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Showed up Thursday evening, setup camp, and tried to figure out where everyone was going to pit/camp this weekend with 75% of the infield either ripped up or roped off.
Friday was Penguin Advanced School. Thanks to the crappy forecast, a ton of people were scared off, leaving just two attendees. As a result, I got a day of dedicated one on one time with Eric Wood and Carl Mcallister. In addition to a ton of pointers, I also learned how to evaluate my own progress, and improve it. For those that haven't taken this class, it is WELL worth it. Best money I've spent on racing by far.
I was graced with the opportunity of using Dan's spot in Ziptie Alley's garage for the weekend, so I left my gear there. Working out of a garage rocks, thank you again ZTA!
Saturday - Production Twins was my first race. Got a good start, dove into one without braking and managed to get a few people by surprise. Harrison stayed just out of reach, I could keep him in sight but couldn't keep him from slowly walking away from me. 1:33.086 to Harrison's 1:31.163 gave Harrison 1st place, me 2nd. Oh, and a new personal best. : )
2nd race of the afternoon, LW Superbike. Yeah, I have no business running a GS500 in a class targeted for built SV650s, but we're a bunch of novices so why not? Again, hard out of the gate, got some people in turn 1. Passed at least one SV mid race, dropped a 1:32.870 for a new personal best. Garnered a 3rd place finish.
Sunday - During practice a couple expert PTwiners joined us to show the EX500 guys the hot line. I tried to take on one of them and instead got treated to one hell of a tow. Damn fun, and GD do they BLAST through 6...
Went out for GTL, again pulled a great launch and caught more sleepers in turn 1. Battled with an RS125 for a bit, good fight going till he overcooked turn 6 in front of me. Next lap, a 600 I beat through 1 earlier in the race motored by me in 1 only to overcook 3 and visit the tire wall... damn near target fixated on him and followed... All in all a good session, although I would have liked for the RS125 rider to have stayed in the game as I enjoyed the cat and mouse chess match we had going. Got 5th in class which was a little disappointing, pulled a 1:32.030, a new personal best.
Timing and scoring goofed the grid sheets, replicating race 11's novice MW PTwins grid as the race 5 AM MW PTwins grid. I informed them of their mistake, but they never updated the sheet. Honcinglyannoyingscreennametoremember was legitimately supposed to be in that race, and joked about us having a good fight if I snuck in. Dana said I should try and grid for giggles, others suggested the same noting the worst that could happen is I'd get turned around off pre-grid... So I gridded. After my transponder was checked, and I was noted as being present, an official noticed my plates didn't match the others... and came over to ask me about it. I explained the grid situation, he confired with the pre-grid officials... and they eventually had to radio for a referee. After more discussion, they informed me that they couldn't let me out there and sent me back to my pit... oh well. That evening during the award ceremony, I was called to receive a 2nd place plaque for AM MW PTwins... someone should have grabbed that for me... my first AM wood as a novice.
My last race of the day was novice MW PTwins. My lone competitor, a rider on an Aprilia SXV 550 that I didn't recognize. I was either going to get my posterior handed to me, or I'd luck out and he'd be a real noob that I could abuse to garner my first 1st place wood... I decided I needed to follow him on pit out to see he ran for a line, etc. Unlike prior races, I hadn't bothered to run my warmers before this race, I used them on a lark this weekend, but figured at my pace they weren't doing any for me... As we setup for T3, the Aprilia, along with a few others in front of him all checked up hard, and rather than risk spooking people by late braking and sliding up the inside, and loosing my chance to see this guy's line, I checked up as well, dropping a couple gears to keep the lil GS from lugging badly. Well... once these guys tipped in, they nailed their throttles and shot through T3 and T4. Game On! I tossed in, grabbed a handful, and promptly floated valves just past the transition to the hill. No problem, up shifting while hanging off to the right cranked over is nothing new for me so I grabbed a new gear without thinking about it.
Lit the back end up, and promptly lowsided going up hill. I did a superman impersonation sliding on my stomach, and ripped my right arm open on my nice new leathers. I also jammed my throttle, bent the clipon and brake lever... preventing me from participating in the race. I lost the warm up lap... d-oh! All thanks to not remembering that I was on cold tires, and down a couple gears.
Now, for some additional detail as to why my mini's and GS500 are up for sale after my best weekend yet in LRRS: I'd love to say it's 'cause I scored a killer deal on a tricked out race bike that's a better match for me and NHMS. Unfortunately the opposite is the case, I am retiring from all forms of racing.
The lead up to this weekend was a study in frustration trying to prep my bike for the new season. No garage and no enclosed trailer meant I was trying to do my thing in a parking lot while avoiding blocking traffic. A bunch of things I wanted to get done I just couldn't, and what I did too much longer than it should have. My normal garage space that I sneak into occasionally wasn't available as planned, and isn't looking to be accessible much at all this summer. Both my minis have been due for TLC and I've not been able to do much of anything with them either.
So it all boils down to me needing a house, with space for an enclosed trailer, or ideally a garage already present. Anything less is going to leave me really frustrated as I try to keep my machines in safe working order. Thanks to the real estate marking taking a dive, most of the markets in my area are considered 'distressed' meaning all the wonderful first time home buyer programs out there aren't an option, and I need a bigger than normal down payment to have any chance at getting a loan.
Anyone who's seen my minis or even the GS will know that I don't do things half-assed, which means there is no such thing as cheap racing for me. I can afford to race, OR save money for a house, but not do both. I can't stand seeing my machines sit and rot due to lack of maint, and my normal garage space isn't available to me to give them the TLC they deserve. So I've decided that the best thing to do right now is step away from the track, unload the bikes so the temptation isn't there, and try to tuck cash away in hopes of improving my living accommodations. I'm 31 years old and pretty certain that once I step away from the sport I won't make it back, but my current situation won't let me enjoy the hobby properly, so this is likely my last race report.
Many thanks to Turn 1A, and Zip Tie Alley, you guys rock, both on the track, and hanging out after.