Memo to: Distribution
From: Rich Sturges
Re: Daytona Bike Week
Memo to: Distribution
From: Rich Sturges
Re: Daytona Bike Week
Dear Valued Supporter,
Dear Devoted Fans,
As you are reading this, Team Charm members Rich Sturges and Steve Harris are blasting around the famous Bridgehampton race track in Long Island. It's this type of dedication to training that puts our Team up over the top. We can only assume that all 2drunkCrew members are spending the weekend in their own special training sessions.
Team Charm is of course the favorite for the three hour endurance race at Loudon June 15th. Favorite what we don't know. We will be arriving Thursday night and practicing all day Friday. Others may straggle in as late as Saturday morning. Our number for this race is 54, and our yellow plates distinguish us from the simultaneous GTO race (white plates). Following is the published schedule.
Advance purchases include the pit pass. For nonlicensed atthegate passes add $10 per day to get into the pits. Kids under six are free. Call the track at (603)7834744 to make advanced purchases. These fees are so outrageous that I can only encourage innovation.
Camping is included in these bargain prices but there is no running water, only portajohns. The showers are in the pits only. I suggest we all camp either at a private campground or in the same spot used last year. This is up on the hill outside of turns 1214. When you come into the facility drive all the way around the track. We will be camped there and will section off a large area for everyone.
We are of course looking forward to the natural high achieved when carving a fast lap in National competition. The completion of our racing duties at 3:30 Saturday (hopefully no sooner) will leave us plenty of time to frolic with you our loyal fans. You should notice a distinctly more profession racing contingent than the crashfest we witnessed in last year's club level event. Also, be prepared for a much bigger spectator crowd. See you there!!
Dear DieHard Fans;
The racing season is well under way now, and it's time that we drag a few more of you out of the closet and into the pits. The May 11/12 weekend at Summit was both fun and successful. The weekend at Bridgehampton May 25/26 was fun. As soon at we get the FZR back together, we are headed for the Nationals in Loudon, New Hampshire. Following are the next two races, which are sure to be great for racers and spectators alike.
The next local race is at Summit Point, near Charlestown, West Virginia. There is still hope for tolerable weather at this time of the year, so I would like to organize a party at the track. For starters, we will get a keg of beer. If you're still not convinced, read on.
Racing is of course the main attraction. Friday, June 21st, is an open practice day which I hope to attend with a quiver of bikes. Work may unfortunately interfere with this. We all know better but Steve is still hoping to get his TZR parts by then and thus be able to race it. Sunday I will race the EX500 in Sportsman and Lightweight Supertwins, and the FZR600 in Middleweight Production.
Saturday morning will see us back out at Summit bright and early, for practice 'til noon. There are the mini-endurance races that afternoon, which may see some activity from Steve, myself or other members-at-large. These 25 lap races offer excellent track time but are childs' play for Team Charm Endurance veterans.
Saturday evening I'll arrange for the keg and pass a hat to help pay for it. Each group should bring their own food, and some charcoal too. Don't forget that it cost $15 each to get in. Other essential items are sunscreen, bug spray (but it's really not too bad), a place to sleep and a good joke.
The showers at Summit are poor but usable. I should have the party-on-wheels-tm trailer for cooking, cleaning, and escaping the bugs. I have several tents available should anyone not have their own. If you are riding up and want to have your gear trucked, it is your responsibility to harass someone into it.
I'd like to have some idea of who's going, but don't feel like you can't decide at the last minute. Grab some friends and your favorite beer cozy and git on up to the Point!
Charlotte is once again open to bikes and the ceremonies should prove exciting. There will be a full weekend of National races, highlighted by a Team Charm entry in the 3 hour endurance. Other races include 250 GP, Pro Twins, 600 & 750 Supersport, Superbike, the Monster Bike Shootout, real drag races and a bunch of Harley shit.
Tom Broglio's sister has foolishly offered her hospitality, and there will be camping available at the track. We plan to be there from either Monday or Tuesday thru Friday or Saturday. Likely that we will stop by some eastcoast beach for the remainder of the weekend. Contact Team Charm headquarters for further information as it becomes available.
These national events are not cheap (maybe $60 for the whole event, around $15 per day), but they are the best racing on this continent and quite fun. The drive to Charlotte looks to be about 6 hours.
For info contact Rich Sturges @ (703) 536 4443
or Steve Harris @ (703) 532 4936
Dear Charming Fans;
After the abysmal results at the Loudon National (22nd place) it became apparent that a plan of attack would have to be implemented in order to finish in the top ten. Part of the plan would include new technology to shorten pit stops.
Our pit stops at Loudon were averaging 55 seconds for non throttle cable replacement stops, and twenty minutes for throttle cable stops 
. We decided to do two things to speed things up in the pit lane. After much research and testing it was decided that in fact we could go an entire three hour race on the same throttle cable, so long as we didn't break it. We also decided to buy a quick refill gas can so as to be able to expeditiously dump fuel in the gas tank, as well all over the ground, just like the big boys.
Stu, Lori and Sharon joined us at Charlotte to test our new pit plan. Steve and I each rode to the best of our ability yet within our fear limits, and the pit stops went well; all three were under 30 seconds! We came past the checkered in 6th place, and in what has now become standard weather it began raining immediately after the race ended. Within the hour I was basking in the glory of our finish while the rest of the crew was being hit by lightning.
August 2nd (3:30 am to be exact) found an expanded Team at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, near Lexington. We asked Kenny Abbott to join us as a guest rider. Our trailer was also expanded as Dave, Steve and I had built an enclosure a few days before. When the finishing touches are done we should have a gaudy, rolling spectacle worthy of the Team. Practice showed Steve and I a very technical track which surely would not be learned in one weekend. Kenny had been there once before so he only got a few laps to refresh his memory.
We had decided to try a different brand of tire to cut costs, but when Saturday morning brought rain we had to buy a second set also. The pseudo-slicks will not go to waste, as there are many sprint races next month. The rain had tapered to a drizzle by race time and we chose a street tire that would work OK on a wet or dry track, but not great in either. Others chose a rain tire and a few brave teams started the race in slicks. Those teams made the right choice as the rain subsided and a dry line quickly developed around the 2.5 mile track.
Kenny got a good jump at the green flag and defended his nickname, "Rainman" As the track dried his laps dropped to 1:48s, with a best of 1:47. We had agreed to run one hour each but communications rapidly deteriorated. The magic-marker had dried up and we could not write on the signal board; then the official 3 hour clock went dead. Kenny eventually deciphered our hand signals and pitted at the hour. Steve jumped on and we added a little air to the too-soft front tire.
Steve spent little time getting down to 1:52 lap times, with a best of 1:51. While he ticked off lap after lap I suited up and calmed the building anxiety. Steve then handed off to me with a very quick (but untimed) pit, and I headed out. After 6 laps I settled into some very consistent 1:50 laps, with a best of 1:49. The track earned my 'pick of the year' with its variety of turns, hills and straights. I lost track of time until I became exhausted; I checked the now-working clock and found 15 minutes left in the final hour. So I plodded on at a slightly reduced pace, crossing the line in tenth place; six laps down from first and 3 laps down from fifth. Not bad. Experience is surely the key to Mid-Ohio; it is a very difficult track. If we had averaged 3 seconds faster we would have been in the top five, a goal reachable with a little more practice. The facilities at Mid-Ohio are first rate, and returning is high on my list for next year.
Mid-Ohio was the last endurance race this year for Steve. Riders Ernie Thiel and Kenny Abbott have been invited to ride in his place.
On the sprint challenges, Steve has nearly completed his 9 month rebuild of the TZR250 and should have it running at Summit for the Sept 14/15 and October 12/13 weekends. We would like to have a track party during the September race, on Saturday night. Also, many of us are planning to go to Pocono, PA to watch the WERA races. I may run a race or two myself. This is August 2325, with the FUSA highlight running on Sunday.
I hope everyone is doing well this summer, and having as much fun as we are. Furthermore we trust that you are not allowing top dollar National teams to go zipping past you at 175+ mph, as we are.
Dear Charming Fans;
The primary purpose of this communiqué is to invite you to the September 1415th races out at Summit Point. But first, a recap of recent history.
Steve and I took fourth in class at our first WERA endurance event, a short two hour race at Summit Point August 17th. When the green flag dropped I came to realize why Steve has been slow off the line; the FZR is nearly impossible to launch properly. I circled the track 24 times before scaring the @#$% out of myself in a front wheel slide. When the bike bounced back up off the engine cases I tried to shake the fear and ride out my hour. Adrenalin being what it is, my body had other ideas. I signaled for an emergency pit and then handed off to Steve.
Steve looked like he was enjoying the day; cruising around the track in nice, consistent fast laps. If fact, he enjoyed it so much that it took repeated efforts to bring him in for a rider change. I went back out for a few quick, aggressive laps and soon it was Miller Time. We placed eighth overall. Sunday I ran two sprint races with some rather embarrassingly slow lap times.
The following weekend saw a very 2drunkCrew up at the Pocono Cycle Jam. I arrived for Friday practice around the nowbumpy 2.8 mile course. The FZR ran excellent as always, but it took three days of track time before I was willing to hold the throttle open around the slightly banked east end. Down at the far end of the straight I was achieving something like 150mph. My track times were not up to WERA Pro standards and I placed near the back of both races.
The highlights of the weekend for most of us were the Formula II race and the FUSA races. Team Marlboro Yamaha sent out two YSR 500 bikes, which stomped the FUSA competition (in the form of Chuck Grave's 1380cc Suzuki) by reaching 185mph at the finish line. The best race of the day was the battle for third in the Formula II event. Local hero Bill Himmelsbach prevailed over three others in a 20 lap dogfight.
WERA entry fees offered us a substantial savings over the AMA National events, a fact that will not be overlooked when plans for next year are made.
September 14th and 15th will host the last AMA/CCS sprint races of the year at Summit Point, West Virginia. This is usually a very pleasant time of the year, so we should organize a large weenie roasting contest. I will be trying to whip my SuperTwin EX500 into shape for a decent showing in Sunday's races, and with a little help from Lady Luck Steve many finally have his TZR back together. Bring your own sleeping facilities, food and beer. Showers are available at the track, and Stu will supply the BBQ grill.
The drive is about 1½ hours west of the beltway. Take Rt 7 past Leesburg, and over the Shennandoah River. Then Rt 340 north to the second left, Rt 611. Follow this all the way to Summit Point Rd, and take a left. The track is about one mile up on the left. Those fortunate enough to own a street bike may want to take Rt 9 out of Leesburg to Charlestown, then left on 340 and left on Summit Point Rd.
Practice will run Saturday, ending around 6:00. Sunday morning practice is from 8:00 'til 10:30, with races starting around 11:30. As in all sports, ride safe and always wear the proper protection.
ps The final 1991 event will be the AMA/CCS Race of Champions at Daytona. These are the sprint race finals, and will also include the last round of the Endurance Challenge. Guest riders Kenny Abbott and Ernie Thiel will fill in for Steve Harris in this October 1820th race.
Dear Friends & Fans;
Well, the 1991 season is now over, and the good news is that we are all unhurt and our bikes look just about the same as they did last March. The EX is a little lighter, the FZR is a bit more tattered, and the TZR is still sitting in the shed (and the attic, and the other shed...)
Since our last Team update we have been very busy. Saturday September 14th we had a keg party out at Summit, surrounded by a weekend of trying to get the EX to run properly. It's problems eluded even my most ponderous crew members. The following weekend was the last race at Summit Point, but Steve and I were busy rebuilding, destroying, then rebuilding the FZR motor. Finally it was all together, and the EX had been thoroughly inspected for problems. We were three days away from the National finals, but we still had the task of breaking in the new Yamaha motor.
For this I imported the talents of John Daniel. We went out to Summit Point Monday morning for a day of closely guided track time aimed at giving street riders a taste of racing. John faithfully adhered to my motor requirement and by the end of the day we had a motor ready for Daytona, an EX that seemed to be running properly, and a nearly incoherent potential racer babbling non-sensibly all the way home.
October 17th I left for Daytona. The EX ran perfectly Friday morning and was motoring past nearly everyone. After that it continued to degrade in top speed performance all weekend, until race time when it would barely run above 100mph. It would not take full throttle, but ran fine below ¾. I have come to the conclusion that I just can't tune the thing. It would be easy for me sell it, except that it runs so darn fast when it works. I was in third place coming out of the infield first lap, but was passed by nearly everyone by the start/finish. I ran laps times of 2:24, faster than many even though I was 2030mph down on the straight.
I started Sunday's 3 hour endurance and hated the fight for turn one. I settled into solid 2:15's, many 2:14's and a best of 2:13.3 At about 53 minutes I guess the tires got too hot and I lost the rear thru the dogleg. Knocked both my feet off the pegs and cracked the screen with my chest. I regained control and with determination finished my last three laps. I handed off to Kenny and told him to come in if the rear tire became unrideable.
Kenny was having noticeable trouble with slides and turned 2:152:16's. At about halfway they redflagged the race due to a huge Dave Sadowski getoff on the front straight. His rear tire exploded at the start/finish and he slide well past turn one (about 300400 yards). My crew changed the rear tire while a very sore Sadowski waved to the crowd. Kenny went out for 5 more laps, politely saving Ernie the last 45 minutes. Ern ran 2:15, 2:14's for over ½ hour, then started to drop the times slowing. He achieved a best of 2:12.4 on the last lap. We finished 11th in class.
Here's the clincher; our pace this weekend would have had us in the top three last March in the same race! Talk about some stiff competition. Team Charm ended 14th for the year, after attending only 4 of 11 races.
Steve and I, our guest riders, and 2drunkCrew are thankful that we have had a safe season. I think that all of us are happy with our personal improvements, although it's hard not to yearn for a few more trophies. Special thanks to all those who have helped us out all year; both at the track and from afar. Right now we are taking some time to plan out the next season, constantly trying to figure a way to get more track time for less money. We are talking of adding a second bike and set of riders, and also will likely race more WERA events and fewer AMA events. This will mean running 2, 6, and 8 hour races. In any case, we fully intend to have the most fun allowed by law.