Thoughts On Tape

johnnykillmore — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:21:39 +0000

People do still ask me from time to time, “why do you do it?” Racing. Why spend all that time and money to risk your life and health to go around in a circle faster than someone else? Well, I obviously feel that’s n oversimplification that totally misses the point. The goal in life has never appeared to me as a game of risk management. It has never looked like the winners took the least amount of risk. As best I can tell, the game is just a series of experiences, and the “winners” are those who are richer in spirit for the experiences they have had. Racing is simply a stage for this game to be played. It has very little to do with trophies or people waving different colored flags. It is an opportunity to move beyond what you think is possible; to move beyond yourself. As a sidecar racer, doing that with another person simultaneously controlling the vehicle is pretty awe inspiring. Really though, none of this comes to mind while I’m in the bike holding the controls. The answer is so simple. Why do I do it? Because I choose to. I race because it is what I choose to do.

I was pondering this while watching a video today. It’s a video I’ve seen before, and I don’t know if it truly can convey what I’m saying. It comes as close as anyone can I suppose. The idea isn’t really to beat the other guy. The idea is to see a limit so far ahead of you that it seems inhuman to surpass it, then to surpass it with such velocity that you fail to even realize it. In short, it is to make every second counts:

California State Championship Adds Sidecar Class

johnnykillmore — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:04:40 +0000

California State Championship Back For 2012 Season With Exciting Changes

January 11, 2012

The California State Championship is back for 2012, with some exciting changes and a new format. Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) and Sidecar Racers Association-West (SRA-West) will be included for this year’s championship, bringing the motorcycle road racing sanctioning bodies total to five, making the California State Championship the largest multi-club championship in the country.

“Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) racers welcome the opportunity to represent CVMA in the upcoming CSC 2012 season. This newly-formed racing organization enjoyed its inaugural season in 2011 and looks forward to sharing in the enjoyment of racing with CSC and other racers from other race organizations,” says Rich “Cowboy” Stampp, CVMA Race Director.

“It’s a great opportunity to have the SRA-West sidecars on board with CSC this season. The series is a great idea and I’m glad we could be a part of it. Plus, we can take part in the pit bike races and prove we don’t race on three wheels due to a lack of balance,” says John Wood, Vice-President, SRA-West Inc.

Also new for 2012, San Diego BMW Motorcycles has come on board as the new title sponsor for the event.

“San Diego BMW Motorcycles is very excited to continue our support of the California State Championship in 2012. As it enters its third year, we expect the Championship series to continue to bring together the best road racers from all over the Southwest. These athletes will compete at various tracks around the region and ride the most advanced machines to the absolute limits in order to have the chance to be crowned Champions. They represent the very essence of BMW Motorcycles – the most technically advanced machines working in perfect harmony with their riders to produce the best possible outcome. Please join us in supporting and cheering for these riders and help us to reward their hard work and incredible talents,” says Gary Orr, Owner/General Manager, San Diego BMW Motorcycles.

The next significant change for the event this year is the format. The California State Championship will be run as a double-header shootout, winner-take-all. The championship round will take place November 3-4, 2012, at the Las Vegas Classic Course with WERA and will run in conjunction with their double-header event, giving racers two full days of racing. Participation in the championship will require participation in at least two races weekends with the clubs included in the championship: AFM, CVMA, WERA, WSMC, and SRA. Racers wishing to compete in the California State Championship have until October, 2012, to complete the mandatory race weekends, and results will be verified. The age for the CSC competitors with an Expert license has also been lowered to 14. There will be a practice day on Friday, November 2 preceding the event provided by Racer’s Edge Performance.

For fun, Saturday evening after the races, there will be a “slow bike race” and a “best paint“ contest run simultaneously.

In addition to the class champions, there will be an Overall Heavyweight, Overall Middleweight, Overall Lightweight, and Overall Sidecar Champion crowned at the conclusion of the races on Sunday.

“WERA Motorcycle Roadracing is very proud to have the CSC hold its 2012 shootout with us at our November WERA West round presented by Lucas Oil. This will add some additional excitement to a season-ending event and will give some riders who have never experienced the Classic Course at Las Vegas the opportunity to do so. Shandra works very hard to make the CSC something to be a part of, and we look forward to working with her in November and throughout the course of the 2012 season,” says Evelyne Clarke, President WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc.

“2012 presented some challenges to work with to have the Championship this year,” says Shandra Crawford, California State Championship Organizer. “The changes that I made this year were based on racer feedback and taking into account all of the races taking place on the West Coast. It was going to be difficult to run the three-round format that I have been running and allow everyone to participate that wanted to. I also did not want to schedule anything that would conflict with an AMA weekend, as many racers expressed interest to do both the West Coast rounds and the California State Championship. I borrowed some structuring from WERA’s Grand National Finals to come up with the concept for this year. Racers will still have to participate in two races weekends to qualify for the final, but this way they can do it as their time and schedules allow. This will also not conflict with another race weekend, and allow racers to have a break between race weekends and not have to run back-to-back. This way people can concentrate on their goals for their home clubs and AMA races and at the end of the season have a championship round after everything is completed. My hope is that this makes it a little more budget- and schedule-friendly for everyone.

“I would like to thank the clubs for their continued support, and especially WERA for hosting the round this year. The opportunity for racers to go to the other clubs and experience different tracks and race organizations makes better racers and expands our sport. I would also like to thank San Diego BMW for stepping up their level of support this year. It’s very exciting to have them involved at this level.

“My heart felt thanks also goes out to Dunlop for their support for the last two seasons as the title sponsor and for this season’s continued support of club level contingency and trackside tire service. I’m very confident and excited about the quality of the new tire product I’m seeing.”

The state championship will be open to any racer 14 years or older with an Expert license in 2012. Class structures, sponsors, trackside vendors will be announced in a separate release.

For more race club, track, or track day provider information, see the Tracks and Clubs page at: www.CaStateChampionship.com

For more information, contact:

info@castatechampionship.com

818-370-3613

California State Championship
Attn: Shandra Crawford
2121 N Buena Vista St
Burbank CA 91504

Cool Movie: Racing Dreams

johnnykillmore — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:14:01 +0000

I really was surprised at how good this documentary is. A story of three kids racing in a National Kart championship, trying to move up the levels and attract sponsors. It’s much more than just racing though. This is really a story about trying to be a kid and having to grow up fast at the same time. There is plenty of on track action, but following the parents and kids as they go through the season and face hard realities is gripping. Even if you aren’t into racing, you’ll be surprised at how grown up these kids are, and how their year turns out. Check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHm8d3EJfjE

-Johnny

johnnykillmore — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:41:25 +0000

Test

Go Ned Go!!!

johnnykillmore — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:05:35 +0000

Just a humble man with a dream, doing everything he can to make it reality:

http://vimeo.com/32831101

johnnykillmore — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:47:31 +0000

http://ping.fm/1Y2TA

The Season Is Over By The Way

johnnykillmore — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:46:48 +0000

I never bothered posting anything because the finale was so anti-climactic. We skipped Saturday practice at Willow Springs, and then it started raining Sunday morning. We were the only team to go out for the first practice session. There was a dry line from the previous group of bikes, but it went away by the 1st hot lap. By the second hot lap we were sliding a little bit here and there and only going about 60%. Coming out of turn 9 the chair wheel broke loose and I tried to play with the throttle to get it back, which just made the rear break loose and we went backwards. The bike slid for awhile like that until the front started to grip, which allowed me to steer back to 90 degrees sideways, with the chair leading. We went into the dirt, which was mud on top and dirt on bottom, and made a helluva mess. The race was called because only 1 team had wet tires.

I placed 2nd in driver points again, and Gina placed 5th in her first season as a passenger. Next year will be more of the same I reckon, but we will be testing different road tires during the season, as it’s the only way to test for Pikes Peak currently. Since we only have one set of rims, I would like to find all weather tires for the bike that can survive the week. So far pickin’s is slim, but there are some options. That’s a problem for another year, as I have a lot due for my schooling, and a lot of work on cars and bikes to do. The sidecar will have to be looked at January. Hopes were to start a fund-raising campaign in November, but like many things it has passed us by. The bike needs a massive amount of suspension and braking upgrades, and an entirely new rear suspension and wheel mounting assembly, or it will simply never be fast enough. We are driving the hell out of the little gal but she is out of her element. 2000′s power and rubber with 1980′s suspension and brakes is a woeful combination when precision is required.

We will be posting results from the off-season work as well as a full season recap next year. For December, I would like to just forget about sidecar racing and concentrate on schooling, family, and the heavy amount of reorganization coming my way next year.

In Liberty,

Johnny K-

johnnykillmore — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:30:27 +0000

Congrats to Becker Moto Works on another SRA-West championship.

johnnykillmore — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:27:53 +0000

Rained out. Went for practice and spun in T9. 2nd overall, Gina 5th. Glad to have a break!

johnnykillmore — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:33:30 +0000

Already have our entry to Pikes Peak confirmed and accepted. Those folks are on the ball this year. Wow.