2
I'll focus on the key points.
Got to the track on Tuesday for the 2 day advanced school with Eric. Learned SO MUCH in those two days, even while struggling to learn GP shift. I blip my downshifts, and for some reason I found it incredibly difficult to maintain constant pressure on the brake lever during my blips while also thinking about getting my foot under the shifter. I was especially inconsistent into 3, where I had to move my braking point a bit earlier to offset the unsteady brake lever pressure problem. Some laps I would nail it and essentially overbrake before my tip-in point, some laps I would almost completely release the brake lever while shifting/blipping and end up trail braking harder than usual to make the corner. It just wasn’t feeling good at all.
At some point during all the advanced school fun, I came back to the garage and found a mangled #405 bike on its stands. Huh, I don’t remember it looking that ugly. Colin then rolled up and said that Jason had gone down hard in 11. We rolled over to the medical center to find Jason, but he was still in the ambulance and apparently going straight to Concord. They exchanged a few words while Colin handed off his cell phone, so I knew he was at least awake, but that was all the info I had for a while. Scary.
Fast forward to Friday race 2. I was already loaded up on Ibuprofen in anticipation of the hip joint destruction that is GTL. I had an OK start, then spent the rest of the race chasing Roland #240. I would take 6-10 great and make up some ground, but then lose it all in 11 and 3 each lap. I felt like I was riding terribly, still struggling with GP shift, and was only holding my normal pace because of the tow from Roland. At some point (lap 17, evidently), I came into T3, tipped in, and BANG. I don’t remember this clearly, but I think my rear wheel was pushed sideways for a brief moment, then the tire hooked up again, then the bike flipped and sent me for a nice aerial view of T3. I was in the air just long enough to think “oh shit, this is a highside”. I came down hard on my hip and shoulder, took a good wack to the head and got the wind knocked out of me. Came to a stop, wiggled my toes, wiggled my fingers, got up onto my hands and knees, and realized I was right in the crash zone of 3. I crawled behind the tire wall on all fours, then pulled myself up for a look and realized I had collided with another rider, Seth Hahn #91. The paramedics ran over, asked me my name, where I was, etc. I’m good, seriously, go help him (on the ground still, not moving).
I am still not sure what happened exactly, but I suspect that I turned in either unusually early or late due to my problem described above, right as Seth was lining up the pass. He has probably made that pass 1,000 times before, and I have no doubt he would have nailed it if I was riding properly. My biggest goal for the year has been to ride safe in races where I share the track with lots of more experienced riders, and I feel terrible for letting Seth down in such a big way. I went over to his garage to try to get his contact info later in the day, but none of the folks hanging around there had his number. They told me to try Facebook, but I wasn’t able to find him on there either. On Sunday, I heard that he broke a bunch of ribs and got a concussion, which obviously sucks. If anyone is in contact with him, please let him know that I am thinking about him and wishing him a fast recovery.
That effectively ended my weekend. I was planning to do 2 races on Sunday, but my exhaust was bent around my rear wheel, triples appeared to be twisted, left side controls were destroyed, frame slider bent in half, windscreen gone, I felt like I got hit by a bus, etc, so I sat them out. I honestly do not understand how I am OK after the crash. I feel like someone grabbed me around the neck and shook me, and the side I came down on is pretty sore, but no major problems that I can tell.
Thanks to the corner workers and paramedics, as well as the other riders for being careful before the red flag came out. I wish Seth a speedy recovery (and Jason too). Also thanks to Eric Wood for a great advanced school.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by MHenry600
. Your attitude about the crash speaks to your desire to learn from it and keep yourself and others safer. I don't blip at all, but I do grab the downshift only after braking enough to match my speed with the gear. I don't advise it, but I can tell you I've never had trouble with it.
99 + 02 SV650 ex-race - 91 FJ1200 street - 03 KDX220R woods - 12 WR450F motard/ice
What are you riding? A CRF450?! (and is that even a 6 speed?)
