Drive. Determination. Dedication. Attributes we all cherish. I don't know if you watch SpeedChannel, but its pretty much all the TV I watch. Every week I watch F1 cars, MotoGP bike, World Superbikes, every American motorcycle race aired, and all the support classes. The winners at that level all share a number of common traits; they work hard, they train hard, they love what they do, and they rely on a certain amount of luck to win, or at least survive, weekend after weekend.
This summer I had the honor of turning wrenches for Team Charm, 2007. Riders
Steve Harris, Steve Clark, and Bernie Conatser attacked the WERA Endurance series
with all the DDD (drive, determination and dedication) of world class rider
who are paid handsomely. Our humble riders are neither handsome nor paid.
By now you've probably figured out that Team Charm did not win the National
Championship that we chased three times in the last two decades, (1991, 2002
and 2007). Following is the saga of our final race this year.
The original date for the Jennings, FL, six hour race was postponed when mid-spring
forest fires forced cancellation of the original date, and for our team this
meant that school teacher Steve Harris could not participate in the September
reschedule. Initially the Team decided to "interview" substitute riders,
with try-outs occurring at the prior race at Nelson. The applicants proved unacceptable,
and we headed for a six hour race with only two riders.
Six hours with two riders is possible, as demonstrated by myself and Mr Harris
at Roebling in 1992, but I can personally attest that it was one of the most
physically demanding things I've ever done (topped only by running 26.2 miles
in four hours). Nonetheless, Clark and Bernie were up for the challenge and
to Florida we drove.
Friday was perfect, and Steve (Clark), who has raced Jennings several times,
lead newcomer Bernie around the track in late morning practice. Unfortunately
Bernie had a minor lowside halfway through practice. Despite a quick repair
of the obvious damage (clutch lever, footpegs), there was a slight bend to the
shift shaft, which I am not able to repair at the track.
(Editor's note: ? The shaft can be repaired trackside, but requires expertise
beyond Rich's level)
Soooooo, we sat down for lunch and discussed our options. Clark and Bernie both
voted that I should take the big engine (Thor) out of the non-functioning third
bike and install it in the primary bike. So I did. It took three hours, it was
90 degrees, and I have to thank Clark and Bernie for doing at least half the
work.
Things were looking up, we had a great A bike, and yellow (now the B bike) continued
to run smoothly. Saturday practice came and went, and we hedged our bets by
trying a new rider, Regan. Nice guy, even if he is Coast Guard instead of Navy.
We started the 6 hour race with Clark on the big-engine A bike. Unfortunately,
at the end of the first lap a lead rider crashed BIG and had to take the medivac
helo ride to the nearest hospital. This meant a one hour delay to the race,
and completely changed our pit strategy. We restarted Clark and let him run
for a planned hour-twenty-five.
Steve was doing fine, but the lead riders were running a bit finer. Ghetto Racing
and Bad Radracing were showing their local knowledge, not to mention their youth,
and were running half a lap ahead at the hour mark. After our poor finish at
Summit (electrical problems) we were watching the championship slip away, and
there was little we could do. At exactly the 2 hour 50 minute mark, I thought
sure we blew an engine.
Going down the back straight (visible from my position in the pits), there was
a plume of smoke from the Team Charm bike. I ran to prep a backup bike, assuming
that the smoke was a blown engine, but Clark drove in, frantic for a new rear
tire.
Inspection indicated that "something" was pinched between the tire
and swingarm, and I installed a new rear tire as quickly as I could. We put
Bernie on the bike and crossed our fingers. (hours later we found out that the
"something" was our regulator-rectifier, which eventually fell completely
off. Whether or not the battery alone would have carried us for the remaining
four hours will never be known. Here is post race pic 
of
Clark with the tire)
After 45 minutes, Bernie was having traction issues. The rear tire, installed
in a rush, was not a new tire, and already had two hours of practice time. Bernie
had several big slides, and made a couple of obvious hand signals indicating
he wanted a new rear tire. Now about halfway thru the six hour, we pitted for
gas, another new rear tire, and put Reagan on the bike.
The good news is that Regan is smart enough to notice the tell-tale signs of
an engine about to explode. After one lap he retuned to the pits complaining
of strange noises, and I pulled the bike from competition. The catch-22 of a
strong engine is the short lifespan, and this engine was done. I offered to
prep the backup bike if the boys wanted to "ride for fun", but knowing
that a championship was now out of reach, the team voted to relax with a cold
beverage.
As disappointed as we were to be third in the national championship battle,
BadRad seemed much more depressed over being second. Congratulations to Ghetto
Racing for their consistent performance.
I have to say its been a pleasure helping Steve, Steve, and Bernie this year.
Despite their advanced age (remember, the competition is always 18-21), they
did the rest of us geriatrics proud all year.
Third in the nation is not bad; congratulations to the boys. Understandably,
no one wants to travel the country next year, and we plan to enjoy a little
friendly racing at the local tracks. And for 2008, I'm planning to rejoin the
fray.
Respectfully,
Rich Sturges
1986 Founding Team Charm member, current old fart
Editors note: Be sure to join the Victory Celebration at Team Charm World Headquarters and forest cycle trails in Friendship, MD on Saturday 11/10/07 for mini-motard riding and general arsing around.