It’s not everyday I get to work on a Fox Shox in this good of shape. This one got a new hose and a rebuild.

Update:
I sent this photo to Shannon to confirm that I had the reservoir installed correctly. It was just another email like others keeping him informed of what was going on with his shock. Got this cool response:

“Hi Ed.
Yes that sounds correct. So it would be. Sub-frame, hose, then comp adjuster knob. So sounds good. And wanted to say thanks for such great communication. Very unusual to have such good business ethics. So thank you for the old school motorcycle code of business ethics ….hard to come by.

Shannon”

Time to get the Iceman Ninja ready for the next WERA race. You see the number one plates on the wall? You can’t get that many with a dirty bike. I had the carbs out to change the jetting so it was only two more bolts to remove the starter motor and vacuum up all the rubber tire balls that like to hide under there.

Note the stock shock with Penske reservoir. I took the fender off to get the tire balls that were under the battery box.

RV’s have the normal engine AC and a roof AC. The engine AC of my RV went out on the drive to Miller so I ran the generator and the roof AC but the cool air did not really get into the cab. For the return trip I covered the other vents and used a dryer vent hose to direct all the cool air on me. Racing teaches you how to use zip ties and duck tape well.

This is how you put 5 bikes and stuff in the trailer for the return trip:

I went too lean on the main jets prepping for this race so the Iceman Ninja was a little slow in Friday practice but I did not know yet that the problem was leanness. I took a 2nd and a 3rd but on track I was battling with a bunch of other 250 Ninjas, 300 Ninja’s, KTM 390’s and a R-3 from other waves so there was lots to do. Best lap of 2.31.660

Friday night I went leaner on the needles too. Turns out that was the wrong way but I keep it revved and pinned so it felt the same. There was one other older 150 plus pound rider I could compare to and he was walking away from me. So I stuck my finger in the end of his pipe and saw that he is jetted richer than I. Tyler Olmstead got to see the inside of a carburetor for the first time when I changed the needle clip and main jets after lunch.

This was the right way to go. Stayed with the pack on the start of race 11, kept it pinned and just ran around the outside of a bunch of people in the first few turns, made some good moves in the slow stuff. Got stuck in 2nd on track behind a 65 lbs kid on a 300. He ended up stuffing me into Release to start the last lap and because I had to close the throttle to avoid hitting him I was passed by 3 Ninjas on the way to Sunset. I got back by the guy who gave me the jetting clue when the kid in front of him had to stand it up to avoid the 300 kid in First Attitude. Win! Best lap of 2.29.600

In race 13 I did the same keep it pinned and just go around them stuff plus the crazy late inside braking V line in the tight U turns. Just went around the kid in First Attitude on the first lap and stood him up in Second Attitude. He still zipped by on the way to Sunset but I just rode around the outside and left. The others were stuck behind him for the whole race. Best lap of 2.29.301 And just to show off, here are my times for that race: 2.32.159 from row 13, 2.29.324, 2.29.301, 2.29.452, When I tell you that consistency matters, I mean it.

My front tire is a Dunlop DOT that went on the bike in Oct of 2013, it still looks new. This rear is a take off Pirelli DOT from Tony Serra, it looks great too.

Tommy Bednash reports that doing what I tell him to do with his tire pressure results in his first Miller podium.
Next pit neighbor Tony on his SV was killing his tire, I adjusted his clickers, he went 2 seconds faster and that same tire now looks new.

A kid on a SV thanked me for the pass I made on him in practice into the Attitudes, he said it showed him a better way. I started racing before he was born.

My pit mates, Eric Anderson, Tyler Olmstead, Christian Dwiggins, Scott Linton and Debra Barton all did well, had good battles and had fun. Eric liked Phase Two of his LE Suspension. Tyler continued his impressive performance. Scott adapted to his new LE Suspension, a new track and raced as an Expert for the first time. Chris was impressed by the improvement of his bikes rear grip and was blown away by how one rear tire did 2 days and still looks new. Wait till he gets LE in the forks too. Deb learned to start, launch and brake better and her tires are happier too.

Jen Barwick was the class of our pit.

We met some great dogs and their people too.

I think I was a positive addition to the WERA staff, they asked me back so at least I did not cause too much trouble. As always, Evelyne Clarke and Sean P Clarke kept the ship on course. Tommy Bednash is well placed as Race Director, his staff are helpfully and hard working.

Short shifting into 4th for Release, flicking it in from the far right, adjusting my speed with the front brake while my knee is down then rolling it to the stop well before my apex is such an enjoyable feeling that I’ll just have to do something like it at the next round. See you at ACS on August 30th.

If you race with WERA I don’t charge for set up or riding advice, just find me in the pits.