I probably had the best seat in the house. I was out there on the track.
Ken's bike went by me like I was stapled to a tree several times in practice. The thing howled past going down the front straight and then swept through turn 1 smooth as glass. Crazy fast.
I was pitted right down the road from them and could see they had to do a bit of thrashing on the bike during practice on Friday. I'd like to hear more about their ignition issues because both Cycle X and a bike that I built had ignition issues in the pits at Road America during 2011. Them on their Superbike, me on a Production Class CB400F that I built for a friend. I swapped in a stock ignition, the Cycle X bike never worked right that weekend.
But I was glad to see them back. They had the bike dialed in by Friday afternoon and the thing sounded great.
Saturday, race 1. I have no illusions about my abilities as a racer. I'm not very good, I'm 100 pounds heavier than the next biggest guy, and my bike is a SOHC 836 that me and my buddies put together in my garage in a class full of DOHC 900 and 1000cc machines. There's a pair of slightly ratty GS 1000 bikes ridden by friends of mine, a really nice GS 1000, a couple CB900F bikes one of which has a BUNCH of original Honda factory race parts on it. And then there's the Kawasaki. From what I've been told it's an original factory superbike from the early 80's, it's got the #1 plate, and the rider knows what he's doing. Tough crowd, but my bike runs great and I get to ride it around with a big dumb grin on my face, burning fuel and wearing out knee sliders.
We pull into the grid and get lined up. I'm in the back row of the class so I'm out of the way for the start. Green flag drops and everyone turns into small dots going over the horizon. I ride around by myself, missing the days when I raced in Production Heavyweight and had someone to run with. I'm on lap 4 when my shifter linkage breaks right when I'm coming down the front straight. I pull off and get out of the way behind a low wall. I'm about 40 feet from the finish line, best seat in the house. Pull off my helmet and wait for the rescue truck.
Hey, here comes that Kawasaki! And Kevin is right on his ass. I can see the Cycle X guys over on the other side of the track, they're losing their minds. White flag, one lap to go.
3 minutes later and here they come again. Kevin is in the lead coming up the hill into a headwind, the smaller size of the CB750 comes into play as they come down the straight and Kevin pulls it off. First place. The Cycle X guys go nuts, jumping around, yelling, you've never seen a bunch of guys so happy.
Later at the awards presentation Ken looked like someone hit him in the head with a hammer. Totally dazed, permagrin welded onto his face.
Day 2. Got my bike fixed and went out for practice. Didn't see the Cycle X bike. Heard rumors overnight that the #1 plate Kawasaki had some issues during the race but they've been fixed. Let's see what happens.
Pulling into the grid I can see Kevin waving his arms, his bike died when he pulled up. He tries to bump start it but he can't, it's too big, he's too small, too much compression. The Cycle X guys are 30 feet away waving a kick starter but the grid marshalls won't let them on the track, it's not safe and it's unfair to make all the other bikes wait. Kevin gets pushed off into the weeds so the race can go.
A brief diversion here to explain something about the America Historic Motorcycle Racing Association. We're a small club with more than 30 roadrace classes. Some of these classes will only have a few entries. It's not possible to have separate races for all the classes so we run a lot of them in simultaneous races with bikes of similar speed, size, horsepower, lap time, etc. For instance - on the grid with us was a group of modern 90 degree V-twin bikes, a bunch of Ducatis and SV650s. There was a bunch of modern 250cc 2 strokes, not as fast off the line but they weigh nothing and carry insane corner speeds. And there were a bunch of Triumph Thruxtons running in a Thruxton spec class that's a lot of fun to watch, those guys were in the second wave. Meaning the first wave, the twins, two strokes, and us in Superbike Heavyweight would get the green flag first.
After we got to turn one the Thruxtons in the second wave would get the green flag.
And after they were safely away Kenny and company would be allowed to cross the track and try to start the bike Kevin was sitting on.
Wave 1 gets the green. There's been a slight change in the grids and I'm chasing a new racer on a modern Ducati and a very experienced rider on a tiny Honda 2 stroke. (She's about 110 pounds soaking wet and I can bench press her bike.) Fun stuff. As we come down the front straight I can see the Cycle X guys back on the right side of the wall and Kevin is gone! They got it started! Too bad about the flubbed start but glad to see it's running, he'll probably catch up in a few laps.
Me and my pack of misfits come up on turn 1, second lap, and Kevin goes by us on the inside.
He caught us.
And passed us.
In one lap.
With us having a 90+ second head start.
Holy #$%*.
Lap 5. The guy on the Ducati scared himself and backed off, the chick on the little 2 stroke left me in the dust once her tires were warmed up all the way. It's a beautiful sunny day, my bike runs great, and I'm wondering when they're going to catch me. I'm coming down the back straight when I hear an engine. Must be the Kawasaki.
Nope. Kevin goes by and rails through Canada Corner. The #1 Kawasaki is about 15 bikes lengths behind him and I can feel the WTF? from here. Cycle X wins again.
I've spoken to Ken twice in the last two days and I won't be surprised if I hear from him again today. I might be doing an article on this, not sure where or if it'll be published. Anyone who has photos should shoot me a PM.
