ECK Racing #929 Gino Rd 6 Win
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Let’s back up,
After the Rd 5 weekend I ordered up 1.6 radiator cap to try and keep the coolant issue at bay. It comes in on Wednesday. As I franticly call to find something local Dyno time to fix my Mid range holes, I could not find anyone that had openings. Sooooo I installed a different tapered needle and lean the hell out of it to try something different. I also put on my practice tires so I can save on having to buy a new set of rubbers at the last event.
Saturday:
Practice. 1st practice: still have an issue with the motor in the mid range and don't have too much pull down the straightaway. Not that a Hawk has a lot to work with, but it did not feel as strong. It's first practice and it is very humid out so I'll just ride it out and work on the corners. I hit a 19. I'll take it for the first practice.
2nd practice. Things are a bit warmer and I usually put in a good effort on the second session. I’m behind Doug Fogg on the Buell and get around him. I start to have some good clear track in front to really try out the needles. As I come into T1 I drop the knee right on the curbing as usual and all of sudden the front end just pushes. I add a little bit of knee down pressure and tip the bike up to regain. Yup, that is why these are my practice tires and not the race ones. They have definitely seen better days. I continue on and the front is just pushing in T3, T6 and T11, T12, plain and simple all over the place. I take it easy just to keep it upright. Even with things a bit warmer I still was not finding the good pull on the straightaway. Decision was made to go back to the old needle and lean that one out. I know what it can do rich. It can't be any worse than what I'm currently experiencing. Lap time in the 19’s. Not so good.
In the pits I prop it up take the tires off to put the race rubber on and change the needle. BTW the bike’s temp of the last session only got up to 156 and not water in the overflow tank. 1.6 might have done the trick. I’m still cautious…..
Race #8 ULSB. Grid 1D. I’m happy with the outside position. I give thumbs up to the biggest ULSB grid this year that I have been in – 16. They let us out for the warm up. As we get to the end of hot pit the red flag comes out. Did someone crash on pre grid. I think Jim Rich was a little quick on the trigger and my thinking is that scoring was not ready. So we come in to pre-grid again. We sit around for 30 seconds - 1 min. and they send us right back out. GAME PLAN. Get as good a start as I can and lead the first lap. Flag drops and I watch Cav and Shaw drop back. Looking good. All of a sudden, what the hell is this red streak? It’s Mike Dube. WTF he was in the 3rd row. Yea my motor definitely has issues. I used to have a good drag with him in the good ole days. Stupid midrange…. Shoot, He’s got a head of steam I’ve got to find a way around him soon. He means business! Into T1 I drop in behind Block and Dube. Block gets a good drive coming out of 2 and I try to cut in under Dube coming out of 2. BOGGGGGGG. Stupid midrange….Engine comes alive and I’m right on them. Dube begins to take the inside of T3 and I’m thinking that he is going for the pass while breaking. I hold onto the race line thinking he may plug up the apex and I can get a better drive out. Dube hold back. I now know what he is thinking. He is just going to use the pure grunt of the bike to get past Block. We Roll up T4 and yup, that is exactly what he begins to set up. I follow right in his draft. He gets past Eric at the top of the hill and I get past Eric on the inside going down T5. My next thought is Mike in now on the inside of T6, can he maintain this pace this far inside? I set up a bit more to the right and just wait for it. He apexes early. I’VE GOT HIM. I know where he is going, OUTSIDE. I drop the shoulder in a bit more and am watching his roll on. “I’m going to beat you to Full Throttle Mike.” I crack it open as he is just slowly rolling on because he went right to the outside of T6 and was handcuffed. I’m accelerating better than he is and roll up next to him. I’m now next to him as we are just before the outside apex of T6. I notice a little twitch from him and just stay my course for T7. I drop the head, want to keep focus, and need to pull away early. I know the Motards are going to have trouble with Mike. I cross SF and see arms lengths of 12” or so. Keep the focus and go harder. Lap 2; Arm Lengths a little further. Focus, breathe, HARDER. Lap 3; arms wide apart on the straight and in the T3 stands. Yea, I see you guys too. Thanks. I want just one more harder lap. Lap 4; same thing, Focus on connecting my lines, deeper braking and try and drive out. I drop a 1:18.6. Pete is now bowing. I flip him off. Thanks bud it is not over yet. As I come out of T6 on Lap 5 I look across and see Dube with a buzz of Motards behind him. Thanks Brother SuperBiker. I dial it back and maintain what I feel is a good comfortable pace. Lap 4; Rest of the race I keep to the conservative effort. Still getting the arm lengths and looking over my shoulder to maintain the tires and the overall safe effort. I take the checkers with a 8.6 second victory over the new Kid, Trevor Arvidson. !!!Watch out for this kid!!!!! WOW New Expert and beating all the Expert Motard guys!!!! WOW. I’ve got my eye out on him.
Out lap 1:22.431
Best Lap 1:18.611
Not my best but good enough.
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Originally Posted by Pookie
