2008 AFM Season Opener
March 23, 2008

Back road racing after far too long to remember...
Arrive at Buttonwillow Sunday morning. I'm signed up for group one - it'll help me clear the cobwebs out and remember my way around the track but, the FZR won't start. Pete told me that his bike was hard to start when it was cold but, wow! It won't start for anything when it's cold. Zoran hypothesized that it might be a jetting or low compression issue. Eventually we get it started but, my single practice session for the weekend is long over by then.

Race 1: 450 Suberbike
The FZR had never been competitive in this class - I'm told that 2:08's are damn good on a FZR400 but, you need to be well under 2 minutes to win this one. Considering how rusty I am and that I hadn't had any practice, I wasn't expecting too much out of this race.

I got a decent start from the third row and was running 5th or so into turn 1. I let someone by into turn 2 and another into 3. I was running Pete's "Buttonwillow" gearing (55R) which was way too tall for someone going as slow as I was. I also couldn't remember my old lines and was struggling in corners I used to love. A yellow plate got by me toward the end which was against my "at least don't let any novices beat you" rule for the race so, I wasn't having the race I hoped for. When I saw the 2:14's on the results, I was pretty disappointed - that was alot slower than I expected. At least I lapped a couple 250p-ers!

My next race wasn't until after lunch so, I put Pete's shorter "Sears Point" gearing (59R) on and cheered for my buddies in their races. It was awesome to see everyone again!

Race 6: 650 Production
This is the class they rolled my bike into when they unexpectedly cancelled 450p for this year. A bone stock SV makes a good 10+ horsepower over a good FZR400 and I assumed, for some reason, that the faster grey market 450 weren't allowed but, this is not the case. Rats.

I was gridded on the front row but, I figured I was going to be a back marker in this one. I was hoping that I could get a good start and lead into turn 1 for a brief moment of glory but, I blew it and only kept up with my row. The good news is that I managed to stay with the pack for long enough to see some of their lines which helped me to recall mine. I finally remembered my line through turn 11 and when I touched the engine case down I knew I was starting to learn how to ride again!

The "Sears Point" gearing was too short but, I did get well into the 2:09's and just a few tenth's off of Pete's lap record on this bike and was third of the 450's! I think that the FZR should be able to do a few seconds better than that with the right gearing and some tune-up on the monkey holding the handlebars.

All in all I had a great time and it was awesome to see everyone again! I can't wait for the next race!

Hard Cold Starting: Low compression, jetting, dirty carbs, read and gap your plugs, ...

Hard Hot Starting: Tight valves, righ pilot circuit, ...

04/23/08 - Compression is good, plugs looked good and have been replaced. Still very hard to start when cold.