0
Left for the track right from work on Thursday, rolled in around 9 to meet up with Trouble (#117 John linn) to camp. I was excited and nervous for my second race weekend, with some new bridgestone slicks to try out, thanks street and comp!
Friday morning, I had a dry practice, but the sky was looking real threatening. I checked my practice times, and they were a couple seconds faster than my previous PB...sweet! But, I developed a horrible front end hop in the middle of turns 1, 6, and 9. The general consensus was that the forks were too overwhelmed with my weight at that faster pace with grippier tires. Ok, well I had to make it work the rest of the weekend, and then I could drop stiffer springs ect in.
The sky opened up 5 min before my lwgp race, and I didn't have time to spoon on rains, even if I did have any. Pissed. Decided to play it safe and stay in, so I could enjoy the next two days.
After a rediculously huge seafood dinner at newicks with trouble, brett (the one WITH facial hair) and jackie, i enjoyed quite a few frosty bevey's with the 1a crew, and kb's burnout trailer with the resulting drama...good times!
Saturday morning...headache. Nothing some Dunkin donuts and ibuprofen wouldnt fix. Had an excellent practice session, and got ready for my first long gtl race. I wasn't sure if I would last.
GTL- I wheelied start, chopped the throttle like a pussy, and lost the holeshot into 1. I think I was in fourth going in, and 3rd by the exit of 2. Then I picked off the other two by turn 6. I never saw anyone again until I caught the ultralight gtl wave traffic around 15 min in. I was completely exhausted by the end, even though I was keeping it steady and not pushing it too bad once I was in the lead. I made some sloppy mistakes in the last 1/4 of the race, but thankfully I had a good enough lead to soak up the slower times. Set a new PB of 1:23, and still had the horribly scary front end hop/ scrub, mainly in 1.
It was applebees for dinner with John, Jackie, and kitt and his fiancé, the girl he "gets" to marry. Headed to bed earlier this time, I needed some sleep.
Sunday, it was a perfect day, not a cloud in the sky. I practiced well, but still couldn't get rid of that wheel chatter with adjusted tire pressures. Decided to just take it easy in the effected corners, and just maintain.
Lwsb- got the holeshot with the front wheel in the air...wow, sv's will carry a power wheelie, who would've thought. After turn one, I didn't see a soul until catching the ultra lw wave. It was exciting to win again, but I had hoped to dice it up with Jake vader this weekend...not sure what the story was with him, he was so fast last month. I know his dad wrecked, maybe that had something to do with it? At any rate, I kept myself scared with the crappy front end, scrubbing it wide in 1 and 6 a few times. I have no idea how that poor bridgestone held on with such hammering abuse, a testament to the tire. It was like my forks occillated at the bottom of their travel, hopping the tire across the pavement. (gsxr front end).
Anyway, I had an amazingly fun weekend, it was great to meet a ton of new peeps, as well as putting some nesr faces to names. I walked off with two wins, a new PB of 1:23 (.2 I think?). I also survived a heartstopping headshake going through 7,8, and 9. Thankfully i just hammered he throttle, and hucked it into 9, and it settled
Huge thanks to Scott greenwood, Eric wood, and Rick doucette for donating their trophies for novice winners, it was a really cool gesture, and it meant a lot. Even if were just novices, it still feels great to accomplish something at this level, and to progress.
Time to massage the suspension, and hopefully make it back for august. July isnt looking good for me, but maybe I can make it happen. At the very least I'll be heading to njmp for the Jason pridmore star school
It was great hanging with all of you, thanks to everyone that helped me out. GMR is off to a healthy start this year, teammate John linn came away with a win, second, and third if I remember correctly. Now we just need Jason bellavace to get his ass out of work and to the track!
Also, wild bill, glad your ok after your pit road incident, and thanks for the good laughs. Your a great sport and fun to be around at the track. Heal up buddy!
Trouble, thanks again for the trailer to crash in, and for being a great partner in crime in the pits!
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by CBR929RE
better than nothin!
