Framecrafters Racing

Event Stories and Summaries

    Roebling Road was extremely cold and uncomfortable. A fair practice day had us looking for an edge come race day. We did not find what we were looking for, in fact, we found more problems needing to be addressed. A faulty front tire on our Yamaha RD had us nearly missing the 3rd place podium finish. Our Yamaha TZ displayed some gremlins too. A faulty water-pump drive and a troublesome gear box, had us over-heating and side- lined for the Battle of Twins Open 2-Stroke class. With some answers to our problems and high hopes of warmer weather, Team FC pressed on to Daytona.

     Daytona was much warmer compared to Roebling Road. Although the locals said the temperatures were 10 degrees below average for that time of year, it was still better. We managed to correct our front tire issue with the RD and a repair to the TZ's water pump drive gear had us ready for practice. Practice went well with minor gearing changes and a new rear tire on the RD had us set for our races. Daytona has been troublesome for us ever since we first attended in 1990 when Randy was still racing. Daytona generally sent us home with broken bikes, broken wallets and the occasional broken ego. However, 20 years later and still not wise enough to stay away, we would beat the famous Daytona. We warmed the RD up as usual sitting in the pits as we questioned ourselves on gearing, tire selection, and the such. We knew if we were one size off on jetting we wouldn't be able to pull the gearing we chose. We got the signal to roll out for the hot lap. I make my way through the infield up on the banking trying to warm the tires and get a feel for how this gearing was going to work. I wound it up a bit making my way around and pulled on our grid position waiting for the one board. The one board flops sideways and the green flag drops. I knew that if I didnt go for it right from the beginning we would have no chance of a win with limited laps and every other F500 guy hungry for a win. I rush through the infield on the 1st lap feeling the bike sliding around a bit from the mediocre tire temperature. However, if I backed off I would be passed and I'd have to work even harder to get back in front and more likely making a mistake. I keep my head down trying to ride smart on the first lap, easing the throttle on corner exits and interpreting tire grip. One lap down, where is my signal guy? Darn Daytona, I cant see anyone or anything. My signal guy, is a 1\2 mile off the side of the track, safety first I suppose. OK, so no front wheel in sight from a challenger as I reenter the infield for lap 2. Great, I think to myself. As I climb the banking leaving the infield a few laps later with no challenger, I talk sweetly to my RD. "Ok buddy", "I know you dont like me ringing your neck on this big track but today is gonna be our day, just hold on a few more laps and we both can relax". Lap four, no challenger. Lap 5 no challenger. I keep myself tucked in as much as possible trying to alleviate some of the work load on the RD. Some laps later I see the white flag, not bothering to look over trying to see a signal. One more time I work my way through the infield as smoothly and quickly as possible. As I round the last of the banking making my way onto the front straight I can see it ! The checkered flag was waving at me. Holding back tears of accomplishment and thinking of all the times I cursed Daytona, it has paid off. We have beat the ever demeaning Daytona in front of a pack of screaming 2-strokes. 

     After the high-fives, trophies and foot by foot reenactment of the race, we all decided to go to a seafood joint on the beach to celebrate and take in some coastal cuisine. Although I'm not a big fan of seafood I was certain there would be something for me too.  Ah, chicken primavera sounds good. A few hours later after scarfing down a heaping plate we make our way back to the hotel. Relaxing and watching TV something begins to feel a bit unsettling. A run for the washroom had me on the floor cursing chicken primavera, for most of the night.  By 5am I was back in bed wondering how the hell I was going to get through the upcoming day. 

     I make my way to the track about 7am sipping Gatorade and ginger-ale searching for some strength. I decide to skip practice in an attempt to catch some rest before my first race on the TZ. First and 2nd call has come and gone before I know it. I rush to get my leathers on as the FC crew is warming the TZ and removing the tire warmers. I climb aboard the bike wishing I was climbing in a bed at a quiet hotel. Ok, this is my job, I tell myself, and im going to do the best I can. Somehow I manage to finish 2nd, although not quite the challenger to the winner as I was yesterday, a great race considering I had 2 hours of sleep. 

     My Formula 500 race was up next. A few quick winks and back in the leathers. As I make my way through the infield and onto the banking for the warm-up, the RD revs begin to surge on the banking. Oh not now, damn I knew I shouldn't have skipped practice. Maybe it was just loading up......maybe it will clean up when it gets fully warm. As I approach the grid I start looking for a quick fix. Fuel is on, kill switch in one piece, nothing dripping. The flag drops as I lead through the infield and up on the banking.....power on, power off, power on...etc etc. I cant do this, I say to myself. I pull in knowing something is not right and it could get worse or even blow-up at 140mph. I push it through the pits with my head hanging down ready to puke in my helmet. I park the bike and give it a quick glance pulling on a few things. I grab hold of one carburetor and it falls off in my hand, shit, loose clamp and an air-leak. Daytona can bless you or damn you and this year we got a little of both. 

     Team FC had its first ride\race on the Rick "Babe" Demay prepared, Bill Baily owned, 2008 Yamaha YZ450F in June at Road America. Karsten dominated the AHRMA Motard class on Saturday, and saw a DNS on Sunday due to a faulty ignition. Karsten and his well prepared RD won both days in the F500 class at Road America 
     The following weekend at Grattan, MI Karsten raced the YZ again while being shown the fast way around by ex-pro racer Greg Hutchinson on his KTM, Karsten finished 2nd while learning a few things on sliding Motards. We won the F500 class on Saturday and received a DNF on Sunday while pushing a bit too hard on a questionable rear tire. Upon entering the "S's"  the rear end began to slide. Trying to push the bike back on good rubber the front began to slide too, eventually sliding right off the track and ending another potential win for FC. 

     In August we ventured north to the annual Canadian Vintage Motorcycle Festival at Mosport International Raceway. This event is strictly a vintage event so we left the TZ and YZ back at the shop. However we did bring along WBR racer Brian Wagner and his Suzuki GS1000 superbike so he could get a taste of the Canadian side of things. On Friday we had some good practice and it appeared the weather was going to cooperate all weekend.  Karsten and his RD was nicely tuned for Saturday's semi-final. Gridded 27th of a field of 28, Karsten pushed his RD to the front of the P3 Lightweight (under 550cc to 1982) semi-final winning the race and clenching the pole for Sundays final. Sunday saw Karsten and his RD flying to the win again lapping the field up to 7th place and finishing ahead of 2nd place by nearly 15 second and never once challenged by another rider. 

     Brian ran strong on Saturday finishing 8th. With lots of ambition he started very strong in Sunday's P3 Heavy-Weight class. Riding as high as 5th place for a lap or two, things were looking good. Unfortunately the heavy-weight behemoth had other ideas. Upon entering turn two, a fast blind off-camber left hand sweeper, the GS's front-end lightened at the blind crest losing traction while eventually washing out the front end entirely sending Brian one way and the GS ass-over-end. Brian was scooped up by the local meat wagon, checked out and released with no serious injuries.
 


     Karsten took home 4 wins at the 6th annual Barber Vintage Festival in Birmingham, AL. Karsten entered the AMRMA Formula 500 class and the Motard class both days. With pressure from past National F500 Champion, Chris Spargo, Karsten was able to hold him off while dicing with the Formula 750 guys gridded in the same race. Our good friend and current F500 champion David Crussel, had gremlins running through his mighty H1 all weekend, eventually sidelined in Fridays practice with a seized cylinder never making the race. The Saturday's Motard class saw good racing between Karsten and a new member pushing an Aprilia 550. While Karsten barely missed the win by a wheel length, the Aprilia was DQ'd due to an illegal engine configuration, giving the win to Karsten. 

     Sunday was a repeat of the same in F500,finishing 2nd over all with a multi-class grid of 24. Karsten and his RD turned the 3rd fastest lap time of the weekend (1.41.966) in the vintage classes on their way to the 4th win of the weekend. Karsten was slightly bested by seasoned veteran Tim Joyce (1.41.055) and European challenger Peter Politiek ( 1.40.173) both racing F750 bikes. A great end to one of the best motorcycle racing events of the year. 



                       (Keeping close on the FC Yamaha RD at Road America)
 

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT THIS PAST YEAR, SEE YOU AT THE RACES IN 2011.

Karsten Illg 
www.framecrafters.net
815-923-4537