Brian's Race Report from Firebird East

9/25/05 Chandler, AZ

One word sums up this weekend pretty well.....HOT. Ok, maybe two words...HOT and slippery.

Last week the entire BSR team raced in Las Vegas, but this week we'd be going different ways. Tom and Pat decided to go to California Speedway to race with WERA West, while Mike and I decided to race with CCS here at home in AZ at Firebird Raceway. Mike and I were still loaded up from Vegas, so loading for this weekend was easy.

There are 2 race weekends left in the CCS SW region series this year. One in New Mexico 2 weeks from now, and one in Chandler at the West track in November. I doubt I'll make it to New Mexico, only because that would be 3 weekends out of 4 racing and my budget won't allow that. Not only that, but that's a lot of time away from my family. The last race weekend in Chandler is at the West track, which I've not raced at before. We do track days there, but I don't think it's even close to being a safe track for racing. The only reason I'll race there is if I need the points to win a championship...I currently lead both Heavyweight SuperSport and Heavyweight Superbike. If I do race, I won't be "racing" as I just don't think it's a safe track...there's no run off anywhere...literally. So, that makes this weekend at Firebird East potentially my last race weekend of the season with CCS. I wanted to have a good showing.

Saturday morning, Mike and I arrived at the track early ...around 6:30, but the line to get into the track was already pretty long. That was good news as we were not sure how many guys would show up since the summer rounds in AZ usually have less guys show up, plus WERA West was racing the same weekend 5 hours away. Mike and I got our pit spot then immediately went to register. Each of us had forgotten to pre-register for this event. Luckily, we were near the front of the line and didn't have to wait long to register. After registering, I decided that my rear tire was not good for anything after abusing it in Vegas. I had it on for 5 races in Vegas and the tire was completely down past the wear bars on the right side...normally I can make my race day tire last through practice the next weekend. Oh well. Better safe than sorry.

I spent the first practice getting new tires mounted onto my 2nd set of wheels and relaxing. It was already in the 90's and it was still EARLY, so I really wan't in a rush to get on the track. It's my home track, I know it well, I raced last weekend, and I just didn't feel the urgency to get a lot of practice in. I decided to only mount up the new rear tire and save the new front for race day...I figured the Vegas front could do 1 day more. I eventually made it out for a practice session and immediately realized this weekend was going to be very different than past weekends at East. For a few weeks prior to this event, some sort of Winter Wonderland, Santa's Something or Other was set up at the track. They had put dirt down to do something with Christmas trees. Supposedly, they tried to wash the track a few times, and used the street cleaner on it a few times, but the track was still FILTHY. There was absolutely no traction out there as there was dust everywhere. This is the worst I've seen the track....or any track. I came in after a few laps very non-motivated to go fast and already over heating from the temperatures. I decided to chill and let the track get cleaned up by the other guys. In total, I think I did 2 1/2 sessions that day. I wasn't very excited about racing after this because first off, it was HOT...and 2nd, the track was too dirty to go fast and/or take risks. The only somewhat decent line was the "right" line, and if you got off that line you'd be in a world of hurt. I think I ended up doing 1:04 times in the first 2 sessions, which is 6 seconds slower than I had done here before. In the last 1/2 session I got down to 1:01 because I decided to push a little and see how good the "blue groove" was. It was getting better, but still ... don't get off line!

Saturday was miserably hot. The high supposedly got up to 102, but it felt hotter. People think we're insane for going so fast and dragging our knees on motorcycles, but I think we're insane for racing in that kind of heat.

Sunday morning I arrived at the track just as they were making 2nd call for the mandatory riders meeting. Suck! Our pits weren't set up (we pack up valuables over night) and our bikes weren't even ready with tire warmers or anything. Somehow I was able to get through the meeting and then get the pit ready enough for me to make first (and only) practice of the day. I really needed to get my head into the game and decided to not think about the heat or the dirt...it was potentially my last race weekend of the season and I wanted to end on a high note. I did a few good hard laps in practice and then came in. I had to do Unlimited GP qualifying in a few minutes and wanted to save my tires for racing.

In Unlimited GP qualifying, I pushed really hard (for the conditions) for a few laps and then came in. I think I only did 3 or 4 laps. No real reason to go longer as I didn't really care where I was gridded. I knew there were less than 10 guys registered (suck), so I'd be on the first 2 rows most likely. I ended up qualifying last, but the times of everyone were within tenths of seconds! The top guy did a high 58, the rest did low to high 59s and I did a 1:00.0. I knew I had done 58's here before, so I was actually excited about this race and seeing what would happen.

I entered 5 races for this weekend, but after Saturday's heat, I was starting to think I'd be passed out by the 3rd race. Luckily, I didn't have any back to back.  Unluckily, they were all after lunch...in the hot part of the day.

My first race was race 5, Unlimited Superbike combined with SuperTwins. This was going to basically be my practice race for the day...get my head in gear. When I gridded up, I saw Ted Rich, Scott Burgen, Chad Rolland and myself in this race. Chad should win it but the rest of us are close in times. Sure enough, I get a bad start and am 3rd going into turn 1. I had a brand new front tire on, so spent the first couple laps just easing the tire in. By then, Chad and Scott are gone but Ted's still with me. On the last turn before the straight I usually down shift twice, but on about the 2nd or 3rd lap, I shifted and went into a false neutral. Ted shot up the inside and passed me, holding that position all the way through the straight. I was right on Ted's back tire. I re-passed him a lap or so later on the straight only to be passed by Ted again when I got held up by lappers. It was insane as we cut through lappers in all kinds of places (all safe on my part). The first time we hit lappers, Ted got about 10 bike lengths on me. I pushed hard and caught back up to him once more only to have lappers give him another 10 bike length lead with 2 laps to go. I kept pushing hard and sure enough, Ted came back to me. It was the last lap and I was able to get RIGHT ON Ted's rear wheel. I was closer than I like to ride next to anyone as we came onto the pit wall section, but especially that's scary behind Ted's flame thrower...I mean bike. It shoots flames out the pipe regularly and smoke whenever there's no flames. I had to be within 2 to 3 feet of his rear tire maximum as we went through the switchbacks. I could not even see my line and went off memory. I knew I could out break him into the last turn if I tried real hard, but I also knew Ted would expect that and probably block. He's really good at destroying your attempts by out breaking or out muscling you. I decided to stay right on his tail expecting him to take a tight and deep line, which I would then do my normal line and hopefully beat him to the finish. Just on queue, he did just as I expected (probably the right move on his part) and I hit the last turn perfect....we were side by side coming out and I was able to beat him to the finish by less than a bike length! What a fun race. I like races where you battle, even if it's only for last place. In this case, it wasn't for last....it was for 3rd place.

My second race was Heavyweight SuperBike. This class I needed to do well in because I am leading the points championship and want to win it. This time there are 5 guys entered, and Terry is one of the additions to the race. I knew Terry is going very well around here and would be tough to stay with. On the start, Chad took the lead and was chased by Terry. Once again Ted and I were battling but this time Ted got in front by stuffing some lappers that I had checked up behind so as to not spook. About mid distance, Chad went off into the dirt in turn 1 giving the lead to Terry. I expected Chad to catch back up when he got back on track, but he didn't continue. Terry was checking out as I was getting stuck behind Ted and/or lappers. I think I had Ted in a few places and he had me in a few others. I think I might have been able to follow Terry if I was behind him, but we'll never know. Once again I got stuck in the loosing battle with lappers as Ted stretched out a lead, I'd get him back and so on. On the last lap, I was once again right on Ted's tail and decided to try the same strategy to get him at the line. Unfortunately, Ted took a better line this time and I lost the rear coming out of the turn forcing me to check up slightly and loosing my drive. He beat me to the line by a bike length or two which meant I finished in 3rd again. Mike was behind us the whole time and said my rear tire didn't step out all that much, but I felt it step out 2 or 3 times that race and that's a feeling I'm not too used to yet, so I checked up a little. I'm very used to movement on the rear during hard braking, but not power sliding the rear...yet. A little bummed to lose to Ted since I think I would have been able to battle harder without getting stuck behind lappers, but that's racing. I managed to pull out one 59 in this race, but mostly 1 minute flat laps.

My third race was the Unlimited GP...the money race. Of all the races I did this weekend, this one had the most Experts entered. Right from the start, I knew it was going to be a battle. I was gridded last, but was not worried about it. On the start, I just swooped to the outside and set up for a good line through turn 1. I wasn't last going into one. Right in front of me was drama in turn one though. Someone on a blue and/or white bike came WAY too deep into turn 1, WAY on the inside...trying to be a hero and win the race on the first corner. He was still behind another rider (Hunter, I think) when that rider committed to his line through turn 1. The guy on the blue/white bike had to brake check hard and ended up raising the rear wheel about a foot or more. To get it to go back down, he had to let off the front brake and of course stopped slowing down because of that. He ran right into the back half of the guy in front of him and immediately crashed. The guy he hit got shoved sideways hard and went off course with an awesome save. Another racer (Terry Embury) went off course to avoid the mayhem and I had to brake HARD to avoid the crashed bike and rider, but I was able to stay on course. I think I was last getting through the carnage because I was held up the most by it, but Terry came onto the track behind me.  I pushed hard but had already lost ground on a lot of guys. Once again I saw Ted ahead of me, but a little further ahead this time. I pushed hard and watched Ted get passed by Scott Bergen under a waving yellow flag, which is not allowed. CCS penalized him one lap per the rule book, so I knew he'd not be a factor in the finishing order. I tried to battle with Ted this race, but I was unable to close the ground as easy as I had before. Ted was riding harder and more consistent. I finished 5th in this race. I also got down to 59.5 in this race, which was excellent time considering the conditions. I didn't expect to break a minute with all the dirt on the track. I actually ran a few 59s. Everyone stepped it up this race though and everyone was in the 59s except for Chad and Hunter, who did 58s.

By this point, I was exhausted. It was way hotter than Saturday, and I felt like I was going to pass out. My bike even felt the heat as it was running 30 degrees hotter than it had on Saturday and 25 degrees hotter than it ever had! I checked the radiator and all seemed well with coolant levels, etc, so I decided to see what would happen. The next race was important.

Heavyweight SuperSport was next, and this is the other class I'm leading the points in. I needed to do well. Unfortunately, there were only 3 guys on the grid (I think), but one of them was Ted again...we'd had a few good battles already and I expected another good one. I got the hole shot and pushed VERY hard the first half of the race. About 1/2 way I looked back and saw my teammate Mike...that meant that Ted was further back. I knew that meant I had an easy win going, but I also wanted my first expert win to be somewhat respectable, so I focused on riding consistent fast laps. I won the race and ended up running my most consistent race times ever! I ran 5 laps in a row from 1:00.1 to 1:00.3 and the other laps were only slower because I was cautious around lappers. Click here to see my times from that race. I wish it was against more riders, but I put some respectable times in and beat a fast guy, so I felt good about that. I think Ted must have gave up or pulled in as I didn't see him at all. He did do every points paying race this weekend (trying to win the overall championship), so I'm not surprised if he was tired. I still rode hard and won my first expert race....whoo hoo!

Ok, now I'm really really exhausted. Even worse, during tech inspection after the HW SuperSport race, they pointed out that my left fork seal was leaking. Not bad, but it was leaking. That's new...and I hate racing with unknowns or mechanical issues lingering in my head. Mike convinced me that it would make it for another race, and I convinced myself to do the last race as it may be my last for a few months.

Last race was Unlimited SuperSport. This class had a nice grid of guys (more than 3 at least!) so I was excited. Scott Bergen was in this race again, and I wanted to tag along and see if I could beat him. On the start, I'm 3rd going through turn 1 and all the way to the back of the track....I'm a close 3rd. Q is leading the race and Scott is behind him. Coming into turn 7 I'm still in 3rd when I see the bone head move of the day. Q has good drive into 7 and is taking the fast line...Scott goes WAY inside and tries to stuff Q into 7. If two guys are close in speed, there's no way to pull that off. Of course, Scott goes off course because there's no way he can hold that line...and he should know that. Even worse, he stuffed Q after Q had committed to the turn and his line, forcing him to go off course at a very fast speed to avoid crashing. Scott's off course excursion was short and he got back into the racing line pretty quickly. Because of the track configuration, Q went straight off at 7 and was going to cross back over the track around turn 9. Sure enough...that's right when I get to that part of the track and I have to check up HARD to avoid getting t-boned by Q. This seems to be a theme for me as it almost happened in Vegas to me last year too. When I brake to avoid Q (which we BARELY miss each other), Ted and an amateur on a R1 go through. SUCK! I wanted to battle with Ted again, so I tried to push real hard to catch them. I can see that Ted's getting away slowly from the R1 so I need to get around this guy to chase down Ted. I know I can do it again. Well, that R1 is FAST! The guy holds me up everywhere except the straights ... when he gets on the gas, that R1 leaves me in the dust. I have no chance to out brake him anywhere as he just gaps me before we get there. I try to line up some interesting passes on him in other places, but it just wasn't happening and he was holding me up big time. That R1 has amazing power! Ted just kept pulling away slowly in the front. After 3/4 of the race is complete, I look behind and see I have a comfortable margin, so I go into cruise mode. I was even sitting up on the straights. It was a long, HOT, tiring weekend and I was just spent. I cruised home to a 3rd place finish. In my mind, Scott's bone head move ruined my race ... but, I guess that's racing even if it's stupid racing. Scott went home with the win and proof in my mind that I need to be extra careful riding around him. I ended up with another 3rd place and a best time of 1:00.

This was a fun weekend for me. I pushed hard and had some good battles. I was close in times to a lot of guys, so I really didn't know ahead of time where I'd finish. If it wasn't so hot it would have been so much more fun. If it wasn't dirty I think the times could have been 2 seconds faster. At least Mike and I made it out unscathed and none of our friends got hurt in any of their off course excursions (that I know of). Best of all, I got my first expert win. When I'm 60, you know the story around that plaque is going to be something like "I was racing 100 guys in 150 degree weather starting from the back row with no gas...". haha

As of right now, I'm leading the Heavyweight Superbike and Heavyweight SuperSport classes in points. I'm hoping I can hold on, although I'm not expecting to race any more this season. It would be nice though.

This weekend I had a cheering section show up for a while. My wife came out with my 7 month old baby boy Jason. That was the first time he'd been to the track and it was nice having them there. Also, a friend I haven't seen since high school 10+ years ago came out to watch. It was fun catching up with him and meeting his wife etc. Now we got to convince him to get into racing so we can get bigger grids out here.

I want to thank Mike for all his help this weekend, for pitting with me, for carrying my bike, for bringing his RV, etc. Mike and I have fun at the track. I also want to thank my wife for letting me race 2 weekends in a row. I want to thank my teammates for their constant help and support. Last, I want to thank my sponsors who I hope will keep us on board for another year. With the way everyone's improving, and with as many titles as we've got a chance at right now (9 in CCS SW alone), I'm expecting good things. Motorex USA, Vesrah, Vortex, Sidi, LP Team Privateer, Chicken Hawk, SpeedyMoto, All Out Graphics, Helmet Harbor, Pipe City, Desert Truss, Savoca Construction, and VaporBlue.

Brian Kirkland #34

PS. Complete race results and lap times are here: http://www.roadracesw.com