Well, it was kind of a good race weekend. If it hadn’t been for the rain I’m sure it would have been a great weekend. Overall, it wasn’t too bad, I did get some good time on the track Friday afternoon. I would have been better, if the track hadn’t been covered with mud in the morning. They worked hard to scrub it, but it was still quite dirty when I got out there for some much needed practice.
It was the first time in about 9 months that I had been on it, I was surprised at how much I remembered about my markers on the track and really was missing some of them. Since it had been so long I figured that I’d have to start over with picking new ones, which was pretty much on target for most of the corners. I ended up having to modify some lines due to the dirt on the track.
By the end of the day I was feeling pretty comfortable with the track and the bike. Mainly due to Shane adjusting my suspension, don’t know how he does it… but all the chatter is gone. Also, many thanks to ST selling me a set of his rain tires. I was really hoping that if I bought them that I wouldn’t end up needing them. No such luck. It started to pour as I was leaving the track and as I was driving toward Byers, I notice a rather large funnel cloud heading our way. As I was checking into the hotel, the hail started. Luckily, it didn’t last long and the cloud skimmed by the track. It continued to rain all night again.
Saturday, I made the decision to not ride in the rain. I’m still kinda traumatized by racing in the rain after Barber last year. So I hung out in the Vanmar pits all day with Tammy. I did get the bike out to tech it, and get the rain tires on it, just in case I changed my mind. (I’m a girl, after-all)
Sunday the weather wasn’t any better, but at least some of the dirt had washed off the track with all the rain. I went out for practice and towed Shelia around for a few laps. I don’t think that I’ll be doing that again. It’s too much of a one way street.
I actually had fun in practice, the bike handles great in the rain. The only issue is being able to see after 4 laps, my visor fogged up so bad that I had to open it to be able to see where the track was.
I only did the LOR (Ladies of the Rockies) race, it was the third race of the day and it is held with the Modern Vintage GTU race. I was gridded in the second row right behind Wyeth. I really just wanted a good launch and to finish up right without going into the mud. I couldn’t believe it but I had a fantastic launch!! I was right on Wyeth’s tail going into the first turn then, I got a little to happy with the throttle and the back end of the bike went sideways. It stayed up right, but it kind freaked me out, so I backed off quite a bit. It started to rain harder about the 2nd lap and my visor fogged up even more. It was during the first lap that the first MVGTU guy got by me and then I blew turn 1 and had Shelia get by me. I stayed on her and almost got back around her in turn 4 but I did the same thing with the rear of the bike and decided that I didn’t want 2nd that bad. So I just stayed behind her until 2 more of the MVGTU guys got by me. By this time I couldn’t see anything unless I opened my visor, only it would blow shut on the back straight, and I would have to guess were turn 4 was. Needless to say I finished in 3rd for the LOR and was 6th for all of the bikes, not too bad.
I think that racing in the rain could be more fun, if…. I had rain gear, an extra set of leathers, and had rainX to keep my visor from fogging. Fresh rain tires are very different from rains that have been around for awhile and now that I know the difference, I will be buying a new set every year. I also need to have my extra set of wheels to make tire changes easier.