Round 2 -- over and out

As the weekend came to a close I was in unusally high spirits considering the events, but I think that was due to the beer consumption which started shortly after I pulled off in the middle of the 650 Twins race.

Let's back up: Saturday brought the inaugural run of the Formula AFemme Ladies Class and a switch to Pirelli tires (they squish a lot!). With eleven women signed up, it was a pretty exciting event. Angie Loy came all the way out from Arizona to show the girls how to "git 'er done", as shot out front on her GSXR 750 and smoked the field running :48s! After a short gap was Deb on her little RS125 also rippin it up. Joy Higa was alone in third and in my sights for the entire race was Christie Cooley! I battled a bit with Cassie, and every time I'd sneak away from her and up to Christie there'd be a poor, innocent Clubman Lightweight rider in my way! Quite frustrating. So Cassie gave me a run for my money and Christie stayed in front of me as I blew turn 11 on the last lap, but managed to stay in 5th. It was an exciting day for us all. Though I was three seconds off last year's race pace and didn't feel on it, I still managed to have some fun and was eager for Sunday.

Sunday morning I was feeling decent though there were some unfortunate crashes in the first race. After a helicopter ride and a couple of hours, racing was back on, though there was a heavy weight in the air. My first race was Open Twins before lunch, then I was scheduled for 650 Twins and Formula IV after lunch. Open Twins is one of my favorite races because the pressure's down and I have a pretty good excuse if when I get passed by a 1098. My goal is always to pass BDub #143, but what was unexpected and unacceptable was to get passed by Michael Adrian! This is my race, what are these other 650s doing in Open Twins? I'm not allowed to get passed by 650s in Open Twins! It's just not supposed to happen. I hung onto Adrian and watched him knock plastic with what looked like an RC51, opening up a hole for me to get back by. I passed the RC51 too and hoped that I had put some space between us, but it didn't take long for Adrian to pass me back. Grr, it was on now! I thought I had him coming out of 7 but then Mickey Fibres came out of nowhere and stuffed me on the brakes! What is going on here? I kept up with Mickey and Adrian for a bit, but they slowly started to pull away and before I knew it they were a turn ahead and I no longer had a carrot in front of me to chase. I have yet to check if my lap times dropped for the last two or three laps, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. Every lap I saw people behind me in turn 11 and I wasn't sure if it was Open Production coming around, or Open Twins guys trying to get by, but I managed to stave them all off, finishing in 13th place. Not bad for my little SV.

After lunch I lined up for 650 Twins and was feeling good, albeit being gridded in something like the 8th row! I saw Jenn and Christie ahead of me (with points from Buttonwillow) and I knew I had some small targets. My start was acceptable and I pulled around the outside, though turn 2 is always sketch with 40 bikes trying to pile in there at once. After the first half a lap the crowd started to thin out and I started to pick people off. It took me a while to get round Christie, but I managed it. Once again I got passed by Adrian and Mickey but I wasn't letting them get away again! They were right in front of me with someone else too, and there was an annoying guy on a red and blue bike who kept trying to pass me but kept blowing his turns. It was a little frustrating because I kept having to check up on my lines because of his mistakes. Then before I noticed anything, Frost blew by me and snuck in right behind Mickey. Grrrrrr. So Frost, Mickey, Adrian and mystery rider were a clump ahead of me, but I was right on their asses and snuck up on them in 7. Next lap, I thought, I'll get at least two of them into 7, and if not then certainly into 9. But as I came down to 11, I slammed down three gears and heard a hideous sound in my motor. "Oh no", I thought as it sounded like someone was shaking a coffee can full of screws. I didn't freak out for long as I upshifted out of 11 and continued down the front straight, but then it was time to downshift for 1 and nothing was happening! Step on the shifter, nothing! Slam on the shifter! NOTHING! AAAhhhh, I'm going really hot into 1, this is scary! But okay, I made the turn. And now I am bogging up the hill to 2 in 6th gear with my hand up. I finished the lap and came in as practically the whole grid passed by me. I promptly threw my bike on the stand and ripped my helmet off in a fit of fury.

After a once over by Chris V we determined that something inside the clutch must have gone and we should check it out. So we had the bike leaned over on its side against the trailer when Chris realized that the radiator drain plug is part of the clutch cover. Ever read the warning labels on your radiator cap? "Don't open when hot! Contents under pressure! Danger! Will explode in your face and give you hideous burns". So we couldn't do anything while the bike was hot. Boo. With Formula 4 about an hour and a half away we determined the best course of action was to start drinking. Which I promptly did.

Can't wait for May where I will be starting with no points on row 456. Like I need another challenge.

Pulling up to Sears Point! I'm so giddy and excited that I'm literally squealing in my car.

I have a running SV in the back of my truck!

Awaiting Infineon

I'm getting ready for AFM Round 2 at Infineon on April 25th and 26th. Lots of exciting things to come: a) My rebuilt (again) motor will hopefully work and I will be able to race! b) Formula AFemme Exhibition, for the first time ever the ladies will have the track to themselves (almost... we're a wave in the Clubman Lightweight race) to battle it out.

This round should be very exciting. I missed the WERA round in Vegas because my motor wasn't ready yet, so that was quite disappointing. Not only does WERA have a women's class that I'd love to race in, my favorite racer ever was there: Peter Lenz. He just rode at Phoenix this past weekend and came away with 3 1st places and a 3rd (the 3rd was in the 250 class and he's riding a 125). He's my hero and I can't wait to see him in MotoGP in a few more years.

Anyway, back to me: picking up bike tomorrow, getting quick turn throttle from Motion Pro because they are the best ever! And anxiously awaiting Formula AFemme which will be on Saturday, some time after 3pm, so come check it out! We are still working on class sponsors but it may look something like Trackside Moto, Pacific Track Time, Viets Performance, AFMotorsports (Michelin), Pirelli, Tim Scarrot in memory of his friend who passed away in Iraq, and our very own Joy Higa. When we know more we'll have official press stuff supporting all the people who are supporting us!

I should be working right now, so I'll see you all at the races!