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I got a little bit of the racing bug towards the end of the season. I ran the last 3 race weekends. What got me going was Chis D. accident. I wanted to have you all pony up some money so I found a loop hole. The last time I ran with a stock motor I was in the 1:22.7. So I figured if I could beat that time on a stock motor we could help Chris out. I did that within the first practice session on Saturday. I thank you for paying up. If you did not hear Chris made an appearance at Saturday's riders meeting. It was emotional. It was wonderful to see him up and about.
Well I was getting coaxed all season by 6 to find the 19's on a stock motored Hawk. I was swaying in the wind whether it was going to happen this year. Typical output of a Hawk is somewhere between 43-50 hp. He wanted to be the first to the 19's but he had some engine issues. Sorry brother. I knew it was going to be a lot of work to accomplish this.
This past weekend I really did not want to buy a new set of B-stones for the last race weekend and let them sit over winter knowing I get about 3 race weekends out of a set of tires. I made it thru the 2 Friday practice sessions and was not feeling all that confident about the tires. They were really getting torn up and letting me know that I was going to run some slow time in ULSB. I only broke into the 1.22's. Well I went and got a new set mounted. Thanks Miles and Radu from Street and Comp.
ULSB:
Green flag drops and I get a marginal start. It is just all Motards and Mike Dube on his honking Duc 800. Motards now rule ULSB. I hang out on the outside and pick off a couple in T1 and get on the inside of T1A. 2 down, 5 to go. There are just 2 Motards and a big Duc 800 in front of me. They are keeping a tight formation and running a freight train. I do not want to be the caboose of this train wreck. I have places to go. Jason Cavanaugh 451 is right in front of me. I saw what he did in lap 1 and 2 and hoped he would do the same on lap 3. As I set up for T3 he started to go tru the same motions. I took advantage of this and set up the inside of T3 to T4 line. Excuse me, coming thru.
Next was the big Duc with Dube on it. Dube was doing the whole follow the leader with Block, Eric 922 on a motard. I cannot sit back here. I got to make a move. He's got a ton of motor on the straights. How am I going got do this. Having ridden with Mike for many years I have knowledge of what he can and cannot do. Lap 4 I pulled the trigger. I set up the run in T1-2 and it got me on his back tire to catch a little draft to somewhat stick with him. Yea right. I closed on him under the brakes and he took the line I thought he was going to take. I instantly set up the run under him. With a fist full of throttle I was next to him at the apex of T4. I love it when a plan comes together. I keep to the left side a little to try and shut the inevitable down. Yea right, the big motor awakes as we crest the hill and he blasts right past me on the left. He tries to shut down the inside line (Left) into T6 but he left the door open just a crack. Maybe about 3'. It was enough for me to squeak on by under brakes and past him. Somehow I had to make the turn. I crank the bike over so far my boot toe slider was dragging. I then somehow had to keep him on the outside of me thru T6. Using all my power I tried to maintain the inside line of T6 and get to the T7 first. It worked. I nailed T9 and the section thru 11-12 as best as I could to make up some ground on the big Duc. It must have worked. I never saw him the rest of the race.
Then there was Eric Block 922. With that run from Dube I was able to set up a drive out of T12 and catch a draft on the outside of Block. He had the inside of T1. Knowing I would not be able to get this section I sacrificed this turn for another. I settled back so I could learn how he rides. I've never ridden with him before so I wanted to pick something up. I keep on him thru 1-2 and thru 3-5. In T6 I notice what line he is going with. "I've got him." I take the inside and block the potential run that he may have underneath me. I hold on and again rip thru T9 and 12. By the lap times this pass got me into the first set of 19's. With the free and clear running room I had my eyes set on Martire. I never thought I would have said that before. Last lap. Mike take a peek back and sees me. HI MIKE... I get up on the right side of his back tire out of T4 but he just motors on over and puts a good gap on me. Next.... I've got a couple of chances here. T9 or T11. I get a great run out of T6-T7. I'm closing in . I've got a pretty good shot in T9 I go for it. I run the outside and get to the flop for T10. Not enough room. I roll off and concede to holding onto my position as I knew I did not have a drive to make anything happen in T11-12 let alone any power to make it around him in down the straight. I did my best and stayed in his draft and finished .2 behind him. What a great race. It sure kept me busy and on my game. Wish I had 1 more lap. Just maybe. .
I roll into the pits and DDK is there wondering if I wanted to know what I did for lap times. He brings it up and. YEA MOTHER FER....... F N YEA.. 1.19.4 MOTHER Fer. Game Set Match. I met my ultimate goal of getting a stock motored HAWK into the 19's.
Here are the results for my 2010 3 race season.
8-7-2010
ULSB 8th 1.20.9
LW Sportsman 6th 1.20.7
9-4-2010
ULSB 5th 1.20.6
LW 4th Sportsman 1.20.6
10-2-2010
ULSB 3rd 1.19.4
LW 5th Sportsman 1.19.8
Not shabby for a crusty racer.
I beat DOC by 1 point in ULSB Wooooo Hooooooo