- Nov 25, 1999
- 7,926
- 43
Saturday nite was Round 2, Saturday Nite Thunder, ASCOT MX. My route to the track was altered by the bridge collapse on I-40 near G o r e, OK on Memorial Day weedend. My brother decided to go with me and we made are way via western Arkansas. This is very scenic country so it was a nice change of pace.
We arrived at the track around 4:30pm with practice starting at 5:00. MX547 and MOTOX757 were already there and had our usual pit spot. We made are introductions and went to registration. It was warm and humid with a nice breeze. It looked as though there may be a small turnout but this changed as late arrivals made for quite a few motos.
As we geared up for practice we noticed they had switched the direction of the track and made several changes but it looked to be a good change. I started up the Mamba and an unusual sound was coming from the engine. Quick decision, call it off or ride till she blows. I had hoped to put off the bottom end rebuild until later in the summer but that was not to be. :ugg:
I took a couple of practice laps, a sight lap and a lap to check out the jumps at speed. The bike was running great but the noise was obvious. After contemplating the options, I decided to stay and ride. We ended up with six in our class. The first moto was around 10:30. I did all right, finished fourth but had my throttle stick open on the third lap over the biggest, fastest jump on the track. It stuck open a couple of other times but I was able to hold off the rider behind me to hold on to fourth.
Back in the pits I made some adjustments and corrected the throttle position. Our next moto would be in about 45 mins. I got a pretty good start I was fourth until the halfway around the 3rd lap. I spun out slightly on an off camber uphill and the bike behind be made the pass. I stayed with him around to the same spot on the white flag lap. I made a great move to pass and blocked his line, however, I spun again and he ducked behind me to pass me again. It was a sprint for two corners with a double in between, I pulled up at the finish line with the front wheel even with his pegs. A fifth place in the second moto with fifth overall on the nite. Not bad with an engine going south.
The next race is in two weeks, the motor is going to be redone, top to bottom. Hopefully, I will have a few evenings to get it broken in properly before round three.
We arrived at the track around 4:30pm with practice starting at 5:00. MX547 and MOTOX757 were already there and had our usual pit spot. We made are introductions and went to registration. It was warm and humid with a nice breeze. It looked as though there may be a small turnout but this changed as late arrivals made for quite a few motos.
As we geared up for practice we noticed they had switched the direction of the track and made several changes but it looked to be a good change. I started up the Mamba and an unusual sound was coming from the engine. Quick decision, call it off or ride till she blows. I had hoped to put off the bottom end rebuild until later in the summer but that was not to be. :ugg:
I took a couple of practice laps, a sight lap and a lap to check out the jumps at speed. The bike was running great but the noise was obvious. After contemplating the options, I decided to stay and ride. We ended up with six in our class. The first moto was around 10:30. I did all right, finished fourth but had my throttle stick open on the third lap over the biggest, fastest jump on the track. It stuck open a couple of other times but I was able to hold off the rider behind me to hold on to fourth.
Back in the pits I made some adjustments and corrected the throttle position. Our next moto would be in about 45 mins. I got a pretty good start I was fourth until the halfway around the 3rd lap. I spun out slightly on an off camber uphill and the bike behind be made the pass. I stayed with him around to the same spot on the white flag lap. I made a great move to pass and blocked his line, however, I spun again and he ducked behind me to pass me again. It was a sprint for two corners with a double in between, I pulled up at the finish line with the front wheel even with his pegs. A fifth place in the second moto with fifth overall on the nite. Not bad with an engine going south.
The next race is in two weeks, the motor is going to be redone, top to bottom. Hopefully, I will have a few evenings to get it broken in properly before round three.
