0
Thanks to everyone who showed up on saturday and sunday. What a great turnout! You guys have no idea how awesome it feels to have such a huge following. It gives me such a great incentive to do well when I see familiar faces in the bowl, turn 3, turn 1 and turn 12. I can see you guys and pick you out during a race no problem and it spurs me on to go faster and faster.
I didn't get to personally shake the hands of a few of you, but I knew who was there and I appreciate you being there, thanks!
My first weekend in the junior/expert class was a great experience. The difference racing with the pros is amazing and it is a great learning experience when one of them goes by you and you get to follow them for a turn or two. Remember, the top racers at Loudon are running 1:11's and 1:12's which is AMA superbike standard, so I can get a good idea of what will be expected of me when I eventually make it to the national series (which I have every intention of doing, I may be 35 but I am still improving by 1 second per race weekend). I had never before run a 1:19 lap at Loudon and in my second race as a junior I ran 5 laps in the 1:19's and 11 laps in the 1:20's in the GTO race against the 750's (I came in 4th in the GTO race) http://www.lrrsracing.com/images/pdf...28-29/Sat4.PDF . I found out that I can outbrake ANYONE at Loudon into turn 1 (Des Conboy, Jeff Wood included as I was held up by both of them after they went past me into that turn on seperate laps) which is very encouraging. In 3 of my 6 races this weekend I was the first Honda to finish (experts included) so I think that the old F4 is nearing the limits as far as lap times are concerned. I believe the bike could do 1:17's at best. I have put a deposit on a 2003 CBR600RR. I may buy it next year and I may not, still undecided. All in all I got 31 points this weekend and I need a total of 65 to go to expert class.
Many thanks to all those who bought tickets for the raffle which raised $175 which we donated to the Karen Hornbecker memorial fund for injured riders. http://www.lrrsracing.com/injured_riders.htm
As it turned out that donation was very lucky for the team as it raised our reputation a little bit with the officials at Loudon and got us a get-out-of-jail-free card.
I have to say a special thanks to Paul (Mr. X) who worked tirelessly this weekend helping out on the bikes, and also to Bill (Rabid1) who as usual was a workdog for us and came up with the idea of the platform we had for the bikes (it was raining hard on friday). Congratulations to Dan (criminalspeed) who took the plunge and did a fine job in his first real race on Sunday, good job Dan!! If you had realised that you get 40 minutes of free practise on Sunday morning you would have got much better lap times I am sure. I will NEVER forget the grin on your face when you came off the track after that race (it was priceless!!). I think you have the bug dude "The force is strong in this one" as they say!!
I am very, very sore from the racing this week (need Motrin, now!)
but I vow to work on my strength and stamina this winter so I can go into the latter part of the next race year with more upper body strength and less belly than this year.
I made up some framed pics for the people who were helping out week in/week out just a gesture of how much I appreciate your help. Also, thank to all you guys and girls who show up when you can (Mick, Mark, MarkB, Chip, Jen, Ed, Beet etc etc) as I know you Guys have busy schedules and I realise you make a great affort ty travel very, very far to get to Loudon. Looking forward to next year.
Degsy
Reply With Quote
(sevens, and racya) 
