Sorry for the delay been in a mad rush to get the sled ready for the I500 on a short week.
Ok first Grand forks was a COLD race with temps never getting out of the -8's all day.
Race 2 was expert 85
Waldochs Sport/Curve Skis/Klim Phazer was working well Course was real rough with rock hard drifts came through the first lap and had passed one rider. Into the Second lap I got passed by one rider. Kept pushing on and ended up with a 8th place finish. Not great but a solid start.
Race 5 Sport 600
The Waldoch Sports/Exit Shocks/Klim/Curve Skis sled
Was working great I was second off the line caught the first rider of the line in 30 sec of being on the course. Sled was working good and I was flying I was all alone the whole first lap. Only problem is is hard to set a constant pace. I backed off a little saw riders starting to catch and picked it back up Only to hot a shapr bump and have my brake lever break off HMM.. Center shock was also bottoming hard and jarring my back later found out coupling block had snapped off and center spring needs to be changed as well as valving.
Ok well keep going and its suprising how much faster you can be with no brake lever. Piled into a corner and knocked my hand guard lose, ended up ripping it off as it was in the way. Not to bad a race brought the sled in for a 8th place finish(first sheet showed 5th need clarification yet)
Ok now to repair any damage and get the sled prepped for the I500
First test was to get to the race. Drove to Fergus falls Friday and roads were terrible got stuck in Fergus Fall as they closed all of 94 and 29 to ND yikes... Hmm holed up in a hotel at 2 pm Saturday roads still not open... Ok alternate plan take all the side roads weaving around road closures and up glare ice roads with a trailer not fun!!!! Made it To Grafton at 7:30 whew some hairy and scary roads.
Ok on to the race with all the weather issue they made it a non points race but must drivers did make it to the track( I know Cross Country racers are a crazy bunch!!!!)
With a high of -2 it was a cold race. On the parade lap hand froze and lost feeling in them hmm this will be fun.
First race for me was Expert 85 Improved. Onto the river and finding some open water is always fun. Down the river we go and its fast and slushy with fast corners new Sway bar is realy working well and sled is flat on the river!!! Going well caught one rider. Threw the woods and over the rough ditch about halfway through I head a loud bang and the shocks seem real soft in the rear. HMM keep riding hard and the sled is realy bucking. One more lap to go. By now its hard to control and I'm off the pace. 2 riders pass me try to follow them but every bump send the rear end in the air and kicks me off the sled. Not sure what wrong at this point I push on and make it to the finish. Get the sled to the trailer and found the front pivot(front track arm) to the dog bone broke. Hmm no wonder the sled was rough. Oh well finished 7th out of 9 riders 6 min off the pace. Should be better once we get that arm fixed up!
Sport 600 Race5
Off the Line and the Nytro is running well clutching was spot on and the new EXIT shocks are RIGHT ON. Wow within the first 2 miles I had caught the first rider get past him. I am flying sled is working realy well I see 80 MPH on the speedo down the ditch. Hit a couple drifts and launched the sled the shocks are spot on nothing twitch or out of the ordinary. Sled is fast and smooth on the river and handles like a dream. The Curve Skis realy bit and hold lines well they are a big improvement. into the field section down to dirt now so wide open running. Into the next woods section its realy deep slow going as not to hit any trees. back onto the road ditches and away we go finding some smooth lines near the top of the road. Am able to see snow dust in front of me. That means another rider. Starting to catch him but taking a while to real him in. back to the river HMM it opened up some and dropping down into the river the ski bends pretty good almost going into the water. Thank goodness for the stiffness of the curve skis otherwise i would be wet!!! Down the river and coming up to the bridge I see a section of open water with a ice heave right after it ok wide open across the water hit the ice heave bounce sideways WHEW back on that gas and away we go!( I think thats where the a-arm bent..) Ok catch the rider in front he waves me past. Ontion the last streact near the pit big deep hjoles double up a few of them and into the finish line. Only a one lap race :( wish it was more I was ready to go for another lap. Finished 7th bit was only 38 sec out of second. I think one more lap I would have made up some more time.
Semi-pro 600
The race was right after the sport race I did not race I had twisted my ankle before and with the bent a-arm didn't want to take any chances with non point race.
Yikes first off what a drive!!!! We made it there about 3 PM after driving part of the way thursday and the rest of the way on Friday. Unloaded the sleds and headed out to the ditches for some tuning. got the suspension fixed and put on heavier springs on the front suspension. I think we finally got the mod Suspension to a point where we like it. It was working well!!!
Did some Final clutching tweaks and put the sleds away fro the night.
Next day out on the Parade lap it was apparent this was going to be a rough course. There was really only one stretch where you could sit down and relax. it was a nice 1 mile Straight. Back to the pits to set a few things on shocks cranked up the slow speed settings and slowed the rebound down some. more. I was race 1 in the Improved 85.
Out on the track we go for our 3 lap race..... Everyone knew 3 las was going to be alot!!!! Not to bad a race lap one went great and was fast due to the track holding up. then came lap two and it was run the trail was 5 feet wide through the woods and with some nasty kickers going 70-80 MPH was interesting when you hit something. Got to the power line section.
******NOTE BACKGROUND ON POWER LINE******
I want to give a little background on this power line. This is like a snowcross track with no rhythm 5-8 foot holes and kickers and tress and stumps!!!
The locals all line up and this section waiting for the carnage they have tents and big bonfires going as we go by.
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Ok back to the Race! Power line was nasty and whooped out pounded through that section and got to the creek crossing hit it a littel to fast and my ski caught something wham hit my head on the handle bars and knocked my helmet up. HMM that hurt pushed my helmat back on and kept going wondering what that warm feeling on my chin was. reached up and I guess I was bleeding. Oh well no time to stop. Got through the power line section and into the woods Cool I might get a break to rest up. HA HAnot even close the woods ins just wide enough for a sled and the holes were 8 feet deep. you would lose the sled in front of you! Finally get to a nice long straight with the new clutching we hit 96 MPH on the speedo not to bad for an 80HP Machine!!! Back into the tight woods I was getting pretty tireed after 1 1/2 laps hit a kicker in the woods that was cantered and it sent me sideways saved it then the ski caught some soft snow and pulled me into a tree! Hmm well no damaged other than bent bar from my chest. Took 20-30 min to get the sled away from the tree with all the deep snow. Got it back on track finally. Finished up the lap and took her to the pits to replace the bars. Oh well its a two day race!
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Stock Race
The stock was was three races later they learned after the first rae 3 laps was to much on this course and now everything was 2 laps! Ok here we go for the stock race same track but even rougher now. The ditch had gotten rough and there were some real good bumps hit one at 70 MPH that sent my airborn into another one that was fun! (once I caught my breath that is) This race was pretty uneventful and went OK. The suspension on the stock sled need some more tuning as the center shock kept fading.
Day went pretty good I was sore but happy with the results.
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Sunday
With the Amateurs now set to run they only run one day. They decided to "groom" certain sections of the course to remove the sharp edges and soften the snow as it hardens from setting up overnight.
HMM groomed cross country course this was a first. As the first race out It was nice 80 MPH through all the woods with trees just 2 feet on either side. It was nerve racking as the kickers came up on you fast hot one but luckily caught it square it popped me 2-3 feet in the air but my course stayed true. really did not feel like going into the trees at that speed~!
We only ran one lap because of running three yesterday. I started the day in last due to the tree incident. However thanks to running the 4th fastest lap of my class that day i moved up a few spots to 6th by the time I pulled into the finish. Not a bad day!
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Stock Class
Pretty uneventful as well ran pretty good but was tires and not as fast as I should have been. Center shock again faded as the track was realy rough again. Need to fix that as the sled really kicks when you lose the center shock!
Pretty Good weekend all in all
6th place in Expert 85 Improved
Well this weekend went pretty good. Not the best results but i am happy with the race. Grand forks was Day one. Got to the Pits at 10 PM did some final prep on the sleds. The next morning was the parade lap the snow dust was horrible. My googles keep Icing over. Jesse Strge had a fix we put some pledge on the Googles and away we went. That did the Trick Mod class was first took off with a little to much adrenaline and blew the third corner and ended up burried in 3 feet of snow. After trying to dig out lucky a photographer gave me some assistance and we dug it out. Back on the track we ran hard and the Waldoch Sport Phazer ran great and the new Custom Axis shocks were like a dream. Surprising after losing 2-3 min being stuck i started to catch people and made a few passes. Knowing I was behind I ignored a double down and launched a downhill jump only to f;at land in a whole sled swapped out and we stayed on the gas. Whee that was close!!! Next lap we were runnign good and I heard a little birdie in my ear(you have to finsih to have a Chances0 decided better against bombing that hill. Slowwed down a little and finished the next lap. I ended up in 11th only 3 min behind the leader. What could have been was my thoughts if i didn't get stuck.
Stock class went rough made it two miles and somehow brake a ski. Hmm no ski then the spindle stick in the ground at 45 MPH well lets say thats not fun. End over end the sled when with me half aboard....
Got it righted and took inventory some beat up plastic and a taillight light. And of course new skis!!! Oh well got it back to the Trailer and put some new skis on it. Off to find a tailight and some duct tape and got it back together for the next day.
A little sore from that one
Fargo ND Feb 14th
This was a 5 mile loop in a horse track set-up and it got Rough track that got real hammered out. Wind was blowing at 20-30 MPH cuasing blowing snow and drifts it was soft loose snow and with the wind holding any lines were tough. This was fun with the short track as they started us only 8 sec apart. This created some side by side racing, which was fun. The mod clas went well where I finished 7th out of 11. Not the best run but I was happy with the result. This is a pro class so a top 10 finish is always good.
Next was the stock class. Track was even rougher for this race. and we gave it all we had but I had some suspension issues from the Crash the previous day. Camber was off Causing some handling issues. We rode it hard but I knew a time of 28 min in 4 laps was not going to get it down. We ended up in 13th plass. However both sleds made it through the Race and we were happy with the results and learned some more about the set-ups. Next up isThe Muinising 300
Yikes season is not unfolding like I would like..
Tough weekend, started with the stock sled not starting due to -10 temps and sitting outside all night. With three people working on it I had to head to the parade lap ran the parade lap on the mod sled and it started making noise. Oh uh well nurse it back in and get a look. The chain is lose and all the oil had leaked out.(faulty Seal)
Well since I was he second race and being one lap race I toke a chance dumped oil in the chain case and cranked the tension up. Seemed to run good and I was doing well. Was doing 96 MPH on the dreameter on the last section of the race and heard a nasty noise. Crap!!!! Well there went the chain!!! 2 miles from the finish DNF. Well unfortunately another Yamaha rider hit a fire hydrant and I was able to steal parts from is sled to repair it that night in the trailer. Got the mod sled fixed.
Pulled the Stock sled tank out cleaned the cyliders and plugs and got tha fires. Since this was a two day race I didn't take the start in Stock so even though the sled now ran I was out in that class.
Race two on sunday was the Improved Expert 85 right on the first road aprach sled got real squirrly and just ejected me. Climbed back on thinking that was odd. Hit the next bumped and ejected again and heard a loud noise.
Well you phazer riders know what broek. My reenforced front arm br
Ok back from the first day. I am in 9th in expert 85 improved. I am 19th in expert 85. There are only three Yamaha's left as Erdmans sled blew a clutch. and the two other nytros are out. Jamie Paquin broke a front torque arm and limped it in but ran long on the repair and took a 30 min penalty.
The cats are fast after there new reflash. My clutching was off for the conditions and I also take a "header" at 65 MPH on a river turn. Shook me up a little but got remounted and back on the way. Aslo crahsed in a windblown field when the sled swapped out.
So we got it re clutched and we will see what tomorrows race brings. We ran 170 mile or rouch ditches and slush filled rivers with some open water today. Tomorrow some more river and alot of ditch running.
So off to the shower and will fill you in on tommarrows run.
Ok in from Day two. it was 180 miles and almost ran out of fuel on the first leg.
Ok back in from day three. This was a rough day for me.... Lets say the first run went great. Clutching was on as I hit 95 on the Min Maintenance gravel road.
It was great first leg into the fuel stop I had passed 2 guys. After the fuel stop rough rough ditches with some some sections. This is were it got dicey!!! I had passed 2 more guys.
Was running a nice long straight smooth section of the ditch at 80 MPH, Due to the flat light I didn't even see the section of 4 foot rollers...
Luckly someone was behind me and say me get bucked off the sled at cartwheel twice sled rolled twice and buried its self in the rock hard snow up to the upper A-arm. He was pretty much out of the race so he stopped and helped me get my bearings and pick up the sled.
Rode the next three miles pretty tentivly as my head was still spinning and feeling light headed. After a while started to fell good and layed the hammer down again.
The third and final leg after the fuel stop. was going good till I heard a clunk and watched my upper A-arm bolt snap off from the incident. Well darned if I was not going to finsih I was 40 miles out so I stood on the outside running board and rode her in.
I was the only Yamaha that finsihed.
I ended up in 5th in experte 85 improved and 13th in expert 85 stock. Tough weekedn for me but hey I finished the I500!!!!
This was the roughest track I have been on and was tough on the body and sled.
Less than half of those who started finished.
Wind blown ditches with frozen hard drifts created some real messes. I crashed a few times on time breaking the lower cover off the sled allowing snow to pack the clutches. So every deep drift would oile snow intp the clutches. After the second fuel stop we ran a short rifer section and back to the ditches on one road aproach it was whopped out and I swapped out and broke a front ski tip
Yikes 50 miles till the end. I tried to run hard but the tip keep digging in I finally nursed the sled in. the last 15 miles were interesting rough dangage ditched with rocks stumps and sections of open water. yea water skipping int \a 90 degree bank with a left turn... That was fun
Well back to the repair session since now power tools allowed during the 1 hour repair we made a duct tape lower cover to kep the snow out. After replacing the ski and setting the toe we found the track almost loose enough to derail. Got everything fixed te best we could. Also the left frame is tweaked.
well another 180 miles in the book looks like this years race will be pver 500 miles.
another 31 sled out today so we are at 51 sled out for the day.
I am the only Yamaha left so we will try to bring it home in one peice.
I sit 7th in expert 85 improved and 15th in expert 85 stock.
hopeing for a clean fast run tommarow
.This weekends MN snow show was fun. I meet people excited about Yamaha racing. The show was in a great location and the orginizers hope to grow the show in the future. Thank you to all the peol that came out to see me!
Well back for another race season. Starting to get things ready for the year. More info to follow!!!
Stay Tuned!!!
After staying in the cheapest motel ever!! $25 dollars a night let me tel you you got what you payed for ;). We were off to Ada after a quick breakfast stop off to the pits and the track. Got the Sleds unloaded and everything was looking good. Went through tech and off to the Parade lap. After seeing the 45 mile course we were excited. The day was warm the it was a rough snox type track deep ruts and bumps and some good road approaches I felt great this was going to be a great ride! I was running good hanging with the leaders all the way through the river when we got to the woods section I barley hooked a tree and when the teather hooked a branch it came off. No big deal fire the sled back up..... Ohuh sled will not start. got flooded from pulling the teather while on the gas!! Off comes the seat and crank it over for a while it finally starts!! Back on the track. I am slightly mad and riding realy hard hitting road aproaches without to much slow down. Going through one section we had 60 MPH cross winds trying to stay on my sled riding 70 MPH through there was interesting!!! Hang all the way off and hold on to keep it in a striaght line. Well I must of made up some of that lost time as I came in 11th just 8 min behind the winner. who knows where i would have finsihed without losing that time trying to get the sled started but it would have been a good fnish. Well off to prpe the sled for Grand Forks.
Well after the disappointment of the I500 its time to put the sled back together. With some help from Yamaha! And Waldoch sports. Thanks John and Rich!!! www.waldochsports.com(great people call them!!) We are getting all the parts to put this back together. We are repairing the tunnel and putting some new running boards on the sled. Also would like to thank my Brother Micah who was a great help getting the sled right.
As you can see the sled is almost back together and ready to race!! The truck well thats another story with more help from my Family I will make ti to the race. Thanks Dad!!!
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