2018-2019 1977 kz650 2021-2022 Tried to get the 1992 zx7 on track = failed 2023 Trying to get the 1992 zx7 on track = fingers crossed
Started in 1986 w/MCRA & WERA, eventually did some CCS, AHRMA and a few AMA 85 Kawasaki GPz550 86 Yamaha FZ600 86 Kawasaki 250 Ninja 87 Kawasaki EX500 87 Kawasaki EX500 superbike 88 Yamaha FZR400 89 Kawasaki ZX7 88 Yamaha FZR400 (endurance) 88 Yamaha FZR400/600 (endurance) 89 HD Sportster 883 90 Kawasaki ZX6 91 Kawasaki ZX7R 91 Yamaha TZ250 92 GSXR1100 superbike (endurance) 95 Kawasaki ZX-6R (endurance) 95 Ducati 916 95 Kawasaki ZX7R Superbike 98 Yamaha YZF-R1 (endurance) 00 Suzuki SV650 05 Ducati 999R A lot of fun, a lot of $$$ and a few concussions.
Raced 1985->; ARRA & AFM/South; Yam XS-650 1988->; ARRA, AHRMA, CCS; XS-650/750 1993->; AHRMA, WSMC; XS650/750 1999; WERA WSIR 24 hour; '89 FZR 600; Turn 1 Racing 2000; WERA WSIR 24 hour ; Buell; Turn 1 Racing 2004-2012 Shifter Karts 2014 ->; 2nd Gen SV-650's
1984. My very first time on track RZ500 Rockingham Motor Speedway WERA race weekend Got two 3rd place finishes 10 years later (1994) Ducati 888 Did CCS and WERA 1995 got helicoptered out of Roebling, so that chapter ended 2002 CCS and WERA with Ducati 998 and SV-650 2010? last time on track in competition With a Paul Smart Ducati Did a CCS weekend at Roebling Hadn’t raced in 8 years and had never raced the Paul Smart before. Entered 4 classes and won all 4. That’s all, folks!
I had a friend that was the service manager at a Harley dealer back when the 1125R first came out. He got me into a Harley/Buell track day at Mid-Ohio where they were allowing people to go out on the 1125R for a session. I figured I wouldn't be that comfortable on a big bike so I bumped down to intermediate for the ride and was going out right behind the Buell control rider. We talked ahead of time about my track experience and what I currently rode and he said he would take it easy the first lap and then start picking up the pace. After I got somebody to show me how to start the thing we went out and I was having a blast. The instructor said every lap he would look back and see me still there so he kept upping the pace. By the end we were hauling and had dropped the rest of the group. After we came in and the Buell CR that helped me start the bike and another Buell employee started talking to me when I got off the bike. One of them asked how I thought it handled and I said "it tuned pretty well I guess." Then one of them asked how I liked the brakes (this was when they were making a huge deal about the perimeter brake) and I said "it stopped ok I guess." The guy that helped me start it looked confused and offended and asked what I rode. When I said a 125GP bike he said "aahhh now it all makes sense." The other guy still looked pretty offended though. I had so much fun in those few laps on that bike I still think about buying one from time to time.
Winning is winning. Other peoples knowledge of the battle or even presence is irrelevant. If I finish 1st, that’s a win.
Ok, I'll speak up. I started racing motocross in 1973 with some success. At some point I switched to Enduro and hare scrambles. I road various Suzuki and Husqvarnas of every size. After my family was grown I started racing again in 2017 at the age of 58. This time road racing. I currently have a 1985 rz350, a 1990 fzr600, a 1989 tz250 and a project 1985 Husky 430 kinda supermoto.
a friend let me borrow his clapped out S1kRR at a trackday at barber. I am talking worn out slicks, crashed a few times, overall in rough shape. First session on it, i was faster than on the pani that i’ve ridden, tracked and raced for years. I ran tighter lines, passed bikes left and right, dove deep into turns and fired out like no mans business. Effortless. that day i decided to move on from racing italian beauties
When I got the 1299 I struggled beat my 1125 lap times, eventually did by some fraction of a second but it was like riding a bike that didn't like me much. Went back to the Buell and dropped time again and it was being back with an old friend. It's so easy to ride if you don't get hung up on the brakes. If I ever get around to grafting a dual disk front onto the thing I may never give it up.
I totally get what you are saying. That bike was very comfortable to ride fast and the torque was amazing! I only used 2 gears at Mid-Ohio. Granted I wasn't at full expert race pace, but it would start pulling way down low and just never stopped. Keep enjoying it!