Speedy’s Race Report Blackhawk Farms July 25-26

Buell XB Rear head with dropped valve

At the beginning of June, while making a few post-race dyno runs, my 2003 Buell XB dropped a valve and caused a ton of damage to the motor. The shop took up a collection and held a fundraiser to help me with the cost of repairs. After seven weeks of waiting for parts and wrenching, I finally got the motor back together, just in time for the CCS races at Blackhawk Farms Raceway on July 25th and 26th.

Before heading to Blackhawk, I made a couple quick passes on the dyno to make sure the motor wasn’t going to blow up again. I left town with this thing making like 93 horsepower. The other motor made 99 or 100, give or take, but that motor was LOOSE. I figured this new motor just needed to be loosened up.

I had to basically tuck the wheel in every right hander just to get the bike through the turn.

Saturday started out with a CCS Thunderbike race. I started in 9th position and fought my way to 6th before the checkered flag. But in the last couple laps of the Supertwins race, I noticed the bike starting to dog track: I had to basically tuck the wheel in every right hander just to get the bike through the turn. Turns out the left rear axle adjuster had come loose and the rear tire was about 1/2″ out of alignment. I ended up chunking a tire, and even though the tires were brand new, I bought another set for Sunday’s races.

I bought a set of Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa tires (super soft compound for the front) and I basically rode the wheels off it on Sunday. I was able to come in hot, drive in deeper, force my fingers to let go of the brake and trail brake going into the turn. The bike ran great and I went from 10th to 6th in the Lightweight GP race.

The grid got smaller for the Lightweight Superbike race and I started in the second row. I was running consistent 1:18 or 1:19 laps, with the biggest variation being about 3 seconds between laps, depending on traffic. I quickly moved up to second place and stayed there for the whole race.

I’ll be at the CCS races at Blackhawk on August 22 and 23. See you there!

Speedy out front at Blackhawk on his 2003 XB Buell

UPDATE: view the photo gallery from the July 25 & 26 races.