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I must say I am very happy to write this journal today. I feel like I have had this black cloud over my head for a year or so now and at the end of yesterday it finally moved on. I feel sorry for the next person that gets it. Bad luck after bad luck it seemed. However all is back to normal again with me and the bike. The pit dog, Harley had a bit of a rough week though as he had a cancerous tumor removed from his neck. All is back to normal with him too! Ok lets talk racing. Saturday Practice: Jeff (Team Manager) was there with the big black Downtown H-D Buell truck so we had a nice place to pit. Got everything set up and went out for practice. Took it slow for a few laps to get the motor back in shape and came in after 4 laps to check things over. That black cloud hadn't left yet though. We had a leaky gasket. So lowered the motor down a bit in the frame, pulled the head off put a new gasket on and buttoned it back up. My day was over. We stayed and made sure it was all sorted for Sunday and then headed out. Sunday Races: Middle Weight GP Twins:I went out and did 4 laps at a time in practice and kept coming in to verify everything was working ok. All good to go and the weather was beautiful. No sign of a black cloud anywhere. I was on the 3rd row for the start and I believe there were 5 rows or so. There was some serious butterflies making there way through my body. Light goes out and of course I get the worse start imaginable. The mistake I made was not keeping the RPM's high enough when I let the clutch out and the bike bogged down and everyone went by. I was pretty close to being in last place. I had alot of work to do. I must of been in 14th place or so entering turn 1. I made my way through a couple people on the first lap and just kept plugging away. After the halfway point the rear tire started to slide alot. This slowed me down a bit and my quest to a better finishing position. Last lap and I was starting to catch the guy in front of me who I had been chasing for a few laps. I closed the gap coming into the last corner before start finish but pushed the front tire to much and ended up running over the curb on the exit of the corner and wasn't close enough for a draft pass at the finish line. The bike and I came home in 7th place and although it was a rough start I was happy with that since it was really my first full race since 2006.
Open GP Twins:I wasn't going to race this class since it is all Ducati 1098's and a few Ducati 999's. However Buell Motorcycles pay's in this class and there were only 7 people entered. I figured I would play the odds that I could atleast come home in 5th place which is the last paying position for racing a Buell. My start was much better and I hung with the leaders for the first part of the lap before we hit the back straight and the Ducati's could stretch there 180 horsepower legs. I did count them up before they left me sniffing there race gas and there were only 3 bikes in front of me. I was sure I had the count right which would have placed me in 4th place. I put my head down and ran some fast and consistant laps and at the halfway point I took a look back behind me to see nobody around. I took my time the rest of the race and conserved the tires for the next race and came home in 4th place. Formula Thunder:
Jeff Wieand (Team Manager and Downtown H-D/Buell employee) also known as Penguin (Still waiting on the story behind that one) was planning on racing his Buell XB9R. It has been 3 years since he has raced his Buell so it was going to be alot of fun to have him back on the track. We would have 3 Buell's total on the grid, which is the most we have had since we first started racing Buell's with Downtown H-D/Buell in 2004. Pete Ross #32 turned his street bike into a race bike with similar modifications that I have on mine and he a very fast rider. It is kinda ironic looking back at when we started. Jesse Grantham was also there with his daughter who was apart of the race team back in 2004 to cheer us on. Lining up on the grid we had 3 rows of bikes with 3 Buell's, a real cool Moto Guzzi, a couple Ducati's and my good buddy Joshua on his very fast SV650 Superbike. These were the main players I was worried about. This start was good in my book and I was 2nd going into turn 1 but Joshua came by around the outside of turn 2 to take the lead. It took me a couple laps to get around one of the Ducati's and by the time I got around him Joshua had built up a nice 2 second lead. I focused on putting in consistant laps and hoped he would make a small mistake to allow me to get closer. Lap 7 and the gap had come down a little bit and I was able to close in on the brakes going into turn 3. The gap I closed was too much and I ran wide. The draft I got from him kinda pulled deeper into the corner than I thought and that is what caused my small mistake. It took me another lap to get close again. He held the gap for a few laps and then I was able to get real close and as we went by start finish for the white flag lap I could see Jeff on his Buell. I pulled out and went to the inside of turn 2 for the pass as we both flew by Jeff. I was able to hold my tight line in turn 2 but this made my drive out of the corner not that great and Joshua was able to get back by me on the brakes on the outside of turn 3. This was it I only had a few more corners to try and get back by him and most of the corners are tough passing in. The drive out of the last corner was real good and I was able to tuck right in his draft but I made another mistake that cost me the win. Joshua held a perfect line on the outside of the front straight and when going through the chute right before the checkered flag that placed him on the inside of the track. I was on the outside of the straight and when I pulled out of the draft that placed me on the inside and I couldn't get by him in time to make the short chute right before the flag and had to roll off the throttle and get back behind him but ran out of time and missed first place by half a bike length. I was happy to finish in 2nd and have a really fun race with my old sparring partner. Next time hopefully I can get him at the line. Thanks to everyone that showed up and all the support I have got from family and friends. Brett Newkirk's help at the house with putting the motor back together has been huge in getting me back out there. Downtown Harley Davidson & Buell have been fantastic and now I feel I have the old bike back that took me to several wins in '05 and '06 and will be able to really show them what I can do. Brad #428 www.pushrodracing.comUntil next time... 8/10
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Well it would be nice to tell you all that I had a great first weekend but that wasn't so much the case. I will get the bad out of the way first.
The website should be updated in a few days with some new pictures and this race journal as it is a bit long.
I got the motor back on Tuesday of last week approximently 3 days before the first race. Jake Frame and myself worked 2 nights in a row to get it together and ready to go. We didn't have much luck the first night as there were some things that weren't in the right location to allow us to mount it to the frame(thanks to Jeff Wieand for pointing it out). The 2nd night we got it all back together but I couldn't get the motor to start. So Friday morning I found out there was some damage inside the motor due to our race cams not being marked from the manufacturer we got them from and being installed wrong. After talking to the Team Manager Jeff Wieand we decided to skip Saturday practice and try and get this bike on the track for my first race on Sunday. I headed up north to Custom Cycle to see Bob Gage and get the parts I needed then headed back down to Auburn to R and R American Cycle to put it all back together. My dad met me down there and we started the rebuilding process with R and R. At 8:00 pm we fired it off and oh did it sound good to hear the motor again after a year. From there we headed back up to the house in Seattle and finished putting it all back to together. At 11:30 pm dad and I decided we needed some sleep as 5:00 am was going to come fast.
We arrived at the track to see SNOW covering the ground and the trees. I felt like we were in some other country. We missed most of the practice in the morning as we had some clutch issues but once we got that fixed I went out and got a few laps in to get the motor heat cycled and ready for the afternoon races. I only managed about 6 laps total as it was so cold I could barely feel my fingers to work the controls. The bikes I would be going against in this class have gotten much better since 2006. All the new Ducati 1098's (160+ horsepower) are in this class now so I believe I was the only non Ducati. I had a huge moment on the first lap as I hit some water on the inside of turn 5 that I didn't see until the last minute and almost highsided my weekend away on the first lap. I calmed down and made sure I missed it every lap after that. I finished 7th out of 8 riders. It was good not to be involved in any battles so I could get comfortable again on the bike and the track.
I didn't go into this race with any expectations of finishing on the podium as there are alot of fast riders in this class and I still wasn't 100% comfortable with my race pace yet. The grid was pretty full with 13 bikes. I started from the inside of row 3. I got a good start and was 7th or so going into the first corner. I got by a guy on the inside of turn 3 on the brakes to move up a spot. Next lap around I went by another bike on the brakes going into turn 2 and could feel the race pace I was looking for starting to come back after a year of not being on the bike. Coming around again I drafted by one bike and it shot me right pass another to move up to 3rd. I could see my buddy Joshua Ellingson in 2nd and felt like I was closing down on him when coming out of turn 4 the noise I dreaded all weekend happened. SNAP! I pulled in the clutch immediately and shut the bike down and coasted to a stop in turn 5. It sounded like someone took a hammer and tapped it on a metal tab le. I watched the rest of the race with the corner workers.
A friend of the team's, Mario had loaned me his Buell XB12 Lightning that he converted into a race bike for the weekend as a back up bike. As soon as I got back in the pit we started taking all the body work off my bike and fitting it as best we could to Mario's bike. We got everything on there and out I went. The two bikes aren't drastically different but enough to take me some time to get used to. There is another Buell that has been added to the race season. Pete Ross #32 turned his street Buell into a full on race bike with a race motor and everything. So that was exciting to have another Buell on the grid this year and just listening to us chase each other around the track had to sound pretty cool. I got a good start and led for a couple of laps. I had a feeling Pete was just following me around and checking to see where I was strong and weak at. Just as I was thinking that I looked behind me to see where he was and sure enough here he comes. He pretty much motored me on the straight but I was able to keep him close in the corners but when we came back around for another lap I couldn't keep him close on the straight and he started to pull away. Then coming into turn 3 I down shifted 2 gears and let the clutch but had nothing. I rolled onto the run off area and the bike was still running but I couldn't get the clutch to engage. So needless to say I sat there again on the side of the track and took in the race.
I would like to say thanks to my dad, Jake, Jeff and Bob @ R and R American Cycle for dedicating so much time this last week to try and get me on the track. Travis for getting the numbers all done properly, mom and Lindsay for all the help in the pits as well as Jake and Nate for pitching in too. Downtown Harley Davidson Buell for the support and backing me this year (I will get us a win here real soon). Mike and Scott @ Fulmer helmets for the cool lids and there continued support for 2008. This is racing though and not every weekend can work out well. It was sad to see all the time we put in go to waste but the positive thing out of all this is I had alot of fun and it was good to be back in the paddock with everyone. I feel confident next round May 4th we will be on the box and have a working race bike!
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Hey Everyone,
Its been a long year away from the race track. Its really hard to explain how hard its been for me to be away. However the year away has been nice to get things sorted and come back refreshed and ready to battle. I have to thank everyone who has put up with me during this year off. ; )
Now to the new season! We start racing at the end of this month at Pacific Raceways on March 29th & 30th. The sad news for this year is we won't be racing at Spokane Raceway for 2008. We are all hoping for a possible return in the near future. This year we will have 6 rounds of racing all at Pacific Raceways here in the Seattle area. Other changes for this year is I will only be racing one bike. I will be racing in the same classes though, Formula Thunder, Middle Weight GP Twins and Open GP Twins. The second bike I am working on building into an endurance bike for the Northwest Endurance Cup that consists of Pacific Raceways and Portland International Raceway. There will be some additional information later on.
I also want to thank my sponsors for standing behind me and believing in me during the year off. Especial big thanks goes out to Downtown Harley-Davidson / Buell. Downtown HD / Buell will be the main sponsor this year and I look forward to finally getting on the track to prove the year wait has been worth it. Fulmer Helmets will also be back as my helmet sponsor.
The website will be updated over the weekend with some new content and race schedule.
Stay tuned....
~~Pushrod Racing/DHD Racing Team
~~Brad Haley
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Hello Everyone,
It is sad news that we will not be racing this weekend in Seattle at Pacific Raceways. I would like to say thank you to Thomas Haas for the support and offer of his bike. Due to a couple of reasons we have decided to miss this race weekend in order to get the bike sorted out and get the motor finished. We are looking at this year now as more of a test year but still planning on coming out there and winning races. With Downtown Harley-Davidson & Buell on board this year we are looking to build a good relationship with them so we can come back even stronger next year and fight for the title. I would like to say thank you to all my sponsors and friends who have helped Pushrod Racing this year.
Stay tuned...
Pushrod Racing Team
~~Brad Haley - #428
~~Rob Haley - Crew Chief
~~Brett Newkirk - MechanicMan
~~Jeff Weiand - Manager
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Pushrod Racing Team Official Press Release:
The premier Buell Race Team in the Pacific Northwest has added the #1 Buell dealers on the West Coast to the team.
Downtown Harley-Davidson/Buell will join Pushrod Racing Team for the remainder of the 2007 race season.
“As the #1 Buell Dealer on the West Coast and the #1 Buell Race Team in the Northwest it makes sense for us to join forces”, stated Brad Haley team rider. “I am really excited to have them on board”.
Pushrod Racing Team’s 2007 Sponsors:
Downtown Harley-Davidson/ Buell, R and R American Cycle, Paint by Gene, Phoenix Group, DP Brakes, Motul Oil, Fulmer Helmets, Pirelli Tires, Gaerne Boots, Monster Energy, Fuel Clothing, Cycle Works, and Buell Racing.
To find out more about Pushrod Racing Team and/or become a Sponsor for the 2007
Downtown Harley-Davidson/Buell:
Since 1958 Downtown Harley-Davidson has been putting smiles on the faces of motorcycle enthusiasts around the Puget Sound. We are Seattle's original Harley-Davidson Dealer, and continue to put smiles on the faces of Seattle area H-D & Buell enthusiasts.
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Website will be updated shortly with journal as well.
The run up to this first race weekend was looking good. The whole team was a tremendous help in regards to getting the bike up and ready to go. Brett helped with getting the motor back in and all hooked up, Lindsay did most of the painting on the bike, and Travis got all the logos for the bike all set up and put on. The website was completely remodeled by the man himself, AJ. So everything was falling into place for the first weekend of the 2007 season.
Practice in the morning on Saturday was wet but it wasn't to bad. The afternoon practice was dry so we put on some slicks and went out. I came out right behind Alan Schwinn #2 and basically followed him around for 5 or so laps. We were running a pretty good practice pace and it was nice to see that I had to role off the throttle on the straight away so I didn't pass him and could stay behind him. The back up bike was feeling really good and I was ready for Middle GP Twins race.
Saturday Middle Weight GP Twins:
I was starting from row 2 in the middle of the pack. As some of you know from the last half of the season last year, I was having a horrible time with my race starts. Well, this start I would consider better than any of my starts last year. I moved right up to 4th place coming into turn 2 and going into turn 3 I moved into 3rd on the brakes. Coming up the hill in turn 7 the right clip on (handle bar) moved. I couldn't believe it, how could this be happening. We put red locktight on them and torqued them down. This happened to me last year in the first race weekend too and didn't happen again the rest of the year. I thought for a split second that maybe I could make it work and then it moved again. I immediately got off the race lane and headed to the pits. Luckily there were a couple team members in the pits and they were able to get the bar re-tightened again. Big thanks goes out to Corson Piper for his help and being so fast in getting to me when he saw me come into the pits . I came back out on the track about a second in front of the leaders, still on the lead lap. I saw them coming down the hill in turn 3 as I was heading out of turn 4. My goal now was to not get lapped by the lead group and catch up to the back half of the field and get some points. The best I could do was 12th out of 17 riders. I was running the same lap times as the leaders so I kept the gap to a couple of seconds. Pretty dissapointing start to the first race weekend. We put together a set up now on the bike and got all new screws for the clip ons to insure that they never come loose again!
Formula Thunder:
Practice Sunday morning was good but it was so cold out. I had a tough time getting my boots on with my layers of clothes I had on but we made it work. I went out and did 3 laps and came in because I couldn't feel my fingers. We made some alterations to my gloves and were able to get some hand warmers on there too. Thanks to mom and Lindsay for helping with that. My first race was Formula Thunder and then Open GP Twins an hour later. I was starting again on the 2nd row in the middle of the pack. I think I can say that my start for this race was even better than in Middle Weight GP Twins. The whole grid is pretty much Ducati 748 & 749's with a few Suziki SV 650 Superbikes. I moved into 4th again coming into turn 1. Going down the hill for turn 3 there was a bit of an accident. It appeared the rider in front of the rest of the pack got into the corner a bit to hot and ran into the back of Alan Schwinn #2. I was passing Darren Murray #4 on the brakes as I saw the action in fr ont of me unfold and it was James Wadkins #110 that got into turn 3 to hot and went down almost taking Alan with him. As I tipped the bike in to turn 3 I was now in second place with Rick Rinaldo #123 moving into 1st place. The pace was real fast and it took me a minute to adjust to it. A lap later Shawn Becker #21 passed me on the brakes coming in to turn 3 on the outside. I set up for a better drive coming out of turn 4 and motored right up behind him coming into turn 5 but decided to back off a bit and try to pass him on the brakes in turn 9 instead of stuffing him in turn 5. I wasn't able to get him there but I drafted by him on the front straight to take over 2nd again. Our little battle we had lasted another lap before I was able to up my pace and gap him. At that point Rick #123 was gone and I knew I couldn't run his pace on my back up bike. I believe it was lap 6 or so when Alan #2 came back by on his Ducati 749. My lap times were consistant in the low 1:35's so I knew he was probably running 1:32-1:33's. On lap 8 I came into the bus stop (turn 10) down shifted and was getting ready to tip it in when I heard a bang and the bike got a bit sideways. I threw it in the corner and got back on the gas only to have it almost die on me. Oh no something broke. I coasted to the white flag doing about 40 mph and thought if I could just coast around the rest of the way to get some points. Unfortunetly, the momentum of the bike was running out and the motor was sounding worse. I made it down to turn 3 before I pulled off the track and called it quits. I had a good 5 second lead on #21 and had a solid 3rd place. These things happen though and I got alot of work and races out of that motor. My fastest lap of the race was the lap prior to the motor breaking. DNF
This is not the start to the season the team invisioned but atleast the bike didn't spit me off when it broke. Thanks to the people who came out in support and I hope you can make it out again for a better result. Also thanks to the Washington riders from Badweatherbikers.com who came out on their Buell's. The team did a great job this weekend and I know it will get better once we have the #1 bike on the track.
Pushrod Racing Team
Brad Haley
Brett Newkirk
Rob Haley
Cherlyn Haley
Jeff Wieand
Travis Re
Lindsay Chesebro
AJ Kurtz
2007 Sponsors:
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Pushrod Racing Team Official Press Release:
The premier Buell Race Team in the Pacific Northwest has added two very important sponsors to the team for 2007 race season in WMRRA.
R & R American Cycle - is the Northwest’s #1 dyno tuning facility for Harley Davidson, Buell and V Twin motorcycles in the Northwest. Jeff Weiand, Pushrod Racing’s team manager introduced us last year halfway through the season and the work they do there is un-real. Bob and the crew are very smart and really interested in learning about Buell’s and getting the bike to go faster.
The other major new contributor to the team is - Paint by Gene – skilled at everything from custom fabrication to factory matches, and fantastic custom paint jobs. “Paint by Gene is a close partner with R & R American Cycle and does amazing work. I look forward to seeing what kind of design he comes up with for the bike”.
The team will also continue its close relationship with Phoenix Group, an employment background check and screening services for the 2007 season.
The team’s rider Brad Haley will be back in the saddle for this year after finishing 9th overall in WMRRA last year and taking 2nd place in Formula Thunder for the 2nd year in a row.
Here is what Brad had to say about the additional sponsors and the 2007 race season:
“It is great to be working with Bob at R & R American Cycle. It has been tough over the last couple of years racing the only Buell in the Northwest. If you ride the standard bikes there are shops where you know to go in order to get your bike built, but few who know their way around a pure racing bike. R and R American Cycle is one of those! I am very excited to find the shop that knows V-Twins this well. Gene, of Paint by Gene, has a fabulous eye for line and color and I believe the eye-catching cosmetic treatment he has in mind for the race bike will be flat-out brilliant.
Pushrod Racing Team’s 2007 Sponsors:
R & R American Cycle, Paint by Gene, Phenix Group, DP Brakes, Motul Oil, Fulmer Helmets, Pirelli Tires, Gaerne Boots, Monster Energy, Fuel Clothing, Cycle Works, and Buell Racing.
To find out more about Pushrod Racing Team and/or become a Sponsor for the 2007
Visit: www.pushrodracing.com or email brad0343@comcast.net
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9th Place Overall in WMRRA
Formula Thunder:
2nd Place |
Bradlee Haley |
256 |
Middle Weight GP Twins
4th Place (tied) |
Bradlee Haley |
194 |
Open GP Twins
7th place |
Bradlee Haley |
132 |
750 SBK
15th Place |
Bradlee Haley |
32 |
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Sunday Formula Thunder:
Starting from my normal spot on the grid (2nd) I got a good start in my book and was 4th going into turn 1. Darren Murray #4 got away at the start again and checked out. I moved up to 3rd on lap 3 and was behind Rick Rinaldo #123 for a few laps then coming into turn 6 he ran a bit wide and I took the opportunity to take over 2nd. His bike has alot more power and is faster on the straight away but I can pull out a bit of advantage on him in the corners. So I just tried to keep that advantage and was able to take 2nd place.
2nd Place
Middle Weight GP Twins:
I was starting this race from the 2nd row and got away to another decent start but alot of bikes still went by me before we got to turn 1. I think I was in 10th and was behind Dave Nichols #148 (Honda RC51). Coming into turn 4 he was holding me up on the brakes so I moved over to the outside to try square off the corner and set him up for a pass at the hairpin (turn 6). Just as I was getting ready to tip the bike in he moved over to the outside and I had no where to go. Luckily the track exit is right there so I rode right off into the pits. I was kinda mad at myself at that point for even being in that spot but what can you do. Just as I came back to the start/finish the guys were going by. I came back out and was about 2 seconds back on the pack I was in. I put my head down and caught back up to them on lap 7. Coming out of turn 6 Dave #148 got on the gas a bit early and it bucked him out of the seat a bit. I immediately dove down the inside of him coming into turn 7 to take over 9th place. That put me behind another Honda RC51 of Darren Carpenter #771 who I was able to get by going into turn 4 on the brakes. Tim Keene #420 and James "The Kid" Wadkins #110 were having a real battle in front of me, bumping elbows and all going into turn 9. White flag out and Tim motors past James on the straight away. We both caught up to Tim in turn 3 and James dove down the inside of him in turn 4. I followed suit and got Tim there as well. This was going to be tough getting around James and I tried to square off turn 11 to beat him to the line but I wasn`t close enough and finished 6th.
6th Place
Middle Weight GP Twins:
I believe this has been the closest racing out of any of the classes out there this year. There is always a train of 5 or 6 guys battling for the win. Last year the Buell I would say dominated on the straight away with my gearing. This year however it has been a different story. I got another good start but the Suzuki SV650`s are good coming off the line and I was in 5th going into turn 1. I followed the pack around and drafted by 2 guys on the straight to move into 3rd. My weak spot was coming into turn 6 on the brakes and Alan Schwin #2 passed me there several times. Finally I made the move on the straight and was able to draft by Alan #2, Josh #169, and Jake #115 to take over 1st. I tried making a break for it and get away from the drafting war on the straight away but Josh was able to stay with me. Alan caught back up to us and passed Josh on the straight away and got me in turn 6. I passed him back again on the straight away and Josh followed me again coming around f or the white flag. I held a defensive line on the inside of turns 4, 6 and 7 to make sure nobody passed me. It worked to perfection until coming into the fast turn 8 I missed a shift and that allowed Josh to get right next to me on the outside of turn 9. It was decision time on my part, do I hold my line and run him in the dirt or force him to grab a handful of brakes or do I tighten my line up and see what happens? I tightened my line up and Josh went around the outside of me and took the lead coming through turn 10. I knew it was over and I had to settle for 2nd place. It was a fun race and I was a bit dissapointed but I made a mistake at the wrong time and thats racing.
Thanks to everyone that came out to help in the pits and watch. All in all it was a good weekend.
~~~Pushrod Racing Team
Brad Haley
Rob Haley
Brett Newkirk
Jeff Wieand
2006 Sponsors:
R & R American Cycle, CycleWorks, Fulmer Helmets, DP Brakes, Phenix Group, Monster Energy, Fastbuells.com, Motul, Gaerne boots, WitchEye, Vortex, HD of Seattle, Pirelli Tires, and Fuel Clothing
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Its been a hectic couple of weeks leading up to this weekend. The wonderful guys at R & R American Cycle have been staying late after work so we could get the superbike tuned right on the dyno. What is the saying, third time is the charm? On our third trip down to the shop in Auburn we were finally able to get things to work a bit better in regards to the program. The biggest problem this year with both bikes have been the power coming off the slower corners. I can`t stay with the other bikes as they have more immediate power down low. Now it will only get better as far as the power delivery as we are able to tune it right. I can`t say enough good things about the people at R & R and there willingness to help me get the bike dialed in.
Saturday Formula Thunder (Superbike):
In practice I could feel that the bike was a bit slower in regards to horsepower but knew I had to find a way to pick it up elsewhere on the track. I would have to pick up the time in the corners. Light goes out and I get a horrible start. The front tire was reaching for the sky. I let off the gas, brought the front back down to earth and got back on the gas only for it to shoot back up to the sky. As soon as I got the front tire back on the ground everyone went by. I started 2nd on the grid and was in 8th going into turn 1. I got by a couple guys immediately in turns 2 and 3. That moved me up to 6th. Right before the race I was feeling a bit more nervous than usual and couldn`t figure out why. Well on lap 3 I found out what my issue was. Lets just say I changed what I normally eat at lunch and the stuff just wasn`t settling to well with my stomach. Thankfully I didn`t throw up all over the inside of my helmet and was able to keep it in my mouth. Not a very good feeling b ut I must say I felt better afterwards. From then on I was on a mission to get to the front. I made slow progress but it was progress none the less. Lap 7 I passed Rick Rinaldo #123 then moved in behind another Ducati 748, #110 known as "the kid". I tried late braking "the kid" into turn 3 but ran wide and he got back by. So I tried again on lap 8 and was able to make the pass stick and hold him off at the line. That was for sure not my most enjoyable race.
2nd Place
Sunday Open GP Twins (Superbike):
I got a better start from the 2nd row, than I did on Saturday only because the front wheel stayed on the ground. I still went backwards though and found myself back in 11th or 12th position going into turn 2. I made a couple passes on the first lap and moved up to 9th. It was hard because the bikes I race against have so much more power going down the straight than I do. I just stayed focused and tried making as much time in the corners as I could. Lap after lap I started reeling them in and on lap 7 I was right behind Rick #123 and made my move on the brakes in turn 3. Then coming into turn 4 #102 on his Honda RC 51 ran a bit wide and the few inches that were open was all I needed. I moved up to 6th and had "the kid" #110 in my sites again. On the lap prior I was close enough to plan my attack on him for the last lap. Coming out of turn 4 I was close enough to make my move into turn 5. As he got off the gas and moved to the left to set up for turn 6, I stayed o n the gas and dove to the inside and took over 5th spot. Now I knew unless I could put a little bit of a gap on him then I would be ok for the run to the checkered flag. However he had a better drive and got me right at the line.
6th Place
Sunday Middle Weight GP Twins (Supersport)
I lined up on the grid in 5th spot and got probably my best start of the weekend. I didn`t go backwards and actually gained a spot up to 4th. This was a very frustrating race as I stayed in the same position for almost the whole race. The pack in front of me was still all together and nobody broke away I just couldn`t for the life of me get a good drive coming out of turn 10 for the run on to the straight away. On lap 7 we started to run into lap traffic and I got held up a bit but was able to pull some time back on Ian Dreycott #140 in 3rd the following lap. I was close enough for the first time to make a move on Ian. I moved out of his draft and slid to the inside coming into turn 2. We braked so late that the force of me trying to get the thing stopped in time caused my foot to fly off the foot peg. At that time I thought for sure I was going to be eating dirt at 100mph, but I was able to get it settled down enough to keep my line. The leaders were right there in front of me and I didn`t have anything for them when it came to the checkered flag.
3rd Place
Thanks to everyone that came out to help in the pits and watch. All in all it was a good weekend. Next race is at Spokane Raceway Park Sept 1st.
Pushrod Racing Team
Brad Haley
Rob Haley
Brett Newkirk
Jeff Wieand
2006 Sponsors:
R & R American Cycle, CycleWorks, Fulmer Helmets, DP Brakes, Phenix Group, Monster Energy, Fastbuells.com, Motul, Axo, Gaerne boots, WitchEye, Vortex, HD of Seattle, Pirelli Tires, and Fuel Clothing.
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