Well I've just completed my 3rd race weekend in the last 5 weeks. I'm
beat (and broke), but I'm glad I finally have the bike running like a
"Mikes Bike" should. After some problems over my first two race
weekends, I replacesd the coils and the ignition (again) for this
race.  The coils needed to be replaced as they were old and cooked, and
developed an open circuit when hot. The ignition I replaced because the
bike had a fixed advance crank mount ignition and that made the bike
too difficult to start. I went back to a stock cam mounted advancer
unit with DYNS-S pick ups. I wasn't going to race this weekend if I
couldn't start the bike in my driveway by myself (no more rollers). I
was able to start it and had no problems starting it the entire
weekend.
  On Saturday morning, since I had to be home for a 4pm meeting with
our Deacon, I signed up for Solo GTU, as it was the first race of the
afternoon, and skipped Lightweight Supertwins as it was the last race
of the day. LWST would have been a good race, although I can't run with
the 750 Ducatis, (or for that matter the Hawks and 883's) there are
enough bikes I could run with to make it interesting. As it was I came
in last bike to finish the race in Solo GTU, being lapped by the leader
twice in his 25 laps. Not a great way to start the weekend, but its a
good $$'s/#laps value. During the race I could tell that my corner
speed was every bit as high as most of the "modern" bikes that were
passing me, which made me feel good.
  Oh, did I mention I race a V50 Moto Guzzi with 2.15" x 18" rims
(front and rear) and a monster 130 rear tire? On Saturday morning I had
signed up for Heavyweight Supertwins which was to run Sunday.  On
Sunday morning, I also signed up for Lightweight Grandprix and
Sportsman. I'm glad I did.  In HWST, I finished next to last of those
that finished the race on two wheels. My next race LWGP, I finished
5th, and since CCS gives trophies down to 5th place, I had just won my
first trophy on my new bike (not my best finish however as I took a 4th
with WERA a few weeks ago). My last race of the weekend was delayed by
two red flags in the previous race. That always makes me mad. Something
to feel good about was that I had been chasing a chatter problem with
this bike for a few weeks and had finally found a combo that chattered
manageably. I had incresased the rear damping on my Konis and that
helped, I had also increased my front preload and decreased my front
tire pressure. Now, if I get in a corner and it starts to chatter, I
can always cause it to stop by giving it more throttle, great to know,
but tougher to do when you already feel at the limit.
  At the start of the Sportsman race, I had a good hole shot and was
battling for 3rd place with a guy on a 500 inteceptor.  I had a better
drive out of 2 key corners, but if I led onto the front straight, he
would pass me by the end of the straight and turn one. I decied to stop
showing him my stuff and decided to follow him, noticebly rolling off
the throttle. I found that I could pass him out of turn 9 and out of
turn 10, the last turn before the front straight and the start finish
line.  I decided to wait until the last lap to make my move.  I was
concerned, because sometimes the flagman fails to show th white flag. I
was also concerned about back markers.  Since I had looked behind and
could see no one, I wasn't concerned about anyone moving up and
upsetting my plans.  Things went as I had hoped, I let him get a little
ahead going into 10 because I didn't want to have to shut the throttle
if I ran up on him too early. As I passed him I waved good bye with my
left hand, not something I often do, but I felt confident. As it was I
got the lead, by about a wheel and he managed to stay just that far
behind to the flag. Whew... Great way to end the weekend, now there is
only routine maintenance till my next race in 5 weeks.  On the
internet?  Reach me at "mtiberio@bbn.com".