shiphteey
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posted May 24, 2010 08:00 AM
 Edited By: shiphteey on 24 May 2010 16:01
Maxton Mile May Results.....and......
Didn't stay around for Sunday to see how things turned out but I did hear some of the board members did quite well. On Saturday we had a nice little tailwind for much of the day but not every bike caught it through the traps.
If I'm not mistaken:
Millholland boys went 117 on the NA Ninja 250....rollin.
Millholland boys went 202 on the NA ZX14....I believe another personal best.
Sal went 220 or so on the NA Stroker 1507 Busa.
Seldom Seen Slim went 191-192 on motor testing/tuning for Bonneville on his 12R.
Josh O went 191 on motor on a very long legged nos Busa shakedown pass.
Todd Dross went 171 or so on a Busa....with a SIDECAR!
ZRX Dean went 225?
Bill Warner hit 268 twice and then busted out ANOTHER 271! That bike seemed SOOOO relaxed going down the track....at least from the starting line/midway view....at the end he's simply ROLLING!
Others will post more I'm sure as I didn't get all the info. As stated I left Maxton much earlier than expected. I was finally on the starting line ready to turn on the air shifter/nitrous/logger and get focused on my debut run for 2010 (I was hoping the tailwind would have me flirting with the MPS/F 1350/4 record currently held by Jim Owens Nitrous zx12 218.x mph!). FINALLY had all my ducks lined up ... made it up to the line and one of the starters told me my bike numbers were too small! I immediately apologized telling him I would correct the problem right after the run as I had forgot to do it before the run. Then again I had been running the same way, same number sizing at Maxton now for 5 years, not to mention NO ONE ELSE had gotten called on it and about HALF the bikes that roll down the track don't get called on not having numbers at least 3 inches tall. The starter would not budge on the issue and made me move to the side. I started getting more upset that only I was singled out.
Given the heat + wearing full leathers and helmet + my bike being hard to start and run down low due to my setup of being very rich off spray + my bike hard to downshift and virtually UNRIDEABLE down low meant going all the way back to the pits just to get some tape and rewrite my numbers much larger was a difficult ordeal. So much so because I had to use so much clutch nursing from the pits to staging that I had to readjust my friggin clutch lever! I thought I almost lost my clutch or burned it up slipping it that much. For me to have to go all the way back, in the heat, given the bike's setup, all for numbers that are legible but under the minimum sizing, being flagged by a guy who's main responsibility is to make sure the track is ready for you to run down and that you and your bike are deemed safe and track worthy ... well....maybe you guys can understand, at least those of you who go out there and do this without the support of a friend or family who can just fetch something quickly for you. I felt it was very unreasonable.
Push came to shove (figuratively) and after being spoken to by the heads of the ECTA I decided I should just pack my things and go. They did offer me a chance to not only get back in line first but even to run FIRST THING on Sunday morning. I appreciated the gesture, I really did but there is no way I could apologize for losing my cool if the starter wouldn't apologize as well for being unreasonable. All over numbers that were under the 3" rule? Hell I could EASILY namedrop 3 people here on the board who have run with technically illegal numbers! I even took pictures of the 2 closest bikes pitted to me...with a small gatorade bottle next to them as reference....both bikes were well under the minimum rule. Number sizing and the legality is more a record/protest concern or a tech/registration issue....not a guy on the starting line (WHO CAN STILL READ YOUR NUMBER MIND YOU) telling you to get out of line and put bigger numbers. I kept trying to push out of my head the irony that my bike wouldn't be allowed to go down the track but PEOPLE HAVE KNOWINGLY AND ILLEGALLY RUN 1352CC ZX14S IN THE 1350 CLASS AND STROKER GSXR 1000S IN THE 1000CC CLASS WITH NO ISSUES.
Just so we're clear, NO ONE ELSE was called on it, just me. To be honest it hurt deeper than most may understand. I've been going there for 5 years and enjoy the company, the people, the racing. You can't imagine how it feels. My first time at the track I saw Jim Owens go 218 on the 12R and my jaw just dropped. 5 years later I was on the starting line with a shot at it....I've been mainly running in MPS/F 1350/4 with the 12R on a virtually stock motor. I was literally about to give the record a shot....and to be told to get out of line given all the things I mentioned. You know, when you pull in about 20K a year, get minimal sleep just to make it to the track on time, sometimes sleep in your uncomfortable truck so you can afford to race with an econo-sub optimal nitrous setup because that is what you can afford....to try your hardest, your best and then denied.....again words really can't describe how I feel right now. I can't tell you how much I've sacrificed to make races. To be told to apologize to someone who wronged you in order to get back in line....I just couldn't. Its a matter or principles. Maybe some of you would understand that, maybe others think it was stubborn or foolish. But I can't look someone in the eye and apologize when I feel they wronged me and cheated me out of a chance to make history....or at the very least significantly bump up my own personal best at the track. I couldn't just walk down one mile to the pits and one mile back and risk my nitrous and CO2 bottles popping in the sun/heat. Not to mention the head/humidity/sun bearing down on me in leathers to and from...I wouldn't have returned back to my bike fit to go down the track at over 200 mph.
A couple of buddies tried talking me into just apologizing even if I didn't truely mean it....but I'm not that type of person. I guess those that understand "principles" may understand my decision. I was at a fork in the road: Do what you feel is wrong and keep racing or do what you feel is right and don't, and I chose the latter.
Hopefully I will bump into some of you at other venues like Loring, Miami Mile, TX Mile, etc.
Best of luck to you all in all your speed endeavors. As they say at Maxton: Be safe, have fun, go fast....in that order. FWIW I have no issues with anyone else at the track....be it officials, spectators or fellow racers.
Ali
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Gemini Motorcycles
Topping out everything from Ninja 250s to nitrous ZX-14s.
  
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dubious
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posted May 24, 2010 09:55 AM
I feel your pain. I am a man of principle not politics.
That kind of bs sure sucks the fun out of the things we love to do.
I heard a story a few years ago about a tech inspector breaking a guys oil feed line from his turbo and simply responding sorry, meanwhile he missed his run due to that damage.
Imagine if it was a guy who drove 35 hours and 2400 miles and this happened.
Angry would be an understatement.
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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oldkawboy
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posted May 24, 2010 10:05 AM
I didn't learn of all this until after the fact when i saw Ali at dinner that night.
I truly like running at Maxton and they have some great folks but man it bothers me that this happened. Like Ali said it was not safety related and he could have made the pass then corrected the "problem", the bike made it thru tech.
If it was enforced across the board maybe I could understand it but even though I haven't measured ours, I'm betting all three of our bikes have letters & numbers smaller than 3".
Sometimes people have an opportunity to flex their muscles with they are put in the position of authority & I think this was the case.
It could have and should have been addressed differently. I'm thinking Ali won't be back and Maxton has lost a good competitor for no valid reason.
Dan
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oldkawboy
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posted May 24, 2010 10:17 AM
Here's a few shots of the week-end. It was HOT & HUMID !!! At least when it rained it was in the morning or late afternoon.
Zack went 201.xx on his 14 & Chad went 202.xx on his. I'm thinking it was around .5mph difference........pretty close for sure.
Zack went 117 on the 250 with a slight tail / side wind off a 109 record. I'm believe 120 is possible in decent conditions.
Dean was pushing out some water, may have lost a head gasket.
The boys came home in one piece and the bikes are all together, great week-end!
The boys getting ready.
Zack on the 250.
Dean getting a tow back to the pits from Chad.
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02zx12rbob
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posted May 24, 2010 10:54 AM
Never been, but, Damm...
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wrongway
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posted May 24, 2010 11:33 AM
I think that those issues should be addressed when you go thru tech ..... Might keep political issues off the starting line.
Roy
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dougmeyer
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posted May 24, 2010 11:36 AM
Good for you Ali. I respect your decision a great deal. I, too, have felt the result of inconsistent rule enforcement and it really takes the fun out of it.
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It's not that I think you're dumb, it's just that so much of what you know isn't true....
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brendasue555
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posted May 24, 2010 11:44 AM
Ali, I feel your hurt and anger. I too will cut my nose off to spite my face when it comes to standing for what I believe is right. I have been in awe of since last year at Loring. It is very difficult and expensive to race and almost impossible to do alone. That is why I am so greatful for all of the blessings that have enabled me to be a part of such a great sport. It has changed my life so much and I am such a lucky girl. What happened to you was wrong. I know it and you know it, anyone who feels like it was necessary to pull you for this issue needs to be tarred and feathered and ridden down the track themselves. I think that Dan had it right when he called it a case of muscle flexing. I am just so sorry that you had to be the victim. I also cannot believe that whoever passed you at tech was not the one that needed to apologize. This issue should have been brought up at that point. I take my hat off to you for sticking to your guns, I just dont see how you kept from really going off. I would have lost it and would have been thrown out and never allowed to come back. This was soooo wrong and I believe you should have been allowed to race then and there. After all you did pass tech and it was not a safety issue. I am so dissapointed at the rest of the officials for failing to see this and not putting themselves in your shoes when it came down to it. I also believe that if there were apologies due then it was from both sides. The guy who pulled you owed you an apology for the way he handled it and then maybe it would not have been impossible for you to do the same. Even though you had every right to get upset. You were not treated right and I am sure it was not necessary to pull you. This pisses me off and makes me want to scream. It might make it easier to handle if you just decide that it was gods way of stopping something worse from happening to you had you made that run. You will never know but this could very well be the case. Hang in there Ali, hope to se you at Loring. Call me sometime!
Brenda
Oh yeah.................congrats to all on great speeds. Bill Warner, you are an animal.
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Brenda
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oldkawboy
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posted May 24, 2010 12:44 PM
One more thing..........
I just wanted to say thanks to Todd for helping me out with a slight problem in tech, for somebody that rides Suzukis and Harleys, he's A-OK !!
Dan
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osti33
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posted May 24, 2010 01:24 PM
Ali,
Sorry to hear about your troubles bud. That sucks for sure and I don't blame you for leaving.
Congrats to the Millholland clan! Great numbers on all the bikes for sure!
Bill Warner...What can you say?? He is head and shoulders above the field and in a leauge of his own. Congrats man!
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brendasue555
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posted May 24, 2010 01:25 PM
Todd and Deb both, no matter what they ride! They are always there to help anyone and Debbie did so much to help me get started to begin with I owe her big time.
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Brenda
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osti33
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posted May 24, 2010 01:25 PM
quote:
One more thing..........
I just wanted to say thanks to Todd for helping me out with a slight problem in tech, for somebody that rides Suzukis and Harleys, he's A-OK !!
Dan
Dan,
You are right about that! Todd and Deb = good people. No doubt.
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ZRXDean
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posted May 24, 2010 02:12 PM
Sorry Ali, that really sucks. I will tactfully inquire in June.
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Phantom13
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posted May 24, 2010 02:17 PM
Ali, I'm still in disbelief .......
Hardly anyone had big 3" numbers on their bikes...
That guy was completely out of line and an embarrassment to the ECTA as far as I'm concerned. I completely understand that rules are rules, but you either enforce it down the line or don't bring it up at all.
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"The only place Success comes
before Work is inside the Dictionary."
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shiphteey
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posted May 24, 2010 02:22 PM
I agree.
Whats strange to me is you can see the person who didn't allow me to run because of my numbers looking directly at a bike who's numbers are under 3 inches.
So how exactly does it work? Who is allowed to run down the track with numbers under the 3" minimum and who isn't?
A.
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Gemini Motorcycles
Topping out everything from Ninja 250s to nitrous ZX-14s.
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Shane661
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posted May 24, 2010 02:25 PM
Edited By: Shane661 on 24 May 2010 22:29
quote:
I agree.
Whats strange to me is you can see the person who didn't allow me to run because of my numbers looking directly at a bike who's numbers are under 3 inches.
So how exactly does it work? Who is allowed to run down the track with numbers under the 3" minimum and who isn't?
A.
What class is that bike running in? Maybe there wasn't enough room on the tail section for the 3" font? 
Bill is a great guy, obviously...but I think this illustrates the point that Ali is making.
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Phantom13
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posted May 24, 2010 03:15 PM
Edited By: Phantom13 on 24 May 2010 23:15
Shit, at 270+mph... the air friction heats up the painter's tape and it expands to EXACTLY 3".
........... Honest!
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before Work is inside the Dictionary."
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brendasue555
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posted May 24, 2010 09:36 PM
Not only is the guy looking right at the bike but from what I see it appears that he is looking right at the numbers. I wonder what he has to say about all of this because it seems to me that either he was not very good at the part of his job which must have included number height checking or he singled Ali out for whatever reason. Does anyone know this guy to show him this picture? Also I think it would be interesting for anyone else who has short numbers to step up and say so. So that way the point could really be made and maybe somehow this could be made right for Ali. This seems so wrong and I can't believe it actually happened. I am so glad it did not happen to me because I would have gone off on everyone and made an ass of myself. Then I would have cried all the way home. And I would have dropped dead before I would have apologized. One thing I can say to Ali is this. Think like a girl, bigger is better.... but no one that doesnt have his ruler out, checking them all should have the ability to ruin someones day like this.
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Brenda
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madkawboy
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posted May 25, 2010 05:38 AM
Ali ,
I really hated to hear that this happened to you. I agree with you about the numbers. To be honest, I never knew they had to be 3 inches. I have always just wrote my numbers on a piece of duck tape.
I was looking forward to seeing you run your bike.
Hopefully we will make it to a different LSR event other than Maxton and see you run.
- Zack
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2007 ZX-14
Stock Wheel Base, footshifting, pump gas
5.94 @ 128 mph
1.50 60ft
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Phantom13
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posted May 25, 2010 05:55 AM
Edited By: Phantom13 on 25 May 2010 14:03
This was the first I heard of the rule as well..... and to think I thought I was safe with my 2.5" numbers.
Maybe we should all put tiny 1/2" numbers on our bikes in protest until that guy is relieved of his track duties. lol
I'm down, who else is in? =)
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before Work is inside the Dictionary."
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wrongway
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posted May 25, 2010 06:23 AM
I have asked that person about numbers before. He said he was OK as long as he could read them .... Ali ,, what did your numbers look like ? got a pic?
or maybe he just had a bad day , but that should not impact racers.
But , other racing organizations want 4" numbers on vehicles that can be read from the tower. SO ECTA is much more relaxed that that. But It would be great if that was addressed in tech, not at the line.
Roy
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shiphteey
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posted May 25, 2010 07:00 AM
Roy, I wrote it on masking tape and am pretty sure I crumbled it up and threw it away.
FWIW in terms of people who signed off on my bike:
Donna Timney who is in charge of Vehicle Numbers among other things at the ECTA
Debbie Dross: Does tons for Maxton
Keith Turk: Race Director.
A.
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Gemini Motorcycles
Topping out everything from Ninja 250s to nitrous ZX-14s.
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wrongway
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posted May 25, 2010 09:39 AM
quote:
Roy, I wrote it on masking tape and am pretty sure I crumbled it up and threw it away.
FWIW in terms of people who signed off on my bike:
Donna Timney who is in charge of Vehicle Numbers among other things at the ECTA
Debbie Dross: Does tons for Maxton
Keith Turk: Race Director.
A.
well , it is just a bad situation. My wife wont go back either since she got thrown off the track year before last.
Roy
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TRNorBRN6001
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posted May 25, 2010 11:57 AM
Sorry to here that Ali. I feel your hurt, especially after going all these years. I completely agree it should have been handled differently.
I am kind of a little dry on the Texas Mile as well. Still Love the racers and food though!
Can't wait for White Sands to come on line as the next premier LSR site! ; )
Hope everyone else had a good time and ran strong.
Gary
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TFA 200MPH CLUB MEMBER!
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Shane661
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posted May 25, 2010 12:00 PM
quote:
well , it is just a bad situation. My wife wont go back either since she got thrown off the track year before last.
Roy
How did that happen?
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