A very good day at the races - AFM Sears Pt April

On April 26th I finally got to do some racing. First time in 2009. Unfortunately do to work conflicts I couldn't practice on Saturday. I planned on going up to the track Saturday afternoon to set up my pit, change some tires, and get my gear tech'd. I was a little worried at first since none of the people I had been pitting with last year where returning to racing this year. The racing family is a constant ebb and flow, as people come, and people go. Through my facebook connections I reached out to my buddy Stan, and asked him to save me a spot. It worked out great as he was pitted with another buddy Rick, and Sunny. Our little section was in a prime location, and near everything. Thanks Rick and Stan, you definitely made my weekend easier.

When Sunday morning came around, and it was time for practice I was a little nervous. I hadn't ridden much this year, and I feared not being up to speed. I had a plan in my mind of some things I wanted to work on for my one practice session, and set about getting into a rhythm. I had hooked up with my old nemesis John Forman and followed him around for awhile. That was good as it got my head more into a racing frame of mind. When practice was done I checked my times and I was consistently running 1:54's. Not where I wanted to be, but not too far off, and it was the morning practice which is usually slower.

With my bike all prepped and ready for my first race which was #4 I grabbed Kate, and headed up to the grandstands to watch race #1. It would be her first time seeing a motorcycle race. That race was over in 5 seconds. There was a horrific crash at the very start leaving two riders face down just past start finish. One rider having a broken femur, sevored femoral artery bleeding out on the track literally bleeding to death in front of us, and an the other rider unconscious was a terrible way to start the day. Both riders where helicoptered out, and I know now that they will both eventually be fine, but they have a long recovery ahead.

This unfortunately shook me up a little bit. Motorcycle racing is extremely dangerous. That thrill of being on the absolute edge is like nothing else. On the other side of that edge is the possibility of life altering injuries. We don't talk about it. No one does.

My first race was Open Twins. Not a class I usually compete in as it's mostly dominated by big Ducati's making 150+ hp. But there are usually a few 650 riders in there, and it was before my main races so why not? I had a new quick shifter installed so I had been practicing my starts getting used to it. I had a good grid position on the outside of the row. I prefer to start on the outside, and take an outside line through T1. This allows me to carry good speed through the corner, and then take the inside line up the hill into T2. When the green flag flew and we roared away from the starting line I had no clue what position I was in, and I didn't care. I was off on the chase and quickly started picking off bikes in front of me. A couple into T2, another over the hill at 3a, another down into 4, again around the outside of a big Ducati through T6 "The Carousel" and then it started to thin out. That big duc came back by on the straight, but I just laughed in my helmet as I got on the brakes much later than he, and dived under to take the spot away into 7. At that point there where just a couple of 650 riders, Adrian, and Zoe. The faster big twins having checked out already, and the slower riders fading arrears. The three of us would change places several times. If I remember correctly Zoe was leading the three of us, and Adrian had worked past her, and I knew I needed to get by quickly or Adrian would get away. I tried passing into over the hill at 3a, and on the brakes into T4, but I wasn't close enough so I backed off. I tried again going into T6, but that's not my strongest place so I opted to get a good drive out of 6, and outbrake her into T7. I'm good on the brakes since I replaced my master cylinder with a Brembo unit, and I knew I could get it done. In my previous trackday with ZooZoom I worked with Berto Woolridge and he'd told me I needed to work on my trail braking, and here it was paying off. I got on the brakes late, dove underneath Zoe, and held a tight line, but she didn't back off, and stayed just outside of me, setting me up to pass on the exit of 7. This is a classic T7 scenario. The passing rider brakes late, gives up speed to get the position the passed rider take the outside line, carries more speed and takes the position back on the exit. Knowing it was coming, also comfortable in the knowledge that I had a new tire that would give me a little more grip I rolled on the throttle while at full lean and blocked Zoe right at the exit. I think this spooked her a little, and took some of the fight away as she never made a challenge again.

Here's me tucking it under Zoe

From AFM Sears 4.26

Off I went after Adrian. I was better on the brakes than he, but he carried more speed on the exit. I was much faster in 3, 3a, but I couldn't capitalize on momentum into 4 even though I tried a couple of time. I got by him in 7, but he back around going into 9. We traded places several times, and after a little mistake he started to pull away from me. On the last lap I got a good drive out of 8a and reeled him in heading down into 9, but I wasn't close enough to get it done, so I backed off a little trying to gain a little momentum coming out of 9a, heading into 10 planning a late braking move into 11. It went like clock work. I had a solid drive out of 10, and easily pulled up next him, grabbed a handful of brake to get the pass done, and then I noticed the yellow flag. DAMN IT! You can't pass under any flag condition so I had to slow down, and let him back by. I finished 12 in Open Twins. I'd been 11th if that yellow flag hadn't come out. I found Adrian in the pits, and he admitted I'd been robbed. It was a good race, and there was more to come.

The start of the 650 Twins race was nearly tragic. I was gridded waaay in the back, and when the green flag flew as I gassed it there was some incident up front, and bikes where jockeying madly around. I almost got hit from behind, and lost about 20 places. Oh well. Once again I settled in and started picking off riders. Once through the hoy poloy I found myself with familiar company. People I'd been chasing all year long. Right in front of me was Scott 555, and Charlie 649, Scott was riding kinda out of control. He'd got a terrible start, and was trying to make it up all at once. He passed Charlie under a waving yellow. I noted that in my head, and considered a protest. But first the racing. I easily got by Charlie in T6. Finally the suspension adjustments I'd been making as well as trying a different line through the Carousel where paying off, and I was no longer losing ground through T6 anymore. Scott was carring more speed through corners but was not nearly as good on the brakes as me (hmm.. repeating theme)I was able to pull him in on the brakes, and then lose a little on the out. One place I was faster was the entrance to T10. I'd been using that to my advantage earlier getting a good drive and braking into 11. I gave him a little room entering 9 so I could get a run on him through 10. As he exited 9 he looked over his shoulder and could see me coming so he held a tight line on the inside of 10. Fine Scott I'll go around the outside. I easily pulled up next to him. That's when he pulled one of the biggest punk moves I've ever seen. He knew I was next to him. I was all the way out on the rumble strips, and he moved over to his left bumping me out into the dirt. I had no choice but to wait until I'd cleared the dirt and was straight up and down on the track to hit the brakes. I finally did, and I ran way off track losing a couple of positions. I was mad. Really mad that he'd done something so flagrant.
They call it "Red Mist" where your focus gets narrow, and you are so determined, so full of adrenaline, that often after the event is over you don't remember anything. When I exited T11 Scott was through T1 easily a 1000 feet ahead of me. Head down I started pushing through every corner. Trying to find a tenth of a second here, another tenth there. I passed back the people that had gone by when I ran off track with such ease they weren't even there. I didn't want to slow down to make a pass. Stay focused go fast, and he'll come to you. Several laps go by and he's getting closer. Actually we're gaining on the other group ahead. Last lap. Once again I'm right up his tail. I set myself up for the same pass that has worked time and again a solid drive out of 10 with a late brake into 11. We both come out of 10 hard on the gas. I'm gaining when in an instant I watch his rear tire spin up, and snap he's air born, highside. The bike and him are tumbling right in front of me. It takes conscious effort to look away, look down the track and I miss running him over by inches. Brutal.

Formula IV I head an equally horrendous start when half way through 1 a guy in front of me blew his engine. "Oh shit" I thought this is going to be bad, but the guy stayed up, and I missed hitting him, but once again half the grid went by me. so I spent the race picking people off. I'd had a good race with Charlie, and Adrian again, in the end putting some distance between them and myself. Until that final lap. I think it was heading over in T4 I went to down shift and something didn't feel right. I went to shift up into T5, and again something felt wrong, and I knew my shifter had come apart. I considered pulling off the track, but screw that. I nursed the bike around in 5th gear. It made for some really shitty drives out of 7, 9, and 11, but I only lost 2 positions. My new quick shifter had literally broken in two. bummer.

So it was a very eventful day. I can't even count the number of times I went into a hard braking zone with my rear wheel in the air. Yee-Ha!. I think I'm going to get some actual racing brake pads, and we'll see how well we can brake next time!
My finishing positions are nothing to write home about, but it sure was exciting to get there.

Oh and on the way home my bike fell off my moto-tote. Yeah I was dragging my race bike down the 101. It actually did very little damage. Scuffed a handle bar, and the tail section. Another near miss. Lottery ticket anyone?

A special thanks to Marie and Jennifer at Werkstatt for getting me some much needed parts in a hurry.
and thanks to Dave Moss who I didn't speak to all weekend, but his input all last year, and some emails earlier this month got my bike where it needed to be.

Chasing Adrian through T1

From AFM Sears 4.26

On the gas out of T7

From AFM Sears 4.26

Leading Adrian through T2

From AFM Sears 4.26

Exiting T9

From AFM Sears 4.26

You're #1

From AFM Sears 4.26

as always a thanks to my sponsors
Jennifer at Werkstatt Motorcycle Repair
Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction
Dunlop, and Terry at Sport Tire Services
Paul Fine of Fine Design
Julio from Tommy's