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More Barber

This past weekend Joe, Jeff, Justin (Jeff's buddy), Eric, Brian and I all went to Barber for some added track time. Rob couldn't make it because he was running in the marathon he'd been training for the past number of months. Insane. Over our two days we learned a great deal. Saturday was a major, major, major struggle, but with my dad, along with Jeff – we really worked together to sort things out, which was awesome. Jeff was able to learn the track and put in some great laps, while I found a much, much, much (I'm not exaggerating) better setup with the bike that allowed me to drop three seconds right out of the gate Sunday morning. It was a night and day difference. A big thanks to my dad who took meticulous notes and really put it all together in figuring out what we needed to do. I can't say enough about how much of a difference it made.

We sat in the trailer for awhile Saturday evening trying to sort out everything that didn't work and then apply it something we thought would on Sunday. A big spring change Sunday morning was really what helped move things along. While we still have a few more steps to take, we're putting down better times than previously, now using the AMA-spec fuel as well as the AMA-spec Dunlop tires. The results are promising and heading into this coming WERA race weekend at Barber, we'll be able to find more time. The question is whether or not it will be enough.

Learning these Dunlops has been a challenge. It's not going as quick as I'd like, but we're getting there. We did faster times on 65-lap tires than I did on brand new tires. I suppose that shows that I'm not anywhere near fully utilizing / comfortable pushing the Dunlops as I was the Pirellis – yet. But again, we're getting there. And this wasn't anything like that Nelson nightmare a couple weeks prior, which still makes me cringe.

This upcoming weekend Joe, myself, Aaron and Matt are heading down, meeting up with Jeff, Rob, Justin, Eric, Brian and Jake. The full team will be in force. Lots of driving and gas money! I'm hoping our special guest will still be able to make it. He's at Miller Motorsports Park right now for the AMA test and has his rider currently at the top of the timesheets. Joe and I are both looking forward at being able to learn from someone with the level of AMA experience he has. Fingers crossed he can make it.

Cheers.

Monday, May 2nd, 2011 | POSTED AT: 3:18 AM
FILED UNDER: General

2 Comments on “More Barber”

matt wrote on 2 May, 2011, 10:06 PM
It’s one thing to get the immediate recap via “text”…it’s quite another to read your collected thoughts on-screen. :-)

Nice job working through a tough start, to what sounds like an extremely positive weekend when all was said and done!

Looking forward to this coming weekend without a doubt
Eddie wrote on 3 May, 2011, 8:06 AM
Build, build, build! :)