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So I get up there late Friday night. Crash in KB's WICKED nice new RV in the mom's attic. Slept like a rock but heartburn from pepper's kept me up till 2 or so (KB ate them and had the heartburn). I didn't even hear Sampson come in. Got up in the morning, Big-D donated Zebra bike's front brake master cylinder and I put it on. HOORAY! I have front brakes again!!!!
Went out in practice. It was COLD! Felt good but had a hard time getting used to modulating my front brake. For those who don't know how I "roll", I'm a strong late braker and that is where I make quite a bit of my passes. I wasn't feelin it but started getting more confidence in the front in 3 where I crashed last weekend in the wet.
Practice went well in Blue. Only got passed once by a 750. That's not too friggin bad for a shitty EX.
Race #9, LW sportsman. I gridded 4 rows back from the front of my wave. Got a half decent start and was 3rd coming into 1 behind two KTM motards. First motard had TONS of motor and left us within a couple laps. I hung with the 2nd motard for a while. He kept gaining ground so I figured I'd stick the 3rd and not chance missing my bump to AM by crashing. Traffic slowed him down to the point of me being on his ass letting off on the next to last lap. He was stuck behind a 250 in 9 and I went on the outside of the both of them in 10 for the pass into 11. Coming into 11 I didn't have enough motor, got cut off by the 250 at the apex to the point of hitting the curb and getting air. I landed IN FRONT of the 250 and the motard and didn't look back. By the bowl on the final lap I saw the motard try to take my on the outside. I drifted wide and blocked his pass. Opened up quite a gap passing traffic and nailed a solid 2nd place in Lightweight Sportsman. VERY happy with my riding and battle, that guy on the KTM I've battled with before. He rides solid, safe and courteos while being fast. Fun guy to ride against, I hope he bumps up. I wouldn't feel bad being beaten by him anyday.
Day Two:
Got up, skipped practice 1. I have a personal rule. If I can write the word FUCK on my seat in the frost, I don't ride. So I went out for 2nd practice. More of the same, feeling better into 1, braking later and later, feeling better in 3, etc. Now I'm really getting used to 10. I gain lots of ground on a lot of riders into 11, they all seem to let off so early.
Race #1 GTL. Bad start, but hang a 4th for a while. Motard and Silver Dragon go by me. I was pacing myself for the 20 minute race since I have never completed a while one (always red flagged). So I hang with them just trailing for a while waiting for the end of the race to make my move. Well, then the race ends in a red flag with me in 6th. Crap. Oh well. Then they said they were going to restart it after I was already in the pits. Then we go back to grid up and they say "next race". Then I go back next race and they say it's cancelled. Ugh.....
Race #9, Lightweight Superbike. My new favorite race (in NV anyways). I'm racing against SV's, 250's and other bikes that are pretty much way over what I got. No worries, still gunna have fun!
Got a decent start and hung 2nd place by turn 3. Trailed a Yamaha 250 for the longest time until nearly the end of the race. Stayed on his ass most of the time. He got me coming out of the bowl, but I caught him entering 3 and in 9 every lap. He was skilled, fast and smooth. I thought I had a solid 2nd nailed. All of the sudden an SV650 goes by me like I was sittin still in 10-11 then takes him. Turns out with the chick that got all the applause in the trophy ceremony on Sunday night. She can ride well! Musta had a bad start or something because she should have been in front of us the entire time. I was still on the 250's ass by the end of the race in 3rd. Next to last lap and I'm going to make my move in 3 is the plan. Going onto 11 and 12 he gets by Rick Lee's BIL on the S4R but I can't pass without possibly stuffing him. I couldn't see taking a chance passing questionably on a newbie riding such a nice bike so I nailed the brakes and passed him on the straight. That pretty much nailed the coffin on a 2nd place but I got a strong 3rd. Happy with it, it was a great race and I think I rode decent. Clocked off a 1:26.627 or something which was the best of the weekend. I'm gettin back to where I used to be....
Race#14, Ptwins. Bad start. Maybe 8th bike going into 1 out of 6 rows. Pass KB in 1A, Brewmaster into 3 and started chasing Stupidhawk. Kept with him for 6 or so laps just having fun until a 250 passed him. Then he turned it up and I started dropping back. I'd like to think I coulda hung but I think when he puts his head down he has a little more than I do. It was fun riding behind him most of the race though! It was getting dark by then and the shadows messed with the bowl and 12. Next October I'm bringin headlights.
Nailed a 1st place in Ptwins.
Big-D took SECOND!!!! His first wood!!! Go Darrell!!!! WOOO!!!!
And with that I now qualify to bump up to AM
I look forward to harrassing Oreo a bit more and dicing with TJ, Conner, Biggity and Brenden. Judging by laptimes, it should be quite interesting and fun having so many close EX'ers racing together
List of things for next season:
EZ up or equivalent
Carpet
Enclosed trailer
camper (workin on it)
Penske rear shock
braided front brake line
rolling tool box
grill
lap timer
12 hex for axles
safety wire pliers
pit bike (i have a KZ250 somewhere....)
Brand new Honda 125 racebike
spare set of wheels
rains
lights
portable kegerator setup (no glass at the track)
more to be added.....
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