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I had the last two rounds of the CMRA this weekend - it was cold (just barely over freezing), and Sunday was cold and wet.
I, thankfully, borrowed some tire-warmers from a friend who opted out of racing in those conditions.
Saturday (round 5)
I got my very first real tank-slapper next to two concrete walls... that was fun, in a omg-imma-crap-my-pants sort of way. Thankfully it was during practice, and there was no one right on my butt or trying to pass me.
I went out on practice laps, and came back to the pits only to find that the zip-tie that help my brake lines to my forks had snapped, and as such, the lines got caught in the tires and rubbed the stainless steel braids down to the plastic line. Skeeeetchy! Got those duct-taped up, and re-zip-tied, and went out for my first race.
There was something wrong with the electrical system, as in mid-corner, the power shut off for 1-2 seconds, then would come back on. It happened twice in the same corner. The first time, it hucked my leg and arm off the bike, and I smashed my ribs into my tank (I have a pretty bruise), but I managed to keep her up. The next lap, same corner, it shut off again... I felt it starting to go for the flick, but I kept on her this time. Then, at the end of the straight, it happened again.
It wasn't my most graceful of races, that's for sure!
So, at the end of the race, the crew ripped off some fairings to take a look for shorts, but couldn't find anything. Another racer said that the power commander had been giving him and his teammate some issues, so we yanked it (only to find that the bottom of the case was slightly melted... awesome). So, hoping that was the issue, I went out for my next race.
Again, it cut out on me, mid-corner. So, apparently, the power commander wasn't the issue.
I did the race without much further incident.
Again, the crew pulled the bike apart in search of other problems, cut the power to the bank-angle-sensor, and we left it there until Sunday morning.
Sunday, it rained. For anyone who doesn't know, Race City is not the best laid out track. There are tonnes of drainage issues. There were lakes all over the place. On the inside of corners 2 and 3, across the entrance and exit of the chicane, on the exit of the carousel, across the chute, and all down along the concrete wall of the front straight (right where you have to ride to avoid the VHT... which i forgot on my first lap of my first race =/ )
So, was geared up in my rain gear all ready to take the bike out for rain practice after the bike was doused in di-electric grease and put back together, only to find out that I had no brakes.
The line had torn when the wires were being re-routed. So, with an hour to race-time, one of the guys had to run to my pit-mate's house to get a spare set of lines, and another crew member had to run around (on a Sunday) to find some DOT4 brake fluid.
Got the new lines and fluid, and the lines installed and bled 5 minutes before my first race of the day (talk about stress!).
Apparently, I don't particularly like racing in the rain. And by racing, I mean riding very slowly. Hydroplaning next to a concrete wall does not feel very good, nor does having your rear tire slide out (even by the slightest bit) through a corner.
So, I did the races, slowly, and packed up and went home.
Wasn't a climactic finish to a season.
I pulled two 6th places and two 3rds, which put me at an overall finish of 4th place in Novice by way of points.
I really want to thank everyone here for their support and encouragement. Hope you'll stay tuned for the 2011 season!
=)
I, thankfully, borrowed some tire-warmers from a friend who opted out of racing in those conditions.
Saturday (round 5)
I got my very first real tank-slapper next to two concrete walls... that was fun, in a omg-imma-crap-my-pants sort of way. Thankfully it was during practice, and there was no one right on my butt or trying to pass me.
I went out on practice laps, and came back to the pits only to find that the zip-tie that help my brake lines to my forks had snapped, and as such, the lines got caught in the tires and rubbed the stainless steel braids down to the plastic line. Skeeeetchy! Got those duct-taped up, and re-zip-tied, and went out for my first race.
There was something wrong with the electrical system, as in mid-corner, the power shut off for 1-2 seconds, then would come back on. It happened twice in the same corner. The first time, it hucked my leg and arm off the bike, and I smashed my ribs into my tank (I have a pretty bruise), but I managed to keep her up. The next lap, same corner, it shut off again... I felt it starting to go for the flick, but I kept on her this time. Then, at the end of the straight, it happened again.
It wasn't my most graceful of races, that's for sure!
So, at the end of the race, the crew ripped off some fairings to take a look for shorts, but couldn't find anything. Another racer said that the power commander had been giving him and his teammate some issues, so we yanked it (only to find that the bottom of the case was slightly melted... awesome). So, hoping that was the issue, I went out for my next race.
Again, it cut out on me, mid-corner. So, apparently, the power commander wasn't the issue.
I did the race without much further incident.
Again, the crew pulled the bike apart in search of other problems, cut the power to the bank-angle-sensor, and we left it there until Sunday morning.
Sunday, it rained. For anyone who doesn't know, Race City is not the best laid out track. There are tonnes of drainage issues. There were lakes all over the place. On the inside of corners 2 and 3, across the entrance and exit of the chicane, on the exit of the carousel, across the chute, and all down along the concrete wall of the front straight (right where you have to ride to avoid the VHT... which i forgot on my first lap of my first race =/ )
So, was geared up in my rain gear all ready to take the bike out for rain practice after the bike was doused in di-electric grease and put back together, only to find out that I had no brakes.
The line had torn when the wires were being re-routed. So, with an hour to race-time, one of the guys had to run to my pit-mate's house to get a spare set of lines, and another crew member had to run around (on a Sunday) to find some DOT4 brake fluid.
Got the new lines and fluid, and the lines installed and bled 5 minutes before my first race of the day (talk about stress!).
Apparently, I don't particularly like racing in the rain. And by racing, I mean riding very slowly. Hydroplaning next to a concrete wall does not feel very good, nor does having your rear tire slide out (even by the slightest bit) through a corner.
So, I did the races, slowly, and packed up and went home.
Wasn't a climactic finish to a season.
I pulled two 6th places and two 3rds, which put me at an overall finish of 4th place in Novice by way of points.
I really want to thank everyone here for their support and encouragement. Hope you'll stay tuned for the 2011 season!
=)
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