Floribama Riders

Ever thought about getting into racing? Well, if I can do it, so can you. I'm a complete noodlehead with mediocre mechanical abilities. I'm writing this Tuesday, June 10, with just a few days to go until my first WERA race at "Little Tally" aka Talladega Gran Prix Raceway.

Background

I have run 12 track weekends, many of which took place with the Floribama Riders. Also took the Ed Bargy school last year, but I have no race experience. I've got a 1999 SV650 with 82,000 miles, including ride up and down the East Coast a few times, plus one run to Mexico.

To-Do List (Hard Stuff)

• Finish installing the new shift star (old one was slipping into neutral after 80K+ miles)
• Drill and safety wire a bunch of stuff
• Install Pit Bull mount kit for SV in El Camino bed
• Install used race bodywork (remove headlight, install clip-ons, bleed brakes)
• Transponder - oh crap I haven't found a used one yet

To-Do List (Easier Stuff)

• Buy a recent helmet
• Buy or borrow back protector
• Steering stabilizer
• Yellow plates and numbers for bike - where can I get these?
• Ask friend for his EZ-up

Comments from the Peanut Gallery

After viewing this list, ratbikemike (lowercase, like e. e. cummings) wrote to the FBR list, "May I humbly suggest that a list of 'gotta do' and 'would be very good if i did' and 'geez I want to do.'" Yes, that's a good idea, but everything seems like "gotta do" at this point. I think most of it is even in the rule book.

Last Night's "Progress"

I wanted to wrap up the shift kit install because the entire right side of the motor was disassembled, and I couldn't put any oil in it until I finished. (Why did I start with this, given Mike's advice? I dunno--I guess I had already started, and I wasn't going to retreat.)

So I put on some music and carefully worked my way through these instructions.

05 SV650 Detent Star Kit > -04 SV650
Factory Pro Shift Kit install- LONG read w/ lotsa pics
 

As I removed a bolt on the left side of the assembly, I heard the "plink" of a small washer falling down an impossible-to-reach hole. None of the instructions mentioned this washer, so I willfully ignored the sound and plowed on.

Out of a sense of duty, I read the SV650 service manual and discovered, "Oh yes, there was a washer behind that bolt." And it was nowhere to be found.

Luckily I dropped a spring down the same hole, and it was still reachable, sorta. As I negotiated with the spring using my smallest screwdriver, it came into view with--tada!--a washer attached. But then I pushed both of them out of reach and realized I could make my life much easier with a magnetic tool, but it was 2 AM, and Home Depot was closed.

So I moved on and removed the headlight and turn signals. Then I discovered the race bodywork I bought used had holes for the frame sliders in a different place. I'll have to choose between using the bodywork or the frame sliders. Sigh. I'll probably go with the bodywork since I have to have something under the engine to catch fluid.

To the Rescue

On the way to work, I picked up an amazing tool that will save me from stupidity. (You watch, I promise.) It's the Telescoping Mini Light with Magnetic Pickup from General Tools & Instruments. It's your typical telescoping magnet wand, but it contains and LED light in the pickup. How cool is that? It cost 10 bucks at Home Depot. We'll see if that gets me back on track tonight.

Thursday, June 12 Update

I'm still on the first item of my checklist, due to the washer I dropped at the bottom of the engine. Now my strategies are:

1. Beg for help; and
2. Cry.

I skipped to strategy #2, and that felt really good. Then I posted to the Micapeak SV race list and SV-DL Riders, asking for advice.

At this point, I'm seriously doubting whether I'll be able to make this race, but at least I took tomorrow off from work, so I have a day to work on the problems.

Read more about the saga in Part 2.

 -John "Ice" T
'98 VFR800
'99 SV650
'70 El Camino