5th Race Update

AHRMA Grattan June 20/22 Racing update - AHRMA Grattan

It's been a busy and exciting month, with back to back to back races, and I've fallen a bit behind on the updates since returning from Road America.

10 1/2 hours on the road back from Wisconsin gave me plenty of time to think and consult tuning gurus. The bike just wasn't pulling like it ought to on top. I'd chased it with jetting and it had improved, but it still didn't pull as well as last year's bike. Talking with Tom Sharp, a very successful Triumph tuner in AHRMA, made me question my cam timing. I hadn't degreed the cams in, just used the standard timing marks, and Tom's advice sent me in pursuit of more precise cam timing.

Back to back to back weekends don't leave much time for working on anything. Monday I checked and inspected, Tuesday I adjusted, and Wednesday I loaded the trailer. Thursday after work we hooked the trailer to Carl Andersen's van and headed to Lexington to pick up Brad Davis. I carpooled this time to share the costs and the driving.

We arrived at Grattan to threatening skies. Having skidded off the track last year in the wet, I decided to forego the Friday practice and hope for sunny skies on Saturday.

Grattan is a technically challenging track, with a variety of elevation changes and turns. Off camber uphill lefts, blind jumps leading to tight downhill rights into esses into the banked bowl, a hairpin so tight it's called the Bus stop, all add up to one of my favorite tracks. You can't run away with just horsepower on this track, although there is a decent length front straight.

Saturday's practice was dry enough. There was a noticeable improvement in power as well, so degreeing the cam in definitely helped. The competition for the weekend was once again the very fast Nortons of the Goodpasters.

We lined up for the race and drag raced to the first corner when the flag dropped. I got a decent launch but the Nortons were in the lead. I kept pace with them for the first two laps, losing ground on the front straight, gaining it back on the corners, when the rear end did a wiggle in turn two. And not a rear tire slide type of wiggle....it felt like the axle was loose or the wheel suddenly pointed the wrong way. No water on the track, looked at my boots for oil, but didn't see anything. I eased around a couple of corners regaining my confidence. Of course the competition had left by then. Sooo, came home in third somewhat disgusted with myself.

Watched Pat Hansen ride his race in Production heavyweight. If he could just find some ground clearance he'd be dangerous! Seems like another racer has joined the ranks. It's an addiction, I tell ya...

Found a loose swingarm pivot to blame for the sudden unease in turn two. Also found an extended brake arm binding on the front, and rearranged my rear brake (which I now actually have to use, darn drum brakes!).

Saturday afternoon at Grattan the track always has a BBQ dinner for the racers. Another one of the nice touches that makes Grattan a favorite. Now, if they would just remodel the bathrooms.

Sunday I went out in practice and ran better times than I had in Saturday's race. Funny what confidence in your suspension and brakes will do for you. Plus more track time always helps.

I kept both Nortons in sight the entire race on Sunday. A Sportsman 500 bike got between me and the Nortons. We passed each other back and forth but I couldn't get around him to put a move on. At the end, they were 4 seconds ahead. Our best lap times for the race were all within 1 second. I was much happier with this 3rd place, where I did all I and the bike could do, than I was with Saturdays. But the points count the same, I guess.

Pat had another good race, with a couple of "pucker" moments from hanging hard parts on the tarmac. We even got Doug out on the track for some of the parade laps held at lunch time. Pat's been trying to talk Doug into joining us - looks like its working.

A decent showing for the two back to back weekends - a string of third places, and improving all the while. I still lead the Classic 60's 650 class in points - the two wins at Roebling and Daytona gave me a good head start for the season. VIR is the next AHRMA event, and it's paying double points since we're not running at MidOhio this year. The Goodpasters have said they'll be at VIR, so I need to beat them there, for sure!

Next episode: Melting motors in the heat at Road Atlanta