March 2004
This month was a real racing month, and I was back to my normal routine. I went to the track on Saturday and had a good session. It is interesting that Dunlop tires seem to wear better in the warmer weather. I was going through a rear tire in about 28 laps in January, but this month I got 32 in and at a really good pace without going through a tire. I think I can get 40 laps out of a rear if this is the way it will go in October. The front may be able to go 80 laps. The one I have from this month looks like it could go another month.
I took it sort of easy on Saturday. I had gone through the bike for the first time since November 03 to do maintenance, and I had made quite a few adjustments. I did valves, cam timing, oil, etc., so I decided to just take it easy and then be fresh for Sunday. On Sunday I had fresh tires and used the two morning sessions to get things scrubbed in and ready to go for the races. I entered the Formula Twins, Formula 40, Middleweight Twins, and Formula 2 classes. This is the first time I have raced in 4 races, and it is also the first time I have raced at the Professional level, which was the Formula 2 (F-2) race. To get a Professional license a rider must be able to consistently circulate the track in 1:30 or better. I only got to this level in January, but they were nice and allowed me to move up this month. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous in my first practice sessions because the Pro riders get the track in a separate session. I didn't want to be the "slow guy" and have the real racers complaining, but as it turned out I was far from the slowest guy out there.
My first race was Formula Twins. I got a terrible start, which has been a real problem for me. I had much better results on the Buell. I am going to change the clutch and reduce the gearing for April to see if I can do better. Anyway, I got off about last, and had to fight my way through the pack. One good thing about this is I am learning to pass. I made it up to a group of two guys who were fighting for second and third. I had a better pace and was about to consider a pass when there were several crashes on the track, and it got a bit confusing as to whether they were going to call the race or not. I decided to just hang where I was and ended up fourth. Sort of a bummer because a third was a paying position.
My second race was Formula 40. This is sort of a masochistic race because I am outclassed by just about every bike on the grid. The number of racers was rather large this month, and the front row was all GSXR-1000 based. So, I sucked it up and did my best, which was an 8th. I had fun but I am wondering what the point is. I may move to a different class next month.
The third race was BOTT Middleweight, which is the race I am determined to win. There is a new rider this year who is very good, and he has won every race. I don't think he is any faster, he is just getting much better starts than I am. Anyway, he got into first right away, and I got my worst start of the day. I think I was dead last. So I really tried to jam my way into turn 1 to make up some time and did pretty well getting by almost everyone by the time I had completed the first lap. The leader was out of reach, but I caught the second place rider and followed him for two laps. He was just as fast as I was on the straights, and pretty good in the turns, so I really couldn't see a way by him. I said to myself "If I am going to get past him, he is going to have to make a mistake…". Right after I said that, he missed a shift and I rocketed by him. I thought I had it but then on the last lap we came up on a slower rider at the entrance to turn 2. I made a mistake and got fixated on the rider instead of my line. I sowed slightly and Richie, my competition, got by me. I was BUMMED but determined. I had a good pace and he wasn't leaving me behind. I was right on his tail as we approached the final turn, and he made a decision to defend the inside line. I probably would have done the same thing, but his move allowed me to square off the turn better and get on the gas sooner as we exited the turn. This put me about a half a bike ahead of him and I was able to hold him off to the finish. I was so excited I forgot to break after the finish line and went into turn 1 way wide and FAST! I almost went off the track, which would have been pretty embarrassing. So, I came away with a second place trophy and some good memories.
The last race was the F-2 one, and I was nervous. I don't know if it was nerves or the Chinese food I had the night before, but I made quite a few trips to the House of Charmin before that race. My buddy Alex was also racing, and it was his first time too. We were gridded dead last, but we had decided that this was a learning experience, and we are thinking of trying to get into Laguna Seca this July. Once again I got a poor start, but not quite so bad as usual. I was able to pass three riders by the time we completed the first lap. There was a group of three riders in front of me, and I got by them but then ran into a problem. The guy holding me up was really fast on the straights, but really slow in the turns. But for some reason I couldn't get by. Finally I passed him in turn 5, which would be a preamble to the rest of the 8 lap race. On the next lap I thought I had clear sailing until someone cut under me on the entrance to turn 1. This became a major contest. I passed him back in turn 5, then he passed me again in 1. We did this for four laps! The fourth time he got under me in one, we exited side by side but he had a better entrance to 2 and was able to cut me off. Again I followed him closely, but I was sure he would block me into 5. Luckily for me he held a tight line and I was able to get around him just barely, and then repaid him the favor by cutting him off in 6. I had the lead at that point and was able to hold it to the finish line. I only got a 6th place, but I think this really was the best race of my life.
The more I do this, the more fun it is. I was thinking about it as I drove home. There is nothing like motorcycle racing. Maybe if they had a grid of skiers all lined up together and they did a downhill race all at once, this might be similar. But there is nothing like racing closely with competent riders at high speed on a challenging track. Working with the bike, choosing the line to get around the track and the other riders, judging the speed and competency of the competitors and having to make decisions on strategy while traveling at 100 mph, it just doesn't get any better than that.
I was told that one of the riders I beat is going to get a 749R soon. I am going to have to dig deeper to beat him after that, but I know it's there.