So for the last 2 years I've been lucky enough to be invited to a 2 day track 'test and tune' day down in Florida by CCS/ASRA(formerly FUSA) hotshot Mike Himmelsbach, which is in late January. I leave in an hour for a serious 15 hour raod trip with pals Steve Bani and Joe Russo, both WERA and CCS regular fast guys. Drive all night and half a day- unload trailer at track and lock up, hit hotel on Georgia side-sleep, wake up early Sunday and ride from 9-5-hit hotel, then repeat Monday morning, 9-5-then pack and leave ASAP-drive all night and half the day-unload-say hi to family, sleep-wake up and back to work.
If that wasn't enough work-the fact that I decided to change my entire bike from a mildly built 600 to a full professional grade 750(an extra 30 horse we now know from the Dyno!), new Ohlins forks, Attack adjustable triple clamps, BPD shock linkage...could I have made it any harder to go to Florida and NOT be comfortable with an ALL NEW bike basically? As if that wasn't enough, there were a few bumps along the way from the motor being dropped in shipping, then not starting due to timing issues, then the bike was dropped(not by me) during loading, then the muffler replacement stress, re-bending the 'was perfect' subframe, then getting the bodywork back 2 days before loading(not knowing how the changes would look), to the then BENT front wave rotor(a $300 piece alone!) that HAD to be replaced within less than 48 hours after mounting new tires(did I mention the front $1,000 Marchesini wheel got caught in the tire machine jaws and was scratched?)-thanks for overnighting that Adam!
I write this as a relief-I'm leaving soon, heading out to pack up and head over to Steve's by midnight, freeze, put my stuff from my trailer to his huge car hauler(hey, we're taking 6 bikes total!)..............you just have to appreciate the money wasted, headaches(literally), bad attitudes. But that can do spirit, the aspirin, the RedBulls, the feeling of knowing you've overcome something greater than even you can control............that's why I do what I do- can't wait to get on the bike and feel it out-get comfortable, then start pushing......because in the end, I'm dead without that push.
Wish me luck.
