Lap times @ BHF for AM LWSS versus LWSB???

[SV88]

Does any body remember what those approximate lap times were last year?  I'm thinking 1:18 for SS and possible 1:15 for SB.  Trying to come up with some quick change items to transform my essentially SS 1st gen SV to an SB (Yeah, Yeah I know improve your D!@#$%%% cornerning speed).  Given that I cannot ride at this time a year, I can spend time/effort on the bike preparation.

[George_Linhart]

Steve,

Among the yellow plates I don't think there was any difference in lap times between LWSS and LWSB last year.  The same guys were winning both classes on the same bikes.  While I didn't run any LWSS races I am fairly certain that Guy, Paul, Kevin & Julian were usually the top finishers in both classes.

I was finishing in the top 5 (generally 2nd or 3rd) in Thunderbike on my F2.  In the only dry race I did on the Ducati I placed 2nd.

My lap times on both bikes were almost identical.  I was running between the high 1:18's to the low 1:20's, entirely depending upon traffic.  I was generally gridding in the very back and even with those lap times I was making it through traffic and catching up with the front runners.  In clear traffic the times may have a bit lower ( really never looked to individual fast laps but was more concerned with consistency).  I think the pace may have gone up a bit after the resurface of those corners late in the year, however, they certainly were not dropping into the 1:15's during any of the races I was in or I never would have been able to contend for podium spots.

I might be mistaken, but, I think that 1:15 would be a pretty good BHF time even in the expert LWSB or Thunderbike races (maybe not a win, but still pretty good).  Personally, I'm going to be happy if I can run consistent 1:16's there next year.  Hopefully that track will grow on me, but as of right now - I hate that place!

George
#773 - EXPERT!

[EX_#76]

The fastest I went period was 1:18.4 at BHF.  I did it in SS trim.  I must be slightly more comfy in SS trim because I never really went faster in SB trim.  And like yes the times varied just as George indicated.  Last year Dan Kane and Ryan Hall were running in the low to mid 17s in superbike, and neither one of them had great superbikes.  I think that Dans bike was in the mid 80s for HP.  So George is right there not being any difference in time last year.  There could be next year if the right person shows up on a good superbike. 

As far as expert times Ed generally runs a couple of low to mid 15s then slows down to 16s or low 17s in SS depending on the competition.  In SB he has ran a 1:13.4 but he is generally in the low 15s.

Don't think about laptimes.  Work on your skills as a rider and apply them against the pavement, the laptimes will come as your skills improve.  You can run an 18 or a 17 and be in over your head to do it, or you can be like PJ or Gary Palmer, and run 16s all day long in a controlled and smooth manner.  I am prouder of a well executed 1:20 than a sloppy 19 any day of the week.

[benprobst]

if your running am., lap times really wont differ from ss to sb, seeing that the rider is much more important than the bike. I ran BHF a couple times this year, the 1st time me, tim lupirini (sp), and some guy on an aprillia were about 5 secs infront of the pack (and some GUY on a yellow bike  ) while the leader ran away from the 3 of us, forgot his name, suposedly a 3 year expert took a year off then came back am  . We were running 20's every lap and we all registered at least one 19 sec lap. The next time I was there was the new pavement weekend and I never ran below a 21 and some GUY on a yellow bike beat most of us running dead consitent 20 - 21's. but anyway, sb vs. ss doesnt matter much in am. the same guys normally win both classes.

[Super Dave]

The lap record is a 1:09 and change on a 1000.  About three quarters of a second back is the fastest 600 time.  Weights for the bikes are similar, but the 1000 has about a third more power...for .75 seconds.

Chassis, chassis, chassis.  Tires, tires, tires.



Ben, yeah, the expert that came back.  He was an expert in 2003, very good too, and when he returned to Blackhawk, CCS required that he return as an amateur as per the rule book.  He hadn't raced since early 2003.

[SV88]

Great answers guys!  So it sounds like I just need to prep my bike really well in SS form (S.Dave will be checking out the suspension) , I will run newer tires (warmers) and get myself into race shape.  My goal is to improve from last year - it would be nice to be comfortable in the low 20's- high teens.

[benprobst]

Ben, yeah, the expert that came back.  He was an expert in 2003, very good too, and when he returned to Blackhawk, CCS required that he return as an amateur as per the rule book.  He hadn't raced since early 2003.

yeah thats what I heard, I was able to run with him for a few laps but couldnt do much more than that, he was quick and un - amatuer smooth. funny thing is CCS wouldnt let my Uncle Jim come back as an AM. despite taking something like 8 years off.

[Scotty Ryan]

When I was running amateur on an SV - I would have to look at my note - But I think my best time was an 1:17.2...... Don't hold me to it tho..... Although  a lap of 1:19 for an amateur is fast - With a lot of the guys with yellow plates being moved up for next season - I would think that would be a fast time..... Just my two cents :)

[dylanfan53]

IMHO competition has gotten tougher in LW classes.  At those times, if these guys know how to handle traffic it looks like next year will tougher still.

[PJ]

Julian Soell won the Amateur LWSS, LWSB, LWGP, GT Lights and Thunderbike class championships last season on a stock Buell XB12R (with belt drive!). He won all of those titles in SuperSport-legal tune. And his average lap times at BFR were in the 19s, I believe.

I would focus on your bike set up and riding skills and don't worry too much about modifying your bike until you get your corner speeds up.

+1 on the LW classes getting more competitive all the time. The Amateur class varies year to year. But Ed's not getting any slower. As an expert, you have to run 15s at BFR just to keep him in sight. He pulled me into a personal best high 14 last year, but I'm sure he wasn't even breaking a sweat...

Nobody manages a race pace better than Ed. He just goes as fast as he has to go to win.

[grasshopper]

Wegman weekend I clicked off a couple 17s as my fastest with Mr. Bartz trying to catch me. Mostly ran 18s and 19s though. What was that kids name that was riding Mr. Stiles TZ250? I gave him a good fight in LWGP until about the 4th lap he got away from me and won the race.

I ran more consistant 17s chasing Hall and Kane the year before.

I still didn't score enough points to go Expert because my pocket book isn't deep enough to race enough weekends.

I'll have White plats this year anyway. It can only make me faster trying catch PJ and Mr. Key. We'll see what happens. I'm looking forward to it.

[Scotty Ryan]

That was Chris Quilman on Mark's 250. Chris is quick. He'll be running expert this season.