2013 Round 7 Report

2013 Round 7 Report
2013 is not over….
www.ScarrottRacing.com www.Facebook.com/Tim77
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Dear sponsors, fans, racers, family and friends,
The 2013 season is still not over although this report does mark the end of the AFM
racing season. I have a few significant projects that will last all the way through
November and I plan to keep everyone updated during the time most people take a
“break” for the “offseason”. There will be no break for me, I plan to work hard
throughout the winter to continue with riding, training, sponsor representation, events and
promotions and bring you the latest news!
My Round 7 Report includes the last race of the season, my final standings in the AFM,
recovery from my crazy spider bite, news from Pacific Track Time, a compliment from
AMA Superbike racer Eric Bostrom, my EBC VEE Rotor review was published on the
EBC Brakes website and I am now offering sponsorship management services. PTT
news includes our new racer training program and I have been announced as the PTT
Operations Manager. Here we go…..
Pacific Track Time
As most of you know, I have been involved with Pacific Track Time for about 6 years,
starting out by helping work the grid and working my way through the ranks. In the last
few years I have represented PTT at a variety of events including the International
Motorcycle Show, Cycle Gear Bike Nights, Shaun Summers’ Sport Bike Nights, spoken
at events, served as an instructor, a lead instructor, helped with major proposals and I
have just been named as the Operations Manager for Pacific Track Time. PTT has
approximately 2,000 riding customers per year and another 1,000 family, friends,
sponsors, sponsored racers and talent scouts who attend our events. Notable local,
national and international level racers attend our events including MotoGP racer Stefan
Bradl, MotoGP (Moto2) racer James Rispolli and AMA racers including Chris Fillmore,
Joey Pascarella, CJ Weaver, Sebastio Ferreira and a number of top AFM racers as well. I
am proud to be part of the PTT family and proud to have the opportunity to ride, work
with and liaison with our customers, sponsored racers and sponsors.
Pacific Track Time at Sonoma Raceway 2013
Pacific Track Time has strived to be the leading track day provider for a decade and was
the first trackday provider to offer trackside support services such as parts, tires and a
trackside photographer. 2013 featured an impressive lineup of support services and
sponsoring companies who supported by Pacific Track Time, our staff and customers.
The Pacific Track Time's team of staff members, sponsored racers and dedicated
customers have achieved 36 top 3 finishes in overall championship points for 2013 and a
total of 197 podium finishes in AFM and AMA during 2013. PTT just launched a major
project that I believe is going to be a tremendous success and provide riders and racers an
opportunity to continue to advance their riding and racing program through the end of
2013.
New Racer & Track Rider Training Program
Pacific Track Time is proud to announce our New Racer & Track Rider Training
Program with all of the details and book available here: PTT Training Program.
This training program has been a tremendous project and Ken and I couldn’t be more
excited about it. The American Federation of Motorcyclists graduated 50 New Racers at
our last 2 events and PTT recognizes the very steep learning curve for both track riders
and new racers. Pacific Track Time actually provided a tremendous amount of instructor
support for the AFM’s program and we want to continue to provide the best possible
instruction for our existing customers and these new racers. We developed a program
that will help dramatically increase safety in addition to ensuring a successful start or
significant advancement to your track riding or road racing program and the program will
be presented by our top instructors and guest speakers including AMA’s Eric Bostrom.
The program will consist of a total of 5 days on the track for $595 and includes:
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Printed PTT / AFM New Racer Training Program course material
Classroom training and on track coaching
On track riding demonstrations, commentary and commentary by Eric Bostrom
Motorcycle race prep and technical setup
Racetrack video footage review
“2 up” passenger rides as a training tool (available but not mandatory)
Riding feedback and feedback review
50% discount on all day suspension setup / confirmation of settings at each event
Mental and physical conditioning for riding
Sponsorship seminar including resume building and how to be sponsored
Discounts to be announced from our trackside vendors and Napa Auto Parts
I will be personally administering the program and with the excitement already generated
via email and social media, I garuntee this event is going to sell out. Send me an email if
you have more questions and sign up online to reserve your spot!
Motogirlz of California event
The Pacific Track Time / Motogirlz of California event, held at Mach 1 Motorsports in
Vallejo, Ca on September 14th was a tremendous success. We had approximately 40
people in attendance and a number of the Pacific Track Time staff was present for the
event. The event was designed to increase awareness for women participating in street
riding, track riding and racing. I invited Jennifer Laurtizen to speak at the event and
despite motorcycle racing injuries sustained just 1 week before the event, Jen was still
able to speak at the event. Mach 1 Motorsports offered discounts to everyone in
attendance with Tucker Rocky and Parts Unlimited assisting with free items for the day.
I would like to thank Motogirlz, Mach 1, Pacific Track Time, Tucker Rocky and Parts
Unlimited for making this such a fantastic event.
PTT / Cycle Specialties Event
Pacific Track Time is proud to announce that we will be hosting a seminar at Cycle
Specialities in Modesto, Ca on November 9th. Ken Casey and I will be present along
with additional Pacific Track Time staff, presenting riding techinques to help everyone
ride more safely and with greater skill. The seminar will conclude with a group ride so
everyone can practice their new techniques and be able to ask additional questions at the
conclusion of the event.
Check the www.PacificTrackTime.com for details to follow and feel free to email
[email protected] to be added to the email update list for this event.
EBC Brakes and VEE Rotor Review
I have been fortunate to be sponsored by EBC for the last 5 years and I absolutely believe
in EBC products. EBC Brakes are the industry standard, producing the largest range of
OEM replacement and performance upgrades for motor vehicles including cars, trucks
and motorcycles and now even mountain bikes. I was featured in the 2012 EBC Brakes
National catalog and I do my best to educate customers about the cheapest, fastest,
biggest performance upgrade available for your motorcycle – a set of EBC brake pads!
I mentioned in my last report that I’d conducted testing of the new EBC VEE Rotors and
wrote a review for EBC. I’ve had an opportunity to continue to use and test these rotors
with fantastic results. EBC published my review on their website available here: Tim
Scarrott’s EBC Vee-Rotors™ Review and the full PDF can be viewed on my website
here: Scarrott Racing Vee Rotor Review. I am proud to announce that I will continue to
represent EBC during the 2014 race season and I can’t thank them enough!
EBC VEE Rotors installed on my GSXR 1000 race bike
Crazy Spider Bite
I’ll spare you the pictures, you don’t want to see them. This whole ordeal definitely
impacted my racing program and it is significant enough to write about. I was bitten by a
spider on the arm & hip shortly after the last AFM round, then bitten again on the
forehead just prior to the last PTT trackday during mid-September. The last bite had a
severe reaction and became infected, causing a trip to the hospital for antibiotics. A few
days later the bite was much worse, my eyes were nearly swollen shut and the pain in my
head was enough that I couldn’t exercise or train and couldn’t do much of anything. I
went back to the hospital and was nearly admitted – I received more powerful antibiotics
that still didn’t have much effect for several days. My entire head was swollen and the
antibiotics finally began to work just a few days before the races. Between the toxins
from the bite, infection and anti-biotics I was very sick and unable to train for several
weeks; I arrived at Round 7 exhausted and seriously stressed about my health. I dug deep
and relied on the mental and physical toughness I learned fighting in Iraq and I am
fortunate that was enough to carry me through the race weekend.
Sponsorship Management Services
Scarrott Racing offers sponsorship management, resume building and application
services to racers of all levels. Over the years I have been fortunate to have been
sponsored by a number of inside and outside industry companies with my early
sponsorships beginning in the early 1990’s during my dirt biking and motocross racing
days. My first sponsorships were from Scott Goggles, Fox Racing, Malcom Smith
Racing and Bell Helmets, companies I still use and am supported by today. I have
assisted a number of motorcycle athletes including Pacific Track Time, AFM novice and
expert competitors, Supermoto racers, AMA Supersport and Daytona Sportbike athletes
receive support for their racing programs.
I believe that often times racers do not understand many of the intricacies of sponsorship,
from being sponsored to sponsor representation. Many years ago I heard the mantra
“sponsorship Sunday means sales Monday”, meaning that sponsor representation during
Sunday races must result in service and product sales for the sponsor. While many racers
would like to believe they are sponsored because they are talented or have championship
potential, being sponsored is a lot more than putting a decal on the side of your
motorcycle and telling a sponsor “thank you” at the end of the season.
If you need help or you aren’t sure where to get started, I offer sponsorship management,
resume building and application services at a very affordable, flat rate investment. I am
also able to fully manage a sponsorship program for your race season and help you build
a more effective sponsorship marketing program.
More information is available here:
http://www.scarrottracing.com/sponsorship-management-services/
Sponsorship Proposal Cover Sheet
Poster on display at sponsorship location
AFM Racing Round 7
As I previously mentioned, I entered the race weekend physically exhausted and pretty
stressed about my health. I wanted to maximize my practice time on Friday as I knew I
would be busy on Saturday with the AFM’s New Racer project. Zoom Zoom trackdays
hosted a Friday event and I spent a few fast sessions with them on Friday afternoon.
Saturday practice seemed very busy and I switched between my 2011 GSXR 1000 race
bike for my practice sessions and my 2008 GSXR 1000 backup bike for new racer
evaluations. The AFM program was a success and we graduated about 30 new racers on
Saturday – for a grand total of 50 new racers during our last 2 events.
During my 2nd session on Saturday, I was pushing my corner entry speed into Turn 2 and
I actually “tucked” the front tire, crashing for about 40 feet during my transition between
my front brake and throttle application. To my surprise, the loss of traction on the front
tire didn’t cause a hard fall and I wasn’t slapped to the ground which is fairly typical for a
front tire crash. Rather, the bike gently increased lean angle as it crashed until the bike
was essentially laying on me and the weight of the bike was supported by my knee slider
and on the magnesium elbow guard on my Arlen Ness racing suit. My initial thought as
the tire began to slide, was obviously that I was crashing – then as the bike rested on my
elbow and knee, I thought “no problem, I’ll wait for deceleration and I’ll save it. I looked
into the turn for about a half a second until I thought the bike would regain traction – I
forced the bike up and applied some gas, transferring the weight of the motorcycle onto
the rear tire. The bike regained traction and I accelerated out of Turn 2.
I feel pretty fortunate to have not crashed at 100mph in Turn 2 as I’ve already totaled a
few bikes in that area of the track. I would like to thank Pirelli tires for their outstanding
tires. I have full confidence in these tires and the CT Racing crew is awesome.
I “tucked” the front tire
(crashing) for about 40
feet in Turn 2, at
100mph.
The cheese
grater appearance on the
rubber is the result.
Many thanks to CT
Racing and Pirelli for
amazing front tires – they
definitely helped me save
the crash!
Shane Turpin is an AMA and World Superbike athlete who is currently riding, racing and
developing electric motorcycles for Brammo. I had an opportunity to ride several
sessions with Shane on Saturday, until Shane picked up the pace and ran laptimes into the
low 1:51’s on his Ducati. AMA legend Eric Bostrom also raced with Brammo at the
AFM event; Brammo was pitted next to me and I had an opportunity to talk to both
Shane and Eric throughout the race weekend, as a representative for the AFM and also as
a racer. Shane gave me some pointers on my riding and Eric Bostrom told me that my
corner transitions through Turn 5 and 6 were some of the best he’d seen all day. I was
definitely thrilled to ride with Shane and talk to Eric. they are true professionals.
On to the racing!
I woke up on Sunday feeling better than I had in 2 weeks although I certainly felt a bit
low on both energy and strength. My first race of the day was Open Production and I
started 3rd on the grid. Greg McCullough was in 2nd and Jason Laurtizen did not compete
in the race as he was still trying to get his new Kawasaki motorcycle ready for races later
that day. I had a fantastic start right behind Greg and we ran into Open Twins traffic
about half way through the race. The Open Twins traffic was a bit spread out at that
point and the race had stabilized, which is always a benefit to safety when encountering
slower traffic. I rode to a 2nd place finish in Open Production with laptimes in the low
1:54’s, expected for the relatively cold morning.
My 2nd race of the day was Formula Pacific and I used a fresh set of Pirelli slick racing
tires both front and rear along with my EBC VEE Rotors. The Formula Pacific grid was
definitely stacked – with Shane Turpin, and Jake along with AFM regulars Tucker
Lancaster, Rickey Corey, Jason Lauritzen, Martin Szwarc and a number of very talented
racers. I had an amazing start from 8th place and the race quickly stabilized with the
leaders pulling away. The Formula Pacific Race is an additional 2 laps and while that
typically doesn’t require a tremendous additional effort, it took all I had on Sunday. My
fastest laptime was 1:52.7, which was 104% of the fastest laptime of the day and I
finished 13th.
Racing with Greg McCullough in the Open Production race. Photo by OXYmoron.
My last race of the day was Grand Prix and I was excited for the last race of the year. I
was glad to be done with the day as I was exhausted – I was also looking forward to
riding some standup wheelies for the fans and turn workers at the end of the day! The
temperature cooled significantly in the afternoon and I took a gamble that my race tire
from Formula Pacific was up to the task of a 2 nd race. Usually this would be the case but
in retrospect, I should have put on a fresh tire. Nonetheless, my strategy was to go as fast
as I could at the beginning of the race and try to create distance on the track and hope my
tire would last until at least half way through the race. I had an amazing start and was in
first place going into turn 3 with Jason Lauritzen and Martin Szwarc close behind me.
They assumed positions #1 and #2 and I stayed close behind in 3rd position throughout
most of the race. My tire performance fell slightly and I was able to finish in 4th place in
the Open Grand Prix.
Racing with Jason Lauritzen and Martin Szwarc in Grand Prix.
AFM Final Standings
I am beyond thrilled with my overall results in the AFM this year, despite missing a
round for work. I raced a total of 6 rounds with 8 “podium” finishes – and a “podium”
during the Sonoma drag racing event earlier in the year. All of the hard work, motorcycle
preparation, physical fitness, motocross and Supermoto cross training along with a
winning team of sponsors and support services, and the support of Pacific Track Time,
my family, friends and fans all paid off.
Open Production – 3rd Place overall
Formula Pacific – 10th Place Overall
Grand Prix – 5th Place Overall
These results are yours as much as they are mine and I can’t thank all of you enough.
In closing
Round 7 was an absolute blast and I’m stoked to bring you all of
the news. As I mentioned at the beginning of my report, the 2013
season is not yet over! I will continue to keep everyone up to date
on the latest racing news, tech, tips and events ongoing throughout
the “off season”.
Many thanks to my amazing sponsors – their products and services
are the best and I hope you will bring them your business!
Pacific Track Time – www.pacifictracktime.com 925-418-4424
EDR Performance - http://www.edrperformance.com 503-672-7223
Napa Auto Parts - Fairfield, CA http://www.napaonline.com/ 707-425-6417
Driven USA http://www.drivenracing.com/
EBC Brakes http://www.ebcbrakes.com/
Arlen Ness - Dublin, Ca http://www.arlenness.com/ 925-479-6350
KFG Suspension http://www.kfgracing.com/ 253-397-4474
CT Racing / Perelli Tires http://www.ctracetires.com/
Optimal Racing http://optimalracing.com/ 877-308-9888
Bell Helmets . www.bellsports.com available via [email protected]
Lagunitas Beer, Petaluma CA http://www.lagunitas.com/
ZED AUDIO car amplifiers http://www.zedaudiocorp.com/
Amsoil - Robert Koeller www.amsoil.com 707-410-6954 or [email protected]
Sidi Boots & Forcefield Armor www.motonation.com/sidihome.asp
GP Frame & Wheel - Napa, CA http://www.gpframeandwheel.com/
Bazzaz Performance www.bazzaz.net
Western Sign Company, Fairfield, CA 707-422-6011
John's Welding, 1025 Benicia Road Vallejo, CA 94591, 707-552-0196
ASV Inventions at http://asvinventions.com/
World Wide Bearings
NGK Spark Plugs http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/
Von Zipper sunglasses www.vonzipper.com
Gold River Motorsports 2338 Gold River Rd # Y Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, 916-476-5968
GU Energy - Berkeley, Ca www.guenergy.com/ available via [email protected]
K&N Filters http://www.knfilters.com/
TDS Guns - Rocklin, CA http://tdsguns.com/
MOTO-D http://www.motodracing.com/