A very good day at the races - AFM Sears Pt April

On April 26th I finally got to do some racing. First time in 2009. Unfortunately do to work conflicts I couldn't practice on Saturday. I planned on going up to the track Saturday afternoon to set up my pit, change some tires, and get my gear tech'd. I was a little worried at first since none of the people I had been pitting with last year where returning to racing this year. The racing family is a constant ebb and flow, as people come, and people go. Through my facebook connections I reached out to my buddy Stan, and asked him to save me a spot. It worked out great as he was pitted with another buddy Rick, and Sunny. Our little section was in a prime location, and near everything. Thanks Rick and Stan, you definitely made my weekend easier.

When Sunday morning came around, and it was time for practice I was a little nervous. I hadn't ridden much this year, and I feared not being up to speed. I had a plan in my mind of some things I wanted to work on for my one practice session, and set about getting into a rhythm. I had hooked up with my old nemesis John Forman and followed him around for awhile. That was good as it got my head more into a racing frame of mind. When practice was done I checked my times and I was consistently running 1:54's. Not where I wanted to be, but not too far off, and it was the morning practice which is usually slower.

With my bike all prepped and ready for my first race which was #4 I grabbed Kate, and headed up to the grandstands to watch race #1. It would be her first time seeing a motorcycle race. That race was over in 5 seconds. There was a horrific crash at the very start leaving two riders face down just past start finish. One rider having a broken femur, sevored femoral artery bleeding out on the track literally bleeding to death in front of us, and an the other rider unconscious was a terrible way to start the day. Both riders where helicoptered out, and I know now that they will both eventually be fine, but they have a long recovery ahead.

This unfortunately shook me up a little bit. Motorcycle racing is extremely dangerous. That thrill of being on the absolute edge is like nothing else. On the other side of that edge is the possibility of life altering injuries. We don't talk about it. No one does.

My first race was Open Twins. Not a class I usually compete in as it's mostly dominated by big Ducati's making 150+ hp. But there are usually a few 650 riders in there, and it was before my main races so why not? I had a new quick shifter installed so I had been practicing my starts getting used to it. I had a good grid position on the outside of the row. I prefer to start on the outside, and take an outside line through T1. This allows me to carry good speed through the corner, and then take the inside line up the hill into T2. When the green flag flew and we roared away from the starting line I had no clue what position I was in, and I didn't care. I was off on the chase and quickly started picking off bikes in front of me. A couple into T2, another over the hill at 3a, another down into 4, again around the outside of a big Ducati through T6 "The Carousel" and then it started to thin out. That big duc came back by on the straight, but I just laughed in my helmet as I got on the brakes much later than he, and dived under to take the spot away into 7. At that point there where just a couple of 650 riders, Adrian, and Zoe. The faster big twins having checked out already, and the slower riders fading arrears. The three of us would change places several times. If I remember correctly Zoe was leading the three of us, and Adrian had worked past her, and I knew I needed to get by quickly or Adrian would get away. I tried passing into over the hill at 3a, and on the brakes into T4, but I wasn't close enough so I backed off. I tried again going into T6, but that's not my strongest place so I opted to get a good drive out of 6, and outbrake her into T7. I'm good on the brakes since I replaced my master cylinder with a Brembo unit, and I knew I could get it done. In my previous trackday with ZooZoom I worked with Berto Woolridge and he'd told me I needed to work on my trail braking, and here it was paying off. I got on the brakes late, dove underneath Zoe, and held a tight line, but she didn't back off, and stayed just outside of me, setting me up to pass on the exit of 7. This is a classic T7 scenario. The passing rider brakes late, gives up speed to get the position the passed rider take the outside line, carries more speed and takes the position back on the exit. Knowing it was coming, also comfortable in the knowledge that I had a new tire that would give me a little more grip I rolled on the throttle while at full lean and blocked Zoe right at the exit. I think this spooked her a little, and took some of the fight away as she never made a challenge again.

Here's me tucking it under Zoe

From AFM Sears 4.26

Off I went after Adrian. I was better on the brakes than he, but he carried more speed on the exit. I was much faster in 3, 3a, but I couldn't capitalize on momentum into 4 even though I tried a couple of time. I got by him in 7, but he back around going into 9. We traded places several times, and after a little mistake he started to pull away from me. On the last lap I got a good drive out of 8a and reeled him in heading down into 9, but I wasn't close enough to get it done, so I backed off a little trying to gain a little momentum coming out of 9a, heading into 10 planning a late braking move into 11. It went like clock work. I had a solid drive out of 10, and easily pulled up next him, grabbed a handful of brake to get the pass done, and then I noticed the yellow flag. DAMN IT! You can't pass under any flag condition so I had to slow down, and let him back by. I finished 12 in Open Twins. I'd been 11th if that yellow flag hadn't come out. I found Adrian in the pits, and he admitted I'd been robbed. It was a good race, and there was more to come.

The start of the 650 Twins race was nearly tragic. I was gridded waaay in the back, and when the green flag flew as I gassed it there was some incident up front, and bikes where jockeying madly around. I almost got hit from behind, and lost about 20 places. Oh well. Once again I settled in and started picking off riders. Once through the hoy poloy I found myself with familiar company. People I'd been chasing all year long. Right in front of me was Scott 555, and Charlie 649, Scott was riding kinda out of control. He'd got a terrible start, and was trying to make it up all at once. He passed Charlie under a waving yellow. I noted that in my head, and considered a protest. But first the racing. I easily got by Charlie in T6. Finally the suspension adjustments I'd been making as well as trying a different line through the Carousel where paying off, and I was no longer losing ground through T6 anymore. Scott was carring more speed through corners but was not nearly as good on the brakes as me (hmm.. repeating theme)I was able to pull him in on the brakes, and then lose a little on the out. One place I was faster was the entrance to T10. I'd been using that to my advantage earlier getting a good drive and braking into 11. I gave him a little room entering 9 so I could get a run on him through 10. As he exited 9 he looked over his shoulder and could see me coming so he held a tight line on the inside of 10. Fine Scott I'll go around the outside. I easily pulled up next to him. That's when he pulled one of the biggest punk moves I've ever seen. He knew I was next to him. I was all the way out on the rumble strips, and he moved over to his left bumping me out into the dirt. I had no choice but to wait until I'd cleared the dirt and was straight up and down on the track to hit the brakes. I finally did, and I ran way off track losing a couple of positions. I was mad. Really mad that he'd done something so flagrant.
They call it "Red Mist" where your focus gets narrow, and you are so determined, so full of adrenaline, that often after the event is over you don't remember anything. When I exited T11 Scott was through T1 easily a 1000 feet ahead of me. Head down I started pushing through every corner. Trying to find a tenth of a second here, another tenth there. I passed back the people that had gone by when I ran off track with such ease they weren't even there. I didn't want to slow down to make a pass. Stay focused go fast, and he'll come to you. Several laps go by and he's getting closer. Actually we're gaining on the other group ahead. Last lap. Once again I'm right up his tail. I set myself up for the same pass that has worked time and again a solid drive out of 10 with a late brake into 11. We both come out of 10 hard on the gas. I'm gaining when in an instant I watch his rear tire spin up, and snap he's air born, highside. The bike and him are tumbling right in front of me. It takes conscious effort to look away, look down the track and I miss running him over by inches. Brutal.

Formula IV I head an equally horrendous start when half way through 1 a guy in front of me blew his engine. "Oh shit" I thought this is going to be bad, but the guy stayed up, and I missed hitting him, but once again half the grid went by me. so I spent the race picking people off. I'd had a good race with Charlie, and Adrian again, in the end putting some distance between them and myself. Until that final lap. I think it was heading over in T4 I went to down shift and something didn't feel right. I went to shift up into T5, and again something felt wrong, and I knew my shifter had come apart. I considered pulling off the track, but screw that. I nursed the bike around in 5th gear. It made for some really shitty drives out of 7, 9, and 11, but I only lost 2 positions. My new quick shifter had literally broken in two. bummer.

So it was a very eventful day. I can't even count the number of times I went into a hard braking zone with my rear wheel in the air. Yee-Ha!. I think I'm going to get some actual racing brake pads, and we'll see how well we can brake next time!
My finishing positions are nothing to write home about, but it sure was exciting to get there.

Oh and on the way home my bike fell off my moto-tote. Yeah I was dragging my race bike down the 101. It actually did very little damage. Scuffed a handle bar, and the tail section. Another near miss. Lottery ticket anyone?

A special thanks to Marie and Jennifer at Werkstatt for getting me some much needed parts in a hurry.
and thanks to Dave Moss who I didn't speak to all weekend, but his input all last year, and some emails earlier this month got my bike where it needed to be.

Chasing Adrian through T1

From AFM Sears 4.26

On the gas out of T7

From AFM Sears 4.26

Leading Adrian through T2

From AFM Sears 4.26

Exiting T9

From AFM Sears 4.26

You're #1

From AFM Sears 4.26

as always a thanks to my sponsors
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's

Racing News

I got rid of my old Nissan Pathfinder. It had served me well, but it's time was done. I had abused the clutch hauling bikes, and trailers around California, and the throw out bearing was whining. So I sold it. Why not my dad gave me his old truck when he retired anyway. Now I've got a 4x4 diesel to haul my bikes around. I got just enough money for that pathfinder to put a new stereo in the truck. HAHAHA


With the addition of the new truck I've also let go of the trailer I was using. It didn't belong to me, but I was it's keeper. Between myself and my buddy Craig we keept in our garages. When Craig let his garage go I didn't want the trailer year round. It took up too much space. No problem I have a bumper hauler anyway. However my XR100 doesn't fit in the back of the truck with the shell on it. So I bought a XR50 mini bike to use as a pit bike. Just like my 100 it's way overdone.



Tuesday march 17th I rode at Laguna Seca for the first time. It was kind of a hassle to get it all together. First off Laguna, a world class track that hosts a round of Moto GP, has a really low sound limit. 92db. So I bought a stock exhaust off of ebay, and mounted that up. That itself turned out to be more of a chore than I thought. The modified wider rear wheel I use rubbed against part of the decorative tip, so I cut it off. then I had to buy a really long bolt to mount it. Fine. Stock exhaust on, get do to my first session after lunch, and I'm meatballed for sound. Yup even with a stock exhaust I was 96.2db. The intake growl is what got me. So I hd to ride really slowly when I got near the sound booth. Lame. Anyway the day was good in the end. I got to ride with A,B, and C groups at the last session of the day. that made for an hour straight of ontrack time. If you could run flat out it would be a fun track. T1 is fast, and takes some time to get comfortable holding the throttle wide open as you crest a blind hill. T3-5 as also fast with just a little late breaking. The famous corkscrew isn't all that bad. It's suck a slow entry that there isn't much to it. However having the nerve to brake really late getting into it definitely would take some time to develop. What really scared me was T9 Rainey Curve. That turn is fast, down hill, and if you get it wrong it sends you straight at a wall. Whew. I'm glad I got to ride there. I doubt I'll be back anytime soon. I've now ridden on all the road race tracks in California. Thunderhill, Sears Pt, Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow, Willow Springs, Streets of Willow, and California Speedway. Time to branch out of the state. I hear Miller is a fun place to ride!





And here's and animated gif I made. This is of my very first lap at Laguna.

I was totally channeling my Rossi at this moment.


Hopefully if everything pans out the next ontrack time is for the west coast AHRMA round at Willowsprings. If not I'll try to make the AFM race the same weekend. If I can't do either of those I might not be on track until June, and that would be a really bummer. It kills me. I have to walk past my race bike in my garage 20 times per week, and it just sits there. We'll see.

I'm digital again!

It's March, and I haven't written anything on here in awhile. Partly because my lame ass lost the charger to my digital camera, and I got lazy about it.
So let's start there. I just bought a Canon SD890 Elph. This is a much improved camera over my S30 that my old buddy Nik gave me. I really like Canon's for the picture quality in low light. I take a bunch of photos for work, and the Canon's do the best job of it.

Here's a few pictures from my backyard this afternoon.

What a nice day here in the city.


I tried the video feature of the camera too. Certainly not a video camera but not terrible for such a small thing.


In other non moto news I'm midway through the CutandPaste tour. Man that is kicking my ass. We've done 5 cities, and we're off to Toronto this weekend. The cross country travel each weekend has been brutal. I'm staying in Toronto for a couple of days inbetween there and Chicago. A little down time will be nice.

2008 in review

Is it really 2009?
How do it get here so fast? It's hard to believe that a year ago I was at California Speedway racing in my first race on my new race bike. A whole new world opened up to me with that new machine. With all the riding I did on a motorcycle that was really set up to race with all the modern components of racing I grew a lot. In some ways I did a lot better than I thought I was going to, in other ways I did worse. I guess I just kept upping my expectations. The better I'd do the better I'd want to do. I had some close calls, like nearly high siding that first race weekend, or coming together with that Buell at the AHRMA race, or even when I got hit twice on the first lap at Thunderhill, but with all those close calls I wouldn't have it any other way. I made it to 10 race weekends in 2008. I missed out on the last AFM race because of my broken ankle. Oh well. I got to meet and become friends with some cool people that I hope I will know for a long time. People like Steve B, and Robin G, even crusty old Zoran. Others like some of the sponsors that I got to know really well like Jennifer at Werkstatt, or Dave with Catalyst Reaction. Racing is an amazingly intense community that really brings people together and bonds them.

The economy for the most part in 08 was good, and I tried my hardest to avoid work, and just ride. I had worked on my ass on in 07, and saved some money up which made the work avoidance even more possible. It was tight a few times, but I always managed to scrape by and buy that new rear tire!

What does 2009 hold in store for us? Well I'm going to focus on work more this year. Racing all over California was awesome, but it left me drained. Not just money but mentally. Always trying to figure out how to pay for the next race or how to adjust my work schedule so I could make the race. It was really intense, and so much fun, but I need to give myself a break. Oh and there's the money part too. I have a really cool project that I am working on with Trisha's company @ E2k. It's called CutandPaste http://cutandpaste.com/ and should be a challenging thing to be apart of. Because I need to be able to focus on it I'm not going to do much racing until the end of the year. I would like to make the AHRMA race at Willow Springs again so we'll see about that. CutandPaste is going to take me to 7 US cities and 4 in Asia so I'm going to be traveling a lot in 09. I'll try to write about my adventures here as ofter as I can.

Below is a picture I made up to give my sponsors in 2008. I like to look at it. It reminds me of all the damn good times I had.

Update to Zombie Bikers on Wheels!

The video is finished and here it is.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69vOhU40JaU
I recommend clicking on the "watch in high quality" link, and then making it full screen.
This way you get the full feeling.
OK so it's silly, and I broke my ankle but it turned out pretty good.
We definitely had a damn good time making it.

Zombie Bikers on Wheels

On Sunday 10/4 I worked on a music video for a song named "Zombie Bikers on Wheels" This all came about when I had gone with my friend Trevor to a screening of his friend Jon's series of videos called "Zombies from Eureka" Here's some of Jon's work
Zombie Dance

After that screening we where having beers, and Jon was talking about his next project which was this zombie music video involving bikers, and I was like "do you need guys on bikes" A month later there we where in this little industrial strip out in the Bayshore neighborhood near Bev Mo. I had convinced SFMC members Dave "Papa" Schiller, my racing buddy, and Papa's son Eric, and Andy "Rabit" to come along. So there where 4 of us total.

The location was this small warehouse that had old train tracks running in front of it. Most of Jon's Zombie stuff had very simple make up but the band had invited a make up artist named Autumn to join, and she was great. The zombie make up was definitely stepped up a notch or 3. After all 4 of where in makeup Jon started shooting some warm up shots getting a feel for what he wanted to do. One of the residents of the warehouse helped in the filming. He provided a smoke machine, and helped out.

After some establishing shots we started on the bike shots. We rode around in circles a few times, and did some back and forth stuff. The band had a back up singer named Jenny, and I rode Rabit's bike with her on the back, and did some more circles while Jon filmed in the middle. It was tough as I kept having to ride over train tracks.

We'd had enough this riding in circles thing, and we convinced Jon it was time for some stunt shots. Note: Bad Idea. We placed Jon in the middle of the tracks while Eric and I rode wheelies past him. After my third of fourth run when I brought my front wheel down it got caught in the damn train track and down I went. I've crashed plenty of times but this one hurt. I was only wearing my leather pants, and vest, no jacket or helmet as I was in zombie make up. I was rashed up pretty bad on my arms, and I had twisted the hell out of my ankle. Eric helped get my bike up, and after a few minutes we finished the stunt shots. I couldn't just quit.

We had to reshoot Jenny's scene as she forgot to sing her lyrics so back on Rabit's bike with the cute girls in fishnets again. Darn. Then came the customary burn out scene. I had a mostly worn tire anyway so I smoked the hell out of it. After that it was time for street shots. We put our helmets on, Jon got in the back of an SUV, and we hit the streets. We rode really slow around the block a few times trying to look like hungry zombie bikers. That finished out day.

Papa, and Rabit left after that, but Eric, and I stuck around to do some more set up shots, and watch Jon do the band shots inside the warehouse. It was a lot of fun hanging out, but my ankle hurt like hell, and I could barely put any weight on it. Eric and I took off and went to Ace Cafe for a beer still in our full zombie make up. We made for quit a scene entering the bar. It had been a fun day, especially for friends that had never been around any kind of production before. I took off and went to Grandma's Saloon to hang out with Trevor and Jon and talk about the day. Again my ankle hurt like hell and I had to hobble around around.

Monday morning my ankle was still really swollen so I decided to go Kaiser and have it checked out. After the customary visit to the Dr I was sent to xray where my buddy Mole from the Secret Society Scooter Club works as an xray tech. He took one picture and said from the back room "yup you broke it" What? Seriously? He showed me the picture and sure enough I'd broken the medial malleolus clean through. The Dr gave me a splint, and referred to the orthopedic foot clinic where on Tuesday they put me in a full cast from the knee down. Total bummer.

And that folks is how I ended my racing season. What a bummer. I was one race away from doing the entire AFM season. So here it trying to keep my leg elevated as long often as I can for the next 4-6 weeks. I go back next week for more xrays, and to see if I need any screws to keep it all together.


Mmm... Fresh blood



Cast and crew from left to right top to bottom
Papa, Autumn, Rabit, Mickey, Adam, Adam's hot girlfriend
Eric, film maker Jon


My riding outfit


Me and Jenny


Burnt rubber


Newly added Ouch 1


and ouch 2

AFM Round 7 and the 4 Hour Endurance Race

This past racing weekend was something different on the AFM calendar. The 4 hour endurance race. The race itself takes place on Saturday roughly from 12:30pm to 4:30pm, and is what it sounds like, a race that last 4 hours long.

In order to accommodate this we had practice on Friday. That was a bit tough for me. I had to work Thursday night running the stage lighting system for Elvis Costello at the Academy of Sciences opening night gala. It was fun, and a good show, but I didn't get to bed until 1am, and I had to be up at 5am in order to get to the track, and set up in time to make the first practice.

The first part of Friday practice was normal. After I got my pit area set up, and my bike tech'd I began riding my practice sessions. There was a lot of traffic, and I had a tough time getting an clear track. My lap times where all over the place and I think my best time was in the 1:53 range which isn't bad considering I had to get around someone on ever lap.

I had been invited to ride on an endurance team. Team Cyclops, due named after the bike owner Brian who only had one functioning eye. My friend Steve Babuljack, and a guy named Chase McFraland would be the 4 man team riding the beast. Bike #66. Brian had put this bike together in less than 2 weeks time, and it looked like it. It was so stock it barely could be called a race bike. It even had it's passenger seat, and a tail light! Friday in between practice session Brian and I would continue to prep the bike in order to get it tech'd. Right before out dedicated 45 minute endurance practice session we finally got it finished, and OK'd to take out on track. All of our team members where there, and we used out 45 minutes to mostly practice pit stops and rider exchanges. An order of who ride when was determined and out I went on the beast.

Wow talk about a different riding experience. My Kawasaki EX650 is a well prepped finally tuned race bike that handles very precisely, and has amazing brakes. The Beast is a Suzuki SV650 with a stock rear shock, and stock front end, with stock brakes, stock foot pegs and wow. It felt like I was riding a plush chair!. I rode a couple of laps then came in. We exchanged riders, and continued this for the rest of the session each rider riding a few laps then coming in to practice the exchange. When it was over me and Chase looked at each with a bit of worry. Chase is a new racer, but has a lot of experience racing supermoto so the two of us are the experienced riders while Brian, and Steve are first year racers. We're really going to ride this thing for 4 hours? The answer? Yes.

Saturday morning. Brian had acquired some rearset foot controls overnight, and I moved the handlebar clipons to match what Brian had on his normal SV650 racebike, and The Beast was starting to look like a race bike. I used my practice session to ride The Beast instead of my own bike knowing I needed more seat time on this unusual machine. The new controls felt so much better. Now we're racing. I started to pick up the pace as I got more comfortable on the machine and I could feel the brakes starting to fade. OK note to self need to flush the brake fluid. About half through the session I was heading into T2 I downshifted, and leaned the bike in when all of a sudden it slips out of gear into a false neutral (where the transmission is in between gears). The bike naturally stands up, and I begin to head off track when all of a sudden it drops back into gear locking up the rear wheel causing me slide out and when the wheel regains traction the two wheels want to line trying to pitch the rider off in a highside crash. So up in the air I go but I held onto the handle bars and land back on the bike as I head off into the dirt pointing straight at the air fence. I manage to get the bike stopped before hitting the wall, and I begin put putting through the dirt and back on track. I considered coming in to see if there was anything wrong but instead I stayed out not wanting The Beast to get the better of me.

The race: It was decided I would start the race as I had the most racing experience and would be less likely to throw it at the start. We moved all of our needed items down to the hot pit where we would be doing our pit stops and exchanges. Once again we where barely ready in time as the final call for the 4 hour race to start was announced. I jumped on the bike and got to try a couple of practice starts in the hot pit before heading out for the warm up lap.

When the green flag flew I got a decent start, but oh what a hairball start it was. The 4 hour has 4 classes. FIV which is mostly 650 Twins, 600, 750, and Open so there I was running up the hill into T2 with the biggest mixed bag of bikes, and riders I've ever been with it. It looked more like bumper cars than motorcycle racing. I reminded myself I didn't need to chase the bikes, and to quickly settle into a rhythm. I wanted to chase the other SV's but I knew our bike was out classed so I just put my head down, and began to run off consistent laps, knowing it was a long day ahead. After 15 laps, or about a half an hour I got the signal from my pit to come in. OK one more lap to go, and I get to take a break. Coming out of the Carousel T6, at full lean as I was rolling on the throttle the bike made a loud crunching sound, locked up the rear wheel, and once again pitched me up into the air. I held on the bars, landed on the bike, and at first I thought it was that false neutral problem, but when I looked down, and saw the chain missing I knew what that crunching sound was. Here's where I saved the day. I knew that I need to get the bike out of the way and someplace safe. My first concern was that I didn't want to leave the bike on the hot track where other riders might run into it if they crash so I pushed it way down the the straight that connects T6, and T7, and put the bike behind a tire wall. That was a long push, and would turn out to be our saving grace. I thought this was the end of our day. I was exhausted. I had just ridden for 30 minutes, then pushed our bike up a slight hill, in 90 degree weather. I was almost relieved. The Beast was trying to kill me, and in some part of me was glad I wouldn't have to ride it again. I walked back to our pit with some dejection knowing our day was done when I found out Brian was talking to race control about us going back out there to fix it. In the mean time my teammates informed me that I had been doing 1:54's for most of my stint. That's pretty damn good considering what I was riding. After much discussion a new precedent was set. We where allowed to go back out onto the live track and repair our bike. The only reason they would let us do this is because the bike was left in a relatively safe area where we would not be a safety hazard. Yeah Me! The kicker was that we had to be wearing full racing gear when we went out there. So Me, Brian, and Chase put our leathers, boots, gloves, and helmets on, grabbed a rear stand, a new chain, and an ice chest full of tools and headed back out onto the racetrack to put a new chain on The Beast. That was a whole new exercise in patience. Bikes where flying by us on either side at 100+ mph, it was 90 something, we had out helmets on and couldn't hear each other, and the sweat would get in our eyes so we couldn't see very well, but we did it, and Chase rode the bike back into the pit.

We made some more adjustments,

and sent Chase out for his turn, almost 2 hours into the race.

Chase rode for about 8 laps then as he entered T7 he caught a false neutral and crashed. Yup. The two guys with the most racing experience where down. Chase nursed the bike back in, and now I knew we where done.

Brian however was not about to give up, and through his will alone he rallied us together, and we got the parts we needed, which included a new front master cylinder, and we sent the bike out again,

Now Steve's turn.

By this time I've met most of the AFM turn workers, race direction, and tech inspectors. I was told that the workers where all rooting for us to finish the race. We'd had a tough day, and where still fighting. Steve rode about 10 laps and brought it in for our one and only pit stop. We put Brian on the bike, and sent him out to finish the race.

Brian rode for about 45 minutes, getting faster each lap. and then just like that it was over, the checkered flag was out, and Brian brought it in.

There was much celebration at Team Cyclops.

And that was my 2008 AFM 4 Hour experience

I did my normal sprint races on Sunday. I thought I was going to do better, but I'm really struggling to get my bike to exit the Carousel under power. I need to get that figured out. I'm giving up a few tenths to half a second on that part of the track alone. I ran as high as 9th for a few laps, but I finished both races in 15, 18th position. Not where I wanted to be, but both races where dog fights, with lots of passing, and repassing. It was a good time.

There's one more race weekend left this season. It's hard to believe it's been a year already.


As always Thanks to the people that help me go faster.
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's

AFM Round 6 Thunderhill - HOT HOT HOT!

I'm starting my race report early. I'm here at the track the sun is just coming up, I've taken a shower, had a cup of coffee, and it's already warm enough that I'm in shorts and sandals.

I decided to do something a little different this round. Usually I stay at a hotel with whoever I'm traveling with, girlfriend, racing partner, whatever, but this time I was solo, and I didn't want to spend the $150 on hotel money. made the decision to sleep in my 92 Nissan Pathfinder. Now understand I'm not the camping type. To me ruffing it is staying at Motel 6. So this was going to be a whole new adventure in racing.

Friday night I night I hauled my now trusty Kawasaki EX650 up to Thunderhill around 7pm, and the temperature was still in the 90's when I got to the track. Ouch! My buddy Robin was already there, and had a place for us all picked out. I set up my pit area, and was seriously considering getting a hotel. How can people sleep in this heat? Robin and I grabbed some dinner in town, and then back to the track to chill out with some beers, and stars. It was really cool just chilling at the track with all the other people. I've always stayed at a hotel, and in the 5 years of doing this I think I've been missing out on something. Everyone is just kinda milling about, drinking beer, riding their pit bikes from pit to pit chatting hanging out. It was a good time.

Thunderhill was completely repaved 4 weeks ago, and the track was going to be very green. I had been warned that the new surface was really abrasive and chewed up tires quickly. What I was more concerned about was that all the track surfaces I had been using as reference points where gone. Later I would come to the conclusion that this was a good thing as I was just making the same mistakes over and over, and now I had a chance to make all new ones!

Saturday morning and out I go. Wow, the track looks different. I spent the day trying to find new braking points, turn in points, and any visual information I could to navigate my way around this newly minted tarmac. By the end of the day my times where around were they where at race pace last time we where here. That is a good thing, but I still need a couple more seconds per lap to not embarrass myself again. We'll see what today has instore for us. Meanwhile I sit here watching the sun crest the horizon, listening to Stephane Pompugnac's Hotel Costes Vol 3.
I think today will be a good day.

Sunday has come and gone. Morning practice went well. I did the exact same times I had been doing the day before. Not as fast as I'd liked, but considering all the traffic I couldn't complain.

Race 1 650 Twins. I was gridded 13th farthest right on the 3rd row. When the green flag flew I got a great start, and pulled up even with the front 10 or so riders. As we came out of T1 and stood our bikes up to drive down the small hill towards T2 someone passed me on my right, and before they where fully by me they started moving over to their left, and hit my front wheel. My handle bars began shaking violently back and forth in what we call a tankslapper. As I tried to regain control I began to move to my left, and into the bike next to me. I had the presence of mind to lift my elbow so as not to hit the riders brake lever. I got it back in shape and turned in T2. I gained a couple of spots going through the off camber section of T3, a place many riders aren't comfortable with. As we crested the hill of the tight T5 someone came from my right, again hitting my front wheel, and sending me into a tank slapper as we went down the hill. I regained control just in time to not plow into the bikes at the bottom. Ouch tough first lap. After that we mostly settled into a rhythm. I knew if I was going to keep pace I'd have to find some speed in places I had been struggling with. T9 is a struggling point for me, and as we crested the hill of 9 I was right on the backs of the bikes in front of me. OK good sign. The T11, 12, 13 combo is another weak area, and as we came out of that section onto the back straight I lost a few bike lengths to the pack in front. OK I know I can make that up. I've been struggling with brake fade since I bought this bike, and I finally replaced the last possible thing, the master cylinder. Now I have great feeling brakes, and I used them to their best getting on the brakes really late to make up the last ground coming out of 13. For 5 laps this would be the story, I would lose ground in T2, and the 11- 13 combo, and make it all up entering T5, and T14. However if I made any little mistake anywhere else that would be ground I couldn't get back. And as such whenever someone would pass me, I could hang with them for a little while, but I could never get back around them. Thus I ended the race in 17th place, 3 back from where I started. I must have gotten passed 8 times.

Formula IV. Green flag flies, and I think everyone was a little more conservative. We got cleanly through the first 5 turns. I made a couple of passes, got passed a couple of times, and settled in for 6 laps of battle. I was keeping much tighter with the lead pack, and I thought I might be able to hand with them. I did for the first couple of laps. I think I lap 2 or 3 coming down the hill from 5 the rider in front of me ran wide and into the dirt, I stayed on the racing line and continued on as normal. The rider without looking came back onto the racing line, and directly into me. My mad skills kept us from actually colliding. Would you be surprised to know it was the same rider that hit my front wheel at the start of the first race at the top of T5? Once again I regained my composer, but lost some bike lengths to the guys in front of me. Later in the same lap we where coming up on the back of the previous wave which where a couple of Ninja 250's. Ouch talk about closing speeds. Well in an attempt to not be a dangerous ass like other riders had been earlier today I didn't stuff the poor Ninja 250 coming into T11, but that slowed me way down, and as we came out onto the back straight 2 riders passed me, and I was pissed. On the next lap we came up on another 250 in a bad place and I lost another position. In the end I finished 18th, which was disappointing considering I was staying with the faster group.

It was a fun weekend hanging out at the track. The new brakes are great, and will come in really handy at Sears Pt where there are three serious braking zones, and 3 minor braking zones. I think I will do much better next time.






As always Thanks to the people that help me go faster.
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's

AFM Round 5 Sears Pt

After my bitter disappointment at T-hill I had found some new motivation for racing at Sears Pt. Sears is a very technical track with no room for rest. the rider is constantly moving around. You blow one turn, and it blows the timing, and rhythm for several turns after. For some reason I'm good at Sears Pt.

There was a trackday on Friday hosted by Lance Keigwin and I had signed up for that back in January. Good I needed the extra day.
I was still having issues with my brakes overheating, fading, and giving me no confidence in pushing the front end. Friday went well, and I was feeling smooth and aggressive.

Saturday practice is short now because of the races held in the afternoon so you have to make the most out of the 4 you get. I tried some different brake fluid recommended by Zoran and that helped. I had a much better feel, and could drive much deeper on the brakes, but they would still over heat after about 6 laps, but that was better than before.

Sunday I was in races 1, and 5. The first race of the day, and the first race after lunch. I was again feeling confident and aggressive, and those are huge elements to going fast in a race.

I'm good at starting, and when the green flag flew I had a plan on where I wanted to be on the track, and I followed through with it driving deep into the rows in front and charging up the hill. Nobody passed me going into T2 which has been a weakness for me before. I had been practicing passing people going into T4 and that paid off in this race as I was easily able to gain a spot going down the hill into 4. The race would be a dog fight the whole way. There where about 6 bikes in front of me as we lined up going down the back straight for the first time, and I was determined to get around all of them. I passed all of them. Sometimes I would get passed back, and start all over. It was fun fighting for every inch. I finished 15th, and was happy with that.

The 2nd race was more of the same. I got a good start, and then started picking people off, while at the same time fighting to hold my position. Good times. As the race was winding down on the last lap I could feel myself getting tired. I knew I was running out of energy, and starting to make mistakes so I took a long glance over my should to see how close 616 was to me. Drats he was only a couple of bike lengths behind me. So I started riding really defensively. I would get on the brakes super late, and take a tight inside line. This is not the fastest way around the track, but It keeps the other person from being able to get up inside. I did this going into T's 7, 9, and 11. I stayed in front by just a couple of tenths of a second. He came and found me in the pits, and I told him I was sorry that I had to ride so defensively, he told me I was an asshole, but that's racing, and next time he'd better get in front of me before the last lap. I told him "yup" and as he walked away I smiled and thought "good luck with that" game on.

Despite riding so defensively that last lap of my second race FIV, was the fastest lap of the weekend, keeping my record of the last lap of FIV being the fastest time.
I turned a 1:51.9. Finally I broke into the 51's. A personal goal of mine. Yesterday I bought a new Brembo racing master cylinder. Hopefully this will cure my fading brake woes, and allow me to use the brakes the way I like to. On the ragged edge!







As always Thanks to the people that help me go faster.
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's

AFM Round 4 Thunderhill

The T-hill round was forever ago. I didn't write about it then because I didn't do very well, and I was disappointed. It's hard to write about things post them to the world when you aren't feeling positive about it. I need to get over that, and just write down whatever happened good of bad.

I used to think I was pretty good at T-hill. The truth is I suck there. My results from earlier in the season, and at Sears led me to believe I was a better rider than I am. I think I am still a good rider I just have exposed some weaknesses.

I'm not going to got into extreme detail. I practiced Friday and Saturday and I knew my times weren't where they needed to be. I didn't have much confidence going into Sunday and it showed. On the first lap of the first race there was a crash in T2 immediately in front of me, that took focus to not be apart of, a couple of turns later in T5 another big wipe out just in front of me, and now I'm thinking "what the hell am I doing here" The race was restarted, and I finished a lowly 22nd.

The 2nd race was much the same. I would get passed, and not have any motivation to go back after the person. Again I finished a lowly 22nd.

I went home with my tail between my legs, broke, disappointed, and wondering if I wanted to keep doing this.

A Little Rock 'n' Roll

I wanted to write about something other than motorcycles. (I'll get to that next) So I wanted to share about two recent projects I was involved in.

The first was called The Unforgettable Tour When we where first told about the show it was dubbed "the largest Indian rock show to ever come out of India" OK Whatever. Note to self: If someone ever says they are doing a large Indian "bollywood" style show. Believe them. When we fist saw the renderings and lighting plots we surely thought someone was putting one over on us. Not the case. This truly would be the largest gathering of Indian movie/entertainment stars to ever tour outside of India. The lighting design was by two British designers that where very cool guys. The lighting rig consisted of at least 80 moving lights, multiple Soft LED video curtains, and one large video wall in the center. We thought for sure when they saw the price of all the gear that most of it would go away, like it had in other Indian rock shows we had done. Nope instead they cut us a deposit check. Ouch!

Walter and I redrafted the plot so it would be in a format we where used to working with, and got to work figuring out all the data, hardware and what not needed to put this together. When the producers asked if we could provide the hardware to fly in entertainers at two different times we thought we'd heard it all.

The process was a great experience. Kevin Reilly, Walter Holden, and myself all worked on different pieces at the same time. We really utilized the drafting software to it full potential. That was a great experience.

Then came installing the show. We added Greg Kunit to mainly manage the dimmer beach, and a extra pair of eyes never hurts. There where over 70 chain motors, and 9 universes of dmx data for all the moving lights. We got the entire rig in the air, and I had started flashing out the system when we called it a night. The following day we came in early, and I continued ringing out the system. The LD's came in around 12 noon, and saw the rig for the first time.

This was there 3 show on the tour, and it was the first time they had seen the whole rig. So far no one had been able to get the entire system up and running for them. When I told them we had installed it in one day Paul the main LD said "That's normal, 1 day. 1 day for rigging, and 1 day for lighting" When I told him we installed the entire rig, rigging, and lighting in one day the look on his face was the best compliment you can get. "Fuck me" he says. Thanks Paul, we thought so to!

When it came time for the show we had three Grand MA lighting controllers FOH, and 1 GMA light backstage all networked together through a pair of MA NSP's controlling 9 universes of lighting, and 5 universes of MA media servers, and the only thing that connected FOH to backstage was one orange fiber optic cable. This was the most high tech show I'd ever seen. They where truly using the latest and greatest everything on the cutting edge of technology.

When the lights went out and the first entertainer took the stage, and the 15,000 person crowd screemed the scale of the whole thing came into focus. This really was the largest show to come out of India. But when one of the performers flew out over the audience in a steel basket the crowd went absolutely ape shit. To these people it was like seeing The Beatles, Elvis, Madonna, and Barbara Streisand all on the same stage.

When the show was over, and we had packed it up, and put it back in it's three semi trucks the four of us went to a bar in Alameda at 7am, 23 hours after we had started that day. Tequila and Budweiser at 7am. Rockstars.

Here's a link to some online photos. http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/5582382_dpGm3#P-1-12

I have more pic's on my work computer I'll post later.

The other rock show I worked on last weekend was The Outside Lands Festival

Impact did all the backstage VIP, and hospitality tents, and we did one stage. the Sutro stage. That part got handed to me, and I worked with the producers to design something interesting, and cheap. It was a great time. Three days of rock and lighting mainly in the day time. Friday I had Cold War Kids, and Beck, Saturday I closed with Cake, and Sunday Widespread Panic. Only Beck had an LD for the rest I ran the lights. It was a lot of fun, and I hope to get to do some more.

Here's a link to some photos

AFM Round 3 at Sears Point

The weekend of May 24-25th saw the AFM show return to my favorite track Sears Pt.

The weekend started rough as it rained on Saturday. Rain at the end of May - WTF? I only got two practice sessions in, and the track was slippery, and I didn't feel very confident. Then the rain came and that was the end of the day.

Sunday had much better weather, and I put fresh tires on before the morning practice. The track was still very green, and the tires where new so I didn't find out anything new just sort of warmed myself up.

My first race was Race 1 Formula FIV. We have a riders meeting at the end of practice, and the first race starts very shortly after that. So if you're in Race 1 you need to have all your shit together because there just isn't much time. I know that, and my bike was totally prepped and ready. When I got to my grid position I wasn't very focused. Normally at the start of the race I take a second to look around, and formulate a plan on where I want to go on the track. I don't know why but I didn't do that, and as the race started it showed. I got a bad start and went backwards from there. I got passed several times, and only on the last lap did I make one of those back. I was not focused and not confident. I finished something like 21st. The first time I finished behind where I started. What I learned from that race was that I need to take time to narrow my focus, and gather myself up before heading out for the warm up lap.

My second race was Race 9 650 Twins. By the start of race 8 I was in my leathers and sitting in my chair next to my bike just doing laps around the track in my head. Totally focused. We go out on the warm up lap and I feel much more aggressive. I leave early and get to my grid spot on the third row with only a handful of people gridded. This gives me some time to once again narrow my focus. I take note of where I am on the track, and where I want to go. The Formula II race is the first wave and it gives me a chance to watch the starter from my peripheral vision.

When the green flag flies for my race I get a great start and head up the hill with only a few people in front of me. I can't believe how far up front I am and I tell myself to hold a tight line through T2. Well I was so focused on my line I forgot to down shift and I had no drive exiting T2 and I lost a few positions. By the end of lap 1 I was in 10th place with a good chance of a Top 10 finish. On lap three the red flag comes out. Bummer. I go back to my pit, put the tire warmers back on, and sit back down next to my bike, drink some water, and try to maintain my focus. People keep trying to talk to me about the race but I know it's going to restart any minute so I just ignore them and keep focused.

I am totally focussed, and now energized at the possibility of a Top 10 finish. I'm the first one out for the warm up lap, and I'm riding aggressive. I'm the first person to the grid, and I take my spot, and I stay totally focused. This time I'm going to remember to down shift for T2.

The green flag flies, and I get an even better start, and as we head up the hill I'm in 7th. I down shift and stay on the gas. I give up a spot going into T3, and another going into T4, each by guys I know are capable of winning the race so I feel like I'm in rare company. By the end of lap 1 I'm in 9th place ready for a fight to defend my position. By the time we get to T7 the red flag is out race stopped again (more on that later) OK back to the pits and once again try to remain composed and focused. This is the biggest exercise in patience and focus I've ever had. I'm trying to keep my energy level up, but I'm feeling a little dejected like I've missed an opportunity. We go out for our 3rd warm up lap and I'm not riding as aggressively and I notice it. Focus I tell myself. I get to my grid spot, and I try once again to find that composure that I had in the previous race.

Green flag flies, and I don't get the rocket ship start from before but a solid start still. As we head up the hill one of the Twin Works bikes pinches me off the inside and we nearly collide. I have to stand it up to keep from hitting him as two of the leaders run off track having made contact going up the hill. I see them coming across the dirt heading for the track and I wonder if they are going to get stopped in time, and as a result I roll off the gas and a couple of people get by me. DAMN IT I think. OK as we go through 3 and 4 I stay with them and I think I can salvage a Top 10 finish if I can get in front of one or two of them. As we exit T6 onto the back straight I am hard on the gas setting them up for a late braking maneuver, and the face shield on my helmet comes loose. It sucks to be going 100mph with nothing covering your eyes. I try to push it back in place before I need to get on the brakes, and in doing so a few people get by me. I go through turns 7,8, and 8a, and as I head down the hill to T9 I try again to snap the shield back in place as a couple more people get by me. At this point I decide I'm a danger to not only myself but the people around me, and I put my hand up, and pull behind the tires in T9. I wait for the field to go by and I cruise into the pits. DNF

So it was a disappointing weekend. There where some high points. Jim Hoogerhyde won the Formula Singles race. Some of Jim's friends from the Cretin MC came up from LA to race their vintage bikes, and they where super cool guys to hang out with.

At the start of the year I was helping a guy I had met while doing track days get started racing. Last night he sent me a text message saying he was the reason for the red flag after the 2nd start. Reason for red flag Thanks Steve.
Oh well that's racing. We'll get 'em next time at Thunderhill.

As always Thanks to the people that help me go faster.
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's

AFM Round 2 at Sears Point

Round 2 of the AFM season took place at one of my favorite tracks Infineon Raceway, forever known to me as Sears Point April 26-27th.

I went up to the track Friday night to get the pit area all set up, and Werkstatt friends Marie, and Cliff had ridden on Friday and saved me some space.

Saturday morning my first order of business was to get a new rear tire! We only get 4 practice sessions on Saturday so it's important to get up to speed quickly. I had been racing and riding a lot so I'm now comfortable on my bike, and it's time to start to really push to find time. My previous best time on my EX500 was a 1:54.7 which was an epic lap time for that wet noodled race bike. My goal for the weekend was to get into the 52's. I was struggling with my brakes fading after a few laps. It hadn't been bad at Willow because you don't use the brakes much but at Sears you use the brakes alot! After about 4 laps the brakes would fade, and I would need to pull the lever harder and harder to get any bite, and when they would bite, they would come on sudden. I kept trying to adjust the suspension to deal with this sudden and sharp brake hit, but that was the wrong solution. I had run off track in my last lap of several sessions not having enough braking power to get slowed down into T9, and that is not a good feeling. I spoke with many racing veterans about what could be causing this problem, but it was the guys at Galfer that really helped. It turns out that my EBC so called "kit" racing pads had warped after only 2 race weekends, and where having a small but constant drag which would cause the brake fluid to over heat, and thus fade. So even with my brake problems I was running consistant 54's, and best time of '53.7. Not too bad considering the brake problems.

Sunday morning practice was great. The new brake pads from Galfer, and my bead blasted rotors had done the trick. I rode the whole 20 minute session with no brake fade. I felt confident about my possibilities. I was starting 24th in both races based on my finishes in Buttonwillow, and I felt a top 20 was possible.

My first race of the day was race 6 650 Twins. I got a great launch, passed at least a row of bikes and drove up the hill into T2, but like my usual self I gave back more places than I took entering T2. I need to figure out why I suck so badly entering that turn at the start of the race. I settled in and started making passes as soon as we got to T4. I rode hard and clean and passed every bike I could see. The next bike being too far away to catch. I finished 16th with a best time of 1:53.3.

My 2nd race was number 11 Formula IV. It's hard to stay motivated that late in the day, and when the race started I did not have the same determination I did earlier. Once again I got a great launch, and gave it all back in T2. This time I had given up a slight gap to the group in front of me, and I lacked that motivation to go after them. I went around a lap or so with the gap staying the same. Then Alex Florea #49 had a moment going down the hill from 3A to T4, apparently suffering from a cramp. All the bikes behind him checked up, and now all of a sudden they where within reach and I had found my motivation. The next few laps would be some of my smartest racing yet. The wind was blowing hard, and as you approached T7 and I figured I could brake a little later since I wouldn't be going as fast, and the wind would help slow me down. That allowed me to get past a couple of people on each lap. Since there was a head wind going into 7 there was a tail wind going into 9, and I figured I needed to brake earlier. This also allowed me to make some passes, because I think the wind and extra speed spooked the other riders. These are examples of why have good reference points work. I was able to make adjustments mid race to braking points, and take advantage of people. I finished 19th with a best lap of 1:52.2.

That was a great weekend of racing with good results. I I finished top 20 in both my races, and hit my lap time goal of 52's. I look forward to going back to Sears May 24th, and improve even more. I think top 10's could be possible by the end of the season, and maybe even a sub 1:50!.

Thanks to the people that help me go faster.
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's