Wow - Santa (Michelle) was good to me this year!

Today is the day after Christmas and I'm still pretty excited. This year my "Crew Chief", Michelle, decided it was time for me to have some professional equipment to work on my bikes. She ordered a pneumatic motorcycle lift. Wow, this thing is awesome. It is going to make working on the bikes so much easier.

Since I now have some real equipment I decided the shop (basement) needed cleaning up as well so I've been moving and re-arranging and cleaning and painting all day. Hopefully soon the shop will look as professional as my lift.

One side benefit to getting this lift is that it will help remind me of my dad. He was an automobile mechanic all of his life. Some of my first memories are of smelling the grease on his work shirts. As a young boy daddy would take me to his shop at the Mello Dairy and let me help out with the trucks.

My main job was to fill glass quart milk containers with oil from a 50 gallon barrel. I wish I had a dollar for every quart jar I filled. Thanks dad.

Trailer Improvements - getting ready for Barber

Hello everyone, hope your riding/racing has been going well. Fall is finally here and I'm busy making preparations for the last trackday weekend of the year with NESBA at Barber Motorsports Park, November 11-12.

I broke the fairing stay on my old 97YZF600R during the last trackday so I've been switching everything over to my silver YZF for the last track day. The Dunlop 209's from the black bike still have lots of life so I switched them and the bodywork.

My trailer has gotten a little cramped since I started taking my Yamaha Vino125 scooter to use as a pit bike. This means I needed to make the trailer more efficient. I picked up a 4 shelf unit from Lowe's that is perfect for the plastic bins that I take stuff in and also my helmet bags. I also added a single shelf to the other side of the trailer to hold chairs and misc. items.

Endurance Racing - Part Two

After the blown engine at Road Atlanta I figured my friends would be rid of the endurance racing "bug" but it turns out I was way wrong on that. They are going to give it another try at the WERA Barber Nationals on September 23rd. Riders this time will be Gill Cutchen, Harry (Mr. Wu), Dave Arkle and Dr. Lee Schmitt. They will be racing Lightweight on a Suzuki SV650. This is a 4 hour endurance race. Sure hope everything goes well.

Equipment review - EARSoft FX hearing protection

Hearing protection is big deal when riding/racing motorcycles. Most modern racing helmets provide excellent protection from head injuries but are lacking in reducing wind noise. To counter this, hearing protection is a must.

I have found the EARSoft brand of disposible earplugs to be the softest, most comfortable on the market but they were lacking in two areas. They are slightly small for my ear canal and are cylindrical in shape. This led to sometimes placing the plug too far into the ear canal making it difficult to remove.

I have solved these problems with the new EARSoft FX earplugs. These are super soft, extremely comfortable and provide tremendous noise reduction. They are also tapered in shape with a flared end. This makes them impossible to push too far into the ear canal and the flared end makes removal a snap.

I get mine in boxes of 200 pair for about $25.00. Two big thumbs up.

VP smells like barbequed chicken? - CycleJam 2006

It has been a couple of weeks now since Cycle Jam at Road Atlanta. My buddy Gill Cutchen and three friends decided to run the endurance race on Friday so I went over to help them out. The picture above is of our endurance pits.

Friday practice was fine with no problems at all. Unfortunately, the same can't be said of the race. The endurance round at Road Atlanta is a tough one. Six hours in the sweltering Georgia summer heat. I don't know how they do it.

Gill was on the bike at the start and was running well but a false neutral and an accidental downshift in 7 sent him low-siding off track. He came in with a broken front brake lever. That was quickly replaced and he went back out to finish his turn on the bike. Here's a photo of Gill after his session. Man the heat really saps your energy.


Scott took the bike out next but a few minutes later a WERA official came by and told us he had pulled off with the bike smoking. We hoped it was minor but soon we learned it was a blown motor and he was coming in on the crash truck.


I was sorry to see their race end that way and so early but that's racing. Fortunately, it gave me some time to run around Road Atlanta on my pit bike and enjoy the racing.



So, my hat is off to the entire GTR Endurance team for their hard work in putting together their racing effort this weekend. Guys you did a remarkable job and I'm proud to have been a small part of it. Sorry it ended the way it did but we'll be back and better than ever.

First race weekend of 2006, Barber, May 6-7

This year has gotten off to a slow start with only a couple of track day weekends and no racing until May 6-7 when the WERA Southeast Regional round took place at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama.

Physically and mentally I haven't been in the best of shape for the 2006 riding season and I had high hopes that Barber would shake me out of my early season funk and get me back into it. Mentally I think I achieved that but physically I'm still not even in the shape I was in last year much less good condition.

Saturday opened up with 2 uneventful practice sessions on a drying track followed by one race, Heavyweight Solo 16 Novice. My only goals were to get a good start, run consistent lap times and just not finish last. I got a good start and got to race for a few laps with some riders but by lap 8 I was pretty much running by myself so I settled in to work on consistency and just finish. This is a long race for someone as big and out of shape as me. I finished 37th of 40 riders running with 6 DNF's. My best time was on lap 13 with a 1:56.338. Not a personal best as I got into the 1:55's last year in the same race.

Sunday started cloudy and wet so I did not go out for practice. By race time it was beautiful and the track was dry. First race up, Senior Superbike Novice. I love running Senior Superbike but it is a combined novice/expert race so I knew I'd be getting lapped pretty quickly by the experts. Since I have no points for the year I was gridded at the very back. I got an absolutely horrible start and by turn 5 I was sure I was in last place but a bike went by me going up the hill so I knew at least I started better than him.

By lap 2 I had settled in behind Morris Foor on his 636 Kawasaki and decided it would be a fun race dicing with him. I got by the first time on the brakes going into 5 but he powered back by on the run up to the coaster. I knew right then and there that I had no chance in a drag race so I started planning a strategy. Morris had never been to Barber before and he was braking way early and hard in a couple of places where he didn't have to and I was catching him there every lap.

On the last lap I got near him going into the coaster but he pulled me on the straight coming out of the museum. I knew I would have my only chance coming out of the kink on the backstretch. He was really braking there hard. I got right behind him at the entance and by the time we exited we were side by side going down the back stretch. When he braked for the left at the end I slid by and went for a downshift. That's when I realized my shifter was gone!!!!!!!!!!!

Luckily I was in 4th and just gave it the gas and was able to finish out the lap ahead of him. It was a fun race and again I didn't finish last so I was happy about that. My lap times weren't as good as Saturday but the racing was better. I didn't have the parts I needed to repair the shifter so I missed my other race, B Superstock. That was a bit of a let down because I was gridded right next to my friend Gill and it would have been fun to drag race him down to turn one.

The next planned racing is in June at little Talladega Grand Prix Raceway. Wish me luck.

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a picture of the best mother in the whole wide world. Of course it's my mother, Arthleen McDowell. Mom has always supported me 100% in everything I've set my heart on doing. She has been there for me through thick and thin. Even when I made poor decisions I could count on her for support, love and guidance.

Mom you're the best and I love you more than anything.

It's a Family Affair

Another pleasant surprise awaited me this past Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park when my brother Tom McDowell unexpectedly showed up to watch. Here is a photo of me, in leathers, and Tom trying to fix my broken shifter (more on that later when I do a full race report).

Tom thanks so very much for coming to see me race. You'll never know how much I appreciate your support. Next time out I'll try to do a little better!!!!!!!!!!

A Pleasant Surprise

One of the benefits of riding/racing motorcycles is meeting wonderful people and one of the best I've met is Johnnie "Buellboy" Haynes.

Johnnie emailed me out of the blue the other day just to say he'd seen my photos online from a recent track day and just wanted to say that I was "looking good".

I met Johnnie at a track day where he was a control rider. He's such a fun guy, always willing to offer advice and share his wisdom on/off track. His encouragement and friendship mean the world to me.

Mladin talks over the race with Greg "Curly" White. 

Mladin lowsided in turn 5 early in Superbike Race 2. A corner worker helped push start his bike and get him back in the race. After the race Mladin gave this helmet to the cornerworker as a souvenir. 

It was great to see Miguel DuHamel back on the podium with second place in Superbike Race 2. 

Neil Hodgson waits out the red flag during Superbike Race 2 

Three days in heaven, AMA at Barber.

Pinch me I might still be dreaming. Three full days wrapped in a blanket of AMA roadracing at Barber Motorsports Park. Alabama heaven for sure.

This is my third year to go to the AMA races at Barber and they get better and better. I spent Friday wandering the paddock, talking to some of the privateers and watching the factory teams prepare. You start to notice the little things after you've been to a few races. Like the Ducati mechanic who used to shave his rider's number in his hair wasn't there this year. I guess he moved on to World SBK.

The AMA paddock can be a strange place for sure. One minute you're walking by the million dollar plus haulers and posh opulence of the factory setups and the next minute you're watching a guy unload his own bike from a dinky little trailer and start working on it himself. Somehow the haves and the have nots come together to produce a truly entertaining weekend of racing.

After the dampness of Friday practice and qualifying, Saturday and Sunday were clear and somewhat warmer. In fact, Sunday was downright hot. The superbike races produced he most drama with Ben Spies taking the double from a disappointed Mladin. It was good to see Duhamel back on the podium.

Miguel is starting to look really tired. I wonder if his career is finally winding down. His Honda still misbehaves and it is easy to see that he is having to ride much harder than the three Musketeers from Yoshimura with their near perfect bikes.
I wish him well this year. Hopefully he can win at least one or two.

I only managed one autograph this year, Marty Craggill who rides for Mat Mladin Motorsports. He was friendly enough and didn't seem to mind. You never know with the mid pack guys whether or not they care about the fans. Some are really open and friendly like Larry Pegram and others are just jerks. There must be a lot of pressure on them to try to compete against the factory boys. Good luck with that.

WERA National Endurance Racing

Saturday I attended the second round of the WERA National Endurance Race Series at Talladega Grand Prix Raceway in central Alabama.

If you've never attended a motorcycle endurance race you owe it to yourself to try. This is some of the most exciting racing you could ever want to see. It is truly a "team" sport.

The thing that impresses me most about endurance racing are the riders themselves. They go out and run for an hour or more running times consistently near sprint race pace.

Then there are the pit stops. Top teams can put on fuel and tires in what seems like only a few seconds. Then you have the teams out there on a shoestring. Teams that will run a 4 hour race with only one set of tires and two riders.

I watched one rider get off his bike after an hour, pick up a fire extinguisher and stand by so the team next to his could pit and refuel. He didn't even stop to take a drink. These are the types of riders and teams you'll find up and down the paddock.

For detailed race results see this link at Roadracingworld.com.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=25437

Finally the 2006 riding season is underway.

Winter has seemed particularly long this year but the arrival of 70 degree temperatures in the south heralds the coming of spring and the 2006 riding season.

First up this year were NESBA track days at Barber Motorsports Park. Every time I go to Barber I can't help but think how lucky I am to live so close to such a fine facility. Climate controlled restrooms, hot and cold running water, showers, the list just goes on and on. Michelle loves it too because the control tower makes for such good track viewing.

I pitted as usual on the lower level nearest the tower with my friend Gill Cutchen. Gill was there to shake out the newly re-worked motor on his R6 and to get some more seat time on his new GSXR750. I was there to try out the Bridgestone slicks I had purchased last fall.

The slicks are remarkable tires. They seem to heat up much more quickly than I was expecting. I don't use warmers yet so I generally take it really easy the first lap out. Later in the day I tried to push some on my out lap and there was no moving around or slipping, very impressive. One thing I noticed immediately, my lean angle was the same as before but I wasn't using up all the sidewall. Apparently, the tire profile is much different than the Michelin tires I had used previously. I can lean farther on these than ever before, much farther than I was prepared to go at my current skill level.

Gill ran most of the day with some "A" group friends, Danny, Bob and Barry. Since most of my friends are in "A" and I ride in "B" it is lonely business out there for me. I did manage to latch onto some riders of about my skill level and have fun but I wish I could get good enough to ride with my friends. Oh well, maybe someday.

Anyway, my motorcycle ran fine although it is no match for some of the modern machinery. Traffic seemed to be somewhat of an issue all day as some of the riders aren't content to follow the passing rules for our group. Inside passes don't bother me in WERA racing, I expect them at every corner. But I don't expect them at track days.

In conclusion let me say the riding season is off to a good start. Next up is probably not until May WERA regionals at Barber. Wish me luck in Senior Superbike.

Cheers,
Jim

2005 Roadracing Year in Review

Hello Everyone,

Well it's now 2006 and I'm busy making trackday/roadracing plans and goals for 2006. I thought I'd take a minute to review 2005 which was a very fun year for me on and off the track.

Here is my headline list of memorable events from 2005.

First Race: February, Talladega Grand Prix Raceway, MWSolo 20. I finished dead last but had the time of my life. What excitement it is to take the green flag.

First Crash: Same weekend as first race. I ran wide in turn 2, hit a rut with my front tire and took a tumble. Couldn't breathe for like 5 minutes. I'm sure I scared the cornerworker to death with my screaming!!!!!!!!!!!!
Crashing hurts, remember that, crashing hurts. Don't do it.

Best Race: April at Barber, HWSolo 20. I swapped positions several times with a guy on a Suzuki 750. He could pull me on the straights but I'd catch up in the corners. This went on till the last corner of the last lap when I slipped under him and beat him to the line.

Scariest track moment: 1. Road Atlanta, NESBA trackday. I ran wide at the exit to turn 12, got up on the rumble strips, rear end steps out then catches throwing me up off the seat. Closest I've come to a high-side yet. This was a real "come to Jesus" moment.

Funniest off track happening: WERA at Tally this summer I was going through tech and a guy on the bike next to me was arguing with the tech officials. They wouldn't tech him cause he had no registration form. I proceeded to inform him of the proper procedure for race registration when I noticed the number on his bike, Expert 911. Realizing this was none other than Mike Smith, former AMA Factory Kawasaki rider, I said, "sorry Mike I didn't realize who you were." He replied, "don't worry, most of the time I don't realize who I am either."

New Equipment: I purchased a used enclosed trailer from a Doctor in North Carolina. I purchased a used 1997 YZF600R trackbike from a NESBA control rider. I was going to use it for parts but I liked it so much I rode it the rest of the year. I've had the suspension freshened up and will be racing it this year on Bridgestone slicks. Thanks to Derek Bennett (stickboy) of DBMotorsports for the hookup on the tires. Stickboy is the WERA Southeast trackside vendor for Bridgestone tires and also a hell of a Vintage 7 racer.

First Interview: I was recently interviewed by John Bunce of roadracerpodcast.com for an upcoming episode of his podcast. John is a Novice racer in the LRRS series in New Hampshire. Thanks John that was lots of fun.

Some people I've met at the track: Kevin Schwantz, former 500CC world champion. Larry Pegram, AMA professional roadracer. Jamie James, retired AMA roadracer and champion. Ed Bargy, owner of Ed Bargy Roadracing School and a really interesting character. Mitch Boehm, Editor of Motor Cyclist Magazine (I pitted next to Mitch and the Motor Cyclist crew at a Barber track day and they invited me to join them). Brian Drebber, former voice of AMA roadracing on SpeedTV. Greg White, bald-headed stooge from Two Wheel Tuesday on SpeedTV.

NESBA friends I've made: Lucy and Johnnie "Buellboy" Haynes. Johnnie is a control rider and age challenged, like me. He and his wife are just the nicest people on earth.

WERA friends I've made: Dave "Diet Dr. Thunder" Arkle and Jason Coleman from Louisville, Kentucky. Derek and Lori Bennett (Stickboy and Honey) from Pelion, South Carolina. Ryan Nelson and Scott Padgitt from here in Alabama.

Thanks go out to my good friends Gill and Tammie Cutchen from Birmingham for all the help and support on and off the track this year. I pitted with Gill, WERA 105, at trackdays and races this year. We sure had a lot of fun, didn't we Gill?

And a special thanks go out to my "Crew Chief" Michelle Maddox. Without her help and encouragement I just wouldn't want to go to the track at all. Thanks Michelle for everything you've helped me do in 2005. Having you at the track with me makes it all worthwhile.

Thanks to the cornerworkers and staff from WERA for making all this possible. Now on to 2006.

Tim Vosnick, WERA expert 152