What a YEAR! The 748 blew up so many times I lost count. I also made several errors which cost me. But I did learn some things for sure so when it's all said and done, it's good.
The mental error in March really pissed me off. The next month the bike broke, and from then on the 748 was never really up to snuff. I have been trying to keep it running with a collection of used motors and used parts, and for that bike it just doesn't work. I did finally get a bottom end to hang together and figured out why they kept failing, but then a used valve broke and ruined the head, bent a Carillo rod, and ruined the piston and cylinder in October. Really sad. What I plan to do is put together the best motor I can with new valves and bottom end and hope that I can get something that will hang together next year.
The 1098 ran great all year. I made steady progress, and got fairly consistently into the 1:27's which for me is absolutely outstanding. I know that I need to run 2 seconds faster, and maybe someday I will but hey, I am pretty happy with my current results. I did actually get into the 26's too. I was having another good race with Tyler Purcell, he and I end up being the "best of the rest" in most races once Nolan, May and sometimes Higbee check out. Tyler got a great start and I didn't, so I was just chasing him down for most of the race. I was sure I had him, but then I got blocked by a backmarker and on the last lap I had to give it everything in my attempt to chase him down. The good thing is I ran the fastest lap of my life in the attempt. The bad thing is I didn't catch him. The lap chart says it all.
Because of the bad start which caused all this in the first place, I decided that for the last race of the year that this was going to be the thing I focused on. So, on Saturday afternoon I signed up for practice starts. First one went good, I was first into turn one, it was OK but I knew I could do better. The second one I got a really good start, and right as I was committing to turn 1 some idiot tries to come underneath me. I will not use names, but he was an idiot. He looses the rear right in front of me. I have images of those Internet photos where you see the guy being run over by the bike and about all I had time to do was say "Oh No!" when Bang, I hit something, went into the air at 100+mph, off into the dirt, and that was it until I was looking at am EMT who was asking me if I was sure I was OK. Apparently I had been having a conversation with her for a while, but that was the first time I actually was fully engaged with it. I assured her I was fine and went back to the pits. The bike was basically totaled (we'll see...) and luckily the other rider escaped unscathed. He actually was able to race the next day. I only heard that later because he never even bothered to come by. Needless to say, he is not on my Christmas card list. I was unable to walk much, no jogging at all, for a month and as January nears I am starting to get back into the fitness routine. Economic situation being what it is, the 1098 is languishing in the garage.
So, 2009 taught me a few lessons. It is amazing how mental errors can cost so dearly. Here are my new behaviors which resulted;
1. I now always look closely at the course control person on every lap. I always
look closely at all flags when I see one.
2. If I am close enough to pass someone, I try to do it immediately, no more
hanging behind thinking I can take them at my leisure!
3. Make sure I am absolutely the first person into turn 1.
The year was sort of a rough one for WSMC as well. The economy made it hard on the track owners, and they had to make some thought decisions on personnel. I hope 2010 is better for everyone.