Fat Lazy Bastard Racing

Hard Decisions – Calling it a year

After much time sitting around, deliberating over it, and putting the scenarios in my head, while staring into the nothingness, I have decided to wrap things up and call it a year.

We all know track day and race attendances are down this year, due to the sluggish “economy”. Some good friends of mine decided to take the year off, others lost their jobs early on, and were not able to make it out this year. Myself? Everything seemed fine, and I had put aside a bit of play money for this year, enough to last a few months, knowing I could make up the rest of what was needed by the time I ran out of that.

But, like more times than not, things didn’t go as planned.

Earlier this year, I was hit with a pay decrease, but I still had my job. I realized at that point, I was going to have to really cut back in order to continue to enjoy this sport.

So I moved out of my place I was living in, got a roommate, and figured all would be good.

A couple miscalculations here, a couple of blunders there, and here I am.

It has been an amazing season for me really. I enjoyed every day of it, even the slight “mishap” I had during round 4.

Along with this, I have decided to sale the track bike, which is a “very” hard decision for me as I had originally planned on keeping it for eternity.

The Bike that Ebay Built, a name that it was coined by some friends of mine, after I had made the decision to build it piece by piece from ebay auctions. It started with a frame, than a swing-arm and rear shock. Next came front forks, and a front wheel, than a rear wheel,  finally an engine. It went together, it roared to life, and it put a smile on my face knowing I accomplished everything I set out to do. The first day I took it out on the track I was filled with fear. Fear that I may have “Missed” something, after spending 8 months of scouring ebay, and piecing it together.

That first lap went by, than another, than another. The day went on, and I had the biggest smile on my face.

Just over a year later, I never would have dreamed I’d be making this decision, but there are more important things financially I must tend to now.

My ultimate goal is to be back out next year. I hope that I can get everything squared away, and feel comfortable that I can purchase, or who knows, build another bike to be out for the first race of 2010. Or who knows, maybe be back out on an 07 R6, as my Street Bike is just that. I just don’t know at this stage.

For those interested in the track bike who may read this, feel free to email me at memclane at gmail dot com.

07 R6 – Stock Engine, Stock Exhaust, Armour Bodies Body Work,  ASV Levers, Motobits Rear Sets, SBS Dual Carbon Front Pads, an extra set of wheels, spare frame, spare swingarm, spare subframe, spare triple clamp, spare radiator, spare airbox, spare throttle bodies, pitbull front and rear stands, yade yade Too much to continue listing. I’ll have a For Sale up soon :p

I would like to thank everyone who came out and supported me this last year, as well as Troy of Pennell Powersports/Bridgestone. Also a big thanks to Mark of 2-Fast and his crew, as well as Mario with Adrenaline Freaks and his crew. Both these local guys put on amazing track days for us, and we are fortunate to have them.

Until Next Year,

Michael McLane #812 (The Fat Lazy Bastard)

WMRRA Round 4 – 6/13 – 6/14 09 – The Go Go Go! Wait… No Go Issue!

Well, what an interesting weekend!

First off, Congratulations to both Ross Delong from taking the track record from Mike Macconaghy on Saturday, then Mike coming back with a vengeance on Sunday and blowing the record out of the water again!  1:24.062!!!!

Holy Shiznit! That’s one fast funny guy!

Now on to my race weekend!

Friday, AF – Played around, took it easy, had some fun. Nothing too exciting.

Saturday – Morning Practice, first one I missed (Changed tires) second one I went out on to scrub in new tires.

Saturday – Novice Race:  This was, by far the most fun I’ve had. This is my first time in a race since the gearing change on my bike. I geared it down some to give me more drive out of the corners.  Last week during 2 fast, I noticed that the gearing was working perfectly for me. I was topping out just coming out of turn 1, which is exactly where I wanted to be for that straight.

I was gridded in the 3rd row.  Had an excellent start!  Blew past a bunch of people, only had about 8 people in front of me.

The race was on! Passed a few people, Lap one down!

Second lap, went by, smoothly.  Got down the straight and realized I was still holding up towards the front!

Third Lap in, I started to battle it out with a couple guys.  Back and fourth, back and fourth we went amongst each other!

Forth Lap in, see the halfway marker. Everything still holding! Still back and fourth! Seriously I need to get some more oomph from my bike.  I could make the passes on these guys in the corners, but they would get me in the straights.  It was some real close racing. Excellent racing to be honest!

Fifth lap in, still back and forth!  Wow, this is really turning out to be a hell of a race!

Sixth Lap in! Same guys!

Seventh Lap in, I make the pass for fifth again in 2!!  Steady Steady, Turn 3, and….. fack

I crashed… Boooo!

Lesson Learned…    Final Verdict?  Don’t forget to get off your bike.  Going into Turn 3, I just didn’t get my self moved off enough, ended up dragging my exhaust, and pitching the rear up, and into a low side I went. Also learned that tires have my grip than exhausts… Who would have thunk it?

I can honestly say without a doubt though, the tires held like fricken glue right up until that point.

Minor Damage. Bent Clip-on, bent right pedal, and peg.

Gear Ok, Me Ok. Tiny raspberry on my left elbow from friction burn in my suit. Pride? Well, kinda cut down a bit…  Funny how that works. I’m perfectly ok, yet I still feel sick!

Walk over to Brent Prindle (MotoBits Dude!) and spend 68 bucks for my rearset parts (That’s why I have MotoBits! Easy to get parts!). Already had spare clip-on.  Had bike washed, and back together in an hour or so. Checked everything over on the outside.  VERY minor body damage. A couple separation cracks, nothing that can’t be fixed easily.

Sunday Practice – Went out, scrubbed tires back in, got the damned dirt off of them.

Parade Lap for Fallen Rider #138 Kurt Husted who was slain in the armored car robbery at the Wal-Mart.

Sunday Novice Race - Pre Grid, ready to go!

They release us for the Warm up Lap, get halfway into 2, and….

No throttle…

Twist it with all my might… Still no throttle…

Curse the blasted thing… Still no throttle

Tell it that I love it, and will treat it really nice… Still no throttle

I think my throttle hates me!

Turn off bike, look at Corner worker… Look at bike… Look at Corner worker… Restart… Throttle!!@!!

CW tells me go go go!

I  go go go! Halfway down the hill to 3… No Throttle! Error 15! FACK!!! I no Go Go Go! Error 15, my throttles way of saying “HA HA!”

I Park behind Crash Truck (Hey!) And load up bike before race even starts!

I got a great seat to watch the race though…  Feel sorry for the corner workers. They were out of water. They said they would offer me some if they had some. Luckily for me, it was overcast, and not to hot out. So I was fine!

My new saying… “Mechanicals… Gods way of saying “Seriously, didn’t you get the point yesterday?”

Overall, Crappy weekend on the race front =( Some awesome racing though from the other classes!
Hope to have the gremlins figured out tonight. Want to hit up OMRRA this weekend. We’ll see!

Special thanks to Troy McCrae of Pennell PowerSports of Medford Oregon for supplying an excellent set of rubbers! Stones Rock!

Thanks to those who showed up for support! (Jared, Marcus)  It gets lonely by yourself =(

Thanks to Tony and Heidi for always supporting me as well!

Stay Tuned!

WMRRA Round 2: Race Report

So, it is WMRRA Round 3 weekend, and here I am just getting around to posting Round 2.  Well that would have to do with the fact I had no place to put it! Hurray!

First off, I did not race Round 1.  Secondly, I am not racing Round 3, as I am moving this weekend. What a great weekend to move, eh?

So the weekend of Round 2 started off well.  I did the AF Day on Friday to dust off the cobwebs.  As I have not been on the track since September of ‘08, I thought it very important to do that track day.

I am glad I did.

For starters, I had a lot of cobwebs.  So bad in fact, I was running 8 seconds off from my times last year.  That is not good, not good at all.

So I finished the day disappointed in my times, however, I was not let down to much.

WMRRA Weekend: Day 1 – Saturday, May 9th 2009

This day started out good.  I was already setup from the day prior, so I did not have to rush to the track to get setup. Instead I opted to show up about 15 minutes after the gates opened, checked in, teched gear and bike, and back to pits. I was done before 7:30.  That felt good.

I had pitted next to my Bridgestone Dude, Troy.  He puts sticky tires on my bike, so I like Troy.  I don’t like that he charges me for air though… I don’t care how free those tires are, charging me 350 bucks for air just drives me crazy.  But although he has the most expensive air in the pits, he definitely has the most cost effective tires, that just flat out work.

Riders Meeting, blah blah blah, announcements, blah blah blah spokane blah blah, flags, go, yade yade.

I skipped the first morning practice. I was still trying to get my head around the day before, going over things in it, trying to figure out where my problem was.

Second practice, I went out, and what do you know, I knocked 3 seconds off of my best lap times from the day before. What did I do? I don’t know!

On to the Race:

Race started out great, I was gridded in the very front row (SOB!) and with the fat guy directly behind me.  I actually went over to Rob Workman’s pits prior to the race and warned him that I was in front of him, and to be gentle as he sucked the paint off of my bike.

Interestingly enough, one thing I AM good at, is starts. I got an excellent start, and Rob didn’t suck the paint off until going into Turn 2.  Atta boy Rob! I like Rob

Good Race, made a major screw up though going into turn 9.  I went in way to hot, had to go way wide, and had to slow down to get back over to make it into the bus stop, loosing 3 places.
End of the race, Placed 11th out of 22 riders. Not to shabby, I’ll take it!

WMRRA Weekend: Day 2 – Sunday, May 10th 2009

Day 2 was even better than day 1!  Slept in (No need to tech) got to the track just before 8, had a banana and half a hoagie for breakfast (gave the other half to Tony).

Riders Meeting, yade Yade, first practice, I went out and did, as we only get 1 on Sunday’.  Good stuff, got it done and out of the way.  I took it easy out there, so I thought, but still was managing to keep the same times I did as my best times during the race. What the hell?  The cobwebs are starting to come off even more.

Race 2:

This time I was gridded in the 3rd row, directly behind Rob.  Imagine that…

Rob got a good start this time, as did I.  I got up next to him for about all of .005 seconds, before he finally pulled away.  I hate Rob.

Now, the race was starting to go really well. I was keeping my position in 5th for a good portion, and then… Well, first I should back up to Friday.

Friday, my good boy Troy, the Bridgestone dude, told me “The tires should get you through today, but I wouldn’t push them to race on”.

Now, me being the cheap SOB that I am, I told him “Nah, they are fine, I’m not pushing them…”  So lets return back to the race.

So back to the race…
Going through turn 2, I am starting to exit and WOOOSH! The rear lets go, and not just a simple little slide, I am talking a clear across, OMG OMG here comes the side of the track, let loose.

WTH!

So I back up just a smidgeon, go into turn three, seems fine, come out of turn 4, and “woosh!” again! Hrmmm

Tires not gripping well on the left side.

So I back it off a bit, and continue racing on.

I give up a few positions, and then I come into turn 9, and I can feel it stepping out. So I slow it down even more.

Overall, I finish the race… 11th again.  Damn!

So I can’t complain about either day’s finish.

Anyways, I get back to the pits, I call for Troy to bring the gauge and pressures are fine. Then we examine the tire in detail.

Looks like I like to power out in the same spot on the tire a lot.  Created a shelf, lowered my contact patch. Tire was gone.  Considering it was a tire from last year, I can’t blame it. It done its job well.

New skins went on…

Checked Laptimes…

And knocked another 2 seconds off… Even with “backing” off, I was running constantly the same times I did as my best times the day before.  Hrmmm, it’s all getting better… Hopefully we’ll see where I am next Track Day at PR and Race.

Good Weekend, not disappointed at all.

A big thanks to my sponsor, Troy Mccrae – Owner of Pennel Powersports of Medford Oregon.

Also a big thanks to all my friends who came out to support me this weekend.