2005 Race Report 2:

5/7-8/05 - Blackhawk Farms - Rockton, IL


After some LONG months of waiting, we finally took possession of our new "Mobile Mortgage". The thing is beyond description. It is absolutely too cool. Of course, I say that as I'm sitting in it at the track, having just finished home cooked spaghetti, and having had a hot shower, now writing day 1 of the race report:


Me writing THIS report

To back up and make the report good and long... If you recall race report #1 from Road America, I had a minor clutch problem during the last race. Well, I just wanted to make sure everything was okay, and I had some new goodies to put in as well, so I went to pull the clutch. In doing so, I found out that one of the posts inside my new slipper clutch had backed out. I freaked out over it as I thought it was broken and worse yet, I couldn't get it off the bike. I ended up drilling the head off a bolt and it came out. From there it was obvious that I could repair it.

I had the stud removed by a friend at the shop since he had all the stuff to do it, got a new bolt, etc and headed to the garage.

In putting the slipper clutch back together (which is a fascinating contraption of bearings & springs), I shot a spring with a spacer and a C clip on it 'SOMEWHERE' in my garage. I instantly found the spring and the C clip, but the spacer was gone. I looked for about 30 minutes and then decided to move on to putting in the shift kit, figuring I might see the spacer as I did other 'productive' work.

Well, I broke the ONE rule I had about clutch work. I didn't block the oil passage... Sure as hell, I dropped a washer down inside the oil sump...

ARGH.. I spend the next 1 1/2 hours removing the most difficult exhaust system on the planet, to pull out the gazillion bolts holding on the oil pan. I finally got that sorted out and the shift kit in, but now I've still got to have this friggin spacer overnighted pri 1 so I can race.

Fred Renz of Yoyodyne came to the rescue and overnighted me the new parts so I could race with the slipper clutch. Huge thanks goes out to Fred for his support!

I then also found out through the process of putting the clutch in and out of the bike no fewer than 6 times that the reason I had the problem at Road A was because I had the clutch in wrong. The 05 is completely different from the 03/04. A fact I overlooked... Alas, I got it in right and we were ready to go.

Towing the trailer to the track behind the RV was a unique experience. I can't see the trailer when it's being towed straight behind the RV, but things worked out okay. Nose to tail it's about 57' long, so it's quite a rig. However, it handles very well and is quite manageable.

We got to the track about 7:00 on Friday night, pulled in, ran the slide out, leveled it off and we were set up. It was really kind of weird not to have this elaborate 2-3 hour setup experience. But I think I can get used to it.


Saturday 5/7 (today):
I changed the oil last week, so when I went out for practice and got waved in for a smoking bike, I figured it was a little oil that seeped into the headers. I talked to the race director and he allowed me back out. I didn't make but 2 turns and they pulled me off again (after fogging out T1). Running back into the pits, I noticed oil in the belly pan, so we started pulling it apart. I quickly realized that it was coming from the oil filter. Further inspection showed that the oil filter seemed to have a crack in it.

I ran over to the Lithium Motorsports pit and picked up a Vesrah filter and an extra quart of oil. Much thanks to Rob Oliva for his support.

An old friend of mine from Iowa, Kent Jacobs showed up with his brother right on time to lend a hand spinning wrenches. It's always nice to have a pair of mechanical engineers on hand.

The guys got the bike back together and I was able to go out for the 2nd practice. It went quite well. I was ready to race...

Middleweight GP:
First race of the weekend. I was disappointed to be gridded on the last row (row 5 - small grid), so I had to get a good launch. The flag dropped and I got the launch of my LIFE. It was absolutely awesome. I shot past a couple rows of riders. I went to shift to 2nd gear, and hit neutral. I toed at the shifter again and nothing... I looked down and the shifter was just dangling there. I broke the shift rod...

I coasted to the inside of T1 and exited the track, a disappointing and early end to a double-points race I was really looking forward to.

The shift rod was the one supplied by Translogic with their Quickshifter. When I installed it, the thing looked a little flimsy, but I figured it would hold up. I figured wrong.

All my other shift rods were too long, so I took one over to the Lithium crew and Trent cut it down, drilled and tapped it for use. This bolted up perfectly and will be a SOLID, long-term fix. A quick test ride down the pit roads to ensure it all shifts and I parked it for the night.

Looking back, I sure am glad I was gridded on the last row, as having a shift rod break on the launch when you're in the front rows is almost a certain death from behind. Additionally, the lost points were made easier when I consider that the launch was absolutely perfect. At least something in the race went right! lol...

Well, that's all I can write in the race report today. Time to finish watching whatever DVD the wife's got playing and head to bed in a few.. Life's rough I tell ya...


Sunday 5/08/05:
Boy did the weather provide us a TREAT this weekend! It rained quite hard on Friday night, but Sat was dry and now Sun was hot and SUNNY. It's gonna be a good day of racing.

All mechanical issues behind, I ran a couple rounds of practice with no issues, just getting the flow of the track back down. My Bridgestone tires still looked GREAT, so I tried to get one more race out of them.

Heavyweight Supersport:
Another very good launch from row 5, and it's game on! I started picking off the 750's left and right, and getting into a real good groove. I picked up the pace, feeling confident in the whole setup, and came around my buddy Dave Gygax on his 750. I took him on the inside of T6 which is a TIGHT right hander. As I came through the turn, I dialed on the gas and the rear end lit up and stepped WAY out. For a second I thought I was going off the high-side, but I managed to pick the bike up enough to regain traction. After the race Dave came by and commented on how cool the slide was (glad HE enjoyed it).

I backed off quite a bit at that point, realizing that the tire was shot, but still managed a couple more passes on the brakes for a 10th place finish. So now I know the lifespan of a bridgestone medium compound race tire... 6 races... no more. I was in the 7th race (which is a HUGE number on a tire) when it started to slide. I could get into the high 15's or low 16's, but low 15's and it just wouldn't stick.

Back into the pits and I swapped out the set for a fresh pair for the final race of the weekend.


I still can't believe it was 55 degrees colder 2 weeks ago

Middleweight Superbike:
5th row once again. I'm getting pretty good at this whole launching thing on the new bike. I got around everyone I could, but people started packing up early into T1. From there it was GOOD racing. I ended up the entire time, dicing with packs of 3's. I'd come up onto a group and have to weed my way through them, sometimes one would get me back, but I kept moving up. I REALLY need to work on my passing judgments as I ended up parking it in a couple of corners trying to get around people who left me NO room... Pretty frustrating, but that's racing.

On the last corner of the last lap, I slipped up the inside of Lithium Motorsports racer Mark Schnettler and got through T7 just to realize I missed a downshift. I rolled on and there was NO power! ARGH!!! Bang a quick downshift and keep it pinned. Too little too late. Mark came back around me on the inside to steal 8th place from me.

Looking at my lap timer, I ran 2 1:15.1's and a handful of 15.3's. My best time at BHF was a 1:15.1, so to match it while racing in heavy traffic was pretty good. It wasn't the 1:13 I wanted, but that's coming quickly. I just have to get AROUND people & through traffic.

Tear-down and pack up was about a 20 minute effort vice the couple hour ordeal of the past. It was so nice..

Wrap-up:
It was another GREAT weekend of racing. I continue to be impressed by the setup of the new bike and its power. As my confidence continues to build, I'm sure the lap times will drop. I look forward to many more successful weekends.


Much thanks for this weekend goes out to:

1. God - as always!.

2. Lithium Motorsports - Lithium claims to be the largest trackside supplier in the midwest, and this weekend I sure put them to the test with some obscure needs for parts and service. They had it and they were able to do it. I can't say enough about these guys. Rob, Trent and the rest of the crew have one goal. To get you on the track and KEEP you on the track.

3. Kent Jacobs & his brother (sorry Kent's brother, I forgot your name), along with Tom Tracy for coming out to watch and lend a hand!

4. Yoyodyne - Fred Renz. Thanks for the AWESOME delivery, overnight in a huge pinch. You made the weekend Fred!

5. Jen, Tori & Queue. I can't thank you enough for living my dreams. You're the best crew around!

6. PDI - Jim Gentz. Thanks for freshening up my Tirewarmers and changing out the thermostats.

Many other thanks to the friends, fans, sponsors and contributors making this possible for me. You are all in my thoughts.


I love this bike!

Next race weekend 5/28-29 Blackhawk Farms - Rockton, IL


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