Track Day:
It was a split weekend, where we have the track day on a Sunday and then on another Sunday we have the races. Not sure why the races have to be on a Sunday, when we have these types of weekends, but it works out that way. So this being a Sunday track day we expected to have a great turn out, it worked out to be an okay day for turn out. Again, not sure why that is.
Race Day
I was just not ready for it to be this hot this soon. At the end of the day my truck was telling me it was a 109 out. Ick. Not sure why I thought running 6 races was a good idea for the day. But, I’ve gotten ahead of my self.
First race of the day for me was Am Thunderbike, It ended up being my best race of the day, and not due to my finishing position. I had something to prove this time around. There had been a great deal of smack talk around this class in April. There was no way I was going to give an inch to anyone. Normally, the smack talk doens’t effect me, but this time I was about as close to seeing red as
I’ve ever been over the things said. Since I missed the May round to race WERA I was gridded back in the 3rd row. I’ve always had issues with my launches, but this day they weren’t an issue. I got a great launch and hit turn 1 in 2nd place. I lost two spots on the exit since I was forced to stay low on the exit by one of the guys. I was sitting comfortable in 5th by the time we’d all rounded turn 3. I had a plan going into the race I’d decided that I was going to put my head down and concentrate on hitting my two problem turn consistently each time. That plan paid off, I was hanging onto the 4 bikes in front of me. In the first three laps I was starting to think that I was going to be able to get back by the guy in front of me. But by the half way mark he’d managed to put a little bit of space between us and I just couldn’t close it down. As We were mid way through the white flag lap I realized that the front group hadn’t run away from me. That the 5 of us were all around a second apart. Normally the top three just run away, and I can’t see them any more. Not the best time to let my mind wonder. I made myself focus on the last 3 corners to make sure there wasn’t anyone behind me. Lately, it’s harder for me to hear certain bikes behind me. I’m not fond of not knowing how close people are to me. After I took the checkered flap I got a good look behind me and didn’t see anyone… on even coming out of the last corner. It was nice to have that much of a gap.
The weekend was a learning weekend for me. I rode a first gen 250 Ninja in the 250SS class. Wow… I learned that for those bikes you don’t use the same brake markers as for the 675. You just downshift and tip it in. Too bad I didn’t get any practice time on it and I didn’t figure that out until the 8th lap of the race. It was enough fun that I think I’ll need to have one of those for next year.
The other lesson I learned was that if you are racing, then go race. I made the mistake of not really trying in the Formula Femme race, and as a result it was the first time in two years I ended up 2nd. That just made me so mad at myself and at the Modern Vintage guy who over heated and didn’t move off the race line so I almost ran into the back of him. It killed my getting back in front of the other FF racer. So lesson learned…