Sunday (today), overall, was a great day. Weather was low 80's and not a lot of wind (for once). A noteworthy precursor is that just three weeks ago, my best time was a 1.05 (1 minute, 5 seconds) at this track. Two weeks ago I had one of the Expert Racers do some coaching with me in preparation for the races for an afternoon and was able to hit a 59.73. It was unbelievable. So this time out, I was hoping I could repeat a 59. One because it would be official (track recorded) and two if I ran under a minute and/or won my first race, I would end up being told by the powers that be w/the race club, that I could no longer race that particular race (SuperStreet - beginner race). The SuperStreet is a two heat race. My third race was with the bigger boys and girls (still Novices though) and was a race where you race against similar size bikes (< 750cc) - I was running my R6. The SuperStreet is run what ya brung... in that one you could be racing against 1125r's, Liter bikes, other 600's, etc. Again, if you run under a minute in the SuperStreet or win it, can't race it again... so one of my goals was to do just that (sub one minute, and/or win it).
So let's start w/the bad and ugly. There are three practice rounds prior to the races starting... I managed to pull a low 59 in the first practice so I was pretty excited that the day was looking good. Then went out for practice two and that's where the ugly happened. I did end up running 4 - 59's that session, but unfortunately flipped (literally) my bike off the track (and me). There was a medium speed left hander w/two bikes in front of me... a fairly slow one, and a faster one. I was setting up and carrying a bit more entry speed so that I could pass them (both bikes) between that and the next right (the turns aren't far apart though). Well, the faster guy was coming around the outside of the slower one and I watched it all unwind. I thought damn he's close, they're gonna hit... sure enough he bumped her (not a clean pass, and quite honestly was bullshit especially during a practice) and went on by but caused her to low side (keep in mind this is a practice - no need for that crap). I had to stand the bike up immediately in order to avoid running over the lady. So I jammed the front brakes on as hard as I could hoping to slow it enough before I ran off the track... looking good so far and out of no where here comes her bike sliding in front of me and across my path. I ended up ramping (full air) her front end and landed down below (the grade is lower than the track surface) in the sandy ground... the front end didn't like the deep sand much and over she went (flipped). While I was departing the bike, all I could think of was this is gonna suck... and then I decided to tuck up in a ball and cover my helmet with my arms/hands in order to protect the brand spanken new Arai helmet I got last week from TJ over at Rider's Discount. Came to a rest, counted a couple extra seconds (to make sure I wasn't still tumbling)... stood up, seemed OK, bike was still running, so I rush over there to turn it off and then work like hell to get it up off the ground. Shitt was bent, broke, thrashed, but she still ran, so I got her into the pits to assess the damage. Checked out my helmet and there wasn't even a scratch on it... and that was after doing a flip. Damage on the bike was bent fairing stay, cracked windscreen, broken (in half) subframe, my tank is now flat on top (but proportionally flat, so I may leave it) and of course some jacked up body work. Went to work drilling holes and safety wiring the crap out of her cuz I wasn't done for the day yet. Got her good enough to pass tech again and was ready for my turn to be called. My buddy that helps me in the pits later said he wondered how much that was gonna get in my head, but the results were good. The first two races I had the pole position so I figured if I could just get off the grid good enough, I should be OK. Well, me and the number two spot fought for turn one... he poked his tire out in front of mine, but I had the inside and wasn't about to give up that easily... talked to him later and he said the same thing... "who's gonna let out first". Well I kept my spot and then ended up having a great race w/a first place finish. And got a 58.xx to boot. The announcer (friend of mine, who was the guy coaching me a couple weeks prior) got a chuckle outta the crowd when he announced - a 58 wasn't too bad considering the bike had flipped early that morning. Then the second race came... basically same result and another first. Then the third one... my coach friend kinda stirred the pot w/the pole position holder. He told her she might have some competition. On the grid for this one, she was pole, and there were 5 more bikes between her and I... so first row had four bikes, and then there were two to the right of me on the 2nd row... then me. so I was kind of on the outside 2nd row. Flag drops and off to turn one we go. Somehow there was a magical hole that I saw in front of me w/just enough room to try and poke through... so in I went and as everyone was dropping to the inside of turn 1 I decided to just leave it high and run her hard and see where I might be able to slip in. Well I was in luck, I found a spot and by the end of turn one, I had passed 5 bikes and was right behind the pole position. I thought I'd get her on turn three (hair pin left) because I expected her to run a nice wide line but she must have suspected that there might be someone behind her so she dove it in way early and slammed on the brakes... and I about crapped.... cuz that's where I was going. We powered outta of that turn and I set up high on the next left (same one I flipped on btw) to shoot out and pass her down low coming into the next right (double apex)... success! Now I was in front with just me and the bike to worry about... figured she'd be on my ass like stink on shitt... well, I started to pull on each turn and straight I'm guessing because pretty soon she was a bit far back there as I peaked around at the hair pin. Then someone flew off the track and we went under a waiving yellow, no passing/you're not racing from the waiving yellow till your past the incident. So I thought crap, she's gonna gain the gap back.... but fortunately the incident wasn't too bad nor too far out, so I was able to get back to it. Ended up finishing the race first and the track had me at a 58.02 and my lap timer said 57.93... so that race ended w/my best time ever.
It was too much fun and to have such a great day after flipping in the morning was just even that much more incredible. Having that much fun should be illegal!! A debut w/three races and three 1st place finishes has me flying high
My coach/friend seemed to think I had it in me, but you know how that goes - in my head it wasn't too obvious.
Not to end on a sour note, but thoughts and prayers go out to my buddy's wife (the coach guy). She was racing that day in the Expert big boy open classes... (she's fast!!!) and she made some contact out there trading paint and went down pretty hard on her S1000RR... word was she must of flipped/rolled 12-15 times. The bike ghost rode for a little bit till it hit the deep sand... so the bike looked like it fared pretty well. She got an ambulance ride back to the pit where she was walking, talking, etc. but they were gonna take her to the hospital for some scans/x-rays I imagine... she was knocked out it sounded like and had some pretty good impacts to her helmet.
#77 Race/Track Bike
Domn8er
Jeep Rubicon
S1000RR
My racing debut and results...
2009 BMW F650GS
2009 Triumph 1050 Speed Triple
2010 BMW S1000RR
250mm Pro Street
300mm Pro Street
At the track with both bikes
Garage
Retro Bobber
S1000RR
Track 636
My Baby!
Track Killer
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