YAMAHA_Jim
01-11-2004, 05:20 PM
Saturday night was my first race in a 5 race series. Friday night I went to the track to practice.The bastids charged $30 to practice.I got to go out 4 times to practice,8 laps each.The first time I went out the blaster hooked up better than I thought it would.I was sticking to the turns very well.The 3rd time I went out,I slid into the wall every lap b/c someone in the practice trailprotrailpro me blew an oil line on his cannondale and covered the track w/ oil.The track crew cleaned it up as best they could but it was still like being on ice.The last lap I slid into the wall very hard and bent my axle and rim.It was still rideable so I went out again just to get in some laps and it hooked up good.(the track was cleaned off by then).I got home around 11:30 and stayed up until 1AM in a zero degree garage changing my axle and smashing my rim back into shape with a 3' 6x6 piece of wood.The rim is now oval shaped and the bead is smashed in,but the tire turns fairly straight.
Saturday I got to the track a few hours early to make some new friends and get familiar with the race schedule.The bastids charged me $12 for admission and $35 to race,,,jeez,back when i raced bikes it only cost $20 to race and riders didnt have to pay an admission fee.There were 9 guys in my class(novice).About 200-225 bike/quad riders showed up.The pits were small and cramped.I went out for practice and the blaster was sliding out and I couldnt get through the turns for crap.I lowered the airpressure in the left front tire to help it turn better. I took 3rd in my heat race(6 laps) and just made it into the main.My competition was a 400ex,yfz450,warrior,and quadracer.I started in the back row and was in 2nd place in the 2nd turn.I held second place behind the 400ex until the 2 lap sign came out,then I slid out wide in a turn and the yfz got by me on the inside.I wasnt worried b/c I knew i was safe with 3rd.The 400ex(#16) left us in the dust.
After that was over I flattened the front tire and lowered the left rear to about 1 lb.,just enough to stay on the rim.I had along wait until the main so I went out to watch the races and hang out with GMAN,his son and a few other friends.It was cold as a mofo on the bleachers.
When I came out for the main,I was again in the 2nd row on the outside for the start(6 quads,3 infront and 3 in back). It was me,400ex(#16),a different yfz450(#211),another blaster(#7),a banshee,and i forgot what the other was.The yfz450 was on the pole.When the green light came on I was like a madman on a mission,lol. I was in 3rd place on the back straight on lap 1.Everyone slid out in the first and second turn.Running both inside tires flat helped out alot.Then on the next lap I moved into 2nd and started to chase down the 450 but he had a whole straight away on me.I looked back to see who was behind me and there was no one even close.I was catching the 450 but ran out of laps before i could challenge him.He beat me by about 15 or 20'.We talked after the race and I told him I didnt feel bad getting beat by a yfz450,,,as long as it wasnt a honda,lol
I cant wait until next saturday.I might put my right front shock back on to see if it works better than the strut.I also need to look into getting a new rim/s :)
I also met a guy w/ a flamed out yellow Z400 that knows John R. and Chris D. He said those 2 are absolutely crazy and no one can touch them on the ice on their trikes,lol. he said any quad that goes on the ice falls victim to the atc250r and 350x,lol
Heres a few pics from the race.My friend that took the pics wasnt a good photographer so the action shots didnt come out too good.Hope to get better action pics next time.
Saturday I got to the track a few hours early to make some new friends and get familiar with the race schedule.The bastids charged me $12 for admission and $35 to race,,,jeez,back when i raced bikes it only cost $20 to race and riders didnt have to pay an admission fee.There were 9 guys in my class(novice).About 200-225 bike/quad riders showed up.The pits were small and cramped.I went out for practice and the blaster was sliding out and I couldnt get through the turns for crap.I lowered the airpressure in the left front tire to help it turn better. I took 3rd in my heat race(6 laps) and just made it into the main.My competition was a 400ex,yfz450,warrior,and quadracer.I started in the back row and was in 2nd place in the 2nd turn.I held second place behind the 400ex until the 2 lap sign came out,then I slid out wide in a turn and the yfz got by me on the inside.I wasnt worried b/c I knew i was safe with 3rd.The 400ex(#16) left us in the dust.
After that was over I flattened the front tire and lowered the left rear to about 1 lb.,just enough to stay on the rim.I had along wait until the main so I went out to watch the races and hang out with GMAN,his son and a few other friends.It was cold as a mofo on the bleachers.
When I came out for the main,I was again in the 2nd row on the outside for the start(6 quads,3 infront and 3 in back). It was me,400ex(#16),a different yfz450(#211),another blaster(#7),a banshee,and i forgot what the other was.The yfz450 was on the pole.When the green light came on I was like a madman on a mission,lol. I was in 3rd place on the back straight on lap 1.Everyone slid out in the first and second turn.Running both inside tires flat helped out alot.Then on the next lap I moved into 2nd and started to chase down the 450 but he had a whole straight away on me.I looked back to see who was behind me and there was no one even close.I was catching the 450 but ran out of laps before i could challenge him.He beat me by about 15 or 20'.We talked after the race and I told him I didnt feel bad getting beat by a yfz450,,,as long as it wasnt a honda,lol
I cant wait until next saturday.I might put my right front shock back on to see if it works better than the strut.I also need to look into getting a new rim/s :)
I also met a guy w/ a flamed out yellow Z400 that knows John R. and Chris D. He said those 2 are absolutely crazy and no one can touch them on the ice on their trikes,lol. he said any quad that goes on the ice falls victim to the atc250r and 350x,lol
Heres a few pics from the race.My friend that took the pics wasnt a good photographer so the action shots didnt come out too good.Hope to get better action pics next time.