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WERA ‘11, Round 1 – Barber Motorsports Park
Heading down to Barber, we were all optimistic for the upcoming few days. Jeff and I had just ridden the previous weekend at Barber, so after a couple days of "real life" and work, we were headed back down for the some actual racing. Wow, how lucky we were, right? Little did we know that a dose of reality would show itself over the course of the next three days.
All of us included Joe, Aaron, Matt and myself in one vehicle, with Jeff, Rob and Justin (Neyra) meeting down from Cincinnati, along with Amanda and John arriving later on. Our special guest was Chuck Giachetto – AMA Pro rider Dane Westby's main man. Chuck had worked closely with the Graves team the past couple years when Dane was on an R6 and is now working with Dane and John Ulrich on the M4 Suzuki team. I've known Chuck for a couple years now and it was extremely beneficial to have his wealth of knowledge and experience in the pits with us during the weekend.
Friday was a decent day with times into the 1:34 range. I of course had wanted to find more time, but our biggest goal was to get squared away on the spec tire. As it would turn out, everyone we saw running Dunlops was on their high-end N-Tec tire, opposed to the AMA-spec. We also were running the AMA-spec fuel as opposed to the normal horsepower-helping VP race gas, so our goals were time-oriented rather than result-oriented. I had wanted to certainly go faster than 1:34's early on, but Friday was a track day so we'd live with that. Jeff was railing and dropping time, but had a fast crash through T1 towards the end of the day. He was bruised up a bit and the bike wasn't pretty, but it was fixable due to Rob and company hammering out a nice to-do list to get the bike back through tech. Jeff could have used a spare tank, as his was pretty mangled, but without the spare bike with us (it has no forks currently), red duct tape would have to suffice. Up to that point I think Jeff said he had gotten into the 32's – impressive for a Friday practice.
Saturday morning started off well with practice times into the mid/low 34's. Jeff was using Saturday as a rest and repair day/cheerleader day. He had been going quite well so I was happy to take any tips he could offer from watching out on the track. We made changes to the bike and were trying to find something more comfortable to ride with. I was fighting the bike a little bit with the results being a bit tired and sore with the wrist after practice.
With Joe and Chuck driving things, we had signed up for two races on the day – each of them 16 laps. We were going to do the first race with our existing (my preferred) setup and the second race with the bike the way Chuck would normally set it up. It was reminiscent of Days of Thunder. "16 laps my way, 16 laps his way…" If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about.
The first race was a struggle. I managed a 1:34.1 early on, but the times didn't get any better after that. With a 6th place finish out of 20 or so bikes, I was fighting the bike. With about five laps to go, my right hand went numb and I had a couple moments where I had to nearly avoid running off track. I was exhausted afterwards. Coming into the pits, the first thing Chuck said was, "I was tired just watching you wrestle that bike around! I don't know how you rode that thing." This was somewhat encouraging to hear as I sat down and grabbed a drink.
Between races, Chuck, Joe, Aaron and Matt went to work. They made me walk away and wouldn't even let me look at the bike. I knew a lot was going on, judging by all the work they were doing, but I really actually preferred to not know what they were doing. I was frustrated in the previous race, so I welcomed something fresh to try out at this point. Little did I know how much on the bike they would actually change. They even forced me to take off my laptimer, which I like having, but they wanted to make sure I wasn't making mistakes because I was paying too much attention to the clock – fair enough, I'd give it a try.
The Heavyweight Solo was ready to get underway. With a new setup, I hopped on the bike and could immediately tell differences. The ergonomics were different – clip-on position, lever position, where the clutch grabs. Talking with the guys beforehand, I would just relax and ride the race and see how the bike felt. Chuck wasn't concerned about laptimes, but rather how the bike was on track, along with the pro's and con's of it compared to the first race. Fair enough. I headed out and did a little practice start on hot-pit to get used to the adjusted clutch settings.
The race itself actually wasn't bad. I started relatively far back in 10th or so and worked my way up through guys each lap, finishing 4th. The times weren't any better, but the bike definitely felt more comfortable and easier to ride. There were a couple subtle things with body position that I tried to change, given the bike's new setup, but all in all it was certainly better. Given I was pretty wiped after the morning practice and first race, I felt good after the second race. I do think having the laptimer generally helps push me and even keep me relaxed when I know what kind of times I'm doing. So sure, I'll blame that for not going as fast in the second race. :)
Afterwards, we all debriefed about the changes. When the guys told me what they did, I had to sit down. Front spring change, front oil height change, front fork damping changes, rear ride height change, rear preload change, rear damping changes. And to top it off, they put a hard front tire on! I've never run a hard tire for anything, and so far with Dunlop, we had been running Medium/Medium here at Barber. The look on my face when they told me was one of shock. "Damn you guys …" I said, as they laughed and I did too. Not only was it a hard front, it was a brand new hard front. I went out not thinking I had to scuff a tire! To the guys' credit, the knew if they told me that, I'd have had an issue with it and it probably would have had all those changes running around inside my head and not focusing on what mattered. All in all, the handling of the bike - primarily in the front was better, with the bike being more planted and stable. Chuck attributed this to the setup change and the tire compound change.
Saturday night Amanda cooked for all of us which was great. We were able to all hang out at the track and work on the bikes. We tweaked the fuel map on the bike, along with cleaning the radiator and messing with some other odds and ends. We went to the nearby Outdoor Camping World to get some padding to build another bump-pad for me on the seat. We talked about my holding on the bars tight coming out of a corner, which has often been the case given there's nothing to lean against. So we went back to the bump-pad, which was now up to version five or so I think, over the past few years. Back to the hotel for some sleep before Sunday's sprint races.
Sunday was a tough day, although practice did start off well. We were right down to a 1:34.2 early on. We seemed to be making progress. We tried a change with the front end going into the last practice and on the out-lap, I could feel it was worse, as the bike wasn't holding it's line like it normally would. On the second lap going through T2 – the long right-hander, just as I picked up the throttle, the front tire let go and off the bike and I went, sliding into the gravel trap. Damn. I didn't do anything different than on previous laps, I kept saying to myself as I analyzed what had just happened. Same corner speed, I didn't pick up the throttle aggressively, we didn't have too many laps on the tire … It was a really weird crash. Just losing the front end like that was strange – especially because I wasn't going at some crazy fast pace. It was an easy "off" as I slid off the track without any issues. The bike was a little banged up. We got it back to the pits and everyone busted their butts to get the bike ready for the first race.
For race one's 600 Superstock, a new front tire was fitted. Dunlop was out of their hard front, so we went with a UK medium plus front. I don't know enough about the tires, but I was told it's about the same as a US hard front. For the first couple laps, I tip-toed around and I think just about everyone everyone passed me. I made up a few spots as I got comfortable and finished in 10th. Best time in the 1:34's, barely. Ugh.
I was hitting a wall now and beginning to notice my wrist becoming an issue. It hurt like hell. I had been popping motrins over the weekend and extra so far on the day, but it wasn't helping now and I was really trying to find a way to grip the throttle and stay on the bike without cringing through some of the corners. The biggest problem wasn't just finding a creative way to turn the throttle (my dad could see my regripping the throttle through some of the corners), but actually holding my weight on the bike and being able to hold a line. I hate excuses, but the the strength in my right hand is about 50% of my left hand and the results were becoming apparent.
750 Superstock was next. A 5th place finish was a little better, but again times were in the 1:34's. Jeff was in the same boat. For what it was worth, all the guys who finished ahead of us were on Dunlop N-Tecs. I believe Jeff and I were the only ones running in the top 5-10 running the spec tire. Sure it's apples to oranges, but when we're used to running closer to the front, our struggles weren't exactly confidence inspiring.
A one race break and 600 Superbike was next. I had my best start yet and was 3rd into T1. Jake Lewis was flying and James Delinger was going quite quick as well. They took off and I was passed once, now running in 4th for most of the race. On the last lap, I was passed by David Pullen (who was running a #1 plate, so I assumed he was quick) and couldn't quite pass him back at the end. I finished 5th out of 18 bikes, but again – still stuck in the 1:34's.
Jeff and I were both frustrated and burnt out by this point. For the last race we were just going to go out and have fun. And in 750 Superbike, we did just that. Times were slow, but he and I had a blast. We passed each other back and forth a couple times and I managed to finish ahead of him on the last lap (he was riding better than I was for most of the weekend) with a 6th and 7th place finish respectively, out of another 18 bike grid.
As the weekend came to a close, what was most frustrating for me was that we had a top-notch team there working to go faster the entire weekend and it didn't happen. Seriously, it wasn't even just having Chuck there, which was huge – but Joe, Aaron, Matt and Rob as well. I mean, they were up early every morning and completely had the bike ready to go. Chuck even commented how well our team operated, how professional the guys were, and how well they knew and worked on the bike. He even offered that the guys would be welcome to help him at some AMA events if the situation arose – so the quality of the team speaks for itself – and the bike was good. I just didn't get the job done. Whether it was the spec tires, my wrist or whatever else - I really feel like I let them down. I just can't explain being stuck in 1:34's for three days straight. That has never happened before. I always manage to find time come race day.
At one point, Chuck, Joe and I stood in the trailer on Sunday and talked pretty openly. We could make a bunch of changes to the bike, but was it really necessary? I told them it wasn't. The bike was good. It was the rider who needed to put it together. Chuck and Joe even talked to Mike Fitzgerald (Thermosman) who was there just for an outside opinion – and even he watched us on-track during some of the races. The common opinion was that I didn't look comfortable out there, or consistent – and the laptimer confirmed that. Several split times had me at the same times the leaders were doing (on N-Tecs), yet on the next lap, I'd be as much as 1 or 2 seconds off the previous lap. Looking at my laptimer on the way home confirmed it as well. I wasn't consistent – and that's something I'm generally pretty good at. So was it the wrist as the cause? I don't know for sure, but it wasn't an advantage, that's for sure. I do know I popped way too many motrins over the course of the day, which wasn't a good or safe move.
The highlight of the weekend though was being with the team. All the guys (and gals) were great. It made the weekend. A sincere thank you to all the guys for their help and to Chuck for making the trip out. We'll certainly be applying what we've learned down the road and it'll payoff soon. Racing isn't easy and this weekend certainly proved it. What fun would it be without the challenge I suppose.
The biggest winner of the weekend was Eric who took home the only plaque on the weekend – this after having a trying and challenging week beforehand getting his bike dyno'd, mapped and running properly – surely proof that racing ain't easy, but just like in real life, hard work and preparation (will) pay off.
6 Comments on “WERA ‘11, Round 1 – Barber Motorsports Park”
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- You're currently reading "WERA ‘11, Round 1 – Barber Motorsports Park," an entry on Witchkraft Racing.
- Published: 05.11.11 / 11pm
- Category: Race Reports
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Great recap! I’m a bit biased as your brother, but damn….be easy on yourself! Must I remind you of that carbon rod in your arm due to the fact that there were too many broken bones.
Either way, I’ve watched you ride for years and twice now at Barber; there is no denying that your wrist has created some issues. You really did look like you were wrestling with your girl out there.
Time to take care of you now.
I would like to second the major “Thanks” to Chuck. It was a very informative and fun time hanging out!
Cheers,
m@
Yeah I know .. still frustrating. We’ll figure it out though, for sure.
Good job guys…..It’s gonna be fun to watch you guys race @ Mid-O!!!
Thanks Aaron. You coming??
yes sir!!!…..I’m gonna go ride for STT @ grattan on friday and then roll back, pick up the family, and head down for the weekend…..gotta support the whole gang!!!!
Nice! Will be a good time for sure!