Road America Race Report
Vol. 4, #1
Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI. - May 3, 2009
Yahoo, the 2009 race season is underway but due to budget and work related issues I was only able to attend the Sunday races as part of the three day Road America Festival of Speed, Twin Sprints weekend. Sunday was the best of the three days, weather wise, so it was a great way to get back on the horse!
The last time I was on the bike at race speed ended in the crash that ended my ‘08 season so to say I was a little tentative would be an understatement!
Of course the first race weekend couldn’t go without some drama which started as soon as Troy and I unloaded the trailer only to discover that I had left the keys to start the generator at home! That changed our game plan a little as far as having hot tires right off the start line so we’d both have to be a little conservative into turn one and the first half of the first lap until the tires got up to temperature. As it turned out this really didn’t seem to slow either one of us down but I won’t do that again!!
We only had one practice session so as I went I was arguably the most nervous I’d ever been on the bike. I slowly increased my pace on each lap and started to get more and more comfortable. My wrist and little finger were a little achy, probably a reminder to ride within my means, but everything else felt good and ended practice feeling like I was ready to race!
Race #1 - Lightweight SuperSport
Since I registered that morning I was last on the grid which didn’t bother me, I just wanted to get a race under my belt to start the season. The flag dropped and I got one of my patented great starts! I launched and was up with the experts immediately! After turns 1,2 and 3 the fast guys smoked by but it was really fun to get near the front right away. I ran well all race, maybe a little stiff but safe, trying to remember what to do and how to get around the track as quickly as I could. My result was 6th which still scored me good points but the more importantly I was back in the saddle and feeling real good!
Race #2 - Thunderbike
Troy and I were gridded next to each other in the race and as I came up from the warm-up lap to grid there was someone else in my grid box so I just move over to the next one but as I was getting situated the #1 board was already up!! As I was getting the bike into gear the green flag dropped, “Oh my gosh!” Needless to say my start was terrible and I was way behind the eight ball! I settled in and started working on my race craft. I did close on the pack but was never a threat to them. Yes I was disappointed but I used this race to work on my lines and gear choices to try some ideas I had. I ended up a distant 8th place but I still figure it was a success getting through my first race weekend after the way it finished last year. I ran all the laps and none of the rocket fast experts ever lapped me, a first for me at Road America!
It was a fun day and Janet being there with me obviously brought me good luck! I enjoyed visiting with several friends while there including the director of Buell Racing, Henry Duga. We're off and running!!
Stay tuned...
