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Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

  1. #1

    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Hey kids, remember me? Sitting here bored in LA so I thought I'd check in. Just finished another race weekend at Willow (report below). Racing here couldn't be more different than Loudon! But I'm finally getting up to speed so that's all that matters. Talk to you all later...

    Paul

    --------

    It was another great weekend at the Fastest Road In The West! Sunny and 75 both days, no crashes, and fast lap times! Although it started out a little rough...

    Saturday morning I failed tech for having remnants of antifreeze in my cooling system, so it was back to my pit for a quick flush. In my haste to get everything put back together in time for my first practice session I must not have put the radiator cap on tight (unbeknownst to me). So I go out for my first session and do an easy warm-up lap. As I'm coming down the main straight for the first time (at 13,000 RPM in 5th gear) my bike starts doing an Old Faithful impersonation! Steam and hot water are coming up out of the bike soaking the windscreen, gauges, and me! I put my hand up and cruise all the way around the entire course puking steam until I can pit in. Pull the bike fairings off and there's my radiator cap laying in my lower. DOH! Lesson #1 learned. So I go out in my next session and do two laps when I get simultaneous charlie horse's in my left hand and left hip. So now I gotta pit in AGAIN! I stretched for a solid 30 minutes to make sure it wouldn't happen again. Lesson #2 -- ride the streetbike in between race weekends to stay in shape, and stretch before getting on the bike! Did a few more sessions during the day, finally hitting my groove in the last session. I knew I was going fast so I called it a day -- I was ready to race on Sunday.

    Sunday morning practice goes great -- I get my new Dunlop 208's scrubbed in and proceed to do some quick laps. I tried a new shift scheme (downshift twice into Turn 9 instead of once), and I was rewarded with a killer drive onto the main straight, carrying almost 1000 rpm more at the end before I have to shut off for Turn 1. I'm passing people left and right and only got passed by Jeremey Toye (WSMC #2 fast guy). Even then I was able to hang with him for a few turns so I'm feeling good!

    First race and I'm gridded on the outside of the last row (16th place). Get an absolute flyer of a start and go into Turn 1 in around 9th, and pass another guy between 1 and 2! Haven't been that far up in the pack yet! Two guys get me going into Turn 3 though, but one of them blows Turn 5 by running way wide and I pass him back. We finish the lap and he goes flying by me into Turn 1, totally missing the apex. Yikes! I follow him around Turn 2 when at the exit he lowsides it and goes off into the desert like a piece of tumbleweed. Bummer dude! So I finish the race and end up in 9th out of 17.



    Second race and I'm gridded in the same position. My start is a duplicate from Race 1 and again I'm in the front pack as we exit turn 1. Mid-race I pass one guy then end up running an uneventful race, finishing 8th out of 15. My last two laps were a bit sloppy as I was losing concentration and getting a bit tight on the bike. But Erik timed me at a 29-something on my last lap so I'm confident I snuck in a 1:28 during the race. YES! I'm finally getting into some decent lap times. And what's even better is that the bike -- which felt horrible at a 1:34 pace -- is starting to feel a lot better. Or maybe I'm just getting smoother, I dunno...



    Anyway, things are going exactly to plan. I was really feeling comfortable at that pace, and I know where I can get faster so I should be able to take another second off at the next race weekend. Can't wait! :thumbup:

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    Paul G.
    2000 Loudon Rookie of the Year <--- milking it for all it's worth!
    '05 R1

  2. #2

    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Oh, you can see other race reports/pictures/cool stuff here

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    Paul G.
    2000 Loudon Rookie of the Year <--- milking it for all it's worth!
    '05 R1

  3. #3
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Fuckin' awesome, Paul!!! Great to hear from you!!!

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    Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
    Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?

  4. #4
    Senior Member GMS1000's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    good job man....do you get to race straight through the winter, or what? i'm jealous. good luck out there.....

    peace

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  5. #5
    I'm Sorry, What? Jank's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Nice job!!! Congrats!!!

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    Chris J.
    "You're going the wrong way!!!"
    "How does he know where we're going?"
    03 Aprilia Tuono, 06 Yamaha R6, 16 Yamaha XSR900, 13 VW Touareg

  6. #6
    Just Registered TLRMan's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Way cool!
    Just little jealous considering it's nice and warm out there...

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    Too old to rock and roll, too young to die.

  7. #7
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Paul, awesome dude!

    Keep us up to date.

    degsy

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  8. #8

    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    GMS -- hell yeah, we race every month! Although I guess it gets down into the teens at night during Dec-Feb. Time to drain the water!

    It's fun racing out here but I'd love to do a few more weekends back at Loudon. I have some unfinished business there! Maybe when I come out next summer one of you fools can loan me your race bike!

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    Paul G.
    2000 Loudon Rookie of the Year <--- milking it for all it's worth!
    '05 R1

  9. #9
    Senior Member GMS1000's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    sweet

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  10. #10
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Originally posted by pg_rider
    It's fun racing out here but I'd love to do a few more weekends back at Loudon. I have some unfinished business there! Maybe when I come out next summer one of you fools can loan me your race bike!
    There'll be a Gixxer 600 for ya to borrow. Just lemme know when....

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    Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
    Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?

  11. #11
    ....................... PinHead's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Sweet!

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    2018 Harley Road Glide
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  12. #12
    Lifer GMAN226's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Paul I am also jellous... Good to hear from you..

    Gerard

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    Gerard

  13. #13

    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Jay, are you getting into racing? Holy shit, I'm glad I don't race there anymore! That track will never be safe if you're out there!

    Josh -- what up dude? Still wheelying that old TL?

    Mick -- how's things? No, haven't seen or heard from Craig. He wrote when I first moved here but I was busy settling in so I didn't have time to meet up, and then we lost touch. Haven't see him around Willow, so he may be sticking to NorCal. I'll see if I can look him up!

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    Paul G.
    2000 Loudon Rookie of the Year <--- milking it for all it's worth!
    '05 R1

  14. #14
    snowmogixer gonzo6's Avatar
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    ouch !!

    Originally posted by pg_rider
    Jay, are you getting into racing? Holy shit, I'm glad I don't race there anymore! That track will never be safe if you're out there!

    Josh -- what up dude? Still wheelying that old TL?

    Mick -- how's things? No, haven't seen or heard from Craig. He wrote when I first moved here but I was busy settling in so I didn't have time to meet up, and then we lost touch. Haven't see him around Willow, so he may be sticking to NorCal. I'll see if I can look him up!
    just for the record...Jay...i didnt have anything to do with that one...:o
    gonzo

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  15. #15
    Kosher Assassin Stoneman's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Originally posted by pg_rider
    Jay, are you getting into racing? Holy shit, I'm glad I don't race there anymore! That track will never be safe if you're out there!
    Ha, ya kak! Yip, picked me up a crashed Gixxer 600 not too long ago. The kid was strapped for cake, and I basically stole it off him...

    Shoot me an email, and I'll fill ya in on all the details...

    Click Here, Ya Kak!

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    Did you grit your teeth and try to look like Clint Fuckin' Eastwood?
    Or did you lisp it all hangfisted like a fuckin' flower?

  16. #16
    Lifer SprintPoser's Avatar
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    Talking You don't know slow....

    .....slow is a friend of MINE.

    Paul, nice to hear the report from out west. You're missed out here. When are you coming east, and for how long?

    I also plan to go around the track at the same time some racers do. Just once or twice, no dellusions of getting a factory ride....this year.

    If your think it could be dangerous with Stoneman out there, see how it is when HE laps ME. I'm so fuckin' slow they have to put a transit on me to see if I've moved. Buy hey, someone's gotta give the mid-pack guys some boost, eh?

    I figured if certain "slowpokes" I see out there (male and female alike, BTW) can ride their bikes around and call it racing, I can borrow someone else's bike and call it what it is....weekend track time that I don't have to blow a vacation day from work to do.

    I am getting tired of having certain know-it-all's tell me I ride too fast on the street, that "you should do that on the track". So, I will put in a few laps on the track to shut them up, and not change much about how I ride on the street (except to perhaps get a little smoother.) For the record, I believe I really DON'T ride too fast on the street; the ones saying it just don't know my riding ability enough to be judge & jury. I'm pussy out there compared to some of you.

    Paul, let me know if you come out and do a race at LRRS. I'll try and get a nice photo for ya!

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    2021 Triumph Street Triple R, Sapphire Black

  17. #17
    Lifer SprintPoser's Avatar
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    Question Where is that guy?

    Where the hell is T-595 Greg, captain of the Thread Bastardization Team at a time like this??

    I don't get it JC, you would buy the world's fastest, most powerful production motorcycle to SLOW DOWn and *both* the track and the street?

    It would be nice to see you on one though....what color? I absolutely love that "Johnny Player Special" scheme of black & gold. Very cool indeed! Good luck.

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    2021 Triumph Street Triple R, Sapphire Black

  18. #18
    ....................... PinHead's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    You asshole! Now I have to clean my monitor off

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  19. #19
    Super Moderator beet's Avatar
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    man thats sweet

    i fuckin want 1 2 im getting old thats a sweet bike

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  20. #20
    Member ShredHed's Avatar
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    Re: Re: Where is that guy?

    Originally posted by JC
    I think the '03 black is black/silver...which is the one I'm itching for.

    Dooood. That's a mutherfoken !!BIKE!!, brah.

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    "Admit Nothing, Deny Everything, Make Counter-Accusations"

  21. #21

    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    SprintPoser -- is that you Ken? Are you going racing too? Jeez, I leave and all of a sudden everybody decides to go racing!

    I won't be moving back east anytime soon, but I travel there a bit for work so if I can time a trip during a race weekend I'll head to the track for sure. Adam said I can always use his bike for a race!

    Josh -- you knob! You're gonna go from one overweight bike to another? Light is right man! You need a GSXR1000 or an R1!

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    Paul G.
    2000 Loudon Rookie of the Year <--- milking it for all it's worth!
    '05 R1

  22. #22

    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Originally posted by JC
    I can ride fast in the corners, but it's uncomfortable and I dont' like wheelies.
    I don't know what the bigger lie is here -- "I can ride fast in the corners" or "I dont' like wheelies"!

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    Paul G.
    2000 Loudon Rookie of the Year <--- milking it for all it's worth!
    '05 R1

  23. #23
    Super Moderator beet's Avatar
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    aint notin like takin de old lady foe de ride

    Originally posted by JC
    I'd rather try 2-up on a bigger bike. The TL isn't very fun 2-up...at least not for me. I can ride fast in the corners, but it's uncomfortable and I dont' like wheelies.
    i like 2 smell de roses sport tourin some a da time ps you can stop & de old lady road side

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  24. #24
    Super Moderator beet's Avatar
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    wheelies yep ive done that my self but its nuts

    Originally posted by JC
    right 2 up

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  25. #25
    Posting Freak SWEET_Z's Avatar
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    Howdy! (and a race report from Willow)

    Originally posted by DreamAngel
    now now calm down lol
    Will you two get a room! Sheesh!

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    "You never see a motorcycle parked outside of a psychiatrists office"

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