Finishes Unlimted Racing

2008 News and Reports

Read News and Reports from 2007

AFM Round 5 Infineon	I'm very pleased to say that my lovely wife was able to join me at the track for this round of racing, I and everyone else really missed her at the last round. New for this weekend we had the great guys at www.bapcycles.com do the mapping on the 999's fuel injection. I was really excited by their attention to details in there and Scott's ability to find the extra horsepower that we desperately needed for the weekend. We arrived at Infineon Friday morning without our beloved HPD 1098 that was still undergoing repairs, instead we had our 2006/2007 season steed the 05 999. The 999 hasn't been ridden for a year and I'm hoping to get familiar with it as quick as possible. That was not to be, due to a mix up with the tire vender, I slapped on an old Dunlop instead of an Ntec and we played all day on the wrong tire pressure. As exciting as riding with 9 psi low rear tire is it did nothing for riding. We even tried tuning the suspension to that tire before we figured out what the problem was. So that meant Saturday practice was spent with the correct tire pressure and time had to be spent resetting the suspension, Great fun! Thanks for the help Zip and Dave. Come Sunday morning we were still trying to dial in the bikes suspension but I managed to pull off a 1:45 in morning practice which really got me pumped up for the day. Open Grand Prix: Race one for us today was Open Gp, I gridded on P14 (outside 3rd row), my points suffered in this class because I was unable to run this race at the previous round. Motors rev up, green flag drops, and off we go! I definitely didn't nail this start and I hopped the front wheel a couple times, but once I got it down I passed everyone back that got me before turn 2. By the end of the race I only managed to gain a few spots and ended up 11th out of 26 riders and putting down a 1:56. Not the best but I'm still please because this is my 999 against the inline 1000s. Open Superbike: Race two for us today was Open Superbike, I gridded P16 (middle of 4th row), again I was unable to run this class in the last round so I was farther back then I would have liked. Definetly looking for a better start to this race, revs are up, green flag drops and we blast off the line. This is where things go bad, as everyone rounds the corner and heads up the hill one of the lead bikes blows his motor. The bike spews oil all over the track, bikes are going down all around, bikes are in the dirt, riders sliding across the track. Just super ugly! I did not take this video but I am in there http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFkzY2URVb4 needless to say I did get caught up in this mess, I avoided contact to the bitter end but wound up falling over in the soft dirt at the guardrail when my bike came to stop. I got pinned under the bike and my left leg was smashed pretty good, with no broken bones. Thank you Jessy Carter for picking up my bike! There were people much worse off then me so I just waived off the ambulance guys to help the people who weren't moving much. When I was able I picked myself up I rode back in. I was not physically able to re-enter this race. Open Twins: Luckily Open Twins was the second to last race of the day, after the afternoons crash I just sat in my pits icing the leg taking Motrin and Tylenol. Not sure If I would be able to ride I put on my leathers and gave the bike a try in the pits. surprisingly enough I could actually shift, I could hardly stand on the leg but I could shift. 'I'm gonna give it a try' at least the warm up lap and if I can ride I'll come in. Well once I was out there the adrenaline kick in and I had to do it. Line up on the front row with my boys and locked my visor down. Green flag dropped, I launched, not well, I had trouble shifting but not to bad. A few people from behind definitely got by me but that only fueled my need to continue even more. The first two laps were spent finding the limitations of riding with the pain, shifting was difficult and left turns just plain hurt. Once I was in a rhythm I started picking people off, where and when I can't remember, but for sure on the brakes in 7 and 9. I do remember having a good dice with Ace, and trying to hold off an old friend that was on me the entire race, good show guys. I squeeked out an 8th place finish and managed some 1:47s with one good leg. Best part was that by going out I put myself back into 5th overall in the Open Twins points! Most of all I just got back out there and did it, for me and for my family that was there that saw the bad accident. Really wanted them to know that I would be alright. Monday and Tuesday my leg and ankle were huge, but by Wednesday things are really improving. Thank you to Zip, Dave, Cheryl, Chris, Domonique, Pops and Macy for the great help could not have done it without you (especially packing the trailer).

AFM Round 4 Thunderhill	What a great weekend to be racing at Thunderhill, hot but not to hot, sunny, everyone is there having a great time. Everyone but my wife that is, because of Cheryl's chemo treatment this is my first race weekend without her for 4 years. Because of these circumstances I am very anxious to do well, and with the bike that HPD has supplied me it shouldn't be a problem. Prior to the weekend we got the HPD 1098 running and handling the best it has ever run. tune up from the shop and a day and a half on the dyno has the bike running smooth everywhere. The spring was changed out in the rear and is handling better then ever. All this with a little change in riding style thanks to the advice of a good friend, and I'm riding with full confidence. First practice session Saturday morning and I match my fastest time of 1:57. Second Practice session of the day and I set my personal best lap time at 1:56 and I know where I can make improvements. Third practice session of the day and we break, bike is done, a nut came off the cam gear and made big problems, we decide not to make it worse and park the bike. Unfortunately I ventured up to Thunderhill without my back up bike, as it was still in the shop, so Craig McLean let me use his 848 in Open Twins. I only got one one practice session on the 848 and managed a 1:59, was hoping to see 1:57 in the race but didn't happen. The race was getting under way so I clicked into first and revved it up to 7grand (usually do 5grand on the 1098), green flagged dropped and I went backwards. I should have launched at a higher RPM cause I barely got off the line. At that point I had to fight my way back up with not so much HP at a horsepower track. Manage to salvage my points standings and come in 9th, not where I wanted to be, but we stayed in 6th overall. Thanks Craig for letting me use your bike, and thanks Pat for offering yours!

AFM Round 3 Infineon Raceway	Saturday Practice Coming into this weekend of racing I'm pretty excited because I had a great track day prior working on some hurdles and had good success. In only one practice session before we get rained out for the day I do a 1:47 on old tires, unfortunately that would be it till race day. Open Superbike In Open Superbike I start from P-15 get a great start and hold my own against the inlines for once. I felt really comfortable at a quicker pace and finished P-15(out of 40) with a 1:46. Open twins In open Twins I started from P-4 on the front row, got a great launch and was in third place untill turn 4 where Matt Green went on my inside. Feeling really comfortable doing 1:45-1:46s I was able to hold onto 4th for most of the race with Scott Schawnbeck on my ass for most of the race. At about lap 6 or 7 out of 8 I started fall of just a tad and let Scott get by me then on the last lap Pat Blackburn got through. I ended up finishing P-6(out of 24) totally satisfied with the improvements that I have made with this track. Infineon had been my weakest track since I started riding the 1098 now I feel like I have broke the curse with a 1:45 pace without feeling uncomfortable. Open GrandPrix In OpenGP I started P-16 and had a hilarious race I ran off twice in two different braking zones regained behind everyone and just stayed out there to have some fun. Even though I had to re-enter the track behind the whole field I still managed to finish P-23(out of 36) and have fun doing it.

AFM Round 2 Infineon Raceway	Saturday Practice Entering into this weekend I knew I had many hurdles to overcome. I haven't come to grips with the 1098 on this track yet, and have not been able to beat the lap times from riding the 999. Practice was lack luster but felt fairly good, matching race times from the last time I was there on the 1098. My main struggling point has been getting proper feedback from the bike on corner exits, mental maybe, but a big struggle non the less. Sunday Race Day Open Superbike In Open Superbike I started P-20 and ended P-20(out of 38) after the red flag restart, and only managed a 1:48. Short vid of that red flagged lap here http://www.youtube.com/user/hwy1and17 Open Twins In open Twins I started P-4 and in the second wave behind the Open Production grid. I had a good start from the front row but steadily went backwards due to the fact that my 1:48s were not going to hold anybody back. I ended that race in P-9(out of 25) Open GrandPrix In Open GP I started P-16 second wave behind 750 Production. This race was at least fun, dicing through traffic and trying to figure out who you were racing with. Vid here http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6121496115619617271 I managed to finish P-14(out of 29) with a best lap time of 1:49.

AFM Round 1 Buttonwillow 3/23/08	Saturday Practice We arrived at Buttonwillow early enough Friday night to get set up and ready for the weekend Friday night, setting the pace for a nice relaxing weekend. We had made some changes to the bike during the off season that really helped me become more comfortable with the bike so I was really anxious to get out and practice on Saturday. Saturday morning first race weekend of the season brought all the normal extra tech stuff that filled up the morning, with that out of the way problem free, I was ready for practice. The weather was perfect high 60s in the morning and low 80s in the afternoon. I quickly got up to pace, which is important because we only get four 20 minute sessions on Saturday. Before lunch I was practicing at a 1:55 pace, which was slightly faster then last years race times, exactly what we needed entering into Sunday. Sunday Morning Another beautiful morning in the desert, clear skies, great temps, bikes ready to go, and the energy in the pits is high... It's race day! One round of practice and we're reading to go racing! Open Twins First race on the schedule for us Sunday morning is Open twins. I finished 7th in points last year so I'm gridded on the inside of the second row, sixth position out of 20+ riders. Warm up lap out of the way, on my grid spot, motor revving at 7grand, clutch lever held to it's release point, bike is aching to launch! Green flag drops and off we go... Get a good, start not the best, I have the inside line so I'm a little cautious entering turn 1 then we starting forming are line for turn 2, think at that point I'm like 7 or 8. We are not 4 turns into the race when the red flag flies. When we all come to a stop on the track at the "bus stop" we look to turn one and there's a mess of bikes down. All I can say is that I'm really glad it wasn't me and I hope no one was seriously injured. So back to the grid we go, and I stage the bike for launching once again... Green flag drops I slip the clutch, roll on the gas, float the front end, and into the first corner we go. I managed to land myself in 7th position by turn 2 once again. This race is feeling good I'm having fun, let the tires get one good lap in them and I set off to pass me some riders. Brian Parriot is on a barrowed 848 currently running in 4th and holding us up (positions 5-7), obviously the bike is sliding around and he can't get it going fast just yet, I think these laps were only in the 1:56s. I know I can go much quicker so I make my move around positions 6 and 7 can't remember where but now I'm behind position 4 and pass him on the inside of turn three (cotton corners). Didn't pay much attention to who else made it through but I should have because both of the guys I just passed made it through as well. Needless to say when I got passed Brian I knew I would have to ride my brains out to stay ahead of him before he adapted to that 848 (I mean he could probably beat me on a Buell Blast), that being said I put down a 1:54 my fastest lap at Buttonwillow ever. At this point the race is coming to an end and as I pass the waving white flag I didn't look at Zip for signals I was concentrating to much and starting to get tired, I ran wide in turn 2 and Schwanny came through. I tried in cotton corners to get him back, I tried in lost hills to get him back, I tried in AFM corner to get him back, and turn 11, and the front straight but couldn't pull it off. He beat me by half a second, on the cool down lap I saw that one of the front runners had a mechanical so basically me and Schwanny were racing for the last spot on the podium. What a hoot, great fun, can't wait for the next round, the guys in Open Twins are just great safe riders! Open Grand Prix Second race of the day for us is Open Grand Prix right after lunch, I finished 12 or so in points last year and some how ended up on position 8 for the start of this race. Green flag drops on this race and I wheelie a little to much giving up valuable spots. By the time we're exiting turn two I think I went back to 15th at least. I give the tires one good lap to warm up and as we enter the front straight for the first time I am on the gas and setting up to pass three bikes at once at the end of the straight and through turn 1. I have a huge head of steam going down the front straight and as I approach the three bikes in turn 1 they all scatter and I see a waving yellow with a bike off course. I am on the far right, hand full of brakes, no where to go, back wheel bouncing off the pavement, and I can't turn in... Straight off through the dirt I go, photographer runs to get out of my way, rider that was down doesn't even see me coming, I gather it up, get it turn around and back on track. By this time the entire feild has gone by and I am dead last out of 36+ bikes, this race is done now I practice passing. I made it up to 22nd in this 6 lap race, best lap time in the 1:55's through traffic, had fun and was really glad that the dirt in turn one was smooth. Open Superbike Second to last race on Sunday afternoon Open Superbike, don't have much for points in this race and start way back in the 20s on the grid. Green flag drops on this one and I bunny hop my way to turn one, not the fastest way there, but we get there. Not "feeling it" in this race I do the best I can, make my way around a few riders, catch up to a friend and try to find my way around him. That doesn't work out, I'm getting tired and lazy out there so I'm not willing to take any risky moves, can't even get below 1:57s so I just bring it in 23nd out of 31 riders. the fact that I was the first twin to finish doesn't make me feel much better. This class along with Open Gp lacks the fun factor for me, maybe cause I don't know the riders, or because they out power me in the straights. I don't know I'm sure if i did better it would be more fun, so I'll keep blugging away at these inlines and see if I can't make something out of the rest of the season.