my willow springs saga...
here's my experiences:
after the Death Race, i replaced the pull-back cruiser bars for some almost straight bars and got a layback seatpost, for that low-down, cafe racer style riding position.
after pre-riding the willow track, my set-up seemed alright to me, needed a few tweaks, so i tore down and re-built the engine.
then, i started working full time, so i had to spend friday night installing the motor, changing my rear sprocket, and some other tweaks, and got it together about midnight. raced it around the block, and was ready to go, so i slept for 3-4 hours and drove out to willow.
then the fun began.
first practice, i leaned in to the last corner before the top straight and washed out. slid across the track on my forearm, which had an elbow pad covering it, but it slid down as well.
got right back up, then washed out again in the corner before the last long straight. slid on my forearm again, and my pedal, my axle, and my grip.
jumped back on again and kept going. i was getting pretty good at sliding out.
this crash broke my pedal, bent my crank so it was hitting the engine, and somehow ripped out the bolt that holds my coaster brake arm on, so that spun around, loosening my cones and ulimately stripping my axle.
so, i ran around the pits, bought another wheel for 20 bucks from someone (sorry, forgot your name, but thanks!) and accidentally stole some pedals from Piston Bike's Robert (sorry, forgot to come back and pay you) and got to work rebuilding my bike. i was just finishing switching out the axle and bending my crank arm so it would clear the motor when the checkered flag came down on group 2's first race. meaning, i missed it. good thing there's two qualifiers.
i was last on the track for heat 2, as i had some other minor malfunctions, so everyone was already in a single line across the track, so i figured i'd start behind everyone.
took it a little easier as i just wanted to qualify for the main, so no crashes and passed enough people to get 6th in the heat (i think.) too bad my exhaust pipe didn't finish along with me. it bounced down the track around the second to last lap, along with the studs, nuts, and all the aluminum that makes up the threads. who says these engines need back pressure to run?
back to the pits, trying to scrounge some 1/4-20 bolts (thanks Jeff!) which i proceeded to jam into the hollowed out 6mm holes, without a tap, just 'cause that's all i could do. and it worked.
took a bunch of practice laps to make sure nothing else was gonna fall off my bike, and woked on my lines so i wouldn't fall off, either.
when the main race was announced, it didn't matter what place i qualified, as they decided to let everyone run it. this oughtta be fun. a nice small track with limited passing space and 30+ people on it.
oh well, just get out front and deal with traffic later, right?
getting up front worked out alright, as i was battling it out with Culver City Jeff for 4th as we headed into my least favorite corner. Jeff signaled for me to pass, so i did, then forgot which line i was supposed to take, and decided it'd be fun to slide down the track on my wrist and hip.
but, having so much practice earlier with riding a bike in a horizontal position, i never let go of the clutch or the throttle, jumped back on it without stalling, and only got passed by Jeff and two other guys. passed them easy enough, and the look on Jeff's face when he turned around and saw me trying to ride my bike up his a$$ again was priceless.
took a few laps, but i finally put him down, to end up with a solid 4th place.
in the trophy dash race, i had to drop out, 'cause me and my bike had taken such a beating all day, i just couldn't hang anymore. i'd had it.
got off the track just in time to see the finish, with Magrider Steve capitalizing on Jeff's chain malfunction in the last lap, 2 turns from the finish line. woulda been a pretty interesting finish if Jeff's monster bike woulda held together for 20 more seconds.
Congrats Steve, Jeff, and everyone else on their wins, and/or participation, and to Niel and everyone else for making this an event to remember.
my personal opinion, though, after leaving more skin on that track then rubber, is, i hate that track...
body damage (and 1950's black label converse damage):
