trackpimp
10-18-2004, 03:04 PM
It started on Friday. There wasn't a saturday practice this month because all the WSMC races were on Saturday and the Toyota 200 was on Sunday. I got about 12 laps of total practice before Saturday's races. Guess I had to leave that the race day.
The race day came and I made it to the 2nd practice session as usual. Was going ok, and made a nasty pass on my buddy Mark Allen in 3 (note to self, appologize later) Then on that same lap, I nearly highsided myself to the moon coming out of turn 6. It somehow settled itself, but I thought for sure during those violent head-shakes that I was gonna end up on the ground at 100+. I came in, and collected my thoughts and went back out for a couple more laps. after the riders meeting I went over to marks pit to appologize for the nasty pass, and "Its just practice and It was a stupid move" was said. He then told me it looked like I was fighting the bike. My confidence was completely shot.
When I started the first race I was a nervous wreck! The race started and I was already getting passed by a couple of people in 2, then my partner Rudy went around me. Holy crap!!! , that dude hasn't even raced in like over a year. This was enough motivation to kick my A$$ into gear. I followed him for a whole lap, and on the 3rd lap of the race, and got a killer drive off of 9, and sucked into his draft. I then pulled to the right of him, and brushed against him as I blew by him like he was sitting still. I definetly got the lead out and started passing some people, but then the race was over.. I finished like 18th. Checked my laptimer during the race, my best lap on the 600 ever.. 1:27.86 SWEET.. this was a huge confidence booster.
The next race came and I was off. I passed a couple of guys, and was practicing tucking in more on the straights to avoid that crazy wind and stuff. I was getting killer launches coming off of turn 9, and I was seeing 28's regularly on my timer. I came in after that race, and I had done my best lap ever (on any bike) a 1:27.80!!! I finished 14th. WOWZERS!!
My final race of the day was fomrula 2. It was really windy during that race. I started it on a brand new rear tire. I wasn't that confident in it, so after the race started, I think I tip-toe'd around a bit too long and let the pack get away and I finished 9th. That will NOT happen again
Now for the 200. Our rider Jacob was in the race. He had made it to about 9th place when on lap 30 he pitted. We did the pit stop (I was the fuel guy), and apparently he was sent back out without anyone pumping the front brake. turns out, this was all he needed to sample the WSIR soil in turn 3. He went for the brake and it wasn't there. the crash truck brought his bike back into the hot pit to see if we could repair it, but it was too jacked up. It wasn't to be. all I can say is that was a huge bummer.
All in all the weekend went well for me. I did my best laptime ever. I had a great time, and a smile on my face. I learned to ride on slicks (they hookup, not slide). Until next month!
Big thanks to all my sponsors, and to my buddy Mike Formisano for coming out and sort of being my pit mechanic for the weekend!
The race day came and I made it to the 2nd practice session as usual. Was going ok, and made a nasty pass on my buddy Mark Allen in 3 (note to self, appologize later) Then on that same lap, I nearly highsided myself to the moon coming out of turn 6. It somehow settled itself, but I thought for sure during those violent head-shakes that I was gonna end up on the ground at 100+. I came in, and collected my thoughts and went back out for a couple more laps. after the riders meeting I went over to marks pit to appologize for the nasty pass, and "Its just practice and It was a stupid move" was said. He then told me it looked like I was fighting the bike. My confidence was completely shot.
When I started the first race I was a nervous wreck! The race started and I was already getting passed by a couple of people in 2, then my partner Rudy went around me. Holy crap!!! , that dude hasn't even raced in like over a year. This was enough motivation to kick my A$$ into gear. I followed him for a whole lap, and on the 3rd lap of the race, and got a killer drive off of 9, and sucked into his draft. I then pulled to the right of him, and brushed against him as I blew by him like he was sitting still. I definetly got the lead out and started passing some people, but then the race was over.. I finished like 18th. Checked my laptimer during the race, my best lap on the 600 ever.. 1:27.86 SWEET.. this was a huge confidence booster.
The next race came and I was off. I passed a couple of guys, and was practicing tucking in more on the straights to avoid that crazy wind and stuff. I was getting killer launches coming off of turn 9, and I was seeing 28's regularly on my timer. I came in after that race, and I had done my best lap ever (on any bike) a 1:27.80!!! I finished 14th. WOWZERS!!
My final race of the day was fomrula 2. It was really windy during that race. I started it on a brand new rear tire. I wasn't that confident in it, so after the race started, I think I tip-toe'd around a bit too long and let the pack get away and I finished 9th. That will NOT happen again
Now for the 200. Our rider Jacob was in the race. He had made it to about 9th place when on lap 30 he pitted. We did the pit stop (I was the fuel guy), and apparently he was sent back out without anyone pumping the front brake. turns out, this was all he needed to sample the WSIR soil in turn 3. He went for the brake and it wasn't there. the crash truck brought his bike back into the hot pit to see if we could repair it, but it was too jacked up. It wasn't to be. all I can say is that was a huge bummer.
All in all the weekend went well for me. I did my best laptime ever. I had a great time, and a smile on my face. I learned to ride on slicks (they hookup, not slide). Until next month!
Big thanks to all my sponsors, and to my buddy Mike Formisano for coming out and sort of being my pit mechanic for the weekend!