#149's Rookie Race Report (or, The Story of the Greatest Weekend EVER!)
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Penguin School Friday morning. Nothing exciting to report there...
Satruday morning practice: Suited up and went out on the track. I was a little nervous at first. It was immediately apparent that this was NOT a track day. I also noticed that the track was beginning to look very different from what I was used to. I was passed in places I wasn't used to. I passed some people in places that I wasn't used to. I picked up the pace and started to ride faster than I have EVER been around Loudon. I was very impressed with how much faster it felt than any other time I had been on the track. I came in to the pits exhausted but satisfied. Went to check lap times and found that my BEST lap was a WHOPPING 1:36.9. Yea... I stunk the place up.
Rookie Race: I was gridded in the front row of my wave. Got a great start and drove away from everyone down to T1. Then, being the big T1 vagina that I was, jumped on the brakes and maintained a snail pace through T1 and 1A. Brian Kelly (#519) made his way past me somewhere on the first lap and left me sitting in second place. Rather than chase him, I listened to the voice (multiple voices) telling me not to be a hero and just finish two more laps. So on we went. Mike Green (#450) also went by on that nasty, motarded, CR500. I think he got me running wide into the apex of 6 and took me on the inside coming out. Now I'm sitting in 3rd. Ok, not terrible. complete the second lap. Have an uneventful third lap. Other than that I lapped some rider (#120) that I'm sure started behind me. That was odd...
Final result. Third place LW, with a best lap of 1:35.7.... Making progress!
Saturday Race #10, LWSB: Gridded in the last row on this one. Got started with no issues. Nothing spectacular... At some point about midway through this one, Mike Kurtz (#816) passed me. Mike and I are good friends, and as you could expect, I wanted it back. Wanted it BAD!!! Now we had a race. I tried disparately to get around him for the next couple of laps with no luck. The white flag came out and I knew that it was gonna be over if I didn't do something. Finally we got into the back section of the track and I was right on him through 8, 9, 10, 11. I tried for it on the outside of 11 and managed to get along side of him. When we flopped over for 12, I had the chance. My front wheel was about at his right footpeg. I quickly made the decision to stay where i was instead of grabbing the brakes. I took the corner away from him on the inside, turned into 12a, got on the strait and tried to break the throttle stop right off. I ended up beating him by .59 seconds in the race. After it happened, I felt like it might not have been the nicest thing to do. On the cool down lap, i looked over my shoulder after T2, to give him the "sorry" sign and he was behind me with giving me. Thanks Mike! It was a great feeling. To fight for the position and get it on the final turn of the final lap felt great! Now we're racing!!! Best lap: 1:32.7. Now were headed in the right direction. Down 4 seconds from that morning's practice.
Saturday race #12, LWGP: Gridded at the back of the pack again. Took some advise from Denno about carrying more speed through T1. I got a decent start and headed into 1 in 6th place. I was passed by a couple of faster guys who ran away from me. Rode my race for a few laps and then was passed on the inside of T7 by #723 on a Kawi motard. We had ourselves a race going for a few laps. I just coudn't get around the guy. Finally, again working with Denno's advise, held the throttle a little later, released the brakes a little earlier, and went flying into T1. I closed the gap that the 'tard had put on me and was right on his wheel headed into the T3 chute. He ran a hair wide up the hill, while I got on the gas WAY early out of 3. I out motored him and made the pass in the inside or T4, right at the apex! Man, this racing sure is fun. Final result, 6th place. Best lap: 1:28.7!!! I've dropped 8 seconds today!!! Afterwords, Graham asked me if it felt "fast". I thought about it for a second and it honestly didn't. It just felt smooth.
Sunday race #10, LWSS: I was feeling much more comfortable today. Most of the nerves were gone and I'm starting to figure out what's going on here. Another battle with Kurtz (#816). He got a better start than I did and I had to play catch. It's so much fun racing with your buddies. I stayed right with him for the first three laps trying to get around. I finally beat him on the brakes into T3. I rode the rest of the race nice and smooth and tried to apply everything I had learned over the weekend. The track had gotten much smoother for me by now and many of the corners that were giving me issues were all straightened out and comfortable. I was very consistent in my lap times for this race. The first thee laps were 1:30s. The next two were 1:29s. And the last three were in the 1:28s. I was very happy with my performance in this race as it rounded out what was an absolutely perfect weekend. Finished in 7th. Best lap: 1:28.8.
Cliff Notes:
I didn't crash. I shaved 8 seconds off of my beginning "best" time. I'm totally hooked!
I had an absolutely amazing weekend. I had no idea that I would enjoy myself so much. I can hardly wait to get back up there.
I owe thanks to a lot of folks for their help, advise, and support that made my rookie weekend a tremendous personal success! You all rule! What a fantastic community.
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Originally Posted by ceo and a bunch of numbers
see yooo bichiz there!!! 
You're my favorite. Its going to be a fun summer 
(I hope you know I'm kidding, that coulda sounded harsh)
Nice edit! No offence taken... I laughed. I just figured you were happy to welcome another member into the Lollipop Guild!
zing!
