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STORIES &
OTHER SUCH NONSENSE
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Racing motorcycles….
Competition…. Camaraderie…. Challenge…. Risk…. Frustration…. Friendship…. Just a few words that come to mind while I was “free associating” over my last 10 years of racing motorcycles. Motorcycles are fast, light and nimble. They are designed to go in a straight line all by themselves. Motorcycles are also designed to corner quickly with deliberate and careful input from the pilot. The challenge lies in getting from straight line to straight line. And the skill level of the rider determines how quickly one arrives there. It is here where the risk versus reward equation plays itself out. It is here where the danger lies. It is here that the competition is won and lost. It is here where the excitement lives!
Something happens when you are elbow to elbow with someone at high speeds in a corner. Together, you become more than just a passive part of that same special moment in time. Sometimes you end up in “the zone”. A place where athletes find themselves when things are going perfectly. When everything happens with the ease of a quiet stroll. Your mind is in such a high state of concentration that 100 MPH feels like walking. Being in the zone is an experience that cannot be fully explained to those who haven’t lived it. This zone on a racing motorcycle is a beautiful place where trust, respect and friendship is learned and shared. Every ripple in the road, the feedback from the brake and throttle, the sensing of the riders around you, even the tender beat of your own heart all speak to you and become very tangible. You’re in control of something that, at any moment, could become out of control. And you’re counting on the abilities of your fellow riders as well. You’re pushing the very limits of your machine. Most important and most vital, you’re expanding your own personal limitations; The ones you keep private, the ones that make you afraid inside, the ones that hold you back. You come off the track and you sit down and thoughtfully close your eyes. Carefully, silently you relive the experience in your mind. You touch every nuance of what has just occurred. And you look inside yourself, deeply and earnestly, for a way to do it smoother, better, faster. You evaluate how the bike performed. How did it handle the bumps and turns? Can the suspension be made to work better? What was I doing on the bike? Were my body position, braking, throttle control, shift points, concentration and racecraft as good as they could be? So much is happening in those brief moments. So much to see and hear and feel.
Racing experiences are similar to life experiences. Testing your limits and gauging the day to day successes and failures. Sharing the good and the bad of these times with family and friends who love you. Triumph is determined by the decisions you make in the blink of an eye. Decisions made by thoughtfully correcting past mistakes. On the easy end of this mistake spectrum, you may fail to achieve the desired goal. You miss what you strove for because you didn’t try hard enough. On the other, harder, end of that spectrum is pain. You slip, you fall down, and it hurts. But, you get up, dust yourself off and you figure out what went wrong. And you get back in the game, a better person because you learned something about yourself. Sometimes you fall hard. The emotional and/or physical damage may even be permanent. But, if you are truly a racer, you’re going to get up again, and again. Then there is the success spectrum. Everyone likes to win and it sure feels good when you do. Here your lessons learned show themselves with great delight. Things are working well and happening naturally. In this place you’re grateful to God for those hard lessons and thankful for His great blessings of success and safety. However, the most valuable of my racing experiences will center on the amazing friendship and camaraderie of the racing community. There are so many cherished moments of collective joy. There are also moments of shared despair that will be equally treasured. At first I found it amazing when your competition lends you valuable parts and advice so you can try to defeat them. Then I discovered it a pleasant thrill to reciprocate. Only to learn that it would have been no fun competing without them anyway. It’s wonderful to share your exciting times and victories with good friends. And it’s just as fantastic to rejoice in those friends’ happiness and achievement.
I’ve found there to be two different reactions when people learn that I was a motorcycle racer. One is of the “you’re crazy” variety. The second reaction is one of wide-eyed excitement and stimulation. Some people don’t understand the challenge and risk of the racing experience. And these folks may never be aware of what it’s all about. Perhaps they are content to live their lives spectating. I don’t know. I guess I don’t understand them completely either. The second group, whether they are motorcycle racers themselves or not, “get it”. They appreciate that life, by definition, is an adventurous, risk filled endeavor. They truly believe in facing life head on and with their eyes wide with gleeful anticipation of the challenges placed before them. Whether or not they realize it, they are “racers” too. I love being around these kinds of people. The energy and good karma they possess is contagious. I can see the spirit of adventure and excitement God has blessed them with shining brightly. Not all of these people partake in dangerous activities. Yet, they all vigorously participate in life, abundant life. Never afraid, never apprehensive, they move in a poised and dauntless fashion. It’s how I wish to live. Head up, looking down the road, on the gas and ready for what lies ahead……..
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Al Pereira photo
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WANT TO BE A U.S. MARSHALL?
What is a U.S.Marshall???????? No, not the law enforcement type, but the race track corner worker type. The "I will stand 10 feet from a motorcycle traveling in excess of 100 MPH" type. What are they, NUTS?!
Not really. Corner marshalls are responsible for the safety of the riders in a race. They use flags to tell riders of the impending disasters that inevitably befall us in the course of a racing event. They are also the first line of help in the case of injury to a rider. I became a member of the U.S. Marshalls after seeing all that they do to make our racing experience safer and more enjoyable. It's also the best place to be to watch a race. (See "standing 10 feet from the track" above). Another advantage I have discovered is you can sure learn lots from watching the fast guys and adapt this to your own racing strategy. I have used this technique to shave many seconds from my lap times.
If you love racing and you like excitement, I highly recommend giving it a try. It's easy too. Just click on the U.S. Marshall logo below. Everything you need to get started is right there. Or, you can just show up at the track and volunteer. They'll put you with someone who will show you the ropes. For those of you brave enough to give it a go... I'll see you in the corner.
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History of PTC Racing
New Hampshire International Speedway was called Bryar Motorsports Park. Freddie Spenser, Eddie Lawson and Wes Cooley were the hot shoe riders in AMA Superbike. "King" Kenny Roberts was kicking butt on the international scene. The year was 1982 and I had been invited by "Big Guy" Hoefer and his son "Little Guy" to take in a motorcycle club race at Bryar Motorsport Park. I knew it would be fun but... It didn't take long before we decided to give it a go ourselves. 800 dollars was spent on a used Suzuki GS750. A lot more cash, and a bucket of sweat later, we had a race bike. Trick stuff included a genuine Yoshimura racing engine, Fox shocks, Lester aluminum wheels and oversize carburetors. Guy Sr. gave it a beautiful paint job and "Brutus" was ready to go. Guy Jr. coined the term "Pummel The Competition", and the PTC Racing team was born! Due to changes in my personal life, our racing effort fizzled and the dream was put to sleep. However, "Brutus" became my street bike, and with many fun filled miles under our belts, continues to be an attention grabber today.
Let's jump ahead to 1994. In my head, the dream was beginning to awaken. I took Brutus and finished the race preparation that was started so long ago. I graduated from the Penguin Racing School and got my racing license with the Loudon Road Race Series (LRRS). I promply went out and finished last in my first race. But I was hooked on the sport. After two more race weekends I turned my energies to finding a modern race machine.
In August of 1994 I purchased what was then the motorcycle of choice for the Lightweight classes. The Yamaha FZR400. In keeping with my personal tradition of naming my motorcycles, she was christened "Elizabeth", my sister's middle name. Two race weekends and four races later I had two trophies (second places) and all four races in the top five! This was becoming more fun than I could have hoped. In 1995 I raced my way through the Amateur and the Junior ranks with many wins and much success. I became an Expert in 1996 and continued to score well.
1998 and 1999 would be "full on" assaults on the LRRS Lightweight Supersport championship. Elizabeth received a fresh motor from New England Performance. Peter Kates of GMD Computrack put in new suspension components. PTC Racing was now a force to be taken seriously. We started the season by winning the first LW Sportbike race and never looked back. Winning the '98 LW Sportbike Championship was a dream come true. 4 wins, 3 seconds, and never off the podium in our class! A second place at the AMA Grand Championships and a fourth at the Daytona Race of Champions were icing on a sweet cake of a season! But, could we back it up in 1999? Especially with the newer and faster (read 10 more horses) Suzuki SV650 entering the class.
In 1999 we couldn't hold on to the #1 plate. But, from a riding standpoint, I think it was a better year. Against those dreaded Suzukis, we finished second overall in the Supersport class. This included a win and 5 seconds. We were the only non-Suzuki in the top 10 in Lightweight Supersport. It was written in "Motorcyclist Post" that I had the fastest EVER lap time of 1:20.47 at Loudon for an FZR400!
In 2001 we returned with, you guessed it, a Suzuki SV650. "Suzy" would carry us to more glory including winning the LWSS championship in 2002, third in Thunderbike at the Loudon Classic and 3 runner up class finishes in 02 and 03. I even help new riders get started as an instructor with the Penguin Road Racing School.
PTC Racing has always stood for Pummel The Competition. But, for me it has a greater meaning as well. PTC also stands for Praise To Christ. For without His help and blessings, I would not have been able to accomplish my life's goals. And so, it is with thanks to God, that I am grateful to Guy Sr. and Guy Jr. for the start of PTC Racing, and to my wife Kim, and my children Ben and Kate, for the PTC Racing of today. May God bless you all!
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