Honey Creek STORM Race

[ta2240]

Anyone?

Anyone?

No Comments?

[Greasemonkey]

Think they sched. the races around my things to do.Or cancell when I can!!

Good racing?

[ta2240]

I heard discussion of that Scott. But hey, its all rumor:lol2:

[woodsguy]

Tim, tell us your story!

As for me it wasn't my best race. Couldn't get in "race" mode for some reason. Just wasn't comfortable! Might have been all the bodies laying around.
Between the heat and I guess bad luck there was a lot of folks laid out!
Most were o-k as for as I know.

Really different was the use of his corn fields, that's right corn! They just cut swaths thru the field kinda twisty like and off you went. I believe there was 4-5 areas like this. Not sure I cared for it but was different. Really made for blind corners tho. There was a lot of folks sliiping on the husks and some of them got hit!

But had a good time and finished! When you''re 55 what else can you ask for!

Pops

[Tekisasu DR]

I could not make this race, but will the one on 9/30.
Hope you all enjoyed the race!

Ken

[ta2240]

My Story?
Well I showed up saturday in time to set up the camper and relax a few minutes. When practice started I was pumped, that is until I saw the 8 foot tall fields that we were headed into. We all took off and man it was like Ice skating. Every corner was slick because of the loose cut grass. If the grass had been cleared away it was a smooth hard packed black slick spot. There were bikes sliding everywhere. The first practice lap was oaky but when you got into the woods there was more of the slick black stuff. It seemed really tacky but I could not let the bike go because I felt like I was gonna wash out. During the beginning of the 2nd lap I really noticed a squirly feeling with the back tire. I thought Huummmm, could I possibly have a rear flat. I pull over in the grass and I cannot see the bottom of the tire so I reach around to push on it with my left arm:eek2: Ouch TAILPIPES GET HOT:eek2: I manage to get back to camp and I start looking through my tubes, go figure I have three 21" tubes. I get on the telephone and call TJ's Cycles and have them throw a Heavy Duty tube in the trailer. I knew they were coming up early in the morning. I then go to the MSRA(Outlaw Group) where I see Woodsguy and Mr. Jerry Evans. I ask Jerry if he has a rear 18" tube and his first reply is "Sure, regular or Heavy Duty". I get the Heavy Duty and go to work. Within a few I have the tube changed, Oh, did I mention that it was 113 degrees in the shade:sun: I literally thought I was gonna die.

Race Day:

I go to where TJ's Cycles is normally parked with their Austin group and I see that my main competition in my class has a new KTM 300 XC-W. I am trailing this guy in the points by 1 and I have convinced myself that I can beat him, that is until I see that sweet Orange Beast. I ask him what he thinks and the only thing he can say is the one word all of us KTM riders can say, "Magic".:clap: Anyway 9:00am rolls around and we are on the starting line there is 8 of us on my row. My main competition is to my right and we make a hard left from the start. When the flag drops I enter the field 2nd but because of the slick stuff I am scared to open it up and try and pass. As soon as we hit the woods I pass the leader and I think I have it made. Suddenly I hear a 2 stroke behind me and I look and see that it is a new KTM. I am really excited because at the Outlaw race we batteled it out for 1 full hour and it was the best race I have ever been in. About half way in I bobble in a turn and he passes me at the same time we hit the slick black stuff in the woods and he is gone. A few seconds later I hear the deep roar of a 4 stroke and I see that it is a rider in my class that is new to the series. I try to fight him off but right before we get into the open field before scoring I overshoot a turn and he is gone. When I come through scoring I can see that the leader is only about 25 seconds ahead of us. Well considering that I could not ride and get into the groove I could not overcome that time. I finished 3rd but only after Erik Shea(MSRA Member) pushes me during the final lap. It seems that for some reason if I am not leading or chasing someone I find myself taking it easy. I cannot motivate myself to ride 100% when I am by myself. I cannot blame anyone but me because I could not over come the slikery stuff. I really hope that I never see that track again because it has me mentally whooped.

I guess I will have to wait for the next one at Outlaw.

Sorry guys but Woodsguy told me to tell the story:lol2:

[Tekisasu DR]

It is very interesting story!!!:clap:
I realized that I am not that much committed to the race yet, but still having fun joining to the race series.
Thanks for sharing the story!
Ken

[Chris S]

My body is still recovering from Honey Creek!

Stayed up late Fri. night working on the 300, which didn't want to start at all. Installed the JD jet kit that came w/ the bike, it still didn't want to start. I was planning to take it into TJ's first thing Sat., but had resigned myself to racing the 450 by that point. Well, first thing Sat. morning, it started 1st kick, so we were off to the races!

Getting ready for practice, my bike didn't want to start again, so I squirted some starting fluid in, which fired it right up. Practice Sat. was pretty good, other than completely losing my rear brake twice on the first lap. I know the rear brake is important for turning, but didn't realize how much so until it was gone! The bike seemed to be running really hot, too...not sure if it was the weather or related to the jetting change. And yes, those corn fields were SLICK! Can't say I was a big fan of that idea.

I ran into some KTM riding friends at the hotel Sun. am, and told them about my starting issues. They gave me some tips, turned out I wasn't doing cold starts right - DOH. W/ my newfound knowledge, the 300 started right up Sun. morning.

When the flag dropped, my boot slipped off the kickstarter, and I got a bad start. This was my first race on the 300, and at that moment I missed my e-button starting routine on the 450. All was going fairly well until the 3rd lap, when I hit a tree and crashed. Shouldn't have been a big deal, ex. I landed on an already injured right hand/fingers, courtesy of City Park. From there on, I was just a rolling chicane - tired and hurting, I wasn't having fun fun at that point and didn't want to block the rest of the field, so I pulled off.

Not my best performance, but I got to catch up w/ some old friends and ride some new terrain, so it was still a good weekend. Hopefully I'll have my act together a little better for my next race, Skull Creek or Zars.

[ta2240]

Well Chris, tell us the starting issues, some of us other 300 riders may need to know it in the future. Oh and what was the issue with the back brake. Just too hot?

It looks like I am gonna be bumped to your class next year, I am gonna hate finishing in the VERY back again:doh:

[woodsguy]

Tim, that was good write up! Have you contacted Cycle News yet? You could do regional write up for STORM!

We have the same problem, not pushing when by yourself! I had pretty much stopped that but it has crept back into my racing.

[ta2240]

Tim, that was good rite up! Have you contacted Cycle News yet? You could do regional write up for STROM!



Always a Wiseguy!:lol2:

[Chris S]

[QUOTE=ta2240;296423]Well Chris, tell us the starting issues, some of us other 300 riders may need to know it in the future. Oh and what was the issue with the back brake. Just too hot?

[QUOTE]

Tim, it's more an issue of me being an idiot. :doh: I always whacked open the throttle for a cold start, didn't always use the choke since it's already hot outside. My new routine is no gas, choke on. So far, it's worked much better. Ironically, the one think that's been a PITA on my bike is cold starting, it's always been a piece of cake when warm. Now I know why!

Yes, the brake def. got too hot, but would cool enough to regain some effectiveness. It's never happened to me before, not sure if it was the course, me riding it, heat from the engine, or what. I may look into an expanded master cylinder w/ cooling fins - having it go out is a sure-fire way to ruin a race.

[Erik727]

Had a terrible practice Sat,,was all over the place and had a wicked high side get off, thought "i'm going to killed on sunday".

Ended up getting a 3rd place start ,but got passed while i was tasting some of Honey Creeks finest weeds,,,then blew the first dirt corner leading to the jumps and rode it out in the grass ,getting back on the track just after the first jump. Lost another position or two there,,got those back fairly quick and got by D28 a few miles in...Caught Tim at scoring at the end of 2nd lap. Going into scoring chute ,the guy with the yellow flag(big flag with big hole in the middle),puts the yellow flag right in front of me and wraps the big hole around my front fender and i drag him for a foot or two and stop,,,he yells" YELLOW MEANS TO SLOW DOWN " ( i was going slow,but not slow enough for him i guess ) i yell back " I KNOW,,BUT HE"S RIGHT THERE!! " So ,i lose probably 12 secs unwrapping his flag from my fender . Catch back up to Tim in the corn field.. On his back tire the whole 3rd lap ,but couldn't get by him,finishing 2 sec behind him at the end ...Great battle Tim !!
For what i thought would be a real crappy day for me ,i rode pretty good and had a blast. See ya at Outlaw.

Erik
D70

[ta2240]

Oh, thats right, we did do 3 laps. I forgot:doh:
Oh well the 3rd lap was fun Erik. I don't buy the story you gave me that you have had no seat time since the last race. I tried hard to shake you but I couldn't do it. I guess I have to buckle down and start working out to keep you behind me. No more Chinese BOOFEY for me:eat:

[Erik727]

I swear man,,that's the truth............ I've tried hard to stay on the Marlboro and Bud Light workout program. I stray sometimes ,but try to stick to it most of the time.:trust: :lol2:

Erik