RV’s have the normal engine AC and a roof AC. The engine AC of my RV went out on the drive to Miller so I ran the generator and the roof AC but the cool air did not really get into the cab. For the return trip I covered the other vents and used a dryer vent hose to direct all the cool air on me. Racing teaches you how to use zip ties and duck tape well.

This is how you put 5 bikes and stuff in the trailer for the return trip:

I went too lean on the main jets prepping for this race so the Iceman Ninja was a little slow in Friday practice but I did not know yet that the problem was leanness. I took a 2nd and a 3rd but on track I was battling with a bunch of other 250 Ninjas, 300 Ninja’s, KTM 390’s and a R-3 from other waves so there was lots to do. Best lap of 2.31.660

Friday night I went leaner on the needles too. Turns out that was the wrong way but I keep it revved and pinned so it felt the same. There was one other older 150 plus pound rider I could compare to and he was walking away from me. So I stuck my finger in the end of his pipe and saw that he is jetted richer than I. Tyler Olmstead got to see the inside of a carburetor for the first time when I changed the needle clip and main jets after lunch.

This was the right way to go. Stayed with the pack on the start of race 11, kept it pinned and just ran around the outside of a bunch of people in the first few turns, made some good moves in the slow stuff. Got stuck in 2nd on track behind a 65 lbs kid on a 300. He ended up stuffing me into Release to start the last lap and because I had to close the throttle to avoid hitting him I was passed by 3 Ninjas on the way to Sunset. I got back by the guy who gave me the jetting clue when the kid in front of him had to stand it up to avoid the 300 kid in First Attitude. Win! Best lap of 2.29.600

In race 13 I did the same keep it pinned and just go around them stuff plus the crazy late inside braking V line in the tight U turns. Just went around the kid in First Attitude on the first lap and stood him up in Second Attitude. He still zipped by on the way to Sunset but I just rode around the outside and left. The others were stuck behind him for the whole race. Best lap of 2.29.301 And just to show off, here are my times for that race: 2.32.159 from row 13, 2.29.324, 2.29.301, 2.29.452, When I tell you that consistency matters, I mean it.

My front tire is a Dunlop DOT that went on the bike in Oct of 2013, it still looks new. This rear is a take off Pirelli DOT from Tony Serra, it looks great too.

Tommy Bednash reports that doing what I tell him to do with his tire pressure results in his first Miller podium.
Next pit neighbor Tony on his SV was killing his tire, I adjusted his clickers, he went 2 seconds faster and that same tire now looks new.

A kid on a SV thanked me for the pass I made on him in practice into the Attitudes, he said it showed him a better way. I started racing before he was born.

My pit mates, Eric Anderson, Tyler Olmstead, Christian Dwiggins, Scott Linton and Debra Barton all did well, had good battles and had fun. Eric liked Phase Two of his LE Suspension. Tyler continued his impressive performance. Scott adapted to his new LE Suspension, a new track and raced as an Expert for the first time. Chris was impressed by the improvement of his bikes rear grip and was blown away by how one rear tire did 2 days and still looks new. Wait till he gets LE in the forks too. Deb learned to start, launch and brake better and her tires are happier too.

Jen Barwick was the class of our pit.

We met some great dogs and their people too.

I think I was a positive addition to the WERA staff, they asked me back so at least I did not cause too much trouble. As always, Evelyne Clarke and Sean P Clarke kept the ship on course. Tommy Bednash is well placed as Race Director, his staff are helpfully and hard working.

Short shifting into 4th for Release, flicking it in from the far right, adjusting my speed with the front brake while my knee is down then rolling it to the stop well before my apex is such an enjoyable feeling that I’ll just have to do something like it at the next round. See you at ACS on August 30th.

If you race with WERA I don’t charge for set up or riding advice, just find me in the pits.

Photo: Check out the Pit Bull sticker in the Lucas lab photo of my samples ready for testing.

During his 30 years in the suspension business Jim tried most of the suspension fluid that existed. When I asked him what brand I should use he said Maxima or Silkolene. I think he came to that conclusion after a lot of trial and error.

That made it easy for me, I had been sponsored by Silkolene since 1996 and they were willing to continue to work with me as a dealer/sponsored rider.

During this time, because of my work for “Roadracing World” I met Mark Sromalla of Lucas Oil Products. Mark is a smart, hard working guy but I really noticed Lucas when I got a tour of the Lucas facility, it’s just down the road in Corona, CA. As Mark showed me around, I was amazed by how clean and organized the place is, then I started to notice that all the people we met looked happy and were working hard. It’s clear that these guys are doing a lot of stuff right. When Mark asked if I’d like to become a Lucas dealer I turned the offer down because of my long relationship with Silkolene.

“Roadracing World” did two “Shops” stories about Lucas, one for their Corona facility, this after I told them about my tour, and later, earlier this year, about their much larger manufacturing facility in Indiana. These and other word of mouth stories I heard about Lucas kept them on my mind.

Then Silkolene was bought by someone who does not believe in the value of sponsorship. My deal ended. Meanwhile, Lucas is sponsoring lots of racers, including my friends at the Geico Suzuki Team. So I called Mark.

But that’s not all I did. I saved some used oil from forks and shocks and gathered different brands of new oil. I took six samples to the Lucas lab for testing. Laboratory Supervisor, Hugo Ramirez did the work and explained the results to me. Here’s the short version: Modern oils are all good, they get dirty before they start to break down. Lucas suspension fluids are equal to all the best.

My wife is always looking for an excuse to pick up her Mom and take her to do stuff, so we set up all my Lucas orders as Will Calls. Every time they go, they come back with stories of how friendly and nice the people are, how nice the flowers on the grounds are, how everything is neat, clean and organized. More proof I made a good choice. Lucas, good products, good people and made in the USA.

Photo:  Lucas suspension fluid in stock.

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