[seth505]

Ok, so I need to start and end with thanking A13x and Oreo for being beyond generous. Months ago Alex mentioned getting up to NH for a Penguin school/racing and it just got in my damn head and had to do it. So I prepped the bike, met up with Pete and tried on his old leathers (they fit perfect so I took them and febreezed the bajesus out of them). So THANK YOU Pete. Secondly, before he even picked up his 600rr Alex offered to let me race it so THANK YOU as well... my lord of the rings loving friend.

Friday- Show up bright and early for Penguin school. Not sure if anyone is familiar with the crowd there but Steve was the teacher in the class room and I can't say enough good things about him. He was the perfect teacher: informative, fun, great at story telling. He was serious when he needed to be and fun as to never be monotone/boring teacher guy. Everyone else was great as well. IN the 'follow the leader' stuff, my lead guy did a great job pointing out where to go/where not to go. In the afternoon open sessions I spent a good amount of time with Alex and he helped me abunch (let me know I was actually not hanging off at all eventhough I felt like it). So after open session 2 I switched from my 636 to his 600rr. The bike felt GREAT on the track, the suspension was setup really nice for me anyhow. For the last session he mentioned I could try his RMZ for a few laps...so I immediately started drooling and got to spin 3 laps on the yellow banana boat. I was in HEAVEN...honestly I had so much fun in that 3 laps and I also felt like I cornered faster/braked better as I am used to dirtbikes. Finished the day on the 600rr and tried to get speed up alittle.
Honestly, throughout the day I was thinking "shit I dont really think this road racing stuff is for me"...I just couldn't pin it/brake hard/turn in to save my life...It came down to the fact I couldnt' get over pinning it into corners that are flat with no BERMS But, feeling more comfy on the motard made me feel better and made sense to me.
So anyway, I was defintely not going to back out of trying the racing no matter how slow I was going. So I go up to the front to sign up/get license on friday night and get yelled at by dude on 4wheeler and told to turn around because its dark and my bike has no lights. Finally he lets me go up and sign up...gathered my backup #399 (damn you dollarbill!!!) and was on my way.
Saturday- Woke up to screaming kids...THANKS you little SOBs. So at this time I am signed up for the rookie race and also heavyweight supersport (or something like that). Went to tech inspection and had the guy do this at me while telling me to pull off my lowers. Like an idiot I said "really, I have to go take em off?" haha
Went out for practice and didn't wreck/make anyone wreck and best lap was like a 1:38 or 1:37. Instantly I was like "O shit, I'm the slowest road guy on the planet" as Alex was chuckling at my newb times.
Rookie race- got to the grid and was supposed to be in 5A, dude to my right took my staggered position so I am parked next to cone/right behind guy infront of me. I was trying to tell him and workers and one guy just finally flings his arms at me to put my shield down and get behind that guy infront of me O well, I can't even see the starter cuz I am not staggered so I just sit there waiting and once I saw tires roll I took off as well. Lap in or so there is a red flag and we go back to grid again. Guy to my right isn't there (hope he was ok). We take off again and I got a crappy jump, watched dude in front wheelie/blip throttle/wheelie again and got a little laugh. Spin my 3 laps and felt 'ok' and ended up finishing 6th and got a best lap of 1:32. I felt alittle better but still like slowest dude on earth.
Heavyweight race- this was a clusterfuck and a dude infront of me randomly put his hand up and just cruised around so like a new jerk I slowed and followed him for some turns til I noticed there were no red flags and such. Anyway I sucked in that race but finished out the day/weekend with no wrecks or close calls really. I went really conservative but a) I can easily improve more rather than push it too soon and b) NO way I was gonna wreck someones bike they were letting me borrow when they didn't have to.

Anyway, to wrap this up I can't give enough thanks to Alex and Pete, also it was a joy to meet everyone I did...I honestly didnt' meet a single douchebag which is pretty damn cool. I wished I coulda stayed sunday to cheer everyone on but I was in the middle of moving as well.

My new stupid plan is try to get some 17" wheels built up and other stuff I need to race the last sept. race and motard my kx250 2stroke. Time to go make a thread asking for advice on gearing so I don't blow up my baby on the front straight. I Think I'm sold on it though, look out for another motard next season.

[Pittenger5]

That was easiest the biggest clusterfuck rookie race I've ever seen, and it all occured on the cool down lap!
Did they yell at you guys when they called you into the media center? I almost went in just to see what was said.

But good job getting through, thats all you need to do your first weekend.

[seth505]

thanks man...haha ya no one got yelled at but I was waiting for it as well. Steve just mentioned that it was the worst gridding/setting up ever basically

[Doc]

Congrats man! Nice meeting you as well.

A 2 stroke 250 motard? You sure you wanna do that?

[Pittenger5]

Oh it wasnt the gridding, but the 2 or 3 near accidents on the cool down lap cause someone decided to go through the 3-10 split instead of doing the entire lap.

[seth505]

Originally Posted by Pittenger5

Oh it wasnt the gridding, but the 2 or 3 near accidents on the cool down lap cause someone decided to go through the 3-10 split instead of doing the entire lap.

o ya! I just stopped on the side next to a corner worker and they said to chill there cuz I had no idea what people were doing.

Doc- Not totally sure, but my 250 is only a few hp down on the 450s and its a 5speed so I figured I could keep it relatively safe just for a weekend to do a few races and finish out the year. I definitely wouldn't do it more than a weekends worth though

[Doc]

Originally Posted by seth505

Doc- Not totally sure, but my 250 is only a few hp down on the 450s and its a 5speed so I figured I could keep it relatively safe just for a weekend to do a few races and finish out the year. I definitely wouldn't do it more than a weekends worth though

Safe sure... I just don't know of anyone running a 2 stroke motard and I wonder why.

[seth505]

Originally Posted by Doc

Safe sure... I just don't know of anyone running a 2 stroke motard and I wonder why.

because it's definitely not ideal. But there is that crazy dude with a cr500 2stroke. Brent (I think?) told Alex and I it was making like 80hp or something rediculous.

But ya, 250 2stroke not ideal/fast but probably difference between me getting out there or not before end of the year

[OreoGitorio]

You can race my SV if ya want... don't have to worry bout gettin 17's or safety wiring... and if ya crash it, it's cheap

[seth505]

Originally Posted by OreoGitorio

You can race my SV if ya want... don't have to worry bout gettin 17's or safety wiring... and if ya crash it, it's cheap

what's with you generous people I'm tring to get away from borrowing bikes...haha

[Kurlon]

I'm racing a GS500E, I'm lucky if I've got 40hp and it's over 400lbs wet, and I'm having a ball. Prep it and run it, we're a bunch of novices, HP doesn't matter anyways.

[seth505]

Originally Posted by Kurlon

I'm racing a GS500E, I'm lucky if I've got 40hp and it's over 400lbs wet, and I'm having a ball. Prep it and run it, we're a bunch of novices, HP doesn't matter anyways.

good point my man...I'm def. not worried about the hp thing just didn't want to ruin my mx bike which I am pretty positive I won't.

[union]

Im sorry we didnt meet. I was up there as well for the school and the race weekend. If youre up there next time stop by garage 19. Hopefully this time I can keep my bike in one piece Dont worry about the lap times too much yet. They will come down the more time you get out there. I did my fastest lap to date Saturday second practice. Unfortunately I followed it up with a high side so I have some work to do.

Originally Posted by Pittenger5

Oh it wasnt the gridding, but the 2 or 3 near accidents on the cool down lap cause someone decided to go through the 3-10 split instead of doing the entire lap.

That was retarded. I saw three guys almost come together in front of me there. I did my complete lap. When I came in Kates asked me if they had told us to go through the 3-10 split and I said no. He couldnt believe the cluster fuck it was. I suppose its what you get with a bunch of guys out there for the first time.

[a13x]

Your welcome mang! Glad you had fun and you did good out there.


Doc: I know of a bunch of ppl around the US that have run 2-stroke 250's on the track. Seth's only doing it for ONE race weekend (September) then building up a 450 in the off-season. Again, a 2-stroke 250 isn't much different from a 450 4st HP wise (lil less for the 250) and as a Novice he isn't going to be running 18's or anything. Bike will be just fine and the wheels/handguards/sprockets can swap right over to his (offseason) 450. Don't worry about it, he's got me in his corner (mwahahha)

[Pittenger5]

Originally Posted by union

When I came in Kates asked me if they had told us to go through the 3-10 split and I said no.

Yah, we were sitting with Peter just laughing hysterically. I think the first guy through thought you were supposed to cut through, so the people behind him saw him do it, then figured thats whats supposed to happen. Someone almost rearended a bit in the split, then someone decided to do the full lap (maybe you) while others were cutting through the split, they almost came together, man it was a clusterfuck

[seth505]

Ya Union, I will def. stop by if I'm up there in sept.

[QuarterGig]

i hope there is nothing wrong with those times for a first weekend. i am just getting below that and i have been to 5 race weekends now.

but maybe i just suck.

[union]

Originally Posted by Pittenger5

Yah, we were sitting with Peter just laughing hysterically. I think the first guy through thought you were supposed to cut through, so the people behind him saw him do it, then figured thats whats supposed to happen. Someone almost rearended a bit in the split, then someone decided to do the full lap (maybe you) while others were cutting through the split, they almost came together, man it was a clusterfuck

haha I was right behind that. I had Jays motard so I was taking it easy. I saw the two almost come together and by the time I was up there maybe 3 sec later it was clear enough and there was 3 of us that did the entire lap.

[smf]

nice to meet ya. congrats on getting through the first one. hope you make it to the sept event.

[lrrs313]

Congrats!

On the plus side of the 2stroke 250 motard, you don't have to worry about buying a slipper clutch!

That one should be fun to build/ride. And they're really cheap and easy to rebuild, especially compared to a four stroke.

[seth505]

thanks guys, I'm definitely trying to make it to the sept. race. Right now I'm trying to track down a 17" wheelset that might fit my kx250 and then also be able to bolt onto a newer kxf...for some reason the front hubs are different but it might just be a matter of bolt pattern on the rotor.

[hessogood]

my opinion: 8 laps on that 250 and you're going to cover the track in engine parts. You can buy an EX for what you're going to pay for wheels.

[Supah Dave]

Originally Posted by Kurlon

I'm racing a GS500E, I'm lucky if I've got 40hp and it's over 400lbs wet, and I'm having a ball. Prep it and run it, we're a bunch of novices, HP doesn't matter anyways.

They should let you take the mini 'tard out there and thrash that thing in the LW classes! I'd pay to see you stuffing the other novices in every corner on that 70RR

[seth505]

Originally Posted by hessogood

my opinion: 8 laps on that 250 and you're going to cover the track in engine parts. You can buy an EX for what you're going to pay for wheels.

o don't tell me that! ha...but the only reason I'd be buyin the wheels is to put them on a 450 for next year so not buying any parts to waste/be limited to the 250...hopefully this is feasable

[nt650hawk]

The wheels are spinning.

Good to see you on the track. From the sounds of things there will be a lot more to come.