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Well, after 3 great days at the Track, a late night visit to the ER, and going to work late cause I was a basket of shit this morning…I figured it was time for the Freak & Trouble Track Day Re-Cap:
Monday: LAPS
Freak:
Not really feeling it during the first couple sessions in the morning, I was really excited the whole day before…Trouble and FTMS can attest that I was more than a little annoying Sunday evening and Monday morning!
After lunch I bumped up to the Advanced group. I felt more settled and was getting into a good groove. I struggle from time to time with going too hard too fast at NHMS, and I had been taking it easy all day, but felt that things were progressing at a good pace.
Even though I told FTMS that I was going to “take it easy” all day, I could not help myself and I went out hot (with a little talent PK)…the end result was a T6 crash. 3 laps, all by myself in the Fast Group, and I roll in WAAAAY too early, say to myself “Dude, you are deep into this corner!” and then oops, low side! The Aprilia and my body end up in the sand, a bunch of control riders show up, and tell me the bikes good…till I saw the huge dent in the front rim! SHIT. Long and short, I was out for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks Scott, Scott, Steve, and Rick (don’t know who else was there)…especially since Scott let me ride his RC51 back to the pits…that is a sweet ride!
The Shark Skinz and spare tank took a good beating, but that’s why we get em, and other than the bent rim, the right exhaust, rear set, and frame sliders got a little buggered, the bike is pretty much good…thank God.
Trouble:
Spent all day in Intermediate, tracking down 600’s and 1000’s with the ole Hawk. Draggin knee’s and taking names. PB 1:31.
Tuesday: TTD
Freak:
Trouble bumped up to Blue with me as Int. was PACKED. I was on a borrowed bike from Robbie of Cycle Wise…instead of trying to acquire a wheel for the Ape, he offered to take her home, and leave me his Triumph TT600. It was cold that morning, and after my booboo the day before I was very much taking it slow, especially since I was on a borrowed bike. By the third lap I was feeling pretty good, and the bike felt good, tires were warming up, and I zipped into 1,1A, and 2, spun the Titty up alittle down the straight into T3 and with the engine wailing after the downshift into 2nd (I was only going about 85), I slowly but firmly applied the brakes…only to find them mushy, with a faint feeling of front tire slide, so I released, and re-applied the brakes only to have the front end go crazy, sliding all over the place, then violently tossing me off to the right, and careening down the T3 chute, blue plastic flying everywhere while the bike blew threw the tires. I came to a stop on my knees at the very edge of the pavement, staring down bikes coming at me, and I very quickly made my way to the tire wall (not the tires in the corner, but on the straight in the braking zone). Crash #2 in less than 24 hours.
I was livid…pissed doesn’t even come close. All I could do was give people a thumb’s up when they asked me how I was. I was speechless. It’s a shitty feeling having to push your buddy’s bike back to the garage three laps into the first session of the day, and have everyone staring at you. After apologizing to Tony, and talking with Trouble, Ken, FTMS, and a few other people, the only thing I could come up with is that there was a small strip of oil that had run itself across the track horizontally half-way down the brake zone going into 3. I was a little to the right, and it just could have been enough fluid coverage, coupled with low-er tire temps (not using warmers) to have the front wash out on me. Whatever happened, it sucked, and the bike is in ROUGH shape.
Well, what’s a guy to do? 2 bikes down, one to go…Mike’s Hawk. It’s a good bike, runs like a champ…looks like hell. What are the chances of going 3 for 3…? Who cares if I have a known history of being an expert crash tester...I roll the Hawk over to Gino, who puts a Yellow sticker on her, slaps me on the back, and say’s “Good Luck.”
All I can say is this-if your luck is down, and you feel like shit, ride a Hawk. Trouble gave me a push, we bump started the old girl, and off I went! I got three laps in on the next Int. Session, and I rolled back into Garage 18 with a HUGE smile on my face. Game on baby. Had a great day running the Hawk, and even got around to bumpin her all by myself…which brings me to tip over #3. Ya’ll thought that was it huh?
FireboltEric can personally testify to my acrobatic skills and reflexes. During the start of an afternoon session, I rolled the Hawk out to the front of the garage, did a little run, and as I jumped onto the bike, I pushed up too hard on the handle bars, and was WAY up in the air, next thing I know, the bike stopped, and I am heading face first towards the pavement…so, I tuck and roll, executing a perfect ninja flip over the handle bars, popping up onto my feet to a crowd of astounded riders. I don’t really know what happened, but I either 1) let the clutch out before my ass was on the seat, or 2) grabbed the front brake by accident when I jumped.
After we picked the bike up (it was leaking fuel) I get a push, and head out for the session. After which I was the talk of the pits it seemed like for the rest of the day, and into the night. No one could actually believe that one, someone would do such and thing, and two, that I did it with such finesse. The TTD Crew that hung around Tuesday night also got a great show of Trouble and I pushing the bike around the parking lot with the Fuel Petcock closed after some minor fuel system maintenance, trying to bump start it for a test run and idle check, after which we also realized that it also helps to have the fuel pump plugged in as well. Awesome…
Trouble:
Bumped up to Blue. Chased FirstLighting around on his race SV all day, along with tracking down some fast guys in the corners, and getting dusted on the straights. Along with pushing Freak around on the Hawk. PB 1:28.
PS:
A few Boston Moto guys showed up later, and I got Scott a DD Coffee, in which he requested Hazelnut flavoring, with milk and 2 Splenda. So I called him a Homo, and drew a big dick on the lid so when he drank it he remembered that he was in fact, a Gay. Real men don’t use Splenda Scott. Though you are looking quite trim these days.
Wednesday: Boston Moto
Freak:
The nickname I picked up in NJ from the CycleWise crew was taped on the Hawk Number Plate…DBAG…I guess its applicable now, as I did toss Robbie’s bike down the track, and pretty much destroyed it.
And I went out and had a great day on the Hawk. They really are tons of fun, and I really began to tighten up my lines, and learn how to run a small bike at a decent pace around the course. I also learned how frustrating it is to have big bikes ruin good laps for you when they park it in into corners and blast down the straights. Though it I fun to pass em! I even tried to convince Jim to take it out for a session, maybe it could help him with his line. But he listed off the multiple reasons why he just can’t ride a carbureted bike with GP shift that is a twin with less than 100hp and isn’t a GSXR. God Forbid someone takes a picture and his friends back home see it and make fun of him.
Trouble:
Stayed in the Adv Group, turning some very hot laps, and giving the big bike fast guys a run for their money. PB 1:27.
Over all, a great 3 days. I got to break in the leathers, crash a few bikes, and my wrist was killing me all day, so my gf came over and we took a tri p to the ER for some X-Rays, then we grabbed some Wendy’s Late Night, and went to bed round 2am.
I owe again, the LAPS guys, Ken, Gino, and Tony, along with the Corner workers in T3 a huge thank you for the help after my crashes. It sucked big time, and you all took care of me.
And last but not least, John “Trouble” Linn. Mr. Dependable. Not only did he drive us down and back, but he spend three days dealing with me crashing, talking in my sleep, being a pain the ass, and asking him for a push to bump start me almost every session. John, you are a great guy, and an even better friend. Thank you. Let me know what I owe you for gas $.
So that’s that, I had blast with all three TD Groups, and it was great meeting more of the NESR crew. I hope to see you guys more next year.
Also, thanks you Craig, Eric, and Q for the push starts when John was not available.
PEACE
Bill
‘Freak’
‘DBag’
‘Crash’
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Originally Posted by MotoFreak
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Good times
Re: Freak & Troubles Track Day Re-Cap!
