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Barber with AHRMA

  1. #1
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Barber with AHRMA

    This year, the real season goal was to secure a bike with which I could qualify to race the Barber Vintage festival with AHRMA. Kerry has done it a few times, and made it clear that I NEEDED to get there. Thanks Kerry, it was even more spectacular than I imagined!

    For those who don't know, AHRMA is a national vintage race series that has expanded to include modern classes for singles, twins, and triples. That means everything except the obvious inline and now V4s has a class to be competitive in. They have it figured out and the club is booming. I figured an SV would be a good choice and I knew Isaac Maycotte had a nice one sitting relatively unused. I rang him up and a deal was struck. I had secured the bike. Woot!

    Next I needed to race a double round in Jersey to get enough finishes to enter Barber as they will not let anyone do JUST the Barber round. See my earlier report on how that went. Cliffs: 2 race wins. My bud Kris Hopkins thought this sounded too good to pass up so he borrowed Peter Kates' SV and joined us on these adventures.

    Kris and I drove Kerry and my new rig and trailer and Kerry flew down ahead of us. 17 hours straight through on Tuesday night and we were suddenly roasting in the Alabama sun setting up our pit and getting the bikes though tech. The event would draw 80,000 people over the weekend. Spectators, swap meeters, museum goers and racers. It's like a dead show for motorcycles... ALL kinds of motorcycles. The grounds are kept as nice as Disneyland, and the incredible facilities handled the crowd without a problem. It's world class. No joke.

    Thursday and friday were practice days and this was critical for us as the race days do not include practice. We were lucky to do a track walk Wed night. The place is a rollercoaster, constantly undulating such that most corners are blind at some point. My first day was...awkward at best. T5, Charlotte's Web is sketchy at best. Tight 180 with an off camber, bumpy entry that is so east to overcook it's not funny. T6/7/8 is a bizarre sequence of fast to slower, to slowest with the infamous curb jump in the middle. Then 9/10 is a kink so fast it's hard to get the bike to flop anywhere near in time to keep the throttle pinned like you need to. 11/12 is a fast to slower kink. with a G out at the bottom. 13/14 is an awesome NJMP like decreasing right hander, but with a G out at the fast beginning part. This is a track where experience pays big time.

    After sleeping on it, on Friday I started enjoying it more, but if I was going to do well, I still needed to find 2 seconds on race day. I wasn't sure this was in the cards, but I mounted up some fresh Pirellis so if nothing else, I would trust my tires. Another thing: my grids were HUGE. 56 bikes in Sound of Thunder 2 (my bump up class), and 48 in Sound of Thunder 3 (The proper SV class). They decided for safety sake to do a timed qualifying for SoT2 so friday practice times had some meaning and I was pushing to learn as fast as possible to get a good grid spot. I ended with a 1:39.2. Not what I wanted, but not bad for a first go.

    Saturday Kris and I were in race 3 and 5. Since races start at 8 we would be done by 10:30 AM! Kerry was 11 and 14, so she wouldn't even start until 2:30. At least we could watch each other's races and help out in the pits. Afternoon temps were around 90 every day and the sun was relentless. This was not an easy undertaking!

    More tomorrow... Zzzzzz.

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    Last edited by Paul_E_D; 10-09-18 at 05:39 AM.
    Paul_E_D


  2. #2
    Banned Rambunctous's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Some pictures please!

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  3. #3
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Ok. A few pics to whet your appetites.

    Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

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  4. #4
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Saturday: Race time! Race 3 was SoT3. The class that the SV can actually win. I was nervous about my first start, rushing into the blind, downhill T1 with 48 bikes not really knowing how aggressive I can be or where the pinch points are. I was on row 4 and got a good start. I was conservative in T1 and got passed by a few but accelerated out of T3 in about 6th. I made a pass in 4 and 2 more into 5. OK, I was headed into the crazy museum sequence in 3rd. Not bad, but the leaders had already developed a good gap. I put my head down and spent 4 laps reeling in 2nd place. I got on his wheel and we strarted dicing immediately. After a few passes I was in 2nd thinking I had it nailed when out of nowhere a different guy comes slicing through both of us from the back of the grid. I was stunned and got repassed by the dude I had been dicing with as well. I worked my way back into 3rd and latched onto the faster guy to pull a 1:37 on my last lap and hold 3rd place. Wooohooo! Fun stuff, and I dropped nearly 2 seconds. 37s would have been pretty competitive in the MotoAmerica twins race and I was on a borrowed bike, so I was pleased with my riding. Kris took 5th giving us a pretty strong showing from LRRS!

    Race 5 was SoT2. This class includes Ducati 1000cc air-cooled bikes, and some big Buells etc. I had no prayer of placing, but it was another chance to start and generally work on race craft. I got a great launch and ran strong, turning more 37s and finishing 8th out of 56. I was happy and looking forward to Sunday.

    I had a loooong break until Kerry's races, so I went over to the museum. WOW is all I can say. Not just the bikes, but the whole presentation was spectacular. One of the nicest museums I've seen in a long time. Kris bought a membership which gave him free food and access to hospitality areas and the spectator bridge to the center of the track. He said it was well worth it just for access to the bridge.

    Kerry's races were awesome. She also put it on the box with a 3rd in Formula 250 riding her CB350 (I don't understand the name of the class either)

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    Last edited by Paul_E_D; 10-09-18 at 09:32 AM.
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  5. #5
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    A few more...

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  6. #6
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Sunday: Racing comes up quickly when it starts at 8am sharp. No practice made me a little more nervous than normal, but we were regridded for SoT3 after the points from saturday were tallied and I moved up to the 3rd row. This made things a lot easier. I got a great launch and went into T1 in 2nd. But the winner of race 1 came around the outside of both of us and already had a gap on my by T4. I moved into second and started the chase. The pace was hot and we were checking out on the field when a red flag came out at the beginning of lap3. Now I had to do it all over again.

    The restart went almost exactly the same and we checked out on the field pretty quickly. I ran about 2 seconds behind the leader for 3 laps when we hit heavy backmarker traffic. I got held up pretty bad by a 390 in the fast kink T9. I was worried about the fast guy from the back of the grid and was trying to recover and drop the hammer again. On the next lap the red flag came out again ending the race. 2nd place and a great pace for the most part with Kris taking a solid 4th! Woot!!

    SoT2 was almost a repeat of saturday. Another decent launch (although I definitely creeped). I ended up behind one of these insane Boulder Motorsports Ducatis. The guy was holding me up, but would NOT let any of my passes stand. He would motor right back past on the fast straights and hold me up another lap. All the way to the end for an 11th place.

    I was happy to bring Isaac's bike to the finish line in one piece and spectate Kerry's races in the afternoon. In a strange twist of fate, she also took a second place giving identical podiums in 2 AHRMA weekend this season. Ha!

    This was such an incredible end to a great season. I can't even really thank Kerry, Kris, and of course Isaac enough!

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    Last edited by Paul_E_D; 10-10-18 at 06:43 AM.
    Paul_E_D


  7. #7

    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    You can still Make Daytona.. lol. Extend the season by another 2 weeks

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  8. #8
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Quote Originally Posted by tsorfas View Post
    You can still Make Daytona.. lol. Extend the season by another 2 weeks
    Ha! I'm happy to take a few months off. Ended up being a crazy schedule this year

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  9. #9

    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Yeah seems like you smashed the comeback. Well done

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  10. #10

    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Nice job.. and great lap times ..Congratulations. to you both..Sorry I didn't get a chance to come by to introduce myself. I Did get to meet Kerry's mom and dad on Wednesday. They helped me get through the pit fiasco that was 1 lower west. This old man only got down into the 41s on Saturday and could not repeat on Sunday..but had a blast, the place is such a hoot. One of greatest places to race in America. And sorry to say Daytona is not even close theses days..

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  11. #11
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Awesome job Paul, and to Kerry and Kris as well! Nice writeup, was a good condensed read. It's a testament to your abilities to be able to get up to speed so quickly and perform as well as you did.

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  12. #12
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Nice writeup and beautiful pictures. That very first picture is so cool. Framable.

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  13. #13
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Thanks guys! MUZ720, 41s were quite respectable out there. Nice riding. Going racing on a track that I've never seen before is a whole different game. It's a little nerve wracking, but really rewarding and stimulating to the brain. I couldn't have done it without the thurs/friday practice days. I have a method of quickly mapping my actions on the track, but to continually get faster means changing them in every session. At some point I just reach saturation and have to sleep on it before I can make more changes. On this track it was especially true as it is quite technical and wonky in spots. Kind of a mix of Loudon, palmer, AND Jersey. Hahaaa! I felt like on another visit 36s are in the cards, but it will be a year before I get to try again.

    Speaking of next year, If you have an SV or other bike that fits AHRMA's structure, you owe it to yourself to do this. If everything pans out, we will be going back, and I can't wait!

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  14. #14

    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    41s were quite respectable out there. Nice riding.
    Thanks, Not bad for a 60 year old I guess.... just unhappy I could not duplicate or get faster on Sunday, Guess the two crashers ( one on the warm-up lap and one during the race) right in front of me might have had something to do with it. Plus as always making sure I bring it home the way it came out of the box...
    Again nice results and glad you like Barber as much as I do. Its a must do for everyone who races or just loves motorcycles!

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  15. #15
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Agreed, that's mostly why I posted this up. Maybe inspire some people to race it, or just attend.

    The track definitely was easy to get wrong and it bit a lot of people. Getting home in one piece was definitely a big goal, especially since I borrowed the bike. glad we all made that happen!

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  16. #16
    Wizard loudbeard's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Poor Isaac. I feel like lending your race bike to Paul is like lending your girl to Prince for the night. All he'll be able to do from here on out is disappoint the damn thing.

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    I went to MMI I know what Im doing here chief

  17. #17
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA


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  18. #18
    Lifer isaac_'s Avatar
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    Barber with AHRMA

    Quote Originally Posted by loudbeard View Post
    Poor Isaac. I feel like lending your race bike to Paul is like lending your girl to Prince for the night. All he'll be able to do from here on out is disappoint the damn thing.
    It’s her hall pass

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    Last edited by isaac_; 10-11-18 at 07:47 PM.
    Isaac LRRS/CCS #871 ECK Racing | Spears Enterprises | GMD Computrack Boston | Pine Motorparts/PBE Specialists | Woodcraft | Street & Competition | MTag-Pirelli | OnTrack Media
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  19. #19
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    That's the spirit

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  20. #20
    Posting Freak pasta-rocket's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Jesus Paul... Sv's are your bike from now on. Good Write up!

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  21. #21
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Awesome write up and pics. Congrats on your races. And all the while I came here thinking this thread was about a Barber with Advanced Hair Restoration Method Accreditation.

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  22. #22
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Quote Originally Posted by backinthesaddle View Post
    Awesome write up and pics. Congrats on your races. And all the while I came here thinking this thread was about a Barber with Advanced Hair Restoration Method Accreditation.
    Ha! I could use one of those too.

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  23. #23
    Lifer backinthesaddle's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul_E_D View Post
    Ha! I could use one of those too.
    Same here.

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  24. #24
    Soul Rider Paul_E_D's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Quote Originally Posted by pasta-rocket View Post
    Jesus Paul... Sv's are your bike from now on. Good Write up!
    Thanks, I have 4 races on an SV now with pretty good results! I like it enough I that we are building Kerry's SV into a racebike this winter. Something she will enjoy at TTDs and I can use to race with AHRMA when she does those events.

    But really my focus is on learning the R6. The SV goes fast using the same style I honed on the 125. Off the brakes early, on the gas early. Flowing lines. Not that I can't get more out of the SV yet, but the R6 requires me to learn some new lines, a bit later braking, bigger hang offs, and a lot more throttle modulation. I'm enjoying the process of forcing myself to change my style a bit. Stimulates the brain and body.

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    Last edited by Paul_E_D; 10-14-18 at 10:30 AM.
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  25. #25
    Lifer nt650hawk's Avatar
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    Re: Barber with AHRMA

    Congratulations to all. Thank you for the reading material. I LOVE IT.

    GO Paul GO

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    Gino
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