Pang's Race Report 9/27 9/28

[pangerang]

First off, Thanks to Kim for the Penguin School auction, and nice meeting you at the TTD

Some of you may have already read this on another forum, but I'd figure I'd post it up again here.



Friday - I start off bright (or dark and rainy) and early in Penguin. A few familiar faces and a few new faces. It's raining, pretty much pouring and disgusting. Kurtz gets my rains put on while I'm in the Penguin class . Get out for 4 practice sessions running the mid 1:3x. A few incidents on track with the other students, but I fair well throughout the day. At night, I feel like I'm in hell, wet and miserable. I was a complete bitch that night and I thank Kurtz and David for putting up with me.

Saturday - Went out for 2 practice sessions, still raining... I practiced some starts and ran a couple 1:32.xx. Noon came around and it was the rookie race. I was nervous as all hell. I was in the 2nd wave with 5 other light weights (small field - probably due to rain). Green flag drops and I take the holeshot (yes, i just said holeshot and rookie race). I remind myself that it's a 3 lap race and all I need to do is finish and not be the 2nd "That Guy". I start catching the guys in the first wave and all logic and common sense go out the window. I pass a heavy weight and finish 2nd overall and 1st in my class (yes we're still talking about the rookie race).

Sunday - Still fucking raining...this shit just doesn't let up. It's open practice. I roll out, click off a few laps between 1:40 and 1:34. My visor starts to fog up and I pit in. Clear anti fog visor goes in and I'm back out. 1st lap out I just start running hot working my way around people, until t11....I hit some traffic and didn't get on the gas through the transitions and tuck the front. I'm in Nascar looking at my bike swearing at myself. I sheered a brake line somehow. After the practice session I bring the bike in. I'm running between our spot and Street and Comp trying to get parts. Dave (Macgyver) and Kurtz have my bike apart and back together before I know what happened . So the bike is good to go just in time for the 1st race...

Race 1 GTL
2nd Wave - I get a great start - considering I'm starting from dead last. 5th into turn 1 and 3rd by t2. I follow Ryan (808) for the first few laps, then pass him going into 1. I stay in 2nd for a few laps then around the 1/2way mark (10mins) Ryan takes 2nd from me and we battle it out for a bit. I end up following him for the next few laps. White flag comes out and I decide that I need to make a move. I caught up to him in t1 as we both start to pass guys in Wave 1. I back up a bit and ramp up my speed through 1a and into 2. This was it I was going to attempt an outside pass around both of them. Ryan takes the inside, I take the outside and the HW crashes right in front of me and takes me out.... 1st race...DNF but no real damage to the bike (it just ain't pretty... at all anymore)

Race 7 Thunderbike
This was a pretty uneventful race. I get a good start (again starting from dead last). I follow 808 again (Ryan). He's running just slightly faster than me and a crash in T3 slows traffic down and I lose him. I ended up 5th behind him.

Oh....and it's still fucking raining...

Race 11 Lightweight GP
I'm again gridded at back...I'm starting to not like being gridded this far back. I get a good launch, and am in 2nd going into t1. I'm chasing the leader (some guy from the zip tie alley garage on an SV). I'm able to keep up, but I can't catch him. I end up in 2nd. Wahooo... podium

Race 13 Lightweight Superbike - rain is starting to clear finally
Green drops and I pull hard on the field and get the holeshot into 1. I'm pushing real hard the first couple laps. 3rd lap t3 I look up and see Jamie in the stands with his arms spread huge. I look back and don't see anything so I slow it down a bit. Final lap rolls around and I still don't see anyone. 1st Place and I had a 10 second lead by the 2nd lap.

This was an absolutely amazing weekend. I'm very happy and excited about the results that I had. It could not have this successful and good without the help of Kurtz, King, and Payne.

Thank you guys for a great weekend....and now .. onto TTDs

[Pittenger5]

You looked good out there man, I was a little worried for the kid with you coming up on him. Shame the bike aint so pretty anymore, but hey, its a race bike.
Looking forward to seeing some good battles next year.

[Mr. Kurtz]

Good job dude.

[Jaynnus]

What a great rookie weekend!!

Congrats.

[Jenni]

you already know how i feel... i'm very proud of you, dave.

[GixerJockey]

You crashed it already? You suck.

[Mr. Kurtz]

You crashed it already? You suck.

Twice. In one day.

But, he also took a 5th, a 2nd, and a 1st place in his first weekend, so we'll let the crashing thing slide.

[OreoGaborio]

Pangah Langah Ding Dong! You did great, bro! You've got that fire in yer eye now and me thinks you'll do VERY well in the racing scene.

Here's to a good start & a successful '09 season

[Hoss]

Congrats Pang! I didn't know were jumping into racing.

Look forward to watching you out there next year.

[pangerang]

Thanks guys. I can't wait until next year. I'm hoping i can build off the wet experience at the races and the dry time at the TTDs and just start off right where I left off for 2009

[Evil_Weasel]

congrats on the kick ass rookie weekend. i would have stopped by to say hi, but i was too busy hiding out in the ziptie alley garage from the horrid weather.