Here's my "hat cam" video footage from today's IDPA action pistol match at Amarillo Rifle and Pistol Club. I didn't do as well as I would've liked to at this match (placed 13th out of 19), but it was still a lot of fun. :-)
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
USPSA Action Pistol Match 11/16/2013
Despite the extremely high winds, the USPSA action pistol match went pretty good. My wife came along and took some video of me on four of the five stages. I found out later that I actually won this match! :-)
Thursday, November 14, 2013
IDPA Indoor Action Pistol Match - 11/13/2013
I used my GoPro camera on my head during my last IDPA indoor action pistol practice match (placed 6th out of 12), and after reviewing the video I decided to go ahead post it on YouTube since it didn't make me look like I sucked too badly. :-) Enjoy.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
New Fun Stuff in between Track Days!
I used to be a big handgun fanatic and have owned several long ago, but I sold all of them and have been without any firearms for over 16 years. I recently learned about the Texas Motorist Protection Act, which allows citizens to legally carry handguns in their vehicles without a concealed handgun license, so Monica and I decided to get ourselves some handguns. Unfortunately, my addiction for handguns quickly took over again and I've acquired five new handguns in less than six months! :-)
I've always been interested in the action shooting sports, specifically USPSA and IDPA, so two of the guns were purchased with the intent of competing in these types of matches. There are a lot of various differences between the two shooting sports, but the biggest is that IDPA is centered around concealed carry scenarios and shooting from behind cover, and competitors are directed to shoot each stage in a specific way. USPSA is more about shooting fast while moving from target to target (no concealed carry or shooting from behind cover), and competitors can shoot each stage however they feel is the best way.
I've already attended a few local matches and practices, and I try to do dry fire practice at home as much as possible. It is a LOT of fun, and it will give me something to do in between our motorcycle track day weekends. I have a lot more fun at USPSA matches, but I like the challenge of the IDPA matches. I may use my GoPro camera at some of these events and post them on YouTube and link them here once I have done enough events that it doesn't look like I suck too bad. :-)
You can see more photos of the guns here: http://www.brazeauracing.com/firearms/
Springfield Armory Trophy Match 1911 in .45 ACP
Used for IDPA in Custom Defensive Pistol Division
and for USPSA in Single Stack Division
EAA/Tanfoglio Witness Elite Match in 9mm
Used for USPSA in Limited Division
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Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Motorcycle Track Day - 09/21/2013 @ ECR
Another great weekend at Eagles Canyon Raceway with RideSmart. Monica was doing so well that she got bumped up to Level 2 with me on Sunday. Unfortunately, the front brake pads were completely worn out on my bike when she got bumped up, so we were unable to ride together for the rest of the day. Before the bike's brakes gave out, my friend Rusty followed me for a couple of laps with my camera mounted on his bike so I could get some footage of myself riding.
Monday, August 12, 2013
GPR Exhaust for the Ducati Supersport
I recently acquired a new pair of GPR Exhaust slip-on exhaust mufflers for my Ducati Supersport to use at the track. The previous set of D&D carbon fiber slip-on mufflers were really loud, and they didn't fit the bike as well as I would've preferred since they were originally for an older Supersport.
This new exhaust looks and sounds really good (not too loud even with the baffles removed), and they fit the bike perfectly. They are TIG welded stainless steel and small in size which I think gives them a little bit of a MotoGP look.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Motorcycle Track Day - 06/1/2013 @ COTA
The staff at RideSmart worked extremely hard to organize this event at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas, and it sold out after only a few days in December of 2012. Unfortunately, I did not have the money at the time to register, and there was a huge waiting list, so I had no expectation of attending. However, I was able to purchase a Level 1 spot for Saturday from a guy that wasn't going to be able attend just a few days before the event! I was very excited to be able to get to attend a track day on a brand new multi-billion dollar F1 and MotoGP race track! This kind of opportunity doesn't come up very often, especially when you live in West Texas. :-) I would have preferred to have been in Level 2, but it was still an amazing experience none the less. It was well worth the $500 price tag for one day, and also well worth the 8 hour drive each way.
During my fourth session, the mount on my GoPro camera snapped off at the base and flew off the bike while I was going down the front straight. I was able to recover the camera after the event was over (it survived), but I wasn't able to capture my later (faster) sessions. :-( I was hoping that the video of it falling off the bike would be interesting and I was planning on posting it, but apparently the camera shut off from the heat a few laps before it fell off.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Motorcycle Track Day - 05/19/2013 @ MSRC
This was my first time to run in Level 2 with RideSmart, so I was a little nervous about it. I'd been trying to sell my Ducati Supersport 900 for a couple of months, so that I could acquire a faster bike to keep up in Level 2. I was considering either a 2002 Ducati 998 (135 horsepower) or a 2006 Ducati 999s (140 horsepower). Either of these bikes would be better than my 80 horsepower Supersport 900. Unfortunately, I did not get any serious offers on the Supersport 900, so I decided to give the track fairings a new paint job. I figured that if I was going to get passed a lot, I would at least look good. :-)
I love the paint scheme on my Ducati 748S in Titanium Grey with White number plates on the tail, so I set out to mimic this scheme as best I could on the Supersport. I ordered an Airtech Streamlining upper front race fairing (no headlight cutout), filled in the turn signal holes on the side fairings by plastic welding some ABS blanks in, and I also fabricated a new rear seat cover using fiberglass. This was my first time using fiberglass, so I thought it turned out pretty good. The entire paint job was done with Duplicolor spray paint.
The weekend at the track was pretty good. I didn't get passed near as much as I thought I would, and I actually made several passes myself. In addition to the new paint job, I mounted up a set of brand new Michelin Pilot Power 3 tires, which increased traction in the corners compared to my old Pilot Power tires.
Monica was in Level 1, so I didn't get to see how she was doing, but from watching her out on the track from the paddock area on Sunday, I could tell that she was doing really good.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Motorcycle Track Day - 03/17/2013 @ ECR
Another awesome weekend with RideSmart motorcycle school. My wife and I were both in Level 1 at this event, but it was my last time in Level 1 as I will be moving into Level 2 at the next event. Monica was having some difficulty relaxing at the begining, but by the end of the day on Sunday, she was doing much better. Although I didn't get any photos of it, I was dragging my knees in several corners each day. :-)
Saturday, February 23, 2013
A New Swingarm for the Ducati Supersport 900
I've always loved the swingarm on the Ducati Supersport 1000DS. It's beefier and way better looking. It flows much better with the newer Supersport than the older squared-off swingarm that was carried over from the older Supersport. These nicer swingarms are very expensive new, and they don't come up for sale used very often, but I was lucky enough to pick up a used one about a year ago and I just got around to installing it today. I also installed a new 41-tooth rear sprocket to replace the 43-tooth that I've had on the bike for a while. The bike lost a little bit of "umph" on acceleration, but I'm hoping the new gearing will be better for my track days and give me a little more speed on the straights.
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