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March Race review |
03/21/2010 |
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Since last month I had made some huge changes to both the bikes. I decided it was time to get some suspension under both the machines. Race Tech was my weapon of choice and for a very small investment (compared to the Swiss alternative Ohlins) I was able to make some massive improvements to the handling. I also invested in the power commander quick shifter and a new set of gearing for the Gsxr 600 in hopes that I could keep up with some of the higher horsepower machines that show up. The next improvement made was getting a couple sweet paint jobs on the bikes. I chose an Olive Drab green and had John Salazar hook it up. Man they look sweet ! He even took the time to match the pit scooter up with the race bikes. ( THEY LOOK SO SWEET IN THE PITS NOW...) PRACTICE DAY: We needed to get as much time on the track with both bikes so we could try and set the new suspension to my liking. WSMC was running a new practice format that was divided up by laps times rather than by bike size. I needed to go into the "A" and the "B" group practice sessions to get the saddle time to tune....Got to the 1:25's on the 1000 with the suspension fighting me all the way! I was easily able to do 1:27's on the 600 and was very happy with the gearing change. (I was using a 15 tooth front and a 47 tooth rear sprocket.) The whole day turned into a huge struggle with the 1000 kicking and screaming all the way. At the end of the day we decided to use softer front fork springs and went to bed with hopes that we had solved all our handling problems... RACE DAY!!! As usual get up, get the bikes to tech inspection, tire warmers on, get a bite to eat and just enough caffeine to elevate the heartbeat to somewhere over 100 bpm's, and discuss the race schedule with Ben so we can plan tire changes and get on the track. The 600 was Awesome! I was flying through turn 6 (Monroe ridge) with the throttle pinned and no problems with the suspension. However, the 1000 was only a tad better with the softer front springs. Darn...During the first practice I got frustrated with the 1000 and pulled off track to the hot pits to look for someone with a Flathead screwdriver to make a quick change to see if it would help. No one was handy so I flew back on track doing a massive wheelie. What I didn't know was that I had blown a coolant hose and lucky for me my wheelie had swooshed out a wave of water that was noticed by the track staff. I was quickly Black flagged and pulled of track immediately. " YOU'RE LEAKING SOMETHING!!!" he said. Couldn't have hurt my lap times I thought, damn suspension had me steaming mad at this point...and now the bike was steaming too. I pulled into the pit and in the blink of an eye Ben had the leak found and repaired. I heart Ben...what a great technician. Went out on the 1000 again, totally sucked. Pulled in and thought "did I ever set the spring sag in the rear?" Duuuuuuuh Scott. I only had about 10mm of race sag when I should be at about 30-35mm. Geeesh, just when I though I was a suspension wizard, got it figured out but ran out of practice time to check my theory...oops!!!! Race 6 (Open Modified Production) (I had brought this used tire that was sitting around the shop for a while, still had awesome tread and I decided to use it for my first two races on the 1000. What I didn't know was it was a soft compound...) Gridded in the #2 position meant that I had a good shot at getting to turn 1 in first place even though I had good company in this race . David Anthony (Aussie Dave) was out and looking sharp as a tack. He had been pitting along side a young gun named Steve Atlas (Steve-O) all weekend. In the practice sessions I noticed Steve-O was emulating David's lines and learning how to ride fast if David was leading him. I got a amazing start and lead into the first turn by at least eight bike lengths, Both David and Steve-O got around me shortly after turn two and then we saw a red flag due to a crash.. The Restart... I lead through the first five turns, I was feeling great and the suspension was amazing (finally...) I felt like everything was coming together and at one point even felt comfortable enough to blow a kiss during the race to the turn 4 hottie I noticed sitting in the stands (Jasmine, breathing easy...until that moment). Soon the two front runners had made a gap of about 5 seconds and were out of reach but at the same time I had put a gap behind me of about 8 seconds...Third place behind some really hooked up AMA guys, not to shabby. 1st 225 P ANTHONY, DAVID 30 30 undefined 2nd 585 P ATLAS, STEVE 26 26 undefined 3rd 91 P TILLERY, SCOTT 22 39 Suzuki Race 7 ( Formula 2) So this month, like last month, I had a sequence of three races in a row and was pressed for time in the pits to make the change to my other bike. I had set up a pit in a friends pit area close to the entrance of the raceway and Ben was there with the 600 ready to roll...except for the transponder used for timing and scoring. I did the warm-up lap, wasting no time getting acquainted to the bike I dove in to every turn as if the race had already started.At the starting line, Grid #2, again. I set up for the drag race to turn one and we were off. I lead for the first lap or so then had David Christensen (#858) come around me looking very confident and comfortable. I didn't seem to have any problems staying with him at his pace but couldn't find my way around him. We had built a small gap between ourselves and third place so I decided to stay put and dissect his racing line. He was fierce and wasn't sloppy anywhere that I could see so passing wasn't going to be easy and might not be an option at all. Out of turn 9 David had a huge slide and nearly lost it , I moved in for the KILL ! Thank goodness he was on pirellis ...LOL . I knew he wasn't going down without a fight so I carefully watched my lines and didn't stray wide ensuring that he wouldn't get an easy retake of the #1 position. With turn 9 being the final stretch to the finish line with a chance for overtaking via a good draft , I needed to hit the entrance to it hard enough to break his momentum. I did ! I'm sure it must have been a little scary for him after the great slide & save the previous lap in turn 9...First place Baby ! 1st 91 P TILLERY, SCOTT 30 45 Suzuki 2nd 858 P CHRISTENSEN, DAVID 26 41 Yamaha 3rd 52 P BLACK, LOREN 22 22 Yamaha Race 8 ( Open Superbike ) Immediately after the win in F2 I hopped on the 1000 and had Ben tell me to take it easy because the tire was "still a bit cold". Truth was that the soft compound tire had been shredded in race 6 but there wasn't enough time to swap before race 8 . He said to feel it out and kick ass. I went out during the warm up and was feeling a little tense from the two previous races but overall I was still feeling strong. I was gridded in 5th position and felt like getting another great start. I did but this race had more competitors than the mod prod race . I had a great fight with Mark Simon aboard the new bmw , but got the better of him towards the end of the race taking a 5th place finish. Race 12( Formula 1) Finished 7th Race 16(600 Mod. Prod) finished 5th Thanks for reading and hope that you all enjoyed. I really am thankful to have the support from my friends , family and patrons to carry on in this endeavor. |
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Feb. Race review |
02/21/2010 |
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My son Alexander his best friend Chandler and My lead tech Ben Welch of Speedskunk Racing / RTillery Powersports and I arrived late Friday night noticing the pit parking was going to be a little tight on space we decided to park way down at the end, near turn 1. I went to bed asap so I could be fit for the riding to come... The pactice sessions went well with my times reaching 1:20's and keeping a smile on my face. Despite the track changes to turns 9 and 10 I wasn't able to find a way to go faster through the back section. We had to make some slight changes to the suspension to let them move a bit more in the transitions , you seem to be in the next turn before the last one ends...! Ben hooked me up with a couple twists of his black magic suspension screwdriver and I felt I was ready for racing. OK....Here we go, get up. Go get registered, get the bikes to tech , get both the bikes back to the pit and get the tires warmed up using the one set of warmers you have so you don't through away the whole weekend on a "cold tire incident". Don't forget to eat something !!! oh and drink more water !!! clean the visor on the helmet, check fuel , make sure tire warmers are still on and heating up, (announcer) " Final call ,Middleweight practice 501-650cc machines" Yikes! I got to PEE ! I make it out for the morning practices and had been able to squeeze another second off my lap times on the 1000 but nothing improved on the 600, matter of fact I felt like I was going backwards on it. Whatever ! I felt good and confident that I was going to have a blast regardless of my placings.I missed being on the lil' 600. (Race# 4) 600 Superstock I had a blast in this race . For the most part I was settled in behind Ryan Tarr and Jeremy Simmons. They battled it out while I was in waiting , hoping for a clear shot at getting around them. I was only able to pass Simmons on the last lap and last turn after a near highside he had ( beautiful save, good job) . Wound up being 6th behind Ryan. (Race #6)Open Mod. Prod. This race was the first of a three race back ,to back ,to back sprint. I got a awesome start but was passed by Corey Neuer in the first lap. I showed a consistant drop in lap times over the first 5 laps setting a lap record 1:16.86 (for the open mod prod) in the 5th and then slowing in the final lap suceeding to Coreys initial charge ,getting 2nd place. (Race #7)Formula 2 I came in after race #6 franticly looking for Ben ( He had told me he'd be waiting with the 600 on the tire warmers near the entry to the track so I wouldn't have to travel all the way back to our pit area) I didn't see him at first and began to worry that I'd miss the warm up lap ! FOUND HIM ! I jumped of the 1000 , handed it to a friend , hopped on the 600 and got on the track just in time . It was very strange to switch so quickly from the 1000 to the 600. They are both set very differently and it seems to take its toll on my times for the 600. I made my way to the front at the start and didn't look back ! All RrrrrTillery all the way ! By the end of the race I had over a two and a half second lead. (Finish line wheelie FAIL! Ooops, thought I was on the 1000) (Race #8) Open superbike Right back in to the pits where I had found Ben waiting with my 600 earlier, now, in wait with the 1000 ready to roll. I got aboard and felt a bit of fatigue setting in. I holeshot the start with Reno Karimian very close ,knocking hard at the door ! I was able to hold him at bay for only 3/4 of the first lap (still felt good,did I mention he's a fast mo fo!) I Quickly saw that I was dropping off pace and let Reno get away with an easy first while I came in second with a 22 second gap to third ( Pete Curtis ) . I felt the two previous races had taken thier toll on my body. (Race #13) Formula 1 At last,the main event ! This is the race that I hope to do best in every month but find it harder than I could ever imagine. I always get good starts and this race was no exception. I was in a field with some heavy hitters from all over and it seems that the event had drawn in a few people that wouldn't have normally dropped in at "The Big Track". So here we were going into turn 1 at "Street of Willowsprings" I was in second place out of 12 starters. Got passed by someone in turn two, coming down the hill into three I could hear the roar of 10 bikes ripping the tires apart under heavy acceleration...by the end of the first lap I was passed by nearly the whole pack leaving only James Randolf and Corey Neuer behind me. James was the only one out here on the new KTM RC8 and I could easily distinguish the sound of the V-twin at my backdoor. He made his way around me and I found myself in last place (Corey had to pull off due to what seemed like a mechanical failure in lap two.) But I kept on the thottle as if I was fighting for first. I then saw Reno pull off followed by Karl Lowry and then Lenny Hale. This was getting better and better for me ! I was seeing the bigger picture , Karl and Reno were the only two starters of the race ahead of me in the overall points so my consistancy was getting me a shot at closing the gap in points. I remained in eight place to the finish and did it with a smile and honor. I am now tied with Shawn Higbee for fifth in the F1. Persistace pays... (Race 16) 600 Mod. Prod. Wow , there were some fast dudes out this weekend ! I was in fifth place for the entire race and for a moment had Chris Duran creeping up to make a move. Once I noticed he was there it lit a fire in me and we began to pick up the pace getting us both closer to Ryan Tarr in 4th place . In the final lap I thought of making a final turn pass on Ryan but there was a waiving yellow flag (no passing flag) due to a highside crash involving Bryce Prince when he went for a final turn pass on Lowry. I guess it was for the better that I didn't... Six races , One day and a happy racer going home in one piece... Thanks for reading and thanks to my big sponsor for the month "Harmonic Design" Thank you Scott Peterson, it really helped me out. BTW, Special note... Dunlops rock ! |
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First race of the season ! |
01/17/2010 |
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Went to Willowsprings for the first race...
Went to Willowsprings International Raceway for the first race of the season and had a great time. It took a bit to remember how to ride the 1000 again, as it had been about 3 to 4 months since I had rode it last. Saturday...I showed up a little late , but had already planned on doing the afternoon practice to save some money anyhow, my friend Aaron came along to help out and see willow for the first time...He was a great help BTW and I hope he can come out every month to pit with me. So I signed in with the office, got my new number (#91 Jeff Tigert's number from last year) and headed back to the pit. I was on a bit of a budget this weekend ($1000.oo) and decided that I would only buy 2 rear tires and use some leftovers from 2008 and 2009 for the front... They were working fine but my times weren't as good as I would have hoped for...the day went pretty smooth overall with times into the mid 26's and then we went to the Awards Banquet... I only received one plaque this year (for 9th place in F1) and while standing in front of my fellow racers I put out a speach that was a bit unorthodox. I said something like "This shit was hard to get ! and it's only 9th place... When you're out there with all these fast dudes and trying your best , spending lots of money and putting forth a lot of effort...I'd like to say thanks to ME..." everyone paused...........then started laughing and applauding (whew) then I went on to tell everyone "you should all thank yourselves, because I know you might have a little bit of sponsorship but there's not really anything to speak of right now. Pat yourself on the back you all made it happen for yourselves, I have my customers to thank also ,because they keep me in business and my business allows me the ability to get out here each month..." and I think somewhere in the speach I dropped a F-Bomb too .... Oops ! I had been donated money this month to get the season going and I really appretiate the support (Allan , Jake , Phil , Emily , Tyler , and Jose got me a combined total of about $155.oo). As much as I hate to say it ...I need more ! I spent well over my budget this month laying down $1300.00 + to cover all the costs of going and that was on a tight budget. I know it's a lot to ask of my customers and friends but if I can get a little from everyone it would go a long way to help my research and knowledge of this sport to further help others when they ask for assistance at the track and on the streets. If you have any ideas please let me know. Sundays races were awesome ! I was able to pass and hold off Chris Duran (the #3 plate holder) to come in forth behind Chris Ulrich ,Karl Lowry and Reno Karimian in the Open superbike event boasting my fastest lap of 1:25.417 in lap 6 with 105.365 average speed. Then in the Formula One I had some great battles with Chris Duran again and with my good friend and sponsored rider Matt Quigley. We had some pretty tight racing going on for a few laps , Chris moved in front of me in lap six then in front of Quig in lap 8 to take forth while I stalked Quig until lap 11 to take a pass after he had a huge slide out of turn two. I finished 5th (my best ever in the F1 event ) at the end of the 12 lap event behind Chris Ulrich , Karl Lowry ,Reno Karimian and Chris Duran. My final race , Open modified Production was a rainfest with only three competitors... I got third behind Matt Quigley and Mike Mike Scherer with a lap time of around 2 minutes..LOL Thanks to all my customers and friends for supporting my shop and racing habit as usual , it's good to be back out there fighting for every position I get ! |
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Randy Peterson @ efliers.net |
00/00/2009 |
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2010 Race Schedule
January 16-17
February 20-21
March 20-21
April 18-19
May 15-16
June 19-20
July 17-18
August 14-15
September 18-19
October 16-17
November 20-21
January 16-17
February 20-21
March 20-21
April 18-19
May 15-16
June 19-20
July 17-18
August 14-15
September 18-19
October 16-17
November 20-21
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