Road America role call (4/22-24/05)

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

The CCS/FUSA Road America event is next week and I'm pumped for this event to kick the season into gear!

I pre-entered at the last minute so I will be a ways back on the grids, but this is the 1st event for the Midwest and Great Plaines Regions so I'm ok with that. For all those people that haven't raced yet this season, Road America is definately a 'trial by fire' track to start on, but I already raced at Daytona so I'm feeling good and ready to haul some butt! I entered all the HeavyWeight & Unlimited class Sprint races (except for the (2) Unlimited GP races) for a total of (8) races for this event. Depending on how I'm feeling once I get some track time I might add the Unlimited GP classes as well for a total of (10) races for the event, damn I'm going to be tired!

So who else is going and what are you running for classes and bikes?

[Rogue6]

Well I am not quite ready to race yet, but I am signed up for the race licensing clinic at BHF on may 28th. I think I might do a race the next day. I would certainly like to check out the RA races too. I was there last year watching and it's a good time. Good luck to those of you running. If I am walking by the pits and see a number I recognize from the boards, maybe I will try and say hello if you guys don't look to busy.

[silent_R1]

hey mike, smokenjoe and myself are out for this round, but we will def be in the next round in I think June??? extrakt0r will be there as will Rich791 and Spooner.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Originally Posted by silent_R1

hey mike, smokenjoe and myself are out for this round, but we will def be in the next round in I think June??? extrakt0r will be there as will Rich791 and Spooner.

There is only 1 CCS event at Road America this season, as has been the case over the last several years, there use to be 2 per season with the 2nd being in August. The event in June is the AMA Pro Racing event. The next CCS event for Midwest is at Blackhawk Farms (my home track, I live near by) on the weekend of May 7-8. Sorry to hear you guys are not gonna make it, RA is a beautiful parklike setting, the main difference in this park is you get to go as fast as your motorcycle can go 3 times per lap on a 4 mile long monster! As of Tuesday morning the Weather is projected as being in the upper 50's with almost no chance of rain, not like I'm trying to tempt you guys or anything!

See you guys eventually!

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Thought I would give a quick update about how RA went. It was a bit cool all event (between mid 30's & high 40's), the wind was fairly strong (25mph), and there was some adverse weather as well (rain sprinkles and snow flurries). Even though the weather wasn't that great the event was still alot of fun and suprisingly there were not alot of crashes considering the weather.
I rode super conservative all event and left with points in all (8) classes I was entered in, better to think about season long championships over (1) event in my eyes. In the afternoon on Sunday the weather got better and the sun was out so I picked up the pace a bit, which was awesome, but I wish we could have had more of the good weather.

Event #1 successfully completed, now on to Blackhawk Farms for event # 2.

[silent_R1]

we will be at BHF. I will most likely do the practice on Friday, smokenjoe needs his license so he is doing the clinic on sat and I'm racing sat/sun. we need to exchange numbers since I'm new to this game.

i'll be on the R1, you've seen it since I"ve painted it right?

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Originally Posted by silent_R1

we will be at BHF. I will most likely do the practice on Friday, smokenjoe needs his license so he is doing the clinic on sat and I'm racing sat/sun. we need to exchange numbers since I'm new to this game.

i'll be on the R1, you've seen it since I"ve painted it right?

I haven't seen your bike other than in your avatar.

BHF is a fun track, alot of people like it. I believe you may have a problem with the Friday practice though, it's for licensed racers only, it's not an LP Track Day. If smokenjoe doesn't have a license he won't be able to run the track on Friday, but it if you have your license it won't be a problem for you. The LP Track Day is held on Monday at this event, which won't be of much help to him unless he has a license with another organization to get him into running the Friday practice?

Go to their website at BHF and they have onboard video of the track and facilities. BHF is not anything fancy like Barber or RA and has somewhat antiquated restrooms and shower facilities. The owners of BHF (the Irwin brothers) also purchased Heartland Park a couple years ago and decided that each of them would run 1 track. I just heard that the one that was running BHF sold out to his brother and that there is going to be a new track manager this season with some possible changes being made overall to the facility as well. I heard they may build new bathroom/shower facilities and increase track run off in some areas around the track which is needed in a couple places. BHF does allow camping, the pits are situated inside of the racetrack, almost all of the pits are grass covered (very little paved area), and there is a consession stand on racedays. Since the pits are inside of the track, if you arrive after practice or racing has started you have to wait until the end of that session to cross over the track (which is between turns 6 & 6a).

The closest town to BHF is Beloit Wisconsin (medium sized town) and is only about 5 to 10 minutes from the track. Rockford (where I live) is the 2nd largest city in Illinois and is about 20-30 minutes from the track, but has alot more restraunts and hotels. Though there is a $1 toll for a passenger vehicle, if you go to Rockford from the track the easiest/fastest way is on I-90 south (actually labeled as Eastbound) to the Rockford - State Street exit (business 20) and turn right (west). There are alot of hotels in many price ranges there along with something like 60+ restraunts over the next 5 miles. You will be passing by Rockford on I-90 (labeled as Westbound) as you head North on your way to BHF when 1st arriving for the event.

If you have any questions just ask or send me an E-mail.

[silent_R1]

Originally Posted by GSXR RACER MIKE

I haven't seen your bike other than in your avatar.

BHF is a fun track, alot of people like it. I believe you may have a problem with the Friday practice though, it's for licensed racers only, it's not an LP Track Day. If smokenjoe doesn't have a license he won't be able to run the track on Friday, but it if you have your license it won't be a problem for you. The LP Track Day is held on Monday at this event, which won't be of much help to him unless he has a license with another organization to get him into running the Friday practice?

Go to their website at BHF and they have onboard video of the track and facilities. BHF is not anything fancy like Barber or RA and has somewhat antiquated restrooms and shower facilities. The owners of BHF (the Irwin brothers) also purchased Heartland Park a couple years ago and decided that each of them would run 1 track. I just heard that the one that was running BHF sold out to his brother and that there is going to be a new track manager this season with some possible changes being made overall to the facility as well. I heard they may build new bathroom/shower facilities and increase track run off in some areas around the track which is needed in a couple places. BHF does allow camping, the pits are situated inside of the racetrack, almost all of the pits are grass covered (very little paved area), and there is a consession stand on racedays. Since the pits are inside of the track, if you arrive after practice or racing has started you have to wait until the end of that session to cross over the track (which is between turns 6 & 6a).

The closest town to BHF is Beloit Wisconsin (medium sized town) and is only about 5 to 10 minutes from the track. Rockford (where I live) is the 2nd largest city in Illinois and is about 20-30 minutes from the track, but has alot more restraunts and hotels. Though there is a $1 toll for a passenger vehicle, if you go to Rockford from the track the easiest/fastest way is on I-90 south (actually labeled as Eastbound) to the Rockford - State Street exit (business 20) and turn right (west). There are alot of hotels in many price ranges there along with something like 60+ restraunts over the next 5 miles. You will be passing by Rockford on I-90 (labeled as Westbound) as you head North on your way to BHF when 1st arriving for the event.

If you have any questions just ask or send me an E-mail.

i should have my license on friday, if not that's cool. i'll get it saturday. my whole concern is learning the track for the first time in a race, but if that is what happens, i can't help it. truthfully, i dunno if we will stay at the track or not, we prolly will, wouldn't be the first time we've done stuff like that. i am so looking forward to a road trip.

don't they have like a single practice session on saturday?

here is a pic of the bike now.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Originally Posted by silent_R1

don't they have like a single practice session on saturday?

here is a pic of the bike now.

They will probably have 3 practice sessions Saturday morning, along with 2 or 3 on Sunday morning as well. BHF is fun and not incredibly hard to learn, you guys should do fine. I noticed you have a split number plate on the front, you'll either have to put your numbers on the right side ONLY (for scoring purposes) or tape over the bottom section of the windshield to make a large enough plate area for the numbers required. Tech likes to see the 8" numbers on the front, but if they won't fit with appropriate spacing between the numbers then you should go to 7" or 6" in a worst case scenerio. Make sure not to piss off tech, they can be your best freind or your worst enemy on things like this, work with them and they will work with you most of the time (establishing a good relationship with them from the start will ease things in the future for you).

You said you would have your license Friday? Did you already take a school in the past, how is it that you'll have it Friday?

[silent_R1]

yeah, i took a license school a little over a year and half ago, i just decided to hold off on the racing until i got a little better. now, i've gotten a little faster and another couple of seasons in the seat, i think i can at least go out there and not embarrass myself.

yeah, the front being split i wasn't too thrilled with. i was waiting to paint the screen until my new came in (it is here now) so, i thought i would get it painted or taped until I can get it painted to match.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

Originally Posted by silent_R1

yeah, i took a license school a little over a year and half ago, i just decided to hold off on the racing until i got a little better. now, i've gotten a little faster and another couple of seasons in the seat, i think i can at least go out there and not embarrass myself.

Did you ever actually get a license? I believe you must have either taken a school or had a valid license within the last 12 months in order to qualify for a current license. The 2 seasons I didn't race I still purchased a license, this way I was able to stay Expert and had no problems with renewals each season, though I hadn't raced so much as 1 race. Had I not kept my license I either would have had to get a race official or school instructor to OK me as being able to compete again (also decide at what level to return) or take a licensing school again. If I had come back as an Amateur I could have had a great season, but at the risk of being bumped up to Expert mid season (due to having been an Expert previously). If the 12 month requirement is a problem you could possibly contact the school you took and see if they would OK you as being able to race without taking the school again. If you go this route I would emphasize to them the track days you have done since you took their licensing school. You would need some type of documentation from them or for them to contact CCS and say that you are OK for a license.

[silent_R1]

i read the ccs rules/regs and it stated w/in the last 3 years. my thought was to take my certificate w/me to BHF and give it to the CCS officials there. I also sent an email to the clinic (since they will be there as well) and let them know. I haven't heard back from them yet.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

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