Travis Taylor

Hey FTWCO team,

 

Quick update, made it to Full Circle V Twin’s spring DIRT DAY, held at beautiful Cove View Speedway in Warfordsburg, PA.  I talked to the owner awhile, the track was roughed out years ago and maintained on the family’s land to support their cart racing hobby.  Over the years, it grew into the facility it is today.  He and his family live on the grounds, and they were very impressed with the motorcycle event Full Circle put on.  I believe the event will be welcome back in the fall.  Designed for carts, the track has an intimidating bank angle. Once out there, that perception fades quickly, finding traction easy on the smooth, tacky surface.  Fun!  I wish I had more / better photos to share, but I did not make the main.  I gave it my best but finished 4^th out of 5 in my heat, against a couple 250s, an XS400 and an XS650. I think there were 4 heats total in the Amateur class.  I realized later, the best opportunity to get a good start was down below the groove,  where it was a little more tacky and untouched.  Forever learning.  Hope to have more for you soon!  Photos taken by Mark Goldman (Goldmine Photos) and Ted Ellis.

 

Thanks as always for your support!

Travis Taylor #12

Travis Taylor

Hey FTWCO,

This is my final update for the 2016 season, which I consider a success. I'm already planning for 2017, it'll be here in... 40 days? Holy Shit...  Dan and Curtis at Full Circle V-Twin put on their 3rd Dirt Day event in less than a year's time. This was a 2-day event, Oct 22-23, and I day-dream about it often now that it's past. What a great time riding flat track! We spent many October nights drinking beer and prepping the track for the first one back in 2015, and by the time November 7th rolled around, I was excited. A little too excited, and a little too much speed into turn one found me on head, though my right knee broke the fall. Or maybe, the other way around. Long story short, I ended up at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. One surgery to install an external fixator, then another 10 days later to install internal fixation. The up-side to that is no cast, but ten weeks on crutches, and then you're walking around like Forrest Gump. I bounced back from that in 2016 and became a better rider in the process, so I'm satisfied, to say the least! 

We ran a "150" class this time at Dirt Day, so I figured I'd run both that and "Amateur". I finished 2nd in both heats, and 4th in both mains. I wish I had been able to do a little better in the 150 class, out of 8 riders, but I'm very pleased on the Amateur result. Running with mostly 250/450 bikes and experienced riders, I stayed consistent and capitalized on a red-flag restart and any mistakes or opportunities. 4th of 11 had me just shy of the podium, but I was happy things and nearly come full circle. 

After that, I figured it was time for another overhaul. The hardware could stay in my leg, but the surgeon agreed to take it out, as it was causing some pain. In the long run, I figured it was best, and wanted to get it done before my deductible resent Dec 1. That bit me in the ass last year, to say the least! We got that done on Nov 4, I can't wait to get back on 2 wheels. There are big plans in the works for Dirt Day 2017 Spring event, things are already lined up with Cove View Speedway, in Warfordsburg PA. I need to get a bigger bike together!  All photos thanks to Mark Goldman / Goldmine Photos and Ted Ellis. Check out all of Mark's great photos of the 2016 fall event at https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/uA9A5o7eaa8nfKZA0OXNdKgI2inmaOEI3c2wZf6heTU/folder/yTjawZiCSnOsR6KGobtXMA

Thanks for your support this season! Next year will be even better.

Travis​

Travis Taylor

Hey FTWCO team!

I've got some photos from August here, all thanks to Mr. Len Beech. I'm sure he shoots digital, but he walks around before every District 6 or 7 race with a huge binder of 4x6 prints he sells for a dollar each. It makes me wonder how long he's been doing it. Flat track is certainly rich in heritage and tradition, which is certainly a component of the experience that I've grown to love. 

I caught the fourth and last race of the Timonium, MD series on Friday August 12, and had a great time as usual. Taking off work to go racing; not much is better than that! I took advantage of an opportunity into the first turn of my heat race, and nearly finished second, until she got around on me and I lost some ground. We paused for way too long, just to watch a storm roll by in the distance, but still had plenty of time to get the program in. I picked up some helpful tips from local fast guy Nick Henderson, and made some improvements in the main. I drank a gallon of water, easily. 

When I got home, sometime around midnight, I asked Kelly if she wanted to go racing the next day. She seemed agreeable, so I left everything on the truck. The following morning, we headed up to Reading, PA for the short track they host as an attraction during the fair. We went through a hell of a storm along the way, and I hoped it wasn't following us. It must have been the hottest day of the year, and humid. We got through one practice session, and then it started to rain. The breeze was refreshing, but once it let up, the humidity was unbearable. Don't talk about it, don't even think about it. That's the only solution to that problem. Everyone was concerned about the condition of the clay track, but hopeful. The prep guys got to work turning laps in their crumpled, stained machines and soon surprised us all. Somehow the track was even better than the first practice session! It wasn't bad before, but it felt amazing, and I really enjoyed it. With much longer straights than most super-short short tracks that we race, it seemed narrow, but I really enjoyed it. 

My heats were much later, so we got to sit back and enjoy about half of the program. Then it started to rain again, and this time it wasn't letting up. Even a little would have been too much, and it wasn't just a little. The generous decision was made to pay off the heats run, and refunds for those who didn't get to race at all.  That was very cool, but I wished it hadn't rained!  I let them know how much I liked it, and was advised they were going to try for 2 events next year. We decided to stop at a Macaroni Grill on the way home, as I had a pocket full of money that was already spent. I think Kelly said something like "I've never gone to dinner this sweaty before". I must have eaten 15 cloves of garlic, I ate absolutely everything. We had a great time!

Two weeks later, we went to Delta, PA. Another tiny short track, and one that I've spent the most time on. For some reason, it was super slippery this time.  That initial moment of getting acquainted with the surface made me feel like it was my first time, and I didn't seem to be alone. Considering some of the moments (saves) I had, I considered it a victory not falling in practice. I think I was one of the few who didn't. I found myself next to one of the fastest young guys in my class and asked what tire pressure he was running. He advised  "14... that's what my dad told me to run anyway!" I said "Me too!" and figured I'd leave well enough alone. Everybody was having a rough time. It was all about finesse.

I'm not sure if something changed with the class I run, but I noticed there were a lot of younger riders, compared to what I've seen in the past. Kids 12 and up on 125cc two-strokes, stepping up from 7-11 85cc. I think I'm going to start running the 30+ class, because it's inhibiting to worry about the other racer being essentially a children, with their whole life ahead of them.  In the main, a young girl fell immediately in front of me heading into turn one. I barely avoided her, my hot shoe clinking lightly against her helmet as I lifted my foot over her head.  It was just enough contact to let me know I was that close, and I was as far away as I could get in that instant!  She was fine and the race continued, but that one will stick with me. Things happen in racing for sure, but risk mitigation is important to consider as well.

A sobering note to leave things on perhaps, but I've got to keep that thought in mind. Historical data will show that October has not been kind to my body in the past, and I am planning to have the metal removed from my leg in November.  In July, Kelly and I found out that we're going to have a little one of our very own come April. I'm stoked on that! Doesn't seem real yet, but I'm trying to act accordingly. 

This Sunday 9/16 is Piston Poppers TT in Parkesburg, PA and next weekend is Full Circle V-Twin Fall Dirt Day in Hagerstown, MD. It's gonna be a two-day event with practice Saturday 9/23 at noon, a band and camping that evening, and a catered full-on race event Sunday 9/24. Also, I picked up a cheap WR250F project. It was stolen away to Baltimore and wheelied until the cams shredded the head for lack of oil. There are still glimpses of the nice bike it used to be, and it's got a street title. So I've got alot to look forward to!

Thanks as always for your continued support. Cheers!

Travis

Travis Taylor

Hey FTWCO!

Here's a quick update and a bunch of photos from July.  Almost time for it to be cooling off again, crazy. Every year they run a flat track race on the half-mile limestone horse track at the Frederick, MD fairgrounds. They claim it's the oldest running half mile race in the country, and it's always held on the 4th of July. This year was the 95th running, and it's always a good time. Maybe next year I'll have a bike together for the half-mile... If the schedules work out, there are usually some big names to watch. This year Jared Mees was cleaning up, but unfortunately the program was cut short due to rain. 

Sammy Halbert was there as usual, giving Mees a run for his money. The day before, he put on a flat track class at our local spot, and I had a ton of fun. Definitely picked up some helpful pointers, and built up my confidence. Racing is one thing, but the opportunity to have an extended session and work on your riding within a small group is something that is very rewarding. Especially under the supervision of somebody with Sammy's credentials!  Thanks to TOO TALL Ted Ellis and Curtis Fisk for the photographic evidence. 

Fast forward two weeks and it was time to see what I really learned.  The second annual Gary Nixon Invitational was held at the Baltimore County fairgrounds in Timonium, MD. Last year was a big event, so I was excited for this one.  They've really done a nice job to create and promote an attractive event for both fans and pro riders. It's really something else to be racing the same tough track at the same event as the fastest guys in the sport! For the sake of brevity, they ran fewer, and combined amateur classes, so we had 14 riders in the 125 / 150 class. I finished 3rd in my heat, and out of 3 heats, that put me 7th overall. I ended up 8th in the main, and then made a mad dash up the hill to watch the pro main event! They put our race second to the finale (to display a gross contrast in speed to the crowd, ha HA) so the race wasn't over for me. Two free hot dogs from the closing vendor, and I grabbed a bud.  I was sweating it out faster than I poured it in.  The pro race was intense! It's worth a watch. I saw banners around for MXPTV and I later found that they took some really nice video. A raw cut of the race, and also a neat BEST OF montage. Here are links to both. They also had some footage of the Barbara Fritchie Classic I mentioned earlier.  http://mxptv.com/video/best-of-2016-gary-nixon-invitational/  http://mxptv.com/video/battle-gary-nixon-invitational-final-main-event/  Again, I have to thank Ted Ellis as well as Len Breech for the photos. 

So far August is shaping up nicely, went to Timonium MD for the 4th of 4 races in that series last Friday, and then made it up to Reading PA on Sat. Hopefully Len got some snaps from both, should see him in two weeks at Delta, PA. 

Thanks as always for your support! 

Travis

Travis Taylor

Hi FTWCO,

I've got quite a few photos attached. I think 30 in this email, so if there are any issues let me know. Not all are great shots, but I've got them for my record books and wanted to pass them along. I've got to thank Mark Goldman (Goldmine Photos), Brian Fearnow, my girlfriend Kelly, and my mom.  These are from Full Circle V-twin Dirt Day, June 11 2016. Good friends of mine Curtis Fisk and Dan Goldman own the shop here in Hagerstown, and are creating a tradition with this biannual event. I actually broke my leg at the first one on Nov 5, 2015, and have been recovering ever since. Needless to say, it was a big day for me, mentally.  

It's been a really wet spring on the East coast, and a lot of earlier races have been scrapped. I did a few trail rides to get back in shape and comfortable on the bike again, and made it out for my first AMA race of the season at Delta, PA on May 28. They do an early free practice from 11 AM to 2 PM, so my goal was to ride and get comfortable again. I was surprised how good I felt, so much so that when I sat down to collect my thoughts in the afternoon, I realized I had already paid my money and signed up to race, both classes! That was a giant plastic trophy in my mind, so I reminded myself to take it easy. I finished 4th in my Adult 150 heat (running 3rd for a bit) and 5th in the main. I was 3rd in the 125 2t / 150 4t heat, 4th in the main. I was running 3rd off the line, but couldn't hold it. Riding all day for practice, heats, and all the waiting in between makes the last race grueling. 

So after that, I was read for Dirt Day. They run 4 classes; mini bikes, amatuer, pro and hooligan streetbike. It's a pretty loose classification, moreso by bike than rider. Most guys ran multiple classes with different bike.  In my 'amatuer' heat, I got the holeshot, goon wheelie and all. I've never had that experience, so I did my best to stay consistent and drop the hammer. I led for about 7 laps, but started thinking too much and lost some ground, running wide.  I was battling it out with a fast guy on a CRF100, I believe he ended up in second place on a 450 in the 'pro' main. He was a quick guy on a slow bike. Just as I was gaining on him again, the guy in last place fell and we did a red flag staggered restart with 2 laps to go. This killed my mojo, as we no longer had a healthy lead over the rest of the pack.  I got a bad start, getting passed into turn one. I got bunched up and frustrated, dropping to 4th place into turn 3 of the last lap. I cut the turn tight up the inside and opened it to the stop, trying to pass #31 on the inside at the flag. There's a good photo of that. I didn't make it past him, and unfortunately for me, he rolled way off the throttle right across my path into 1, rather than riding it out for a cooldown lap. I went down pretty hard.  I didn't land on my bad knee (I don't know how I landed) but it didn't feel good. For a moment I worried I had broken it again, but then I stood up. I certainly twisted the hell out of it, asterisk knee braces and all. I was going to run the main, but the pain told me it was a bad idea. I've certainly typed alot, but the feeling of that whole experience is a hard one to put into words.  I can't tell if I did any more damage, but I certainly set myself back again. However, I feel really good now, considering it's only been a month.  I got back on the bike last Sunday for a training day with Sammy Halbert!  That was definitely cool, and I picked up some valuable tips. No more goon wheelie starts. Somehow I'm riding even better!  I have those photos to send along shortly. 

Thank you FTWCO for the support. It means alot to me!

Travis