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Arrived Friday around 7:00 A.M. I had a friend that was taking the school so we arrived early and were all ready to go. I got in two practices and watched my friend for most of Friday.
We arrived at about the same time Saturday, and I got in two more practices, doing 1:30's (too slow for wat I thought I was doing). I watched my father and friend race LW Sportsman, neither of them going too fast, and after that called it a day.
Sunday we got there a little later knowing that we did not have to get in early for the school. I got in two more practices and was then waiting around for Race 14. I had some chattering in the front whell going into turn 9 earlier in practice, so we adjusted the Penske to make the weight even on the front and back wheels.
When Race 14 rolled around I was suppose to be gridded right next to my father but due to a computer glitch, he was four rows back (big advantage for me). After the first wave went off I was all set to go. I had an excellent start and moved right up to fist place. I was trying to keep it slow while going fast on th first lap because I did not have tire warmers. To my suprise I was in first place all through the first lap and I knew I could keep that because before I was maybe doing 31's. I picked it up after that and was dragging my knee in every turn (which I just learned to do this weekend!) and held my place. I was challenged once I caught up to the motards in front of me and I had a terribly slow rider in front of me. If I had any chance at winning the race I knew somehow I needed to pass this guy. I decided that it ws going to be in the bowl, so after doing my normal line, I saw that he had run wide and tried to get in on the inside, which I thought I ahd plenty of room to do. But unfortunatly, I hit this guy or he hit me, and I was feeling bad about it because I still got by him.
By this point I had what I think was Pete right behind me, which got me upset that I was slowed down so much. I decided to go the way I had been going before and not try anything drastic to get a bigger gap. I went another lap and Pete wasnt showing me a wheel anymore so I thought I was Ok. Obviously as the race goes on you will be going faster. Coming inot turn 11 I wasnt doing anything more than usual except going a little faster. I was down lower because not only my knee was touching but my toe as well. Thats when I felt the bike just drop. I went rolling towards the pit in but I got up Ok. I was so mad that I crashed with only three laps to go! Next weekend I am doing the LW Sportsman as well as Production Twins to see how competitive I am in that race.
I would also like to thank Ann and Mark Dages for helping me get back to where I was pitted, and Scott Slattery for bringing the bike back.