We are proud to now have them as a sponsor so that we can continue to use and abuse their products the way they where intended. One the track.

 #2 Overall Formula 40 EX

#1 Overall Formula Open EX

#2 Overall Open Shoot out EX

Finally made it back in the country long enough to actually race!!!  Turns out the weather wasn’t perfect (28 degrees and raining) but still a good outting.

Saturday – Had the bike all set to go (slicks, gas and warmers on) when the first practice sessions were called.  As usual, with the Torco oil in the bike it was running cooler than everyone else out there.  Missed the first practice on purpose because the track was still a little damp and cold.  Ran the last three practices about 3 seconds slower than my normal times.  Sounds pretty bad until we found out that everyone else was running slower due to the cold conditions.

Sunday started out cold but dry.  Didn’t run the practices as we were keeping the warmers on the tires to get some heat in them.  About an hour before the first race it started misting a little so decided to put the DOTs on the bike in place of the slicks.  Put the warmers on the DOTs and waited for Immediate call for the first race (Open Modified Production).  Just as we were lining up for the warmup lap, the heavens opened up and it poured.  Half the field were on rain tires (increadable traction in the rain) and the rest of us were on DOT’s (better than slicks but not even as good as street tires in the rain).  Needless to say, no personal Best was going to be set today!!!  Straight line wasn’t bad however, every turn the bike was slipping and sliding and the best I could do was 4th in the race.

The second race (Open Superbike) was pretty was pretty much a replay of race 1 with the bike slipping around every corner and just hoping it would stay up on two wheels.  The rain was getting worse so we were running in a total downpour.  Ended up 5th in the second race.

Race 3 (Formula 40 Heavyweight) was an entirely different story.  Still pouring rain and this time my teammate was my biggest competition.  Didn’t think I would be able to do too much with him since he was on rains and I was still on DOTs.  Even taking off from the hot pit was an adventure as I spun the rear really bad just taking off.  Once the green flag dropped though, I got the holeshot into turn one.  Kept the lead by myself to the halfway point (6 lap race) when my teammate passed me on the exit of turn two ( a high speed right hand sweeper).  I immediately repassed him into turn 3 on the brakes.  Actually remember thinking “no way he is getting around me with 3 laps to go.  It’s win it or bin it!!!!”.  He kept passing me out of turn 2 but I would immediately repass him on the brakes going into turn 3.  Ended up crossing the finish line 2 seconds ahead of him for the win!!!  Actually ran 9 seconds a lap faster in that race then I had all day.  Just needed the motivation to run it in and hope it would stick.  

Pretty much amazed everyone we talked to because when it was all said and done, we were only 2 seconds a lap slower than the fast guys on rains.  Running a 1:57 on a 2.5 mile track in pouring rain with DOTs is almost unbelievable.  Never missed a shift and never got over 160F the whole day.  Thats what the Torco oil does for you!!!  Bridgestones kept me upright and my Scorpion Helmet never fogged up and the shield cleared itself!!

Thanks to all my sponsors for making this a great (if short) race season for me.  Terry at HRS for giving me a Suspension that just plain works, Tigue at CycleMall for Dialing in the geometry, Jimmy at MoPowerSports for almost everything on the bike, SBKPaint.com for a paint job you can’t miss and huge thanks to -Torco Lubricants for oils and lubes that have never let me down and keep my bike running freaking awesome, Bridgestone for making tires I can run in pouring rain and still win, TrackSkinz for my perfect fitting leathers that even when soaking wet were as comfortable as wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  Major props to both BigHeadzRacing and Short Bus Racing just for letting me be part of great organizations.

11/12/13 Nov 11
John Reynolds
CVMA EX# 619
Chuckwalla Valley Raceway CCW
Center Valley Ca. Partly Cloudy /51/80 deg
00 SV650
Sponsors: ACT Leathers, Scorpion Helmets, LP, Bigheadz Racing,Warrior Foundation and Freedom Station.
Results:
     SuperSport Twins –3rd and 1st
     Modern Vintage Lightweight (Formula Rules) – DNS & 2nd
Best Lap: 2:03.5
Ave Lap: 2:05.4Friday:
     Friday was originally planned to be an easy day with K and I taking our time driving up to CVR from San Diego but as luck would have it that was not the case. Because another rider couldn’t make it to the Trackdaz Friday event I had the opportunity to buy his spot and ride in B group. So now my lazy Friday turned into a hectic Thursday making sure we could leave early enough to make the first sessions. My lovely wife was none to happy to hear I wanted her to get up at 430ish in the morning and drive to Desert Center after we had planned to sleep in.
After arriving, trying to find a spot in a very packed paddock and a little confusion about who I was and whose spot I was taking in B group, I got all checked in and teched. My first session in B group was Ok. I was going faster than most in the group and found myself constantly checking up coming into every turn because of tentative riders. By the end of the second session I was frustrated and was going to ask if I could be moved up but I changed my mind when my friend Sofia decided to go out with me in B for the third session. The sad thing is she got ejected off her bike coming out of T11. Apparently it was frustrated with B group too and after leaving Sofia on the track it continued on its own with a ghost rider all the way down to the 3 marker at the end of the back straight. She’s ok but broke her wrist. She was out for the weekend.
     On the bright side I took her spot in A group and the last sessions went Oh Soooo Muchhhhh Better. Thanks Sofia! Sorry you got hurt though. Going into a corner with 5 other riders was like being on a train with everyone maintaining their lines and no one checking up. Not like the inchworm antics in B group. By the end of the last session I was turning 2:06’s and was happy thinking that’s as fast as I’ve gone CCW and I would get into the 2:05s and maybe even a 2:04 during sat qualifying.Saturday:
     First and second practice was fun. I wasn’t trying to break any records just wanted to shake off the dust that had settled overnight and to try to get through T7 and T6 without hitting a curb or rumble strip. I was blowing it every other lap. I know it was one of my weak spots and wanted to get it right at least once.Qualifying:
     Went out to go fast. I know that there are a couple guys in the SS twins who are faster than me and I wanted to do well enough to get the opportunity to go through 16 with them at the start and stay with them as long as I could. I really wanted the 2:04 but if I got a 2:05 I would be happy. Well I was happy. After only three laps I was in the 2:05’s, my personal best CCW and decided that Id better go in before I got any faster. On the way in I stopped by the Pirelli tent and asked about the tire temp and the wear and ??? told me I was several pounds over what my hot temps should be and he adjusted them. Well I had to go back out. Right??? To see what if any difference the change made and I’m so glad I did. 2:04 baby!!!! Easy lap. Now it was really time to come in. I pitted and after verifying the pressure with my gage I put the warmers on and settled in for the long wait until my first race. OBTW the tire wear started looking as it should, working the edge instead of the space between edge and the middle.

Race 1: SuperSport Twins, 3rd place
     Andrew Zabzdyr(805), Paul McComsey(155), and Mike Gougis(791) were gridded in row one and I was row two left (inside) with other riders to my right and behind. Obviously all three qualified faster than I did but I was going to do my best to stick with them as long as I could. I green flag goes and I get a terrible start but I am still fourth into T16 behind Mike. By the time we were headed out of the bowl and into T12/11 Andrew and Paul were already pulling away. I followed Mike out of T11 and was on his rear wheel heading down the straight in the hopes I could draft past or get him on the breaks into T10. Just as we approached the three marker I came up on the inside and when he hit the breaks I counted one before hitting mine. It was probably closer to a tenth of a second but it felt like a second. I got up under him and moved into third. I ran a super defensive line in T9 and T8 hoping to check him up and to give me a strong drive out toward T7. Not sure if it worked, you’d have to ask him but I didn’t see his wheel as we entered seven. I was so happy with the pass and so focused on getting some space between us that I totally forgot where I was on the track after entering T7 and by the time I realized it I was hitting the inside curb of T6. Mike saw me hit it and swears he heard my sphincter clinch shut. It was all I could do to keep it on the track. Lucky for me Mike couldn’t take advantage of my mistake and I was able to keep him behind me. By the third lap I believe I had gotten away from Mike and was actually closing on Paul but I made my second mistake going into T15. I got in between gears and couldn’t get it turned in and off I went. As I went off I was cursing !!!!!!! Mo!@$#r $#fW#@$%$^ER. Now Mike was going to be gone and I would be done but as I slowed and turned toward T14, I see Mike just coming through T15. As he goes by me I am pretty certain I can catch him before the end of the race. My hopes of catching Paul were dashed but in front of me was the chance to retake 3rd. I chase Mike for another lap and I get under him in T3. I keep my head down for the rest of the race. I cross the checker with my wife jumping up and down for me at track entry in celebration of my 3rd place finish.

Race 2: Modern Vintage Lightweight (Formula Rules), DNS
     Oh My Gosh!!!!! What a terrible race. I didn’t even get to start. I have had some electrical issues with my bike not wanting to start or just completely turning off mid corner and then starting again giving me quite the scare. Try as I might I hadn’t narrowed down the problem and it cost me… As I’m waiting for the grid marshal to let us out on the warm up lap my bike stalls and will not restart. DAMN!!! I push my bike all the way back to our pit and with sweat rolling down my back from my mini marathon I try to jump start it. It was no use. The bike just turned over and over but would not start. I was done and alone. This is where you say, ahhhhhhhh. Everyone had gone to the wall to watch the race and I was left to fend for myself. Luckily a guy came over and helped me get the bike up on the stands. After my sweetie realized I was not on the track and didn’t go past her as the race started she came back and found me dejected. I know, poor John should have fixed his crap.
After the wonderful CVMA buffet, Bill and Joanna McCoy helped me find the problems. Well actually they watched me find the problems but they were very helpful with their multitude of recommendations in between libations. Turns out I had a bad battery and a bad ignition switch.

Sunday
     Single practice was just a sight seeing trip for me. Lightweights are out first in the morning and with the use of Bills battery and a switch I found in my electronics box I went out to just enjoy the ride for a couple laps and come in. After three laps I was in the 2:04’s without pushing and decided to come in and take a break. My first race was nine of twelve so I had lots of time to do important things like home work, which by the way is hard to do when you hear the entertaining race announcements and the bikes going by. Thanks Mike for making my homework difficult.

Race 1: SuperSport Twins, 1st place
     This was a fun but lonely race. Andrew wasn’t there; guess he didn’t need the points. He had a lot!!! And Paul had decided not to run because of a shot rear tire so it was just Mike me and a couple Kawi 250’s on the grid. I was still in row 2 left and Mike was in the row one right. When the flag went up Mike was first into T16. I stayed with him onto the back straight and just like the day before I passed him on the breaks going into T10. Mike, you really need to work on that spot. I don’t expect to take you there next year. Only this time I didn’t hit the curb in T6. I put my head down and away I went. My wife and I had worked out two basic hand signals for when someone was close or far behind. Apparently Mike wasn’t going to give up and stayed with me for quite a bit of the race. I’d peak back on the back straight to see him there pushed me. His chasing actually pushed me to a 2:03.8. Thanks Mike for helping me get my best ever lap time at CVR!

Race 2: Modern Vintage Lightweight (Formula Rules), 2nd
     Similar to my previous race the grid was light. It was the last race of the day and the season. I guess peeps had places to be. There were three of us gridded Brian Herzfeldt(19) Vincent Rolleri(224) on what Brian called Vince’s tz250 rocket ship and behind us was the Femmewalla racers. I had two goals this race. One was to keep up with Brian. He was a couple seconds faster and to not let Joanna Bitter(88) who was racing Femmewalla catch me on her 600.
     With Brian and Vince in row one and me in row can you guess? Two left. We waited for the flag to go. 2card, 1card, half, and we were off. My SV had the torque to get by the both their two strokes into T16 and I was leading. I know it wouldn’t be for long. My only hope was to try to kill their drive else they would scream by me. Each lap my wife was signaling me CLOSE and on the third lap I saw a shadow on the inside going into T15. I kept pushing but it was to no avail. Vince came around me in the bowl and took off. Well that could only mean that Brian was close behind. I focused on catching Vince with the knowledge that Brian was going to come by me any one of these next few corners. As I went through T7/T6 I got my foot stuck and could shift as my inside toe was dragging along on the ground. I think Vince was going to let me catch him so he could play but after that blunder I wasn’t going to make up the lost time before the end of the race. I finished the race in second with no Brain behind me. Apparently he went off some time during the race and couldn’t make up the time. The bright spot was I ran 2:03.5. A new personal best at CVR CW or CCW.

     Thank you CVMA for putting on a great inaugural season and CVR for hosting. Id also like to thank ACT leathers for the best fitting leathers I have ever worn, LP for providing me with some great support, Warrior Foundation and Liberty Station for the support you give me and the wounded veterans in San Diego and a big thanks to my newest sponsor Scorpion Helmets.
I cant wait until next year.

So I came into this round of the series thinking that I would have a chance to battle my friend Christin in the Femmewalla Open Class race, but she wasn’t able to make the race.  I had been preparing all month for the rematch by attending 3 weekends of track time including the two-day camp with the STAR school.  I had managed to whittle my laptimes down another 2 seconds to consistent 2:14s but wasn’t sure that I would be fast enough to place higher than last month.

Without the chance at a rematch, I set myself what seemed to be a lofty goal of shedding 4 more seconds, in the three day weekend for CVMA Round 5.  I came for the Race Practice Trackday held by TrackDaz on Friday 21 Oct.  I was able to practice some of the skills and lines that were taught by Jason Pridmore and his team of instructors the weekend before at STAR and managed to record hot laps of 2:11s.

Melissa Paris, AMA #13 and fellow San Diegan, who was in attendance at the track day was harassing me… saying that I needed to set a new goal!  She was impressed that I was able to shave off 3 seconds on the first day of practice, knowing full well that the race atmosphere that was looming would inspire further progress.

I came into the Practice 1 running 2:15s with a hot 2:14….  Slightly less than where I wanted to be, but having been up late helping Joanna, CVMA #88 and fellow Cornerworker for SoCalTrackdays, put her bike back together after an off earlier in the week at the Dale Keefer Race School, it was expected that I would need some time to warm up.   Practice 2 showed progress in the right direction, including posting a new Personal Record of a 2:08.6!  Mission accomplished, and it wasn’t even Qualifying!   I actually Qualified at another 2.08.6 to prove the consistency.

Having completed Qualifying and having achieved all I set out to do for the weekend, all I wanted was to complete my originally planned 4 races with the rubber side down.  Saturday’s Femmewalla was my first race, against Joanna on #88 and Lea Cutshall on #24.  Both women are more experienced and are riding Yamaha R6s, but I was able to keep up with them on the 35HP disadvantaged SV650 for the first lap before they were 2 turns ahead, at which point I was racing my own race to finish an expected 3rd.

Saturday’s Amateur Supersport Twins’ grid was unexpected vacant.  I was the only entrant, so they gridded me with the Experts.  I had hoped that they would because I was looking forward to seeing how well I would fare against the ‘pros’ and I managed to set yet another new PR as I passed two of them.  I ran a 2:07.117 before I ran wide and left the track.  I was able to keep the bike up and return to the course without penalty.  As I was the only entrant, I still finished an uncontested First.

Saturday came to a close with a lot of jubilation and conversation regarding my progress.  With my new laptimes, posted for all to see, the competition decided to find me…  I was approached by Stephan Ludwig, #22 and rider for WestCoastGP Cycles (a CVMA Sponsor), to race in the Amateur Formula Twins class.  I had been apprehensive about that class because I felt that my stock motor would result in getting destroyed. But when Stephan pointed out that I was running almost identical lap times and that it would be a hell of a race, I got fired up to see how I would stand against them in a ‘proper race!’  I talked to the Race Director and was allowed to register for my 5th race class!

Sunday’s practice was dismal.  I felt completely off.  I was genuinely concerned about my performance in the Formula Twins race because I wasn’t able to get much under a 2:14 and I was blowing lines and dragging toe in 9.  I was almost heart sick; like I was going to let down the people who were talking me up the night before.  My first race on Sunday was Femmewalla, again against Joanna and Lea, and again placed 3rd.  I was able to brush off some of the cobwebs of sleep and get back to consistent 2:11s.

The Race of the weekend… Amateur Formula Twins was next; I had to admit a little apprehension to my pit-mates.  I was so nervous that I forgot that my gas light came on after the Femmewalla Race.  I panicked!  I was worried that I would screw it all up.  My dear friends with Big Heads Racing calmed me and settled me by reminding me to ‘race my own race’ and have fun first and foremost!  I took a long breath and allowed the words to settle in.  I gridded up without realizing that I was gridded up in the #2 position.  I hadn’t realized that my Qualifying time was sufficient to place me so well! Not that it mattered; my start was terrible!  Regardless of my start, I managed to come my way to the front of the 4 bike race.  I held the lead the entire race running consistent 2:07s.  Crossing the finish line for the first time in the lead of a very closely matched race was positively invigorating.   The race was within 10ths of a second , right to the last turn of the last lap where David Martin, #60, attempted to overtake me on the inside of Turn 16 to only to realize that he was not going to make the pass.   The result was to check up and push Steve Zabzdyr, #815, off the track.

The last race, Amateur SuperSport Twins was again a grid of 1 and I was released with the experts.  I was able to keep up for a few laps before the gap included 2 turns at which point I was, again, racing my own race.  The results for the weekend were three 1st places: Amateur SuperSport Twins (twice) and Amateur Formula Twins (once) and two 3rd places: both Femmewalla.  Of the trophies, the First in Formula Twins is my most valued as it represents my first victory extending beyond myself.

There was speculation about what “had happened” to cause such improvement.  Melissa Paris made the comment that women riders are great students because we lack the stereotypical ego that out male counterparts have. The STAR School greatly influenced my riding technique and I found myself doing things that greatly improved my lap-times.  There is still a lot of room to improve, of course.  While I am pushing deeper, to the 2 and 1 markers to downshift and trail braking in a few places, I know that I can make up more time exiting the bowl, through Turns 14/15 and taking a more defensive line through Turn 16.  I am predictably slow through Turn 9, but it is the slowest part of the track and there isn’t much time to be made up there. As Steve Rapp has said “If you are going fast through there, you are doing it wrong.” As long as I get the drive out of 10, which is something I took away from the STAR School; Thanks Jason!  I have even taken to short shifting into 2nd gear between Turns 9 and 10 to get a better drive out of 10.

Third Place Finish. The race was invigorating, but I performed better and more consistently in Lightweight qualifying, running on a SuperSport SV650, at 2:16.263.  This in itself is an achievement from my trackday laptimes in the 2:25s.  Still, however, I am frustrated with myself most of all because half way into the race I realized that I was going to put it in the dirt if I kept pushing as I was.  I feel like settling for third was not as good as I could have done.  I regret that I didn’t hang it all out there.

• First off, my Start was terrible; I bogged it with too much gas early on.  I am planning to spend some time on the weekends with the bike in a deserted industrial park doing practice race starts and maybe even head over to the RaceLegal drag races to practice my starts.
• Throttle control…  the rear spinning and the near high-side were all errors on throttle… grabbing early without being smooth
• Corner speed…  I can go faster in 16; I finally figured out the bowl, but I need to give it more gas earlier; I need to brake later going into 10 and get on the gas harder in 4.
• Bicycle more… My endurance needs to be higher

In the end, I am trying to be cheerful that I got podium in my first race and that I am almost 10 seconds faster than I was before the race…