http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/ Motorcycle rides and riders in Washington Oregon Idaho British Columbia en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:51:58 GMT vBulletin 60 http://pnwriders.com/images_pnw/misc/rss.jpg http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/ http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/259-race-report-wmrra-rd-3.html Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:07:11 GMT Everytime I go to the track I can't imagine the sport can get anymore fun. And then it does.

The weekend started out with the Adrenaline Freaks track day. Weather was mostly dry, just a little bit of a drizzle in the middle of the day. I was determined to get into the 35s this weekend so after a couple easy sessions to warmup I started going a little harder. I was focusing on getting a better drive out of 2, 4 and 7. I felt like I was getting better in those areas so I tried putting some hot laps together and got a best time of 1:35.19. I took it easy the rest of the day, I was trying to make sure my tires held out throught the weekend.

Saturday morning started out slow, I was exhausted. Weather started out a little gray but the forecast was looking nice. I saw I was gridded in the 2nd row (much better than 10th like last race!) so I know where I was, I set my goals for the race, my 2nd as a novice. A top 10 finish and a lap or two in the 35s. I knew I could get a decent start and then it would just be a matter of holding off the fast guys on liter bikes as long as I could.

First practice went well, took it easy and kept the bike upright. I had about 5 hours to kill before my race so I stole Kevin’s pitbike and practiced wheelies for about 3 hours as this is a valuable race skill. 750SS went out and so I got suited up and got the bike ready to go. The end of the race was coming up so I threw on my helmet, flipped on the camera and waited. And waited. The news came out that the rest of the day was cancelled and several riders went to the hospital, including my teammates Kevin and Randy (although they were able to drive in their own cars there, not transported by ambulance.) Thankfully later that night we learned everyone was ok.

I woke up a little later on Sunday and was pleased to see perfect weather. Forecast was for 75 degrees and sunny. And I had two races. Awesome. Practice went pretty nicely and I was anxious for the first race. Same grid position and I had the same goals as Sunday. At 11am our race went off, took a nice easy warm-up lap and took my spot on the grid. Light went out and we were off. I got a pretty decent start and got in front of everyone on the front row except #936 and #905. I chased those for a lap until they started to gap me out of the busstop. Came into the chute when Jim (#924) passed me on the left about as close as I’ve ever been passed (stupid liter bikes ;) ) Good times. Lost a couple more spots later in the race and ended up 6th or 7th. Best time was a 1:35.4, pretty happy about that.

For race 2 I started on row 2 again. I got pretty much the same start as last time except I let Darren (revhard) get in front of me for most of turn 2. I was determined to keep up with Paul and Ryan(?) in the front and was having a blast for the first two laps. Then on lap 3 I got on the gas out of 7, my back tire spun up and the bike slid a ways. Immediately I thought “Oh no, I’m pulling a Jared!” but my bike loves me more and got back in line. But I had to back off the pace, my tires were just finished. I lost a few more spots as the race went on, I was pretty pissed I couldn’t get on the gas but it’s my own fault for not flipping my tire or something. Lesson learned. I think I finished 6th or 7th again, I checked my lap times after the race and my best lap was a 1:34.2! My goal for the year was to get into 34s so it’s time revise that!

Video and pics up soon. ]]> eric http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/259-race-report-wmrra-rd-3.html http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/143-2-fast-nrs.html Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:24:01 GMT First track day is in the books! I completed (sucessfully) the 2-Fast New Racer School yesterday and it was awesome. A lot of new info to process all at once, shaking the rust off for my first day of the year, getting used to a new bike and at the same time, trying to process the mountains of info they were throwing at us. We got an opportunity to hear from some of the fastest guys at PR and go over all the aspects of racing and getting around the track. We practiced starts, first time... First track day is in the books! I completed (sucessfully) the 2-Fast New Racer School yesterday and it was awesome. A lot of new info to process all at once, shaking the rust off for my first day of the year, getting used to a new bike and at the same time, trying to process the mountains of info they were throwing at us.

We got an opportunity to hear from some of the fastest guys at PR and go over all the aspects of racing and getting around the track. We practiced starts, first time I've tried that, and that was a blast. The race-simulation was awesome and will make me feel more comfortable for my first actual heat, thanks to Tokin I even got to experience my first actual red flag.

2-fast put on a great show. We got to hear from local legends like Eli Edwards:



All the instruction we received was top-notch and very applicable.

My fellow novice racers seem like cool guys and gals and (with just a couple exceptions) I am really looking forward to dicing it up with them out on the track! ]]> eric http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/143-2-fast-nrs.html http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/130-gear-has-arrived.html Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:44:30 GMT My gear has arrived!





All I need left are my stands, warmers and to put my numbers on my bike and I'm ready to hit the track...

So excited... ]]> eric http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/130-gear-has-arrived.html http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/111-bike-painted.html Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:54:50 GMT

Got her all painted this weekend. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out considering the very little effort put into it. First time painting with an air compressor, learned a few things for sure.

Better pics coming when it's not dark outside. ]]> eric http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/111-bike-painted.html http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/104-bike-getting-closer.html Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:08:41 GMT I got my bodywork and the few small pieces finally I needed to get my bodywork on.

First came the bodywork:



Cheapest I could find. Will it hold up in a crash? I'm not going to bet on it. The only real problem I had with the bodywork was that it was a superbike tail and it pretty much didn't fit right, slipped around when I tried to sit on it. I decided I wanted to sit on the stock seat so I cut out a chunk to make a supersport tail.




Much better like this:




And here it is with the bodywork on it (duct tape being replaced by DZUS fasteners soon):




Next up is tanking off the tank, prepping it and all the bodywork for paint (painting over the weekend) and it's basically ready to run. A few more small parts to go and then some big pieces coming slowly over the next few months. ]]> eric http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/104-bike-getting-closer.html http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/58-track-bike-home.html Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:52:15 GMT Took my first major step in getting ready for the 2008 race season this weekend, picking up my new bike, a 2006 GSXR 600. Image: http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a261/ericande/DSC_5352.jpg It needs some work but it runs great. I was able to take it for a night ride around the neighborhood when I got home. It was a little nerve-racking with no headlight, blinkers, fairings, license plate and race take-offs, but I had to try it out! My immediate list to get it ready is: 1) Wash it... Took my first major step in getting ready for the 2008 race season this weekend, picking up my new bike, a 2006 GSXR 600.



It needs some work but it runs great. I was able to take it for a night ride around the neighborhood when I got home. It was a little nerve-racking with no headlight, blinkers, fairings, license plate and race take-offs, but I had to try it out!

My immediate list to get it ready is:

1) Wash it (trip from Spokane got it filthy!)
2) Get some plastics and a new fairing stay on it.
3) Double check that the safety wiring is done.
4) Vortex frame sliders and rear spools.
5) Stainless brake lines
6) Vortex rearsets
7) Ride the hell out of it! ]]> eric http://pnwriders.com/blogs/eric/58-track-bike-home.html