my new bike with a great deal of help from Jason D'Amico. This was Jason's return to racing since a bad street accident a couple years ago.
Ahh, thanks for making me feel better about not going to the races this weekend. :) I love that track, but the gamble on the weather is just not worth it for me, especially considering the raised prices and sharing with FUSA. I was only skipping it for the weather. I totally forgot about the usual chaos. Now I am twice as glad.
On a positive note, I have not heard anybody complain about the morning registration lines and the results are up. You are making progress CCS! :D
QuoteI left Sat. morning before practice. Sure I had a get-off in T5 (warm-up lap GTU) LOL!! but it was the most fun that I had the two days that I was there.
I thought it looked like you were missing something. ;D
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Glad you were okay.
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How do I get out of this bit of a funk the weekend lef t me in? To start they didn't have my pre-reg. so I paid -at gate- prices and started at the back of my 32 bike fields.-Now that I'm back in the office I'm stairing at my pre-reg. confirmation number which i forgot to bring with me. Friday was good, but i shoulda left after that. I really hope I remember never to go back to RA in April, it just not fun. I ended my weekend with a low-side under Billy mitchell bridge on lap 1 of my only Sunday race.
It's tough starting the season at a national event too.-The riders from the other regions were definetely up to speed! Kudos to them. I took 10th in LW SB, Ed Key took first and everybody else inbetween us was from way outside our late starting Midwest region! Anyone have a job for me somewhere warm!?
QuoteActually under the FUSA results, the team challenge results are not listed, just the sprint results twice.
BTW the high point of my weekend was finishing 2nd in the leightweight team challenge on my new bike with a great deal of help from Jason D'Amico. This was Jason's return to racing since a bad street accident a couple years ago.
Inspirational!!! YESSSS!!!
Kim, argh, didn't see you this weekend. Didn't make it down to Canada Corner, too cold and dark down there.
The weather did suck, but it sure was cool to see everyone at the races. The excitement of hearing the rumble of the freight train of bikes screaming down into and through T5 was cool!
I Really liked the track took me a lil while to get use to it. I used GT lights as practice and also the team challenge. Waited around for LTWT SS saturday onlt to have it postponed. Ran it sunday but pulled off early cause i still had rains on. Switched to Dots in time for second race running third chasing down ED and Darren i highside on the last lap under the bridge after Canada corner. im a lil banged up but oh well. They need to change the race to july or something!!!
Re: RA disaster
I sent an e-mail to Kevin Elliott today with a suggestion which I hope others will get onboard with and e-mail him about as well. Since at RA we paid $75 per race, what if CCS started the race rates for those of us whose races were cancelled/rescheduled from RA at the second tier-thus making our RA race rate the primary registration. This would save all of us a few bucks-and would essentially cost CCS nothing to implement. I think the goodwill it would generate might help to soothe thos of us who perceive that at least some of the blame for this weekend; outside of the weather, lies with CCS thinking they could ADD F-USA to a race schedule which they in the past have already had trouble completing!
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You're safe!!!!! ;)
QuoteGlad you were okay.
Me too!
Great photo Jack!
Road America draws a lot of entries and they cost a lot.
But over the past several years, weather has played a big factor. It always will as Wisconsin is still in a state of "late winter" this time of the year. Lake Michigan always plays a role in the weather, and it did again this year.
Anyway, having two rounds of every class doesn't seem to work. We don't do it at Daytona. Daytona is a SMALLER race track.
At Daytona in February the weather can be a bit iffy too. But having a double race format...that's the problem.
Road America is the site of the largest number of road race entries ever with like 2025 entries. I think that was in 2001. Daytona was close that year, but Road America had more.
It is getting to a point where getting races finished and in the number of laps scheduled is a real problem. Surely, that will play into how people enter races for next year's Road America.
To add to the weather discussion, the traditional date for planting in the Milwaukee area is AFTER May 1st, as that's the average date of the last frost. I'm sure it's at least that for RA. I think the race should be scheduled for a date the would be after the last frost for that area.
To the # of races/time alloted debate: I agree with Dave. Lose the Twin Sprints format. Adding to that, move F-USA qualifying to Friday, Have 2 of their races on Saturday, and the remaining 2 on Sunday. If a weather event occurs, you would have some wiggle room as far as time goes.
Frost? Yeah, I'm in Waukesha away from the lake and I had frost this AM taking the kids to school.
A later date would be good...
But the AMA has a date in early June. So, IF any spectators were going to come for the event, they might decide to do the bigger warmer event.
The August FUSA date was better.
As for splitting up FUSA races...I think the idea is to have all the "premier" national championship races at one time packaged for spectator appeal. This cannot be a FUSA stand alone event. So, the best alternative is how it is now, in regards to FUSA.
I'd like to see the schedule more like the Daytona set up though.
QuoteAs for splitting up FUSA races...I think the idea is to have all the "premier" national championship races at one time packaged for spectator appeal. This cannot be a FUSA stand alone event. So, the best alternative is how it is now, in regards to FUSA.
Well, If someone could come up with solid "spectator" numbers, I might agree with that. Clearchannel promotes several events in this area(metro Milwaukee), including Arenacross, which gets radio AND tv advertising. I didn't see any TV advertising, and Roger listens to the radio during the week, and he didn't hear any radio ads. Clearchannel also owns billboards here, and I can't recall seeing even one billboard ad. Someone pipe up if I'm wrong.
Also, there is racing going on almost from mid morning with CCSs involvment. The average "spectator" would be thrilled to see that much racing, and I don't really know how many people outside of our little roadracing fishbowl are fans, a la NASCAR.
In order to run a smooth event, and also from the safety stand point, split days would be the way to go. If not, some CCS races might need to be moved to Friday, which would suit the team challenge guys from the stand point of having to be at the track, but would put them at a disadvantage as far as running sprints and long endurance races on the same day.
F-usa guys are "the pros", whatever that might mean, but in truth, if they are chasing points and money, they need to be out there all three days anyhow, unlike many of the CCS racers, who might have a less intense program in place.
There are so many logistics to juggle here. Getting things so everyone is happy would be impossible. That said, getting it so that the event ran smoothly, safely, and in an efficient manor shouldn't require extraordinary measures. Just a little fore thought, some feed back from the racing community, and perhaps trying to change the date (I know. easier said than done), to a more weather freindly time of year.
QuoteYou're safe!!!!! ;)
Me too!
Great photo Jack!
Dang... I sure make this look good. ;D
that was the only time I got my knee down ;)
all is good tho...ready for BHF
Benj.
Mark S:, if you still want the sliders we talked about: www.motosliders.com
QuoteMy bike fell over in the trailer on the way up. ;D
quote]
Have Teffy hook you up with some of his Pit Stop wheel chocks, and that will never happen again. Worth every penny. I bought two! www.condor-lift.com
Sure would have been nice to know after race 3 (or was that race 1? :P ) that I could have started my 10 hour drive to my parents' place (then 3 1/2 hour drive to my own house) instead of waiting until 6 PM to find that the race before mine was going to be the last race of the day.
Oh well, can't control Mother Nature. And she sure is a mother sometimes... :-/ ;)
QuoteHave Teffy hook you up with some of his Pit Stop wheel chocks, and that will never happen again. Worth every penny. I bought two! www.condor-lift.com
Chris, I hit a large ramp type bump at 55mph on 151 near teh new 26 interchange near BEaver Dam. Truck got light and the trailer got air. Apparently the suspension of the bike compressed enough on landing to let enough slack in teh straps so teh hooks let go. Only on strap on teh front held. Bike still ended up on my suitcase.:D:D No damage other than some scratches.:D