7th Race Update

Off to Virginia International Raceway for a double points race weekend with AHRMA. Since AHRMA lost the spot at MidOhio, they decided to have double points for one race in the East (VIR) and one in the West (Miller). Heading to a new-to-me track with a brandy-new fresh motor, I was definitely excited as I pulled out of Kentucky Thursday afternoon.

Faithful readers may recall that I melted a piston at WERA's Road Atlanta race. With a bunch of assistance from Tom Sharp (excellent Triumph race tuner) and parts from all around the country, I rebuilt my race motor. New crank, pistons, cylinder, exhaust cam, clutch basket & plates...valve seats & faces reworked...lightened cam gears...new oil filtration system...and other things I'm sure I'm forgetting. Couldn't wait to get it on the track.

Pre-entries for the Classic 60's 650 class were the best this year - 6 bikes, with Triumph, BSA, Norton, and Harley Davidson all represented. The Goodpasters on their fast Nortons were coming, as well as Chad Bebout, a fellow racer whose exploits helped prompt me into racing myself.

Arriving at the track outside of Danville, VA, I immediately liked the look of it. Sure, we were on the South Course instead of the North, where WERA was having it's Cycle Jam, but the long straight, elevation changes, and technical corners looked tasty, and the pavement appeared to be in good shape. Setting up my pit and preparing for the afternoon practice, several racers mentioned how tricky the track was. This was going to be fun!

Paid my $50, ran the bike thru tech, and suited up for the after lunch practice. My brand new clutch, which I had set up like a million clutches before, slipped drastically immediately after I got on track. I made it around the track once and pitted in. And my brand new motor had a leak or two. I adjusted the clutch, tightened up a few items, and headed back out. This time I made two laps. Adjustment wasn't going to fix the clutch. Off with the primary cover and crank down on the springs. Of course the plates, which were brand new 3 laps ago, are now questionable. Went looking for the leak, found it, and missed the last practice trying to seal it up. Great - $50 for 3 laps. Nobody calls this a cheap hobby, that's for sure.

Saturday morning I'm ready for first practice. As I head up the hill towards the blind turn 1, I have to see if the clutch is going to hold, so I grab a healthy handful of throttle. The clutch holds. The motor is STRONG. THIS is what it's about! With an operating clutch and a honking motor, I start trying to figure out the track.

Long straight past start finish, uphill to turn one. Don't slow down at the 5 marker just because you can't see the turn. Around 1-2, up shift through a bend to the esses. Just because you can't see the esses as you approach them in third is no reason not to hang off and point it to the apex. It was there last time, it's gotta be there again. Down the rollercoaster esses to the left hand sweeper, power out, then get back down into 2nd for the u-turn. Get all the throttle you can, up to 4th, and STAY IN IT through that bend that everyone is slowing down for. It's a wide open corner, you just have to have the balls to do it. Slow down for 11a but not too soon, then bend it around the oaktree turn back on to the front straight. Yes, the oaktree is right there at the apex of the turn. Hope not to run off to the inside - not likely.

Clutch started slipping again after 4 laps. Came in and rummaged through the pits for a new set of clutch plates and heavy duty springs. Ran the second session to familiarize myself with the track more, then a quick clutch job over lunch for the race. Leak is contained but weeping so get some oil diapers on it - it'll make the race.

I'm in the fourth race after lunch. The Nortons didn't show up, and I have mixed feelings about that. Happy, because they just made my day easier, yet disappointed since I wanted to test my bike and myself against them.

Green flag drops and we're off, heading up the hill. I get a great start and am drag racing with the K model HD of Jon Schultz. I drop in behind him for a bit, then pass on the inside of the sweeping left. In the lead, everything is working good, excellent.

A lap or two later, zooming along doing my thing, something hits the shifter. Heeled over in the esses, I glance down at my right boot. Oh no. The oil filter mount, retained by one bolt, is now loose. And the oil filter is dangling by the hoses on the track.

For a split second I entertained the thought of hacky-sack kicking the filter up onto the "shelf" behind the cylinders on my motor and continuing on. Then I came to my senses and got myself WAY off the track. I definitely didn't want to be THAT guy, the one that oils the track down, ruining the day for everybody. So I black flagged myself and had a great seat for the rest of the race.

Having completed a few laps, I was scored in fourth, with the BSA taking the win and two HDs following. A disappointing result, when I was well ahead in the race, but I felt good about a) the bike b) my riding and c) doing the right thing instead of being stupid.

Back to the paddock to watch some racing. Saw some great battles, cheered on my friends, and drank every drop of water and diet coke in the cooler. Did I mention it was eleventybillion degrees in the shade on the black top?

Sunday everything was wired and tightened and ready to go. Due to the heat, practice was only one round and racing began immediately after. My race was the last race completed before the lunch break at 11.

While getting suited up, I noticed something. My right knee puck was getting pretty worn down. I was touching a knee in 3 or 4 of the right handers. But my left puck was untouched. I recalled the exhaust touching in the left hand sweeper, so I know the bike was leaned way over, but obviously I wasn't getting my body over. Here was something to work on in the race.

Gridded up for the race and one of the HDs was missing - seized a piston in race 1. "To finish first, first you must finish." Or show up, at least. Attrition is a killer. The race was a bit anti-climatic - I got out in front and stayed there. Never saw anyone in my class after the start, and ended up racing with a Norton Manx, leader of the class gridded ahead of us. It gave me someone to chase. Got my left knee down. Shaved 4 seconds off my best lap times from the day before, and more importantly, my lap times were very consistent.

Due to the early start, I was on the road by noon my time, and home by 8:30 pm, which was nice. Adding up the points, I've got a healthy lead for the championship. I'm only doing one more AHRMA race - the finale at Barber - since I can't afford to go to Miller or Sandia this year. Time for a few improvements on the bike.