Wookie's rookie campaign

[wookie]

I'll be doing my rookie race in just 10 days! Again, for the first time.

I had hoped to start racing as soon as I moved down to San Antonio. Unfortunately, CCS south folded and I was left with a useless race license.

CMRA is now the only game in town. After a busy year of starting a new job and getting married, I'm ready to return to racing.

Looks like I'll be doing a rookie race and then I'll have to wear a yellow jersey for my next few races. Yeah, I'm a fucking rookie again.

I've got an SV almost ready and my old R6 is now all sorted and then some. At first I was planning on campagning the SV...stay out of the meat grider (same name in CMRA) and less cost. However, I really like riding the R6 and I think I can be competitive on it. Tough decisions.

BTW - had my first track day of the year this past Sunday. It was a small, private trackday outside of houston. Ricky Parker was there and I have some video of him flying past me. Dude is fast.

[Pittenger5]

Sweet Wook! Get it done, show them hicks how ZTA does things

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Pm Me your address I got to send some ZTA stickers out.

Let everybody Know

[butcher bergs]

Go...wookie....GO!!!

[Sheppo]

Rock on

[Kitt]

I remember you pitting next to me in your first rookie campaign...

[Wishbone]

Nice. Hope you kick some ass down there. Are you gonna spawn a ZTA south division?

[wookie]

Thanks, I'm psyched. I actually feel pretty prepared, it is amazing what you can get done with a full year off from racing.

CMRA is a little different from LRRS, they race at 4 different tracks through 10 race weekends. One of the tracks is 10 hrs away. Thankfully, 3 of the races are 3hrs and 5 of the races are only 5 hours drive. At first, this really discouraged me because there are other nice tracks close to San Antonio, but CMRA just doesn't race at them.

Taking a day or two vacation just for driving to the track sucks. But, the flip side is that racing at different tracks is pretty cool.

The other interesting thing is that Saturdays are endurance races (up to 12 hrs) and Sundays are sprints.

And, oh yeah, definately representing Zip Tie Alley - South.

[Crash Dummy Denno]

miss you wookie, something fierce

[wookie]

miss you wookie, something fierce

I'll shed a tear every time I see someone launch in the wrong wave.

[butcher bergs]

Any update, wook?

[wookie]

Wookie Race Report - I didn't win my rookie race.

Monday - Track day
So I headed out on Monday to do a track day at Texas World Speedway. Figured I would get a little practice in. Cold as hell, power went out and the tire warmers did too...pushed too hard on cold tires and crashed pretty good. The R6 was pretty banged up (I actually ripped the brake lines off the master cylinder...I've never seen that before).

Headed home sore and having had little practice.

Friday - Race School
Race school down here is nothing like Penguin. We had 45 minutes of class where the guy just ran through the booklet highlighting the test questions/answers. For example, what is the number one concern if you crash. Answer - don't get run over.

However, the instructor never gave any suggestions/strategy on how to avoid getting run over (e.g., stay below axel height, don't get up and run around).

I'm not sure anyone even remembered what the flags meant after the class session. The rest of the day was just track time. If you don't crash you pass. I passed.

Saturday - Waiting
Saturdays are endurace racing. Pretty cool. Saturday morning was a 4 hour big bike endurance race with multiple classes. 40 teams of 4-5 guys on anything from an SV to a 1k. An RC8 won the race with one set of tires...I guess being smooth is pretty important.

Pit lane is crazy...there is no speed limit and folks are rushing in and out. Funny to watch 4 stressed out, tired dudes try to changes a couple of wheels. Some teams were real slick, others not so much.

The afternoon was a two hour mini endurance race. Lots of guys on EX250s.

After watching Saturday I'm really excited about endurance racing. Look awesome. Still hard to imagine an 8hour race split with 4 guys - talk about sore.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday
Sunday is sprints. Because the R6 was banged up I just ran the SV. Light weight twins, Supersport D, Superstock D. (D basically equals SV).

As a Provisional Novice I had to wear a yellow shirt (there is no novice class just AM/EX).

First race was not very smooth, horrid start and I ran off the track in turn 6 on the out lap. Almost ran off again in turn 4 trying to make a pass. Best lap time was a pittiful 2:15.

Second race was superport D. Lots of SVs, some of them built. Decent start and mixed it up during the race. Finished mid pack with a best lap of 2:10.

Final race was superstock D. Only 5 SV entries (I guess a lot of people built those SVs). Finished a respectful third. Best lap 2:09.

Feels GREAT to be back racing. I can't wait for the next race in two weeks. It is at a track I've never been to. I'm going to do a track day on Friday and hopefully I'm ready on Sunday.

[Rambunctous]

Nice to read a race report. Keep em coming.