Racer Blog - #977 Brian Schilt

[Do Kim]

Meet Brian Schilt, Novice Racer #977. Brian will be writing a new episode after each race weekend so check back for the next installment!

My first race as a novice:

At the beginning of my first race weekend I was both optimistic and apprehensive. I loaded up my Aprilia Friday after work and drove to Portland. I got to my buddies house and tried to get a good nights sleep for the weekend ahead. I was going to need it.

Saturday morning saw me second in line at the gate very bleary eyed and excited. Registration and tech inspection were races in themselves in order to make the 9:00 a.m. novice check ride. We got our group assignments and headed out to the track. Our sessions went off without a hitch. By 11:00 a.m. we all had become licensed novice racers. I was happy with my practice times and was feeling good about the bike.



Several practice sessions later I found the limit of lean angle in three. I had used my supermotard as a lawn dart. I was following another novice into one and knew I could set up on him in four. As I chased him through three I noticed that I had leaned the bike too far. This was painfully apparent as I was sliding across the asphalt behind my bike. It was a very gentle and smooth slide across the racing surface as I saw my bike connect with the dirt and catapult violently into the air. I remember thinking “Nooooooooo!” as it flew about five feet in the air whilst conducting a barrel roll and came down on one bar end. That was the end of my Saturday practice and my first introduction to Blinky. Several hours of dirt removal and some new bars had me track ready again.

Sunday morning brought concerns of tire grip and re-enacting my turn three fiasco. I found a set of takeoffs and had them mounted in time for my first race. As I pulled out of the hot pits on my out lap for middleweight super sport I realized I hadn’t checked the tire pressure. Oh no, I was running at beading pressure! I took my place on the grid and decided to take it easy on the first few laps. I did and they felt okay. A little loose, but nothing severe. I finished my race ahead of someone else and felt all right about it.

My second race found me with proper tire pressure but way underpowered on the grid. The 450 super bike class had much faster bikes than I had anticipated. I did my best but my bike began to feel like it wasn’t pulling hard after nine laps. I thought maybe I shifted too soon or something, but it just didn’t have the power it had at the beginning of the race. I got to the checkers and as we rounded three I got a waving pointing hand from another novice, I looked back and saw smoke. They were just unfurling the debris flag in four when I pulled the clutch and the motor abruptly stopped, not good. I pulled to the outside of four and saw that a sensor had blown from the top of the head and my catch pan had done its job and retained the oil which had soiled my boots but fortunately not the track. So another trip with Blinky, he even remembered where my pit was.

So my Aprilia is a kick to ride, especially on the track, but it just won’t compete with the bikes it classes with. I have an SV650 in the garage and the time has come to prep it. I wanted to do something different, and I did. I don’t think I want to be so different now.

See you at the races! Brian Schilt #977

[Maurice Miller]

nice writeup Brian, thanks for sharing!

Maurice

[Don Schmidt]

Nice report Brian. They say you know you are having a bad day when I know where you are pitted!

[Brian Schilt]

Update, the SV is nearly prepped!
Body work arrives tomorrow!
It's all ready otherwise, guess I'll plan paint for next round.
Hopefully becoming one of the many will be more enjoyable!

[Do Kim]

Round two was looking to be a new learning experience on a new bike. I thought the weekend would go more smoothly than the previous round, with nearly nothing to write about, I was so wrong. Some learning definitely took place but I was also taught a lesson by the asphalt, again.

On Wednesday before the race my bike was still a stock SV650 Naked with no fairing or clip-ons. Let’s just say the next three nights were rather long. Someone asked me at registration “So it’s all race ready then?” my reply was to the point, “It’ll pass tech.”

Registration and tech seemed more like a normal activity now. I was ready to go out for my first practice and hit my first obstacle. I had new tires mounted after tech and my lower was touching the front tire. I had prepped the bike on the stock tires and the profile of the Supercorsa was taller than the stock tire. After a little rushing around and freaking out I found enough clearance to feel comfortable. (Thanks Dark Horse guys!)

My first session was also to be my last for the day. Please, anyone prepping a bike for race remember to step up your idle! Running 1:30’s I was slotted in slow practice. On my fifth lap I came into turn four behind a slow, yes slower than me, pack of bikes and went to set up underneath them. I ran up behind them, clutched, and dropped two gears. At this harsh moment the motor stalled. I had not raised the idle speed of my bike. Of course I realized this after I hit the deck. As I let the clutch out the rear tire stepped out violently and I thought I had hit the rear brake. Instinctively I decided to try the Randy Mamola “I’m going to ride this out!” maneuver. Well I did straighten it up, just in time to buck me off the top. I hate sliding with your bike chasing you. “Yes hello Blinky, yeah, we’re pitted in the same spot, thanks for the ride.”



Parts were acquired, repairs were made, the idle was raised, and the bike was ready again. (Thank you Dave!!!) Maurice told me after the incident “I don’t think I know anyone that has ever highsided a SV.” Of course it’s like me to try to be different.

Sunday brought the real learning curve. My first session’s best time was a high 1:34 and I was feeling really awkward on the bike. Remember I was riding a motard last round. I didn’t know how far to trust the bike, where to brake or anything. A little coaching and a second round had me turning 1:28’s and putting knees down, on purpose! I was really happy with the improvement and was feeling much stronger about the new bike. I felt ready to head out for my races.

My first race was middleweight super sport and the grid was dry when the flag dropped. Then came the rain. The first few laps were fine but when the tracks from the bikes ahead of me became clear on the racing surface I was beginning to get a little concerned. I stepped off the pace and went for the finish.

My 450 super bike class was like déjà vu. Lunch had passed with nothing more than little spits of rain and the grid was dry once again. I saw several sets of rains lining up around me, uh-oh. Almost immediately after the green flag the rain came again. This time it was heavier and without a break. I began to test the limits of my DOTs and after a few slippery moments settled into a good pace that retained traction everywhere. Again I was just looking for a finish and not a crash. Several bikes in my grid were not so lucky. Blinky hauled at least three guys back from unintended destinations in that race.

So all and all it was a good weekend. Much sorting is still left to be accomplished on the new bike. So as badly as I want a power commander and cool exhaust, I’m doing the right thing. Suspension is next, although it wouldn’t have helped my highside, it should help my lap times.

See you at the races!

[Maurice Miller]

Another nice write-up, great job out there Brian!

[Mark Bothe]

Brian,
2 things:
- see what the Suzuki Gods do to a rider wearing an Aprilia suit???
- if I look closely in your posted photo, I think I see you shutting off the bike with your left hand. "Good Move"

Nice write up. You'll come to love the SV and have more fun this year. Glad you weren't hurt.

[Brian Schilt]

Update, Rose Cup was a blast with the new supension, it helped a ton.
The new exhaust arrives tomorrow and the PCIII USB is already installed.
I got tired of Tatom passing me down the front straight on every lap.

[Brian Schilt]

Finally things are looking up for this novice. The third round was much friendlier than the last two. Please be warned no crash story to follow, surprised? I was!

For the first time I got off early enough to help with air fence. Although I was still late I helped with the last few bales before heading in to set up tents for the weekend. For those of you who have never done it, Friday night in the pits is very cool. People still buzzing around from the track day, kickin’ it around the pits and just seeing all the familiar faces. It’s just a good time. After staking out a space for the weekend it was off to rest for the next day.

Now much had occurred since the last race weekend including a Rose Cup race, new suspension, a power commander and a pipe. I was felling much more confident on the bike for practice and felt ready to crush my previous times. Half-day practice is not my favorite, but I knew I needed all the saddle time I could get this weekend.

Practice brought about more learning about lines and where to run the bike deeper. One time I ran so deep in four I thought I was in the dirt for sure but I narrowly avoided it. I was dragging knees in one, two three and four, and really getting off the bike in nine. It was starting to feel much smoother and more fluid. I had some close passing instances with the USGPRU guys but overall felt solid about my sessions. My day’s best was a 1:22.9 and was happy to have broken the 1:23 bubble.

On race day and things really felt like they were starting to click. I actually posted a 1:21.9 in my second practice session. I headed out for my first grid in MP and tried to remember, just two more finishes and you graduate, just got to finish. That stuff went out the window in turn one. I was running mid-pack with people I was actually contending with. What a feeling! I had arrived, yes at the middle of the pack! After repeatedly being passed in the straight I finally put a couple of guys behind me not to be seen again including Watkins on the Motard who battled past me on the infield numerous times. I actually turned a 1:21.9 during my race and finished up 13 out of 18 on the grid. I was surprised that the Dustin and the Pinkstaffs didn’t lap me until the last lap. Unfortunately I had finished behind my mark McDiarmid, that would not happen again.

My second race in 4S was even more exciting for me. I was out with many of the faces I had seen in the previous race and a favorable start put me ahead of a few of them out of the gate. Again I was being passed in the straight to reel them up in three and four to get passed on the front again. I got more aggressive in four and started to build some ground.
Dicing it up in four is one of my favorite things to do in a race. Dropping under someone on the exit and beating them into five is so satisfying. This time I finished up 12 out of 17 ahead of McDiarmid and just two spots behind Maurice. Yes Mo, I’m coming for ya! It was really a great feeling. And to have people in my pit tell me how they enjoyed watching me battle with those guys was just the best!

So having completed six races, it was time to retire the yellow shirt. Wow, a graduated novice. With my first race fiasco I thought I might not see it this soon, but it happened. I really want to express as best I can how grateful I am to everyone involved in a race weekend, especially those I pit with and have come to call friends. The sense of camaraderie and community I find here is absolutely priceless. You can’t buy this stuff. Everyone is willing to help and be supportive to others. I don’t even know half my neighbors as well as I know the guys I’ve been racing with for three rounds now. Even if I wasn’t addicted to the speed and the bikes I’d be addicted the feeling of belonging to what happens on these race weekends. I am honored to be any part of something this good. Thanks everyone!!

Brian Schilt,

Now sporting # 877!!!

P.S. I looked at the lap records and I actually hold two records for novice times, WTF?

[Don Schmidt]

Finally things are looking up for this novice. The third round was much friendlier than the last two. Please be warned no crash story to follow, surprised? I was!

For the first time I got off early enough to help with air fence. Although I was still late I helped with the last few bales before heading in to set up tents for the weekend. For those of you who have never done it, Friday night in the pits is very cool. People still buzzing around from the track day, kickin’ it around the pits and just seeing all the familiar faces. It’s just a good time. After staking out a space for the weekend it was off to rest for the next day.

Now much had occurred since the last race weekend including a Rose Cup race, new suspension, a power commander and a pipe. I was felling much more confident on the bike for practice and felt ready to crush my previous times. Half-day practice is not my favorite, but I knew I needed all the saddle time I could get this weekend.

Practice brought about more learning about lines and where to run the bike deeper. One time I ran so deep in four I thought I was in the dirt for sure but I narrowly avoided it. I was dragging knees in one, two three and four, and really getting off the bike in nine. It was starting to feel much smoother and more fluid. I had some close passing instances with the USGPRU guys but overall felt solid about my sessions. My day’s best was a 1:22.9 and was happy to have broken the 1:23 bubble.

On race day and things really felt like they were starting to click. I actually posted a 1:21.9 in my second practice session. I headed out for my first grid in MP and tried to remember, just two more finishes and you graduate, just got to finish. That stuff went out the window in turn one. I was running mid-pack with people I was actually contending with. What a feeling! I had arrived, yes at the middle of the pack! After repeatedly being passed in the straight I finally put a couple of guys behind me not to be seen again including Watkins on the Motard who battled past me on the infield numerous times. I actually turned a 1:21.9 during my race and finished up 13 out of 18 on the grid. I was surprised that the Dustin and the Pinkstaffs didn’t lap me until the last lap. Unfortunately I had finished behind my mark McDiarmid, that would not happen again.

My second race in 4S was even more exciting for me. I was out with many of the faces I had seen in the previous race and a favorable start put me ahead of a few of them out of the gate. Again I was being passed in the straight to reel them up in three and four to get passed on the front again. I got more aggressive in four and started to build some ground.
Dicing it up in four is one of my favorite things to do in a race. Dropping under someone on the exit and beating them into five is so satisfying. This time I finished up 12 out of 17 ahead of McDiarmid and just two spots behind Maurice. Yes Mo, I’m coming for ya! It was really a great feeling. And to have people in my pit tell me how they enjoyed watching me battle with those guys was just the best!

So having completed six races, it was time to retire the yellow shirt. Wow, a graduated novice. With my first race fiasco I thought I might not see it this soon, but it happened. I really want to express as best I can how grateful I am to everyone involved in a race weekend, especially those I pit with and have come to call friends. The sense of camaraderie and community I find here is absolutely priceless. You can’t buy this stuff. Everyone is willing to help and be supportive to others. I don’t even know half my neighbors as well as I know the guys I’ve been racing with for three rounds now. Even if I wasn’t addicted to the speed and the bikes I’d be addicted the feeling of belonging to what happens on these race weekends. I am honored to be any part of something this good. Thanks everyone!!

Brian Schilt,

Now sporting # 877!!!

P.S. I looked at the lap records and I actually hold two records for novice times, WTF?

Good job Brian,

I have only talked to you in the pits!