The racing gods were smiling

[Bob Broussard]

This weekend was race #3 for the season at Infineon Raceway (Sonoma).
Saturday was all day practice. It was overcast and VERY windy.
During the first session, my bike was running pretty good. But it seemed to loose some power heading out of turn 11 onto the straight. It kept running but didn't have the grunt on the straights. I figured it was the strong headwind effecting performance. I did my usual 2 sessions and decided to call it a day. That's when things got interesting.

I had this annoying oil leak around the front of the head (GSXR). I traced it down to the area where the oil cooler line connects to the motor. As I tried to
remove the hose, the 90 degree fitting snapped off     :x
I thought I was screwed, where am I going to find a speed shop at 1:30 Saturday afternoon on a holiday weekend :dunno:
I went into this shop that sells racing memorabilia at the track. The guy made a call to a shop in Sonoma. The shop was closed, but the owner was there!!!
I got directions and drove up there. The shop was awesome. Drawers full of every fitting you could imagine. Got back to the track and fixed the problem (and the leak ).
But wait. That was too easy.
Took the bike out for 1 last session to check out the leak. Started my 3rd lap when it crapped out and lost power :x  :x
Had to wait till the crash truck brought the bike in. Took off the igniton rotor cover to see if I broke a crank. The ignition plate was loose and 1 post was bent (explaining the early power loss). Crank seemed fine.
Replaced the plate and pickups. Fired it up and watched the rotor spinning. Sounded healthy. Good to go, right?  :dunno:
Sunday morning
1 practice session only before racing starts. Got a late start in my session, but got out for at least a couple laps. About 3/4 lap it takes a shaZam! :x  :x
It was the crank all along. It finally snapped completely :nana:
Had no choice but to put the trusty old (and I mean old) 2 valve motor.
My race was next to last, so it was no mad rush.
My main concern was the new 39FCR carbs working with this motor.
I ran it in the hot pit area, and they worked great    
I still knew I had my work cut out for me. So I had a new Dunlop slick put on the rear (200.00). Only had 1 race weekend on the old tire, but I needed every advantage I could muster. The competition has really stepped it up this year.
Just before I went out in a warmup lap to scrub the tire in, someone crashed and oiled the track down. Took awhile to clean it up, so the remaining races were told 7 laps instead of 8  
1 less lap to hold off the dogs.
We have multiple classes on track in most races. 500 twins is gridded behind formula II (250 2 stroke GP bikes). There was 54 riders in F II.
They take off first while we wait. Finally we get the green.
I take off in the lead with A SV 500 (650 supposedly downsized ) on my ass. As I exit turn 2, I look up at 3 and see the tailenders of F II (this is going to be interesting). At the top of 3A is the nasty oil spot from earlier. Managed to avoid it this time. Went through 4/5/6 pushing hard.
On the straight between 6 and 7 took a look back. Got a very small gap to 2nd (no time to slack off). Passing tailenders without problems so far.
Head out of 7 to 8 and 8A, over the rise down into the AMA turn 9.
Sliced through 3-4(per lap) F II bikes as I dive into turn 9. Out of 9 hard on the gas, up 3 gears while turning through turn 10. On the brakes hard (rear wheel in the air) down 2 gears into turn 11. Wide open down the straight and up into turn 1. So far so good.  As I worked through the pack of F II bikes it got a bit harder to get passed them clean. Had to muscle my way through a couple.. Got hosed a couple times out of 7 up to 8A a couple laps, letting my class catch up what I had gained. I always made up for by stuffing it into 9 and leave the guys behind stuck in traffic :lol:
I was pushing extremely hard and was overevving the motor to make up things. As I started the last lap coming out of turn 2 the motor was loosing power    I'm sure it was broken valve springs. Probably floated them contacting piston and bending a valve. Had to ease up or risk breaking a valve and not finishing. I know I was loosing ground, but I managed to hang on mainly by insane late braking into corners. 1 more lap and I might not have finished  
SO I WON !!
Just goes to show ya, luck plays a huge part. If 1 thing went the wrong way I would have been screwed.
Now I have 2 motors to fix, but that's what it takes to be on top
If you watched the AMA superbike race on Speedvision, you can get a hint of what the track is like. Still doesn't show the elevation changes or off camber turn 2.
Check out www.afmracing.org for schedule and results

[Kerry]

I WON !!

WOO HOO!

Congrats, Bob -- and a great write up!  

['04gs500f]

congratulations, did you win anything besides a title?

[pantablo]

SO I WON !!
Just goes to show ya, luck plays a huge part.

Luck my ass. You won because you are good, even under duress. Smart racing, smart mechanic. Congratulations Bob. that was a great read! God I CANT wait to get on the track again...

 

[Roadstergal]

Wooo-hooo!     That was a fun read... hey, if you're going to have to rebuild two engines, good on you for having the victory to think about while you're doing it.

[Bob Broussard]

congratulations, did you win anything besides a title?

No title yet. Season is still young, but so far so good.
All I get is a trophy for the race. And to be honest, I thought the one this weekend kinda sucked. It was a round plastic hockey puck.
I know they're trying to do different things, but 3rd place could have been a medallion on a chain as small as it was.
The last race was a nice base with a motorcycle sculpture on top, that was pretty cool. I want something big and shiny for risking my life :guns:  

[pantablo]

congratulations, did you win anything besides a title?

I want something big and shiny for risking my life :guns:  

make it yourself, incorporating the actual trophy you got. When I was racing bicycles my wife couldnt believe how bad most of the trophies were. For my birthday one year she took a couple of the trophies I got (the ones of my favorite races) and had 'proper' trophies made. It was special. get your wife on board Bob!

Its not like faking a win. You actually DID win.

[weaselnoze]

man i was on the edge of my chair the whole time i was reading!

[dgyver]

BobB & his GS

Keep it up!  

[octane]

Nice work!!  

[The Buddha]

Yea that was a fair and square win ... inspite of nasty surprises from the bike ...
If a motor was ever to go on a bike I was riding ... I'd never I think try to ease up to finish ... I'd pull over and try to fix it ... which is why I am not a racer ... that ... and yea the fact that I weigh 235 lbs and have the agility of an Overweight hippo ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[scratch]

And another WOO HOO!!

That was great Bob! What a great way to start out a season! I've got to make it out there this year to watch!

[conflicttheorist]

That was more exciting than playing mariocart!  Makes me want to hit the track.

[TheGoodGuy]

oh the next race i am goign to come cheer on you bob.. last year it was washed out .. this year im makng sure im there.

[Blueknyt]

we need to toss abunch of 1's into a hat and get you rigged with a bullet cam so you can bring back Video for us.

[70 Cam Guy]

And another WOO HOO!!

That was great Bob! What a great way to start out a season! I've got to make it out there this year to watch!

Same here!  I should have checked the schedule

Congrats and I hope you continue to do well this season

[Bob Broussard]

I'll be at Thunderhill raceway on June 19. and again on July 17. It's gonna be way too hot but that's the schedule.
That's in Willows CA., north of Sacramento on hiway 5. Not the most spectator friendly track.
We go back to Infineon on Aug. 13/14 and one more time in Oct.
Saturday Aug. 13 is our annual 4 hr endurance race. I hope to be riding the trick A-n-D framed Kawasaki 500. Then on Sunday is our regular round of races. I think the sidecars will race that weekend too.
You can be sure the weather will co-operate this time.
Security is alot more intense at the gate than before, but the fee is still only $10. That might even be for the weekend, so you can come Sat. and Sun.

[dgyver]

A little OT...Bob, are you running an air filter with the flatslides?

[84TAVeRT]

do you ever race at Hallett in oklahoma?

[Bob Broussard]

I have Uni pod filters on my carbs. New bike will have a ram air box once I figure out how to mold the intake snorkels.

The only out of state race I've done was in Las Vegas last year. I might be doing a race there with Greg Gabis this month :dunno:
I wish I could travel around and try some other tracks, but that takes time and money. Both of which are in short supply