OK, I’ll do a little update while Matt is still in racing mode. Yesterday went really well. The bike ran perfect. Zero oil leaks or seepage. BTW, Matt’s awesome wife Ashley should make any racer proud. She is a total trooper. It’s probably fair to say that track life isn’t her natural environment, but she is full on supportive and right there in the middle of it all, from wrestling the engine back into the frame to travel planning, to full logistical and emotional support at the track. Matt is super lucky to have her as the other half of the team.👍 Go Ashley.
It was quite cold and windy yesterday, especially in the morning. So much so that Matt elected to skip early practice and just let the tire warmers do their thing. Race 8 was his first one in Formula Vintage. Dave Crussell brought out his well prepared big KZ, Will Brint brought the TimsCBX owned and sponsored CBX(both AHRMA Supebike Heavyweight class machines)
I believe Brad Coleman in a gorgeous rare TT2 Ducati
https://www.ducati.com/us/en/heritage/bikes/600-tt2 shot out front and stayed there. Dave Crussell on the big KZ was behind. Matt and his uncle Jeff Hargis on his big bored sx650 Yamaha(non fairing Sportsman 750 class like Matt) had a close battle for 3/4 for several laps with Matt just behind. Probably not much more than 3-5 lengths apart the whole 6 lap race. It looks like around the last lap, Matt got in front and stayed there. So Matt 3rd, Jeff 4th. Will Brint came in 5th on his CBX.
After the race Matt found out that Jeff hurt his engine(cylinder head related apparently) trying to stay in front of his hard charging nephew😉 enough that he was now out for the rest of the weekend.
Race 12 is Sportsman(and three other classes including full fairing F750), and for some odd reason, Jeff’s hurt xs650 was the only other Sportsman class besides Matts at the event. So as long as Matt completed a lap, he won🙄. But he got a good opportunity to chase the f750 class that started right in front of him. Matt caught all but one or two of the f750 bikes from behind(👍) and took his top podium finish in Sportsman by a “huge margin”😎
Matt was lucky enough to have the race officials allow his Sportsman class(just him) for today to be run in the same heat the Heavyweight Superbikes. He intends to race heavyweight Superbikes next year with his new bike being built so this gives him more experience against this class to gauge his speed against them. He currently appears to be lapping a bit slower than the big KZ, but faster than the CBX. Dennis Parrish, the current champ, is not at the race so it’s not a full picture, but useful regardless.
Both the CBX and the KZ are likely putting out well over 100(probably up to 130) RWHP to Matt’s current 80. But he carries a noticeable weight advantage however, especially with the CBX. Matt’s new superbike in process should have an engine capable of over 100 RWHP as well, but still short of what Dave Crussells big budget DOHC KZ output likely is.
Fingers crossed... Matt should have two battles with the Superbikes today.
