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Written by Mikey Avila
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Wednesday, 28 October 2009 |
RACE REPORT
October 17th & 18th, 2009
Willow Springs, CA
This past weekend my dad and I made the three hour drive down to Willow Springs for the final two rounds of Eddie Mulder's West Coast Vintage Dirt Track Series. This weekend I made my debut on Clark Dickel and Jim Kelly's Harley 750. There were a lot of heavy hitters there at the event including Sammy Halbert, Jared Mees, JR Schnabel, Jeffery Carver, Jimmy Wood, and many more.
I was very anxious to get on the big bike and ride but a little nervous at the same time. On Saturday when we rolled the bike out of the trailer I was pumped for practice. I sat on the bike just to get the feel for it, and it was a bit uncomfortable because the foot pegs are off center with one further back than the other and the air filters stick way out and in your way. It was a different feeling sitting bow-legged on a motorcycle. Additionally, the shifter and the brake are both on the right side, which is totally opposite from what I'm use to riding. But the more I sat on it the more I became comfortable with the bike. I went out for my first practice and just let everybody else go by so I could ride without distraction. I was surprised with how good it handled with all of that weight, and I was also surprised when I let off the throttle and it seemed as if there was no engine braking, with a feeling like I gained speed when I got off the gas. But I quickly learned that the sooner I picked up the throttle the better it would turn. I came back in to the pits and made a couple of adjustments and was ready for the heat.
I lined up for my heat race and was honored to be there because I was lined up with people I grew up watching on TV and seeing in magazines. I got off the line pretty good, but Shawn Russell was closing the door on me so I shifted down into third ( Yes I shifted down because the shifting pattern is the opposite of a DTX, one up and four down) but I didn't quite get it in gear and it went into a false neutral. I immediately pulled in the clutch and tried to find third gear, but by the time I did the pack was already too far gone. I was heated that I made a mistake like that but I rode as hard as I could, I made one pass and closed down on the pack but it was too late, so I was headed to a semi-final.
For my semi, I lined up and tried not to think about the shifting, but as soon as I went to shift I made the same mistake and once again found myself trying to catch up. But when racing against people of that caliber it’s hard to make up a deficit like that. So I found myself sitting on the side lines and watching the main. I definitely learned a lot watching the pros and was eager for Sunday.
On Sunday morning I was ready and knew what to expect on the bike. I went out for practice a bit more confident than the day before. Then all of the sudden JR blew by me on the inside and held the gas on a good two seconds longer than I did, so not knowing any better I tried to do the same as he did, and I felt so much faster. However, I was having some turning issues and so I came in and talked to Joe Bisha and we made some adjustments to the suspension and the tires.
I lined up for my heat and got a decent jump but I was a little cautious with the shifting just to make sure I didn't make the same mistake as the day before, and my hesitation cost me a bit of time. The first and second place riders had pulled away, so it was a four way battle for third between, Shawn Russell, Jethro Halbert, Kevin Vance and me. I was right there with them but I just couldn't get a good enough drive out of the corner to make the passes stick. So I had to settle for sixth and unfortunately they only took the top three finishers to the main. So I came back in, we flipped the tire, made some more adjustments and went out for the semi.
I was lined up on the second to outside. We all got a good jump off the line and it was a drag race going into turn one and I followed Luke Gough into turn one. I squared off the corner but Brad Baker got a hell of a drive coming out and went high to make a pass and it pushed me up and I had to let off or I would have ran off the track. So going into three I went low and ran it in as deep as I could and made a couple of passes, then going into one, Baker, Kevin Vance and I went in three wide and none of us wanted to give an inch. I got a good drive down low and so did Brad, but Kevin spun up in the dry stuff up high. Going into three Brad held it on super deep and went up high just enough for me to get underneath him, but then he got back by me going down the back stretch. All of this battling was fun but it enabled Luke and Kayl Kolkmen to pull a good six bike link lead over Brad and me so we had no chance of making the main.
I was very disappointed that I didn't make the main event, but I learned a lot from riding with the pros and I was definitely honored to ride because not too many people get an opportunity to ride a Harley Davidson XR750 at 15 years old. It was a learning curve for Clark, Joe, Jim and especially me this weekend, but and I can’t wait to work with them again in the future and ride it again as soon as possible.
I would like to thank my sponsors: Dad, Rod Lake Racing, Micah Racing, Brown’s Cycles, Woody Kyle Racing, Jett Tuning, AGV, Troy Lee Designs, Cycle Gear, Slideways Racing and Checkered Flag Photography.
I also want to thank my tuning crew: Clark Dickle, Jim Kelly, and Joe Bisha. And last but certainly not least, Eddie Mulder, Digger Helm and the top-notch crew that made the show a success.
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Newsflash
Pro Plates is pleased to announce an extremely limited edition of ten(10) 2009 Flattrack.com #1 Plates. These 10 plates are the same as the Flattrack.com #1 Plate that will be awarded to the winner of the 2009 Flattrack.com Overall Flattrack Championship.
These priceless #1 plates will go to the first 10 people that donate $500.00 or more each to the Overall Championship Point Fund at Flattrack.com.
This is the first time in history that fans donating to a fan-based point fund have had the opportunity to recieve a copy of the famed #1 Plate. The first ten $500.00 donors will be determined by the timing of their Pay Pal donations, or the postmark on their letters if the donations are sent by mail.
Traditionally, the only plates produced for past championships go to the Champion, with a limited few extras produced for the Champion to give to his sponsors or others of his choosing. This tradition will be followed, of course, to honor the Champion and those he wishes to thank for supporting his race efforts.
Don't waste too much time if you want to recieve one of these 10 exact replica #1 Plates!
Ten and ten only will be available for donors!!!! |
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