First Buell Race of 2010: Topeka

Heartland Park Grand Prix Track Map, Topeka Kansas

I started out the 2010 CCS road racing season in exotic Topeka, Kansas on April 24th and 25th. Heartland Park Raceway boasts not only a road racing track, but also a drag strip and dirt track. It was my first time on the highly technical 2.5 mile track, and forecasters called for Toto to fly by at any time.

I shared a pit and paddock area right by the finish line with five other racers: Glen Carnell (360, Buell), Ray Hofman (7, Suzuki, Honda), Jimmy Merrick (278, Honda), Jay Smith (277, Buell), and Joel Spalding (36, Ducati, KTM). We also had Jay’s mom, Joel’s parents and his wife, Cindy, Glen’s wife, Missy, and my girlfriend, Sharon, there to help us out in the pits.

Topeka racers under threatening skies. I’m on the left.

This was a Twin Sprints event, so I had twice as many races as usual, in addition to an ASRA Michelin Pro Series 10-lap qualifier and race.

I felt pretty good Saturday on my new Michelin tires. The skies threatened all day, but somehow the rain held off. The CCS races were seven laps, and I started out with lap times hovering around the 2:10 mark. I racked up a 5th in Lightweight Superbike, 3rd in SuperTwins, and a hard-fought 8th in Lightweight Grand Prix. I was feeling faster on the track, with a consistent 2:04 lap time, and had pole position for the final race that day.

At third and final call for Expert Thunderbike, I noticed two of the fasteners broke off my belly pan. I decided to go for it as is, but I was late on the track, so I had to start at the back of the grid. That actually turned out to be a good thing, because my engine seized up on the fifth lap. As disappointing as that is, at least it happened on a straightaway without traffic.

The road crew hauled my 2003 Buell XB back to the pits, and I hauled my backup bike out of my trailer. I hadn’t raced my 1998 Buell S1 in a couple of years, and a couple of laps on it told me why; old tires, old technology, suspension setup and gearing completely wrong for the track.

On Sunday, I still managed a 7th place in the ASRA Michelin Pro Series Thunderbike, an 8th in Superbike, 10th in Lightweight Grand Prix, 5th in Thunderbike and another 3rd in SuperTwins on the S1, but it wasn’t handling well. My front tire kept tucking in the corners.

Back in Chicago, I tore down the XB motor. The oil pump seized and one of the adjustable pushrods collapsed. Then one of the valves and valve guides broke in the rear head and the shrapnel impacted on the front piston. Luckily, the connecting rods are still straight and my cylinders look OK. I’m waiting on parts now to get it all ready for my next race at Blackhawk Farms on May 22 and 23. I’m ready to add to my two plaques from Heartland Park!

2009 Year-End Buell Race Results

Bob ‘Speedy’ Pirog Racing his Buell

It was a long hectic season that ended pretty good overall. My performance index went up and my lap times went down. Even though my finishes weren’t always the best, consistency and dicing with the pack paid off. Hopefully I will avoid another blown motor in the upcoming season. I already have the bike torn down to inspect the valves and cams. It looks like I might have to replace the guides and valves due to wear from the high RPMs. I want to thank everybody for their help and support to get me through the year. See you in 2010.

Buell Customer Appreciation Party October 26, 2009

Buell Logo

On a sad note, Buell was shut down by H-D® corporate. Poor sales and low profits put the final nail in the coffin. After 26 years of committed customers and employees that lived for high perfomance and technology out of an American product, they will be shut down by the end of November or early December. On October 26th Buell threw a customer appreciation party. For a very wet and gloomy day there was a very good turn out. Many people rode in, with a turnout of at least 150 riders.

We were treated to lunch, a tour of the plant and met the people that put in many years of devotion to build these bikes. Hopefully they will be able to move on to new opportunities soon. Best wishes to every one in the Buell family.

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.