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AHRMA race report from New Jersey Motorsports Park, Thunderbolt: What a blast! This event falls on my birthday and it is becoming a tradition to travel down to support Kerry Smith and Team Giannini, plus do a few races of my own.
AHRMA is a national series focused on vintage, and unique modern race bikes. I don't have a bike that fits their structure, so I have to borrow one. This year Isaac Maycotte came through with a generous offer to let me race his SS prepared SV650. This was my first chance to race one, and I see why they are the standard club racing bike. Incredibly easy to ride, and pretty darn fast too. Isaac's is an extremely nice example.
AHRMA repeats their entire schedule saturday and sunday. I entered 2 races on saturday and just one on sunday. Sound of Thunder 2 which is a serious challenge on the SV facing much bigger bikes, and Sound of Thunder 3 which is the SVs proper class.
SoT2 was first up and I was gridded at the backof a 40 bike grid. I got a great launch and headed into T1 maybe 10th? I put my head down and chased some faster bikes hard for a few laps, dipping to a 31.5 before overheating the front tireI had some big smeary slides, so I backed off and brought Isaac's baby home in 6th. The lap time was better than I had hoped for, and Things were looking good for SoT3.
Saturdays SoT3 race was perhaps the craziest of the weekend. I was gridded at the back again and got another solid launch. Kris Hopkins got an even better one though and I slotted in behind him in 5th? place into T1. After a few passes and some battling, I came through the kink in perfect position to get a serious draft. I tucked in tight for a bit until I had a good head of steam and pulled out into the wind. I whipped past Kris, the bike in front of him, and what the hell, I can get all the way to the front on this one!
I was in DEEP and HOT into T1 and the front tire did not hold. I was clearly not going to stay on the track surface, so I stood it up and off roaded from T1 to T2. As the lead pack went by I looked over my shoulder, and there is Kris Hopkinspassing me, IN THE DIRT ALSO! lol. I throttled up through the whoops and came back on track in 4th with all the work to do again.
I settled down and started to work my way forward. About halfway through I had the leaders coming back to me when first place crashed and second place followed him a little wide. I swooped under them into the lead and managed the gap to take the win.
Sunday SoT3 went more to plan. I got the hole shot, did a few fast laps, and managed the gap to take a flag to flag victory with Kris Hopkins on my heels.
By far the best part of the weekend though was watching Kerry Smith's incredible ride in F250 on saturday. I will let her tell that one though.