Velocity Racing's 'Honey Badger' Blog

I was coming into this weekend on the tail end of a whirlwind month. I had managed some valuable track time and instruction over the course of the month, and I was hoping to see some measurable results from all of it. While I had hoped for slightly cooler temperatures in order to see my best possible results, that was not to be the case, and we were looking at temps that would soar into the 100’s on Sunday. Well, lots more practice on sliding the bike, something I had only recently begun to get comfortable with doing on purpose (as opposed to just dealing with it if it happened). Earlier in the month at some of the track days I had gotten some very valuable feedback from Ken Hill, and some one-on-one coaching from our current #2 plate holder, Cory Call. A few trackdays followed all of that where I had chances to practice some of what I had been working on. I was looking forward to actually putting it all to use. There was a week off of bikes when I was in Tennessee f...

Ever since the completion of Round 2 I was looking forward to getting back out to the track. With only one possible track weekend in between, which I wasn’t able to make for a few reasons, it was feeling like a rather long dry spell even though it was only about a month. I was able to get packed up and loaded the little RiderzLaw truck up early enough on Friday that I arrived to the track around 3:00pm and was able to start setting up the pit in the area another friend had saved for our group. Bike seemed happy, I was feeling relatively good, and it was looking like a warm, but tolerable, weekend. I was excited. Friday night involved a lot of socializing as we all caught up and started the smack talk. Eventually I crawled into bed, but the wind continued to blow. It kept me from really falling asleep as I worried about the canopies we had set up, and eventually I crawled out of the tent and took down the canopy. In the dark. In the wind. I went back to bed only to have the flappin...

Sonoma Raceway has historically been one of my worst tracks on the AFM circuit. While my overall laptimes were of a similar range compared to the other tracks (ie I would like to be 5 seconds a lap faster than I am) the overall times seem to be a bit closer than they are at the other tracks with less spread between the front and the back. I had some clear cut goals and ambitions for the weekend, the big one being to make up for what I didn’t accomplish at Round 1. One of the things I realized after R1 was that I needed to sort out my mental game. Obviously the pros must have a way of dealing with this, and I knew I needed some tips and ideas on how to get out of my own way. Ken Hill has been doing a podcast series, so I suggested that as one of the topics. He graciously offered to discuss this particular issue with me prior to the podcast, and he shared a fair bit of information with me on how to deal with this particular issue. He also arranged for Cameron Gish to review some of ...

I've been waiting for race season to get started, well, pretty much since it ended last year. In 2015, I had spent most of the year chasing bike set up and then working on improving myself. I raced one round with the bike fully set up, and that was the final round, with 2 big  changes (exhaust and tune to go with it, and a quick shifter installed) that I hadn't even tested. So I was looking forward to the 2016 season and being able to get out there on a bike that I was happy - and familiar - with. Over the winter, however, I also made a few other decisions, and started to lay out some longer term racing goals, with an eye on what I'd be doing in another 3 seasons. In order to reach those lofty goals (which may well exceed my talent), I was going to have to put in some serious improvements over the 2016 season. I knew the bike would be good, so that left me as the weak spot. One of the things I knew I could control was my general fitness, so over the winter months I bega...

Well, more like tear down, but the work continues! After that last track day of the year, getting moved, and finally getting settled in, it was time to get started with the winter tear down. Parts began to be ordered, the bike got tore down, and eventually I started putting it back together. Finding random things that needed to be replaced that I hadn't counted on - always a blast (insert ironic tone).  And then I have the exciting realization that as I ordered stuff I forgot some random part here or there that I forgot. Ugh. Another order to be placed! This coming week we'll be heading up to GP Wheel and Frame to get the bike checked out, fairings will be off to the painter, and hopefully suspension off for it's annual refresh. So basically about the time I get the bike slightly back together it will be tore all back apart again. Oh well, good thing is that it will be ready to go for the first race of the season in March! The bike, however, is nto the only thing that...

Every good story needs a good ending, and this was a great story. It was great in the sense of personal accomplishments throughout a long year, a story of perseverance, improvements, highs and lows. Many of the victories were personal, but this sport is very personal – trophies are great, but the changes that make the most effect are usually not seen on the stage. That was my year and my weekend. I rolled in to Buttonwillow with plans to attend the Friday test day since I have only ridden the track one other time, when I came down for Round 1. It was not a track I have much time on, and I have never been down for just a track day. I had enjoyed the track the previous time though, and looked forward to riding it again. I arrived very late Thursday (technically 3:30am on Friday), unloaded what I had to and set up to get a little sleep. Needless to say I only got a couple hours in before the morning was getting started. I got the garage key and started moving in and setting up for ...