Scott Cleff`s Racing 

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Scott finished 3rd with 2 Aprillia 250`s in front of him.

During the track day on Friday I was in
front of those bikes, and passing them all day. This thing handles so well,
I would just go around them in the fast sweepers. They would pass me on the
straights only to be passed again by my little NC. It was entertaining to
say the least, passing R1's and the like.
As far as suspension goes, Lindemann revalved, stiffer springs, and heavier
oil in the front, Penske shock in the rear, the one with 2 adjustments, and
they set the ride hieght up to match the difference created when I changed
to the RVF 17". They measured from the axle to the ground on both, then
raised it accordingly. The only problems I had were, over gearing for the
wheel swap, and grounding alot of peg and shift lever. We will re-gear, and
raise the rear a little for the clearance issues, other than that the
Michelin Pilot race's I started with worked great, but with no track support
or contingency, I decided to switch to the Dunlop GP's. This swap did not
effect the suspension at all.I did finish 3rd in my race behind a couple of Aprilla 250's, only because
of my going into turn 1 in 20th place , I was running the same lap times as
them. Hopefully I can get a better start next time.

Well Done Scott

Racing at Willow Springs 17 February 2001

                                                                                   

 

Showed up Friday with basically the same NC that nabbed me a 3rd last month. We changed the gearing 1 tooth in the rear so I could reach redline in 6th in the fastest turn(8) at Willow Springs, and mounted a bracket on the left side peg guard so my boot would stop getting stuck in between the guard and the pipe. I started out doing about the same lap times I was last month, but more consistently into the low 1:35 range. The gearing was working perfect, and I was hitting the rev limiter in 6th just before my breaking marker for turn 9. 
After 4 sessions I decided, because Dunlop did not want to pay in my class, to change to Pirelli's. I ran a Super Soft Corsa front, and a Soft compound Corsa rear slick. I didn't want to run them until Saturday practice, so I packed it up after they were mounted. 
Saturday morning was cold, and I was tempted to wait until the afternoon to try out the unscuffed Pirelli's. But I had the bug, so the tire warmers went on, and 25 minutes later I went out in the second session. I didn't feel any suspension changes right away, so I upped the pace by the 3rd lap. Unbelievably I was in the low 34's already. I think the bike must run better in the cold. Anyway I got hooked up with a fast FZR and the Aprilla who beat me last race, and pass them both at one point on my way to a 1:33:03 lap time. On the next lap though, my rear end was trying to pass me up on all the fast turns. I am no suspension expert, and I tried changing tire pressure up and down to no avail, I would not see the 33's again. I told the Pirelli guy I thought his tire might have been a qualifier :-) 
Sunday came, and it was not only cold, it was raining. There was no way I would run the slick, even after the Pirelli guy convinced me to reverse my shredded right side to the left (I guess it is a zero belt thing). I had the Dunlop's put back on for practice, and did a string of 34's. I felt that would be descent since I was on the pole for the race. My race wasn't until 3:30pm, it was clear skies and pretty windy at that point. 
Well I flubbed the start again, trying to launch at 11 grand with out feathering the clutch, stupid me. I was about 8th going in to turn 1, by turn 2 I was in the lead and stretching. Unfortunately, I did not get the rear sets I so badly needed, and when the same little 125 that I diced with last month caught me on the brakes on the 3rd lap I was in for a dice. With the ground clearance issues now extremely prevelant,now that the peg on the right side is in half, the rear brake lever is dragging hard enough to loft my rear wheel here and there, this guy could beat the pants off me in the slower turns, but I would gain drive out of the turns and put the draft on him, to be back in front by the line. Unfortunately I did not take in account for the wind, so on the last lap when I intended to set him up for a draft out of the last turn, I did not get close enough, and got the the wind in between him and my little NC. I lost by about a bike length. I hate 2 strokes, and little guys that can fit on them. Not really. He deserved the win, I will be smarter next month, and I will work on getting the ground clearance issues solved. 

Take care, 

Scott Cleff 
WSMC #999