CPM F4
12-19-2005, 09:31 AM
What a great learning experience this weekend. This is really what racing's all about. I got up to the track Saturday afternoon and got ready for the practice starts. I needed to work on them because I got smoked coming off the line last month. The first couple were okay but the last one was a winner. I bogged so badly that if I walked I could have gotten off the line faster. Once under way, we got in one lap when they ended the session. It was a little disappointing because I wanted to get some practice in. Last month, after the third start it was an open session for six laps but it got too dark this time so the track officials called it a day.
That night, we headed out to Ramon's for dinner and met up with Kurt's group and Dustin's crew to have margarita's and sing happy birthday to the TrackPimp. Good times!
Sunday morning rolls around and I hear the pitter patter of rain drops hitting the Scamper's roof. The water was going to make for an interesting race. Jared and I did a practice session to see what the conditions were like and what they might be like for our race. I was surprised at how fast you could go in the wet. The sweepers could be taken at a pretty good clip. Turns 1 and 2 were taken at a fairly quick pace but then coming out of turn 3 I felt the front sliiiiiiiiiiiiide to the outside. It was the Same thing with 4b. Every turn and throttle/brake input would have to be incredibly smooth. Visibility through the visor was another factor. Because it was so cold and damp out, my visor would fog up easily. I had to breath downward out of my mouth. I was venting my warm breath down and away from the visor. Staying tucked for too long would quickly fog up the shield too so I had to pop my head up here and there to clear up the visor. We never got the opportunity to try any of this out as the rains stopped and the track dried out.
As the calls were made for our race, race #12, Mike, Jared and I headed out to pregrid and then the warm up lap. I pulled into my grid position #10 which was in the middle of the track. I told myself that I had to get a good start this time. As the flag man held the 2 sign up, I revved the motor and remembered what Jared had said about his starts. Let out the clutch just enough to feel the bike pull forward and then pulled the lever back a hair. When the green flag dropped, I was hard on the gas as I spooled out the clutch and flew off the line. I got a great start.
As we approached turn 1, I was gaining on the guy in front of me. I was going to go around him on the outside but then noticed that everyone was headed in that direction. I looked to the inside and saw an opening. As everybody swerved out to the right, I dove inside to the left. I hit the brakes hard, threw the bike into the turn, held a tight line and popped out of the exit in fourth position. Wow! I'm in 4th! Cool! As I came up on turn 2, I saw Jared pulling away with two riders in tow. I managed to keep 3rd place in view for a few laps but he was gapping me every time around. So I focused my efforts on maintaining a good pace and being consistent and it paid off. 4th place!
Congrats, Jared on another great 2nd place finish. Way to go Mike on your two top 10's. Nice work out there.
My thanks to Jared for letting me be a Scamper camper this weekend. Scamper, it's a treasure trove of hidden goodies 8-). Mike it was great to see you and be out there with you. Always a good time when hanging out with you. Thanks to Bryant for the generator and tire warmers. Thanks again to the BuyMoto crew for helping me get setup.
That night, we headed out to Ramon's for dinner and met up with Kurt's group and Dustin's crew to have margarita's and sing happy birthday to the TrackPimp. Good times!
Sunday morning rolls around and I hear the pitter patter of rain drops hitting the Scamper's roof. The water was going to make for an interesting race. Jared and I did a practice session to see what the conditions were like and what they might be like for our race. I was surprised at how fast you could go in the wet. The sweepers could be taken at a pretty good clip. Turns 1 and 2 were taken at a fairly quick pace but then coming out of turn 3 I felt the front sliiiiiiiiiiiiide to the outside. It was the Same thing with 4b. Every turn and throttle/brake input would have to be incredibly smooth. Visibility through the visor was another factor. Because it was so cold and damp out, my visor would fog up easily. I had to breath downward out of my mouth. I was venting my warm breath down and away from the visor. Staying tucked for too long would quickly fog up the shield too so I had to pop my head up here and there to clear up the visor. We never got the opportunity to try any of this out as the rains stopped and the track dried out.
As the calls were made for our race, race #12, Mike, Jared and I headed out to pregrid and then the warm up lap. I pulled into my grid position #10 which was in the middle of the track. I told myself that I had to get a good start this time. As the flag man held the 2 sign up, I revved the motor and remembered what Jared had said about his starts. Let out the clutch just enough to feel the bike pull forward and then pulled the lever back a hair. When the green flag dropped, I was hard on the gas as I spooled out the clutch and flew off the line. I got a great start.
As we approached turn 1, I was gaining on the guy in front of me. I was going to go around him on the outside but then noticed that everyone was headed in that direction. I looked to the inside and saw an opening. As everybody swerved out to the right, I dove inside to the left. I hit the brakes hard, threw the bike into the turn, held a tight line and popped out of the exit in fourth position. Wow! I'm in 4th! Cool! As I came up on turn 2, I saw Jared pulling away with two riders in tow. I managed to keep 3rd place in view for a few laps but he was gapping me every time around. So I focused my efforts on maintaining a good pace and being consistent and it paid off. 4th place!
Congrats, Jared on another great 2nd place finish. Way to go Mike on your two top 10's. Nice work out there.
My thanks to Jared for letting me be a Scamper camper this weekend. Scamper, it's a treasure trove of hidden goodies 8-). Mike it was great to see you and be out there with you. Always a good time when hanging out with you. Thanks to Bryant for the generator and tire warmers. Thanks again to the BuyMoto crew for helping me get setup.