TDR Weekend - June 12-13, 1999


What a beautiful weekend. 

This weekend was "shoestring budget racing", since I'd bought a trailer
during the week and had Bikeworx help me figure out what I needed to make
a run-of-the-mill trailer become a race-bike hauler, plus I'd had my
leathers repaired. This didn't leave a lot of time or money for bike prep,
but I did manage to get my brake problem from the previous race weekend
rectified.

I had to pack much more stuff than usual this weekend, because I had a
passenger, plus a lot of extra stuff for the sponsor weekend, but we
managed to get it all attached firmly to the trailer and jammed into the
car. It was not the most efficient packing job I've ever done. ;)

Rob and Scott and I managed to find the quick line this weekend, and pre-
registered on Friday night again. I tried to find more suitable races this
weekend, and registered for Lightweight Superbike on Saturday, and
Lightweight Grand Prix on Sunday. I turned the bike back from a street
bike to a race bike, but managed to thoroughly baffle myself by attempting
to attach the front number plate to the mirrors. (Hey! Wait just a dang
minute, here! Race bikes don't have mirrors!)

It was wet on Saturday morning for amateur red practice, and speed and
confidence are difficult when you're out there first and drying the track
for everyone else. The Fog City faceshield really worked, though! I spent
time in my first practice trying to learn the track, instead of making
good time. Second practice was better, but as in previous weekends, I was
totally feeling the limitations of my suspension and the instability
caused by shifting or revving anywhere between 7-10K RPMs.

I seemed to learn the track pretty quickly, in comparison with others out
in my second practice. The track was making some of the racers squirrely,
and it was easy to pass them in places where they didn't know the track as
well. Carrying speed through corners is a lot easier than on the previous
track configuration, and a lot of people hadn't figured that out yet.

The race was okay, but not great. I got a poor start, and a really clumsy
and bad rider got ahead of me. He was faster in the straights, but totally
dangerous in the corners, and since he was all over the track, I couldn't
pass him safely. Finally I just gave up on him and let him get a bit
ahead, and then continued the rest of the race essentially by myself. When
I got lapped by the leader, he seemd to pass awfully close, but I didn't
think too much about it. (Later I'd discover that this seems to be that
guy's trademark.)

Sunday's practices were much the same as Saturday's. Wet in the first
practice, better conditions in the second, giving me enough confidence to
feel the bike's problems again. Came to the realization that the new
configuration of the track leaves me no good place to shift into between
Turns 10 and 11, and I may have to do something about the gearing of the
bike.

The Lightweight Grand Prix was a hoot, although somewhat disappointing.
These guys are *fast*, and I much prefer this race (#3) to Race 10,
Lightweight Supersport.  Unfortunately, the guy in front of me stalled at
the start, and I couldn't get around him because the people gridded behind
me were popping through all my available paths. As a result, I didn't
really get to follow anyone around the track this race, either, which I
find to be the most beneficial to my racing. (I just wish I could do it
every weekend.) I came in 11th.

I didn't manage to get any lap times all weekend, unfortunately. :(

I corner worked on Sunday, so packing up to leave started late, and then
became another nightmare of inefficiency, what with all the extra stuff
and a new trailer to fight with. However, eventually all went well and I
trundled home with bike in tow.

Special thanks to Galen and Kevin at Bikeworx for all the trailer help,
and to our sponsors and pit crew.