HPT report 6 FIRST PLACES!!!

[tstruyk]

ok... so it was 6 1sts in our group that pitted with us... none from myself
Keith Wilson 1st Place Expert F40
Randy Sullinger 1st place amatuer F40
Micheal Snell 3 firsts, dunno what classes (big air cooled buell)
Becca Claudle 1st place LWSS (I think...)

Great job guys (and girls). Randy flat out CHECKED OUT in his race! No competition, great launch and never looked back. Didnt see Keith run much but I think it was a large margin as well. Micheal wasnt challenged all weekend, (literally AT ALL in one race  ) too bad there wasnt larger fields or he would have raked in the buell $$.

On to my report!

So let me start with saying racing tackes preperation... this does NOT include going to Parties at the Plaza thursday night. Lets just say driving to Topeka on 3.5 hours of sleep, hungover, at 2am is not fun. Up at 5:45 (total sleep is now just over 7 hours for 2 days) we head to the track. I had pilot powers mounted on my spare rims as a practice/track day tire, having never been to HPT I knew it would take time to get up to speed. Track was VERY green in the AM and (its no secret) ROUGH. By the 3rd session of the day I was still struggling with traction and suspension and decided to mount some take offs from BHF to finish up the TD. A few minor adjustments made a big difference but I couldnt really get a rythm. Best times of the day where in the low 40's... dissapointed to say the least.

Sunday:

Got to the track 15 min late and scrambled to get everything setup, warmers on generator fired up, canopies up... barely made the riders meeting. Went out for first practice and somehow, somewhere... found 4 seconds on 3 of the laps!!! Now THIS is more like it! Still not running top 5 as hoped, but for first year racing, first time there I am pleased.

1st race GTU:
I was gridded in the 2nd row of am's. Lost a few spots on the launch but IMMEDIETLY started picking up positions, 3/4 of the way through lap one I am running 6th... by 1/2 way through lap 2 I am 5th...red flag (damn) Best first laps I've had all year and its flagged. After a 5 min cleanup we are regridded original positions and told its now an 8 lap sprint. Next launch got a BIG wheelie and lost 4-5 places. Put my head down and picked off a few in T1-3. going in to the bend I am trying to pass a guy on the brakes, got a little target fixated. Instead of following my marker and turning I glance at him to see him fly off the track... I of course follow suit as I have missed turn in and blow the turn. Lose 6 more spaces, frustrated I get back on the track and try to relax and turn goos laps. Managed to do so for the next 3 laps.. ok time to start moving up. Lap 6ish I get a little hot (again) into the bend (T5?) go off track AGAIN... thats it, settle into position and take my finish... I think it was 14th or so... not sure.

Next was MWGP, dont recall alot of this race, had a decent launch and maintained about 9-11th place. Was REALLY getting fatigued (maybe the heat?) and had trouble focusing. Got into a a little battle (forgot the number) with a guy and was having some fun but really struggling with focus, kept making small mistakes all over the track. Ran wide coming onto the straight and the rear hit the dirt stepping out the rear 1 foot or so, must have been a little sketchy to watch, heard all about it back in the pits. Then I am passing the guy on the outside of 4 when I hit a false neutral grabbing 3... ran wide slightly off track (less than a foot) but at this point I am tired and not in the right mindset... I cruise around the remaining laps for roughly 14th place... still not happy turning mostly 1:40's with an occasional 1:38, NO consistancy

Finally MWSS:
I am gridded next to Randy (aka grecianformula40) we have very similar racing experience and are looking forward to the race. he was still struggling with set up and I dont think ever felt comfortable there. I got good launch and was able to keep the lead group in sight for a few laps. A few of the faster guys picked me off and I maintained in the top 12. Apparently there was 4-5 of us pretty close together battling for the illustrious 11th place, made for good racing though. Battled back and forth with 67 and 273 (great racing with you guys!!) and ended up ahead of both of them. Ran consistant 39's that race and felt good. I know there is more time I can pick up at that track, but I wasnt expecting much. maybe next year I'll dip into the 36-37 range, of course the track will be repaved and layed out different. I'm really just trying to get smoother and more confident under braking. it will come

Once again a safe FUN weekend. good to see everyone again, next up MAM. I have some time logged at MAM do I am looking forward to the weekend. Hoping for that ever ellusive wood... is it just me or is this class TOUGH!!   ;)

See you in July!

tim struyk
GP AM#575
_________________

[Spooner]

Here is a pic of you behind James Rich #55, and me, #172.  I think I remember riding near you a fair bit yesterday..

http://www.kcplazasportbikes.com/photos/racing_hpt_6_19_05/IMG_3002.jpg

-Nick

[tstruyk]

yeah I remeber you!  thats a great photo!  thanks for sharing!

tim

[tigerblade]

Congrats guys (and gal)!   8)

[Super_KC124]

I didn't fall down!

[Xian_13]

I didn't fall down!

But did you hit any Deer?


XIII

[Speedballer347]

....
got a little target fixated. Instead of following my marker and turning I glance at him to see him fly off the track... I of course follow suit as I have missed turn in and blow the turn.

kept making small mistakes all over the track. Ran wide coming onto the straight and the rear hit the dirt stepping out the rear 1 foot or so, must have been a little sketchy to watch,

Then I am passing the guy on the outside of 4 when I hit a false neutral grabbing 3... ran wide slightly off track (less than a foot)

NO consistancy

Hey Tim.  Please don't take this the wrong way... and I am really in no position to give advice...but imho, you should back it off a notch and not worry about where you are placing.  You are having multiple close calls and everytime you make a mistake and run wide/off, you have a good chance of taking yourself or someone else out.  
My humble advice...Forget about the positions and just work on getting smooth and safe.

I think rader safety is the number 1 thing out there, and that is the only reason for my post.  I dont wanna take myself or anyone else out in the process from overexuberence, and I dont want my fellow riders doing it to me ;)

If ya wanna get fast and do it SAFELY, go see SuperDave :)

Good luck on the rest of the season 8)

[tstruyk]

I appreciate the input... and its in my nature to justify, so please dont take this as making excuses.... ok so maybe it is.  But just to give more details...

target fixation... happens to everyone at one point or another

got hot into a turn... could held it but would have blown the corresponding right hander crossing the race line in the process... runnin off was the safe option

Got a false neutral on a fast turn while passing on the outside... once off the gas the bike felt unstable... backing it down caused me to run wide.  no false neutral, no problem.

As for the rear end stepping out... how often are the rumble strips hit in a race?  I was trying to drive hard on the outside and misjudged how much room was left, thats just poor judgement.  I deserve that.  

I see your point and really do appreciate the input and actually later in my post it states that I recognized that my head wasnt completely in the game so I settled in and took my place.  What I didnt post was that with the heat and me not "feeling it" I ditched a purse race (your welcome for the free $70 ccs  ;)) so I could be more "ready" for MWSS.  I set goals of consistant mid to low 39's... and accomplished them!  ;)

It was just a matter of a poor mental readiness... and was recognized.  but once again, I appreciate you taking a minute to confirm it!!

tim

Oh one more thing... seein SD on 7/1  ;)

[Super_KC124]

But did you hit any Deer?


XIII

No deers but a few beers.

I had a blast! Suspension was horrible for the first practice session. Spent half the day basically rebuilding the front forks. (SV's suck in this dept.) Had to work really hard to get through the slow left handers. Finished 3rd in GT Lights, 4th in LWGP, 1st in LWF40, (Finished 2nd in Regular F40 if I'd entered. ;D) and 3rd in LWSB. Ended up running 1:42 flats. Whoo hooo!