Category: race

thoughts, concerns, hopes, dreams of motorcycle racing

This Addiction, no going clean.

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An unconventional addiction to them crazy 2 wheeled things called Motorcycles. Right now the flavor has seemed to be motorcycles in the Dirt variety. I’ve come to the realization that with Kim’s current work\school schedule, any sort of short motorcycle road trips are basically out of the question. This is not then end of the world, as noted before, my passion of competition has been reignited.

In the past year I have bought, traded, sold, and fanagled a handful of various motorcycles and dirtbikes. I can’t quite pin point what my deal is. Previously I’ve maintained a solid reputation for having zero emotion when it comes to mechanical machines. I fear this had in the past caused me to be distant in my mechanical\physical relationship between me and my machines, but it appears that the past three bikes I’ve gone through have torn down my mechanical walls.

I swore after I rode a CRF250R that the 4-stroke bikes were the answer. The way the power was always there; the way I didn’t have to try to get it to do what I want. The reality of it was that I was angry and upset with the KTM 300. On my last race with it, I got the crap beaten outa me. Now this wasn’t all the bikes fault (smashing your foot into a tree 10 minutes into a 2 hour race is bad idea k?) but it sure made me feel better to put the blame on it. I faulted the WP Suspension, I faulted the “over-powered” feeling, I faulted everything about that damn bike. I however did not fault the fool sitting on the machine.

Enter 2004 Yamaha YZ250F Stage Right. I will now admit the obvious: This was an impulse move on my behalf. I was sure though that it would solve all my riding issues. And to a certain degree, the bike did. I gained some important experience on the machine and learned a few more things in regards to my riding. The 250F helped me see another aspect of what I do and what I don’t like in a bike. Little nuances, the small things I would otherwise overlook when going for a bike. I am now seeing to be quite significant factors in what I like or dislike in a bike. Unfortunately the thing I realized I wanted most in a bike, was lost by the KTM 300 Storming out Stage Left.

Pingers, Ring Ting Tingers. I was warned. I was told I would be back. I retorted that I had seen the light. The writing was on the wall, however. I will say it, and I don’t care what anyone says. 4-Stroke dirtbikes HAVE NO SOUL! You can put it however you want, but the 4-Stroke bikes are just lacking in the excitement part. I’m sure I wasn’t riding fast enough, or pushing hard enough to feel things in the same excitement level on the 4-Stroke, but that is the issue. The way the power is delivered, it just doesn’t add up to be an exciting ride. I felt a need to be back on a 2-Stroke, someway. Somehow. Now I must admit that there are a couple contributing factors to my passion for 2-Strokes. It could be the wicked power that the KTM 300 has, or I admit (fear?) that it may be rooted deeper.

When I originally began racing dirtbikes, I had the misfortune of picking up probably one of the worst dirtbikes known to man. A 1986 Yamaha YZ125. A basket case to say the least. From the poor power, to weak suspension, to me not knowing what the crap I was doing with maintenance. Everything added up on that thing to equaling disaster. Yet for some reason I had a desire to race it, and race it I did. Unfortunately for me, it put me on a vintage bike against kids on new 125 machines. It was 1999 (or 2000?) and even a bike 10 years newer than mine, was light years ahead of what I had. So why the heck would I want to go to a 2-Stroke, 125cc, Yamaha? The very same bike that I loathed all those years ago? Soul.

The 250F made me realize that the 4-Stroke bikes had no soul. No emotion, nothing, nada. So now I am wondering all what I have here. I am at the end of the racing season. I have a 2004 Yamaha YZ125 in the garage that needs some TLC, and in my eyes, I pissed away a perfectly good racing season. That being said, I am much further in my riding abilities now, than I was at the beginning of the season, and as such, I look ahead. I am looking ahead towards the winter here for cross training, for planning my attack on a race series for next season. To compete and be able to compete at the top of my game. To be pushed beyond what I thought I could do.

So this addiction, I won’t be coming clean. I aim to immerse myself even further in next seasons racing. There is plenty of fun to be had in just riding around, but the taste of victory; I crave NEED more.

Happy Roosting,
Andrew

Musings of an Endurocross first timer.

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About a month and a half ago (maybe 2) I was reminded that I would be going down to MotoGP in Indianapolis. It just so happened that I stumbled upon the website www.Endurocross.com.  I saw that I could register, so I figured…what the heck, let’s do it.  What could possibly be the worst that could happen?  I competed in Trials and won competitions.  I rip while riding off-road.  What could possibly be different or more difficult about this?

I would like to admit here before anything else that I made one fatal error before doing this event.  I changed bikes about 2 weeks before the race.  Not only was I switching brands, but I switched from a 300cc 2-stroke Woods bike to a 250cc 4-Stroke MX bike.  HUGE difference in the 2.  Like switching from riding on a bed of pillows (300) to ride on well…rocks or something really hard.

This was not all bad however.  I kicked out some great riding at Rocky Glen the weekend before Endurocross and gained a confidence on the bike that I didn’t think I’d get.  I felt I can push faster through turns, be on the gas sooner, be off the gas later.  I can push jumps and rough terrain at least 5-10x harder than before.  I just feel downright comfortable on the bike (no..not while sitting, that seat is a freaking 2×4).  It is as I’ve said…Magical.  Downside I’ve felt so far had been the front tire.  Right now wishing I coulda swapped it before the race, but what could I do?

So back to the race at hand.  It was about a week before the event, and I had really no idea what was going on.  I was getting the feeling that this race was a bit of a publicity thing.  I had no idea when anything was, where I needed to be, or any of the information that seemed essential.  I managed to get ahold of Beth (iirc) who was running registration and all that, and got the vitals.  Noted to myself….be there before 7pm Thursday for registration (and forget that Indiana is 1 hour ahead of Illinois).

I arrive with plenty of time to spare, get my riders packet, and am greeted with the following:

I take a walk around the track via the stadium, and think about how it shouldn’t be “too bad”.  My thoughts go like this:

Logs, I’ve ridden over those…that’ll be easy.

Rocks, I’ve ridden over all that asphalt rubble….those should be easy.

Whoops, I like riding those, off camber, but should be able to stay on the gas throughout.

Concrete Pipes, Those should be…fun, about a bikes length of gaps.  Keep the front tire up?

Fire Wood Pile,  WTF?  Stay on the gas?  uhhhh yeah we’ll see how first practice goes.  haha

Logs V2, Hit the corners?  Jump through?

Tires, HA! I practiced these.  Cake walk, Aim for the gaps and slip through.  Easy.

Rocks V2, Oh this should get interesting….Find lines during track walk.  Stay on the gas, and keep your feet UP!!!

Sand, Shouldn’t be too bad..assuming it’s not too loamy.  Keep on the gas.

Tires V2, OK, I’ve ridden over ones like this before.  Easy.  Stay on gas and let’r rip.

Simple.  Right……?

Failure admittance #2.  Thinking that I was properly prepared.  I was not (still not?).

I quickly found during practice #1 that A. I needed food.  B. I had been training in an entirely wrong way.  I quickly realized that I had been prepping myself for racing for almost 2 hours straight.  This race was gonna be less than 10 minutes and I needed to be able to go 110% for that entire time.  No letting up, no breaks, no nothing.  Just a full on onslaught of bike bucking, body jarring, intense riding.

My practices seemed to progressively get better, and better.  Despite a bit of a doozy of a crash, I got back up and was rolling at the same or even faster pace.  I was gaining confidence in me, the track, the bike, everything.  I was feeling positive.  I was ready for the main event.  This is where I realized things would be….interesting.  haha

I realized as I pulled up to the line for the main event, that it had been hours since I last rode.  My body was not fully “awake”, and I could just feel that I did not have the same intensity that I had during practice and the heat race.  I went into the race with the wrong mindset.  I thought “let’s just make it through”.  Anyone who competes will tell you this is not good.  I won’t lament too far on the wrong as I’ve already changed that thought process.  On top of that, I most definitely realized that it had been over 10 years since I had done a gate start.  Luckily that was the easiest part of the race.

I made an early mistake of taking a risky line that proved to not pay.  I went down in the first lap.  I proceeded to sap all of my energy in a matter of moments, causing me to get sloppy in short order.  I went down a couple more times, but did my best to keep my head up and push until the end.  I managed an 11 out of 11.  Last Place.  Depressing to say the least.

Despite my feelings of defeat and loss, I knew one thing.  I wanted more.  I know I can be faster.  The desire to win is about 100 times higher than it was before.  Now if only they would have more of these events locally, we’d be set.  I would go and do another one of these in a heart beat.  No questions asked, I would be there pushing myself…..and that’s where I’m now.

I am pushing myself to be like the Six Million Dollar Man….Light, Faster, Stronger.  I’ve also picked up a new motto for my riding.  RLAW – TLAS.  I’ll keep it at that.  It’ll help keep me pushing.  See you all at the next race!

Andrew

PS. If yall’d like to see the race.  Check it out.

And a big thanks to my Sponsors:

Economy Cycle

Three R Plastics

First race weekend………..complete

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What a weekend it has been. Long days, early nights, and sore muscles is the result, but it has all been worth it. Here’s the rundown…….

Friday morning, up at 5am to get out to Blackhawk Farms in time for some morning practice. Josh and I get there, set up and await the word for how practice sessions will go. First couple sessions go well, with Josh offering up very insightful advice on technique, and pointers on what faster guys were doing at different points on the track. We decide to get some lunch, found a nice little pizza place, and got back to the track. Things were getting better, and I was improving on my times. I was feeling good, confident, and felt the tires would do their work throughout the weekend. The inevitable had to happen. Coming up to the carousel, I saw there was some traffic up ahead. I thought that the traffic would be fun to work with and see what it was like for my upcoming race. All things were good until turn 4. I was up into the traffic, slowed up my pace, and began preparing my line for getting around the slower guys. I came into turn 4, and turned in. Much to my surprise, the guy in front of me all of a sudden let up mid turn. I tried my best to stand the bike up and brake, but apparently I clipped his rear wheel with my front wheel. I low sided and found myself about 5-10 feet off the track in the grass. I was frustrated, and ended up having to ride the bike back to the pits with a broken clipon.

Josh and I get back to the pits, fix the bike up, and go to roll out for a test ride. I sit on the bike, and see that while the handlebars are straight, the wheel was off to the left. I thought my weekend was done. Much to my amazement, we loosened up the triple clamps, re-positioned the forks, and we were off riding. I took it out for the last practice session, and things felt well. My confidence was a bit shaken, but other than that things were mechanically sound. We pack up, and head home for some much needed rest.

Saturday morning rolls around, and as imagined, I’m a bit nervous about things. I get through tech, and manage to get all ready for 1 practice session in the morning. My parents, grandpa, and Kim show up to help support me. I go to the riders meeting, and realize I gotta get ready for my race. I was a bit nervous since I had no idea where I’d have to go for lining up, and all that jazz. Luckily things were rather intuitive when I ended up getting out to the line.

I took my warmup lap, and got to my grid position. I was at the back of the pack (18th out of 22). I see the experts take off ahead of us and know that our (amateur) green flag will drop anytime soon. I watch the flags and rev up the bike. I hadn’t practiced my launches really at all so I was a bit nervous. The green flag drops and I let out the clutch. I try not to lift up the front end too much. I take off, I see I’m getting passed a couple people, but mis shifted going into 3rd gear. I lost a little bit there, but go into turn 1 with what seemed like 100000 other guys trying to make the same turn and little to no space to do it in. I decide to hold back a little bit, since it was a 25 minute race, and would rather finish the race, than sit it out on the sidelines. I found myself eager to get passed people and work my way up to the front the best I could. I knew from practice there were 2 guys that were just smoking fast. It was incredible. About mid-race I found myself behind an expert rider (experts started about 30 seconds or so before us Am’s). He was on a kawi and I felt I needed to get past him. I had a few openings, but without having much knowledge in good lines for passing (the downside of track days), I was stuck with passing in areas that I knew better. I finally had an opportunity to get around him as I came out of the long left hander 5. Coming up to T6, I gained a bit outbraking him coming into the turn. I had a better drive on the exit than him and was pulling on him, then for some reason there was a guy on the left hand side of the track right where I needed to be. He was going incredibly slow, and just as I get up to him, he kicks his right leg out signaling that he is coming off the track. I lost much valuable time from this (probably only 1 or 2 seconds tops, but still too much), and mr. Kawi man pulled away. I fought as hard as I could to catch back up to him and overtake whenever I could. Unfortunately I saw the white flag waving coming out of T7, and knew I had to really bust out something to catch up to him. I managed to get right back up on him, but couldn’t get a final move in in the last lap. I ended right up next to him at the finish, but right next to isn’t right in front of, so I’d have to take that as it was.

I took my cooldown lap, more excited than I could imagined. My pre-first race jitters were gone, and I wanted more. I got back to the pits, and got my bike on the stands and got some vitamin water. My adrenaline was still pumping, and despite the fact that it was rather cool out with a breeze, I felt like I was at about 100*. Everyone got back to the pit area from where they were watching, and filled me in with the random crashes that they saw during the race. I had seen the yellow flags, and the guys on the sides, but had no idea on what actually happened. I felt positive and was excited that I made it through my first race unscathed. After awhile we decided that I had to know what place I came in. I took a scoot on down to the control tower to look at the results board. I looked frantically for 529 up there, hoping I was in the top 10 dreaming of being in the top 5. Much to my surprise and delight, I made it all the way up to 6th! I was quite ecstatic and brought the good news back to the pits.

I brought in the good news, as we all celebrated the fact that I made it through my first race, and got to pass up some people. My parents, grandpa, and Kim had to head home, so Josh and I stayed to watch a few races. Didn’t get to see too much more action, other than a guy on a 250 going like a mad-man. That was quite awesome to watch. The speed carried through the corners was just downright phenomenal. Josh and I headed home and hoped\dreamed that it wouldn’t be raining the next day.

I went to bed at about 630 after we got home, and woke up the following morning at 6 to the pitter patter of rain coming down. I dreaded the thought of racing in the rain (due to A. not having ridden the R6 in the rain, and B. no rain tires). We got out to BHF, and not a single person was on the track. We asked around what was going on, and people were just waiting I guess to go out on the track. Josh and I figured I should at least try it out and see how the bike was and take things from there. All I can say is this: Race tires in the rain\puddles feel like you are hydroplaning all the time. Not a great feeling. I took about 3 laps going quite slowly, and despite how slow and easy on the throttle I was, the rear tire would spin up far too easily. I came back in the pits, and decided to call it for the day. We packed up, and got ourselves back home.

I learned a lot this past weekend. I feel as if I’ve improved my riding ability and feel as though I am no longer worried about all the new experiences of a first time racer. I have to thank my brother for helping push me to my next level of skills in racing. Despite him not having ridden a bike on the track, his insight has been more helpful than I could have imagined, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Not only that, but with all the little things he helped out with in the pits and whatnot made life much easier. This weekend was also much greater with having my parents and grandpa there. Their support has gone a long ways whether it be in letting me use their vehicles, or financial help in getting things all taken care of. I gotta thank my girlfriend Kim for not totally freaking out at the idea of me racing again. I’m sure she’d prefer I stuck with the RC planes\helicopters, but has been super supportive of me doing this. I gotta thank my dads shop Three R Plastics for allowing me to do this, otherwise, I’d probably be broke and whatnot. haha. I also want to thank John at Economy Cycle for being a great shop sponsor. He’s helped immensely with not only getting me the best pit-bike in the world, but also with hooking things up with product and services. Thanks so much!

Again I gotta thank everyone for helping make this weekend (and future weekends) happen. My racing has just started back up again, and I couldn’t be anymore excited. I will get some pictures of the event once I collaborate with Josh a bit here. Thanks again to everyone, and I’m looking forward to more excitement at my next race!

Andrew

ps. I apologize for the length.

Gettin’ pumped. Not far from race day

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First track day at Blackhawk Farms is the 23rd, and I couldn’t be more excited.  Although at the same time, I’m as scared as ever.  Sure it’s easy to go out on open track days, but when it’s actually GO time, will I be ready?  I guess when it comes down to it I know I’m just out there for fun, but who honestly has fun losing?  Haha, I know it doesn’t sound the greatest, but I’m racing to win.  I’m racing because I have missed competition more than I thought I’d ever imagine.  I didn’t do spectacular while racing motocross, but nothing was better than trying to block someone in a turn.  My emotions with this are running wild.  I will post more later; my mind is a bit too scattered at this point.  haha.

Andrew

A small favor I ask.

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As the winter seems to barrel in quicker and quicker, I’ve come to realize that my cars’ heat no longer works. Normally I’ve been OK with having to do minor car work, or even major for that matter. Something was different this time. Allow me to backtrack a few days or months (can’t remember all too much anymore). I picked up the R6 so I could ride with John or whoever else and not feel like my hands were going to fall off as they did on the RD. Not only that, but who doesn’t want a newer bike with oodle’s of power on tap and razor sharp handling? I guess I hadn’t realized it at the time, or for the many years before, but there was something percolating inside me that I had been ignoring or avoiding (still not quite sure which). I know that this may sound as some sort of religious thing, and maybe it is, but bear with me on this for a few more moments.

Now this feeling, passion, obsession, whatever I had been avoiding really all started more or less when I really went around on a dirtbike. Oddly enough it was on the land where my parents house is now at. It was a mid 90’s KX65 or something like that. Even with being oversized on the thing, the way it scooted along just put the biggest smile on my face. Fast forward a few years and you find me with a 1986 Yamaha YZ125. I did some racing up at Lake Geneva Raceway in Wisconsin and even did one of Tony D’s racing schools. Shortly after though, I realized none of my friends were into riding, and the land where I got to “practice” was being taken away by a “friendly neighbor”. Now granted at this time I was probably a freshman or sophomore in high school. I was into music very much and got myself heavily into skateboarding. I did these mainly because A. I enjoyed them, B. all my friends were into the same thing. and C. things actually seemed feasible. I had drums, I had skateboards and I had a place to do both of them. I basically just disregarded the fun and enjoyment I had while on 2 wheels as if it never even existed in my life.

Time went on and I found myself towards the end of my Senior year. I had been through a couple bands, skateboard sponsors, and a slew of other things, but nothing seemed to pan out. I always figured that things never worked out because….well I wasn’t supposed to do them; and maybe that has been the correct assumption all along. Either way towards the end of my senior year, I found myself being pulled slightly back into the depths of motorcycling by my dad and friends. I managed to score myself another Kawasaki, but a street bike this time (97 EX250). I had fun with it, but decided to sell it at the summer so I could pick up a canon for filming skateboard stuff. Again I fell out of motorcycling. I had more of a pull towards skating at the time, and things were more available (ie, I could go skate wherever and whenever I wanted to).

I basically milled around a bit with what I did. I worked, did church stuff, played a bit of paintball, I did a lot of things. I somehow managed after moving back in with my parents in 2005 and landed myself another motorcycle the following summer. This time a 74 RD350 (as seen in my image section). I spent some time on that, but didn’t really do much of anything with it. I rode it a bit, did a few modifications, but really just rode every now and then. At the time I was basically just working, doing the church thing, and seeing where things were going with my girlfriend Kim. I was basically assuming at the time I would just work at my dads shop and one day take it over and be “the man” so to speak there. It seems like a good solid plan, and honestly it would work out just fine. It would keep me in a comfort zone, and allow me to be “secure” more or less. I find something very wrong and unsettling about that…….

Security, comfort, and basically knowing “things will be ok” haven’t exactly sat right with me lately (much like my lunch yesterday). This is where the R6 comes back into play. Oddly enough, I as stated earlier got the R6 as something to ride to work, mess around on whatever “fun” roads that are in this area, and kinda save on gas. I decided I’d pick up a new helmet, jacket, and just a few little things here and there. I thought to myself and even told people I would never touch a thing on the bike. Somehow I managed to get myself on the Blackhawk Farms Raceway website and started looking around. I saw they had a race school, but I didn’t want to hurt my bike, or have to get all the leathers and all that good stuff. Yet with all the negatives (spending money), I bit the bullet one day at work and signed myself up for one of Visionsports Riding Schools.

I got bit and I got bit hard. The same bug that first got me when I was 12 or 13 sunk its fangs into me and has yet to let loose. I’ve managed to be at a few more track days at Blackhawk this season, with my last being in the Advanced group. I guess you could say that I feel a great peace around each corner and into every straight. A circular high speed home.

So why do I write this? Why am I in essence dragging you into a segment of my life? More or less because I know the kind of person that I am. My brain will want to drift off into other interests. I’ve worked harder this past year or so to focus on something; to really do what I feel led to do. I need anyone and everyone to keep me focused, encourage me, and most importantly PUSH ME. I know I will never get better if I am not pushed by anyone. I will gladly take any advice, input, help with anything and everything. That’s all I’m really asking of anyone. Heck you don’t even have to do anything, if this even made you think of motorcycles…well all the better. Keep this in mind. I’ll be working on the bike until the next time.

Much thanks,

Andrew