posted August 28, 2006 10:33 AM
I'm scurd - Bonneville next week OK, kids. I just wanted to check in here just to ramble. Only a few days to go before I head towards the salt flats for the BUB race.
I finished all the bike prep over the weekend. (Safety wire is a pain in the ass. I broke at least 8 1/16" bits in the process.) Now it's just a matter of packing up the trailer. It's kinda wierd to have to find everything again. Once I stopped racing, it seems like all my gear went all over my garage. It's no longer nice and organized in my trailer like it was when I was racing every other weekend. A big thanks goes to Mad Mike for helping me get all the parts that I needed.
I've got so many butterflies in my stomach right now, and I know that it's only going to get worse as the week goes by. I didn't realize how much I missed having that feeling in my gut. Ooh, this is going to be good....
Anyone else heading up there for the race?
The goal this year is just to not fall off. The secondary goal is to break a record. I just found out that the record in my class (MPS-P 1350) may actually be doable. It's only around 164 mph.
posted August 28, 2006 03:50 PM
Wannabe,
That's GREAT. You are going to be grinning from ear to ear and be hooked for life after your first ride. You are not going to regret all the effort. Just go with the flow, and resist the temptation to hurry, if something holds you up one day there's always tomorrow. One of the great things about racing on The Salt is that races last a week and there's a year between them!
Go find my friend Belen (Bee-lyn) Wagner and her dad Wiltz. Bee has broken more records than anyone except Scott Guthrie (I'm third or fourth). She rides small bore two strokes and her dad is one of the most salt savvy guys out there. If you have a question, tell him you're a friend of mine and ask him.
Keep your eyes open, watch for the Salt Bears and keep us all posted!
Doug
posted August 28, 2006 04:21 PM
Edited By: wannabe on 28 Aug 2006 17:26
Thanks, Doug. I think I saw Belen on the Discovery channel. I think I know what she looks like. I'll keep an eye out for the Wagner clan.
Anyway, what is a Salt Bear? Is that just a bitter version of a Gummi Bear? Or, are there really grizzly-type bears that roam around the salt flats?
edit: I will definitely be doing a newbie write-up here when I get back.
My buddy told me that the secret to helping keep the salt off your stuff is WD40 before you run. He told me to spray the stuff liberally on all leading edges so that the salt doesn't stick to my bike. Is this true, or is this another joke that people play on the new guys?
posted August 28, 2006 08:11 PM
wannabe, the best of luck to you and get under that paint.i wish i was racing there but i can1t stand getting my bike dirty or scratched up.
posted August 30, 2006 11:16 AM
Edited By: dougmeyer on 30 Aug 2006 13:45
No joke, use the WD liberally. One common mistake is over cleaning. Knock off the dry build ups by hand or with a low pressure hand pump weed sprayer. Dry salt doesn't hurt anything, spray it with a hose, though and the brine gets everywhere. If it's a dry week clean as little as possible until you can do it thoroughly. If it's a wet week, well, flush it as often as you can with the weed sprayer.
When you get home, the bike needs to come COMPLETELY apart for cleaning. And, I'm not kidding about the completely part. Take it down to the frame with forks, swingarm and engine in place. Wash and WD everything you can unbolt. Lower leg hardware, axels, brakes, bodywork bolts and screws are partiularly hard hit if you leave them alone.
Doug
posted August 30, 2006 07:38 PM
Thanks again for the advice, Doug. I didn't realize that it was that hard to clean off the salt afterward. But, now that I know, I'll be doing the full tear down when I get back.
posted August 31, 2006 07:02 AM
One day I plan to do the same thing so the Details are what I want to KNOW! Just how shaky is the bike at speed in the salt ruts? How Horrible is Tech Inspection! Just how bad is traction on Acceleration? Did you put weight on the swingarm to make it more stable / Traction wise
____________
Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
posted August 31, 2006 12:12 PM
You do understand that the "Devil" IS in the Details. If things go right I want to run there next year. Riding on Rutted Salt scared the Hell0 out of me!
What DM said about the salt is what I have seen! You can always spot a Slat bike by the part that are rusted that never get rusty! Like Axles and all of the ALlen Bolt insides!
posted August 31, 2006 05:06 PM
Good luck Wannabe!
I went out to Speed Week last year to spectate with hopes of running this year. Seeing it in person changed my perspective and plans. I have the utmost respect for the Salt racers and hold them all in high regard.
Call me a wussy but I'll stick with the concrete at Maxton and will try the tarmac at the Texas Mile in October.
It's a blast at Bonneville and I will go back to watch again.........Vincent may need a pit pal and that would be good enough reason for me.
Ride safe and keep us posted.
Dan
posted August 31, 2006 05:13 PM
Dan, you are going down to Texas for the mile this fall? That is awesome! Is Chad coming too? I will be making the trip down as well. Look forward to meeting you again.
Ryan
P.S. Sorry for getting off topic here. GOOD LUCK WANNABE!!!
posted August 31, 2006 05:29 PM
Ryan,
Yeah, we're heading down for the October meet but it will just be me and momma. Look forward to seeing you again too.
Dan
posted August 31, 2006 07:37 PM
Dan, yeah, I have to admit that a lot of the butterflies in my stomach come from your previous descriptions of what you saw at Bonneville. But, just like my old boss used to say, "Feel the fear and do it anyway."
I'm stoked right now. I started coming down with the flu on Tuesday night. I took a couple days off work and tried to bake the bastard out of me while I slept under about 4 blankets and a comforter. Half a bottle of Nyquil and a couple days later, I'm feeling a lot better tonight. The trailer is all packed up, and I just have to drop off my dog with the sitter tonight.
I'll be leaving after work tomorrow. Ooh, this is going to be good....
posted September 01, 2006 08:08 AM
All of us who ride know the dangers in general and adding LSR only compounds things but it comes to the point of the thrill overiding the fear. It really multiplies when your kids join in the fun!
Anything can happen whether it be at Maxton, the Salt or down to the grocery store. Just be prepared to the best of your ability, ride smart and hang on. I gotta feeling you're gonna have a blast.
Once again....Good luck and keep us posted.
Dan
posted September 01, 2006 01:45 PM
Good Luck and have fun, I'd like to try that next year also. Still getting stuff ready for a dedicated LSR Bike.
____________
TFA 200MPH CLUB MEMBER!
posted September 03, 2006 06:37 AM
HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!!!!
____________
2014 Loring AFB 14 runs over 200mph
with a best of 208.1 in 1.5 miles
and 204.5 in the mile.
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posted August 28, 2006 10:33 AM
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