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Chris Reulbach
LRRS Amateur #516 Race Report—Round 1
Subject: Palm Bomb Crashes the Amateur Middleweight Party…Literally.
My race weekend actually started Wednesday afternoon with a bunch of running around for last minute unexpected items. Finally got all packed up Wednesday night and did a late dinner with the woman before heading to bed.
Thursday was a looong day in the truck. Started at 8am; ended just before 5pm. During that time I drove 350 miles, stopped at UPS, Stopped at GMD and took one hell of a dump at Subway in Bellingham Mass. I was embarrassed from the stench so I promptly wiped my ass, then left. Get to the track just before 5, setup, take care of the last minute items and finally head to bed.
FRIDAY PRACTICE:
I decided since I have been off a bike for almost a year and would be racing an entirely new to me machine that Friday practice was absolutely necessary to give the Triumph a good shakedown. I also needed to blow the cob webs out and get acquainted with the new whip. I decided the morning sessions were too cold and headed out for the first time around 12. Bike felt great except for the rear wheel chattering and vibrating. After another session like this, it was decided the rear tire, though new, was bad. I switched to my new race shoes courtesy of MTAG and went out for a third session…the bike performed flawlessly and I was wicked happy. I decided to go out for 3 more laps in the next session, but a crash closed the track due to no available ambulances so I parked it for the day.
Saturday Practice:
Due to the retched cold, I decided to forgo 1st practice. I did however mount up for 2nd practice around 10am. I went out and put down a handful of laps. Bike felt great, I felt great, and I was pumped for my first race. I felt loose and smooth, ready to roll in my first AM race at 12pm.
Saturday Race 1, MW Superbike:
I’m gridded on the outside of the second row. I like being on the outside because my starts are nothing to write home about, but I’m very good at out-braking people into 1 and boxing guys out of 1A (hey, I’m a big guy and I can take up a lot of valuable real estate).
We line up, flag drops and we’re off. The train starts to bend into 1 and I go deep as planned. At the tip into 1 I’m in 5th/6th. I see a hole right to the leader’s (#535 Dave Kagan) tail. I say to myself: oh yeah, I’m in there like swimwear. I dump the trumpet on its ear and shoot right through the hole. I flip it over into 1A I’m passing the second place guy Tim Schultz and will be perfectly setup behind Dave exiting T2. Then the fireworks go off. Tim unfortunately washed the front end in 1A like so many others did this weekend. I couldn’t do anything but punch the throttle and attempt to slip the clutch. I was moving much faster than him through 1A so braking would have been futile. I ran him over and the last thing I remember before the lights went out from my head hitting the tarmac was: holy shit he’s dead.
I came too what seemed like instantaneously, but now that I think about it the paramedics were there so maybe somebody else can tell me how long I was down for? Regardless, I tried getting up but was discombobulated and could not get my balance to save my life. The medics were trying to help me but I was busy yelling at them to help the other guy cause I ran him over. They get him in the ambulance and I then got into the other one. I hear over the radio that he’s conscious and responsive—breathed a huge sigh of relief.
I spoke to Tim in the medical center. He was apologizing, which I told them there was absolutely no reason to apologize I was just happy he wasn’t dead. We had a couple of quick laughs and exchanged introductions; I offered to drive him to concord but he declined. I went to check on him later that day but found out he’d gone to the hospital. See other thread for updates—he’s got broken ribs; hopefully that’s the worst of it. Still trying to obtain a contact number for him so I can give a call and check up on him.
So, I started the 2011 season off with a BANG!
The bike took very little damage. Huge thanks to Tony and Mike from TTD and MTAG for putting it back together (plus others, sorry, was running around getting equipment together for the next race). Tony is a good guy…I race because I used to frequent his track days and wanted to take it to the next level. Now that I race, I buy my tires from him and he’s still there to help me out when needed with coaching, advice, and mechanical help. Talk about service after the sale…
I will list the rest of the thank you notes at the bottom as there are many—all which deserve recognition apart from this race report.
Saturday Race 2, MW Grand Prix:
I go into this race fresh off the crash. I feel fine; I’m not scared or nervous. My heart rate and blood pressure suggest this to be true. I’m not breathing heavy or anything—it’s all good. The flag drops and I get my obligatory abysmal start. To the outside I go; same story: nice big open hole to a top three position by T2. I choke and don’t pull the trigger.
I fall into line about 7th or 8th place. Over the course of the first lap I had opportunity to pass in turns 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12a. I also had a chance to pass in T1 on lap number 2, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I set pace and pass 3 people casually over the course of the race to finish 5th. Lap times for this race were no surprise. With the exception of the out lap I strung together 23’s the whole race.
Over 3 seconds off pace. I’m pissed at myself. My balls were rolling around the track somewhere between 1A and 2…where ever they were, they were clearly not securely fastened to their stock location between my legs.
I’m come into the garage pissed…throw a glove or something and ignore the fact that my hand is killing me. I realized I have lost my edge and I’m disappointed in my inability to put mind over matter.
Overnight Dave Kagan helps me take the top of the bike apart to secure some loose items with zip ties. We button her back up and I mount my cameras I brought…now kicking myself I opted to leave the go-pro’s in the garage for Race 1. Would have been epic to have that on camera. Working with the timing and scoring folks to see if I can get the playback from the race. I also sent a note to John Owens as he had photographers in T2, so I’m hoping they caught the crash on camera.
Sunday morning we wake up a bit late. It had rained over night and I think Dave and I subconsciously knew we would not be doing practice. Get to the track around 9am and my hand hurts pretty bad but is loosening up. The rest of my body is now following suit as I’m pretty sore all over. Was to be expected. I loosen up and get ready for Race 7, my third and final race of my Amateur debut.
Sunday Race 7, MW Supersport:
We grid up and the flag drops. I get a good launch but as the front wheel comes up I can’t hold the bar with my left hand so I’m forced to put it down before something bad happens. I get to turn 1 on the outside and there’s a bit of a hole, but guess what? Still can’t do it. Now it’s completely mental. I need to get through this weekend, heal up and come back strong for round 2. For the rest of this race I try to stay consistent and hit my marks since I can’t bring myself to do anything resembling racing.
I did make a good pass on my buddy #113 Shawn Pigott going into the bowl, but this was easy as I had the drive coming up the hill and the line to put me right inside the bowl. With the exception of the out lap, I not surprisingly was only stringing together 22’s this race (over 2 seconds off pace). I take 6th, lick my wounds, congratulate Dave on another win and pack my stuff up to head home shortly after watching Bill in race 9.
This weekend was a tough start for 2011. Not just for me, but for a lot of people. Most people from what I heard and saw were a minimum 3 seconds off their normal pace. There were a lot of crashes, mostly due to the cold temps and that bastard white line in 1A for the Legend Cars. Good thing they addressed it before racing started Sunday.
I learned a lot this weekend. Paramount to which is, despite my thinking so, anything more than a stupid low-side really has the ability to fuck with your head even if you don’t think it will. I know the incident wasn’t my fault and I know I didn’t do anything wrong. I also know that shit happens and you gotta roll with the punches. Overall when I look back, I’m glad I mounted back up and did my races. I gotta learn to walk that stuff off better because it is statistically probable it will happen again (more than once).
Aside from the racing, I had a blast with everybody. There were many positives this weekend biggest of which was just being back at the track and hanging out with friends.
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Originally Posted by rolker
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