My beloved Corky passed away yesterday Oct 16th and 10am. I loved this little guy more than I even knew. My heart is filled with sadness and sorrow. I’ll always remember him for the great friend he was. He was by my side always when I was working on the bike. I was by his side yesterday as he passed over to the next world. I love him dearly and someday we’ll meet again. RIP Corky we all will miss you. You will never be forgotten little friend.
Holly and I headed out to St. Louis Sat. afternoon. We stopped at the track so I could register for Sunday’s race. I got my bike passed thru tech as well. It passed with flying colors. I was pretty much freaking out that they would find something wrong. You were right Mark Tenn, it wasn’t that bad. Thanks!
Sunday was hot and humid. It was killer in full race leathers! I qualified in the 6th row spot D during the morning practice session. I didn’t want to push too hard because I was trying to sort out a few corners that were giving me trouble.
I was in Race 5. Went out for the sighting lap and the bike seemed a little sluggish. It was OK by the time I got to the grid. I did get a better start this time (I was in first gear) and got off into the first corner around 10th. I managed to get 4th place and the finish, but better yet was just the rush of riding better each lap I took. Next race is in Oct. I’m going to be in a lot better shape next year. I had a blast and thanks Puggie for being my pit sweetie. A few pics.
The pit stall. I need a canopy! NEXT YEAR!
About ready to Rock & Roll
Next weekend will be fun. Gateway Int’l. I had to get a few things done to get ready for tech inspection and prepared for the race on Aug 15th. I needed to by a new lower fairing so I could get thru tech. I also had to mount a transponder pouch to the back tail section of the bike. While I was painting the lower I decided to change the paint scheme a little bit to the Yamaha broken stripe.
I’ll be leaving Bloomington next Sunday at about 4:00 am to get to the track by 7:00 am. I’m going to skip the hotel this trip in an effort to save money. This has been a very tight year for me. I’m happy to finally get a chance to race and get back into the groove. I will post some pictures of next weekends race as soon as I can. I’m ready, and really looking forward to getting the little Fizzer on the track. Until such time………………..More time………..
It’s been awhile. Lots going on with work and the family. We got back from Mass last week from vacation. It was nice going back home and seeing everyone. This year has been very hectic for me with the new job and everything. I’m getting back into the groove again. I tried to fashion a belly pan for my 400 to meet the rule book specs, but gave up because there is no room underneath the header pipe. I had to break down a buy a Beasley lower to meet the CCS tech rules. I’m going to paint it yellow to mach the wheels. Now I’ll have to get a new Pugsley sticker and others for the new lower. I think the lower fairing will look good yellow. I’m really thinking of doing Putnam this weekend, but I should save my money for Gateway. I spoke to Ginger at CCS and I’m pretty much set to race now. Blackhawk Farms is out of the question now as my cash flow is running short after the purchase of the new fairing. I HOPE I get some racing funds soon…………..
Until such time……………………………More time………………………..
We’ll the day finally arrived. Holly decided to go with me because she was worried I’d be too tired to make the trip back. She was more nervous than I was. She was freaking I’d fall off and get hurt. LOL Thank goodness it didn’t happen. :)
We left Sat. afternoon and stayed at a hotel 15 minutes from the track. After a long night of no sleep (I was worried my bike would get jacked off the trailer) we got underway to the track at 6:30 am. We waited about 30 minutes before the track opened up. I had a minor problem with the trailer fender. It was so bumpy on the highway out there the fender came loose when it broke the mount. I just took the fender off before we headed home that day.
I checked in at registration and got all my track paperwork. I reported to school where we were introduced to our instructors. There were 3 of them. Nice guy’s. I got my bike thru tech inspection with no problems. I was very happy. This is a stressful time for anyone racing. You’re always worried they’ll find something wrong. I did loose 2 screws from the bottom of my frame. They must have come loose when I was out on the track. I did have some spares in my tool box, so I took care of that right away.
We were let out on the track for a 20 minute session to get a feel for the track. I have to admit it was a little scary with all the concrete walls and such. The did have air fences and hay bales but it was still pretty intimidating. I was very cautious going out the first time. We came back in after the session and the schooling started. They showed us the fast lines and how to get around safe. The second session I was going much faster! We went out several more times after the classroom sessions and honed in our newly found race lines. It was a TOTAL freaking blast!
THE RACE AT THE END OF SCHOOL.
We got called out for the race at the end of the day. We all went out for our sighting lap. I was so excited about the start, I forgot to downshift my bike back into first gear. The green flagged dropped and I was in 3rd gear! Everyone blew past me URGH! I finally got it into first gear (seemed like it took forever) and I was dead last in the first corner! I worked my way up to 8th the second lap but then the race was red flagged. They asked us to come in and report to the classroom. Out of the 20 guy’s that started the class, 14 of us made it. Several crashed out but luckily no one got hurt. I had so much fun I was still high on adrenaline Monday went I went back to work.
First CCS race is June 19th at Gateway. I’m going to try and make that one. I still have to send my race application in and get my transponder. Hopefully I’ll have that all done before June 19th.
Here are some pics!
All Loaded Up
Gateway Int’l
Davey B
Gumball all scuffed up!
One of the guy’s that wadded up his bike. Notice the lack of a rear tail section. This was a nice Triumph.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been on. OK where do I start. I’m all set for the MCRA road racing school May 23rd. I sent my money in for school and I have my CCS membership fees ready. Once I get my RR cert I can join the CCS. I’m already a member of MCRA so I can do their club races in St. Louis. The race bike is all ready. Mike I’m hoping will come up before I go and tune and sink the carbs and do an exhaust reading. The bike is running great and should be lot’s of fun to ride. I have my first race right after I’m done with the school. I plan on doing as many races my money allows. Maybe 4 or 5 this year and hopefully I’ll have more $$$$ next year for a full season. I just want to get back in slowly because it’s been so long since I’ve raced. I don’t want to get hurt or wad my bike up. :) I’m taking the “Angry Fish” to the graphics shop today and get two stickers made for the fairing. This will be my team logo. Dedra made this for me a few years back. I love it! There will be more to come in the next few weeks.
Until such time……………………………………..More time………
Dee the future road racing star!
The ANGRY FISH
The little beast is pretty much done. Last thing to do is glass the belly pan and put a fresh battery in. I’m about ready to race now. I have to hit the Mt. Bike hard. I’ve got a few more pounds to loose. I’ll post more pictures of the fiberglass work in a few days.
Until such time…………………………..
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Brought the wheels to Fox’s Yamaha to have them balanced. They didn’t need any weights! They were perfect! I got the front wheel on tonight and will do the back wheel tomorrow night. I have the chain soaking in penetrating oil to loosen up some stiff links.
It’s coming along nice. I have to buy a fiberglass kit and start on the belly pan this weekend. I hope to fire the motor up this weekend.
Until such time…………………………….More time…………..
Busy day out in the Man Cave. I started about 8:30 this morning after I saw Holly and Dedra off at 2:00 am. I’m so relieved they got to Mass OK.
First on the agenda was rebuilding the front forks. I drained the oil and added 20wt oil and put new fork seals in. I had to make a special tool to hold the lower emulator so I could take the forks apart.
I removed the rear wheel to mount the new tire. As I put the newly pained wheel against it, I noticed the color was off just slightly. It bugged me. I didn’t want the wheels to be different colors so I painted the rear wheel too. Sometimes I can be nit picky. The tires are on and I will drop them off Monday to be static balanced. Then I’m done.
All that will be left to too is reassemble and fire the bike up!
Until such time………………………….
The front wheel is DONE! all except getting it balanced. I hope to get that done tomorrow. Now the rear wheel!
Until such time……………….
The front wheel is painted and done. Tomorrow the gumball gets mounted. Then over to the shop for balancing. I need to make a wheel balancer soon. I’ll have to pay someone else this time to do it.
The rear wheel is next………………………………..
I removed the tire from the rim. What a chore that was. The tire iron just missed my head by an inch. It flew out of the bead at sub sonic speed………. I got the tire off after 45 minutes of swearing and sweat. I have NEVER had such a hard time getting a tire of a rim.
I got the rim painted white tonight. The yellow will go on this weekend. I have to find that shocking yellow paint somewhere here local.
Until such time……………………………..More time.
I managed to get some work done today on the race bike. I removed the front wheel and the front brake rotors. Next I will un-mount the old tire and get the rim ready for paint.
Things should start moving along quickly now.
Until such time…………….
Wheelies anyone?
The front wheel is GONE!
Air compressor corner
Wheel and rotors
Full view of the aftermath!
Work was a bear today. I’ve had better day’s. It’s day’s like this that make me glad to think about racing and things to do to on my bike. Mikey came and picked up his SV last night so now I have a little more room in the Man Cave.
I spoke with my friend Mark thru e-mail this week, and he’s going to help me get another set of wheels. Get well soon Mark. I need a rain tire set up. I did good back in the day when we raced in the rain but………..That was a long………………long time ago, many galaxies away. LOL That was also on DOT tires, and not on Bridgestone Rains. I got such a late start last year getting the bike ready I didn’t have much seat time on it. This year will be different. I know from riding my other 400 that the little FZR handles like a dream. I can only wonder what it will be like with slicks mounted. I’m really looking forward to having a go at it.
I’m going to try and get the front wheel off this weekend and at least get the tire off so I can paint the wheel. I’m going to go with the bright yellow that is on the rear wheel. I think the yellow wheels will look good. After I get the new tires mounted I’ll take them over to Fox’s and have them balanced. I need to make a balancing stand.
Until such time…………………………
I was able to score a 60 gallon air tank for the “Man Cave”. Now I will NEVER run out of air. It was a nice little add on to the shop. I’m starting to get ahead of myself, so I need to put things in order.
I have to get off my duff and finish up the liter bike. I just need to get the bushings made on the lathe and put the EXUP valve and the header pipe back together.
The Bridgestone’s came in this week from Stickboy, and they look slick! LOL. I heard from my friend Mark in Florida who also steered me away from doing the 17” year wheel conversion like Derek did. Racing friends are nice to have :)
Thanks Guy’s I really appreciate you’re advise. I’m going to leave well enough alone. If it’s good enough for Mark, it’s good enough for me.
Pugsley and I are going to the casino down in French Lick to celebrate her birthday this Sunday, so working out in the “man cave” will be a Saturday affair. I’m looking forward to finishing up the 1000 and then starting on the 400. May will be here soon enough! Until such time……………..More time………..
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I just got my MCRA race schedule. May 23rd and 24th, June 12th and 13th, Aug 14th and 15th, Oct 11th and 12th. I’m still waiting to see what CCS races I can attend. I’m doing a limited schedule this year due to funds (lack of) and other issues. I’m lining up sponsorship now for the new season. I also plan on doing several track days.
I’m still thinking of doing the 17 inch rear wheel conversion. My name sake in England found me a wheel, but it may be cost prohibitive to have it shipped to the USA. I found a nice YZF 600 rear wheel that I’m thinking of buying. The slicks I ordered are the 18/17 combo used on the FZR. They will work fine for the first part of the season. I may just leave it well alone. I haven’t made my mind up yet.
I have some things I need to get done before the road racing school in May. I have to finish up the 1000, make some modifications to my bike trailer (now that I have my tig welder working) Get the front wheel painted yellow, get a bottom belly catch pan fabricated before the CCS series and a few other small things.
I need to start working out harder and start riding the Mt. Bike. The weather has not been cooperating in that department. I should have some new pictures soon.
Until such time……………………………
I finally got a hold of Derek at Stickboy racing and got my slicks ordered. He will ship then out to me this week. Now I have to get the front wheel off and get it painted yellow to match the rear wheel. My first race date is May 23 at Gateway International in St. Louis MO. I’m looking forward to getting back on the track.
I headed out to the “man cave” to again work on the 1000. It’s very dirty and needs some TLC. I found out what the rattling noise in my exhaust pipe was. A worn out bushing. I’m going to make a new one today on my lathe. I got the tig welder finally wired into the power panel, now I can weld all sorts of trick brackets and parts. I’m going over to the auto parts store today and pick up some anti-seize and engine de-greaser. The motor is really dirty from all the road grime. I may fire up the race bike and run it for a bit. Until such time………………More time……..
I started working on the “big” bike today. It’s funny with all the body work off how small it looks. The 1000 has a massive frame compared to the 400 frame. Tomorrow I’ll start with removing the pipe and other outside parts. I hope to have it completely torn down by next weekend.
