What a weekend! Words cannot describe the excitement of these three days. Road America has always been my dream track to race at. I wanted to share my dreams with the family so my Mom and Dad made the trip down to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Then the news came that my Aunt Judy was also coming all the way from Marshfield. I was very exited to have them there, but it also put a little more pressure on me (but I like pressure). I knew that there were three regions racing that event so there would be very stiff competition, with as many as eighty bikes on the track at the same time!
We got to the track on Friday at about 10:00 pm. I had a hard time getting to bed that night because I just couldn't believe where I was. When we went to the races last year to take in some CCS racing, I told the crew, "Next year we will be in the pits, mark my words!" I wasn't kidding.
We woke up Friday ready to get on the track for practice. I got in the first practice at around 8:00 am. The bad thing is we get almost no practice time because the track is so big. I only got about 8 laps around the track before my first race. I was feeling pretty good with my lines but didn't have my braking or shifting points down yet. I couldn't believe all the elevation changes and the fast straights. They clocked an expert bike at 187 mph. In the carousel, you are dragging a knee for about a half a mile at about 100 mph. What a rush! I couldn't get enough. I couldn't wait until the next lap.
My first race was the GTU which is the 30 minute endurance race. This race is good because you get good track time. That came to a halt when I was battling for 2nd place with Superbike Ike Anderson. I got really greedy and I was going way too fast into turn 6 which is a blind corner coming over a hill and did a huge stoppy and realized I wasn't going to make the corner. I just crammed on the brakes and hoped for the best. I went flying over the handle bars and the bike came with me. I was so mad at myself for not being patient. I rode back to the pits with my bike in the back of the truck.
My trusty Crew Chief Johnson and I knew we had some work to do before the next race on Saturday. We got it race-ready with some duct tape and zip ties, though. We woke up Saturday ready for a new day. I had one practice before the races started. I was a little uneasy on the brakes though now that I found my limits the day before. My first race of the day was the Middleweight Supersport. I did terrible, finishing in 16th place. I wasn't in the race at all. I got a bad start and was really hesitant everywhere. My arms were cramping because I was hanging on too tight. I just could not get comfortable. I was disappointed.
Everybody kept coming up to me in the pits asking what was going on out there, that I just didn't ride like I can. Finally, I thought to myself, I just have to get over it! With a little concentration, I did it. I went back out for the GP race and really felt pretty good and got a 5th. That was so big for me to get wood at Road America. My family and friends were very excited. I was happy to give them there moneys worth :-).
Then came the last race of the day, Superbike. My Dunlops were really taking a beating and they were really getting slick. The carousel really shreds them up, but I still managed to finish a respectable 9th with some really good racing. I went to bed that night very happy with my finishes.
I woke up Sunday for practice but realized I really did need some tires because of huge slides in practice. Mom and Dad mentioned they would buy me a set for the weekend, so I couldn't pass up a fresh new set of sticky buns! I quickly had my buddies at the Dunlop tent change them out before my race. I got a 7th in Superbike which was my best finish in that class, so I was happy with the finish with the big field.
WARNING: The faint at heart should stop reading now and go look at the pictures in the photo gallery instead or go shop on Old Navy.com or something. Keep reading at your own risk!
Then came the "main event", the "big show", the world series, so to speak, and what did I do? CHOKED!!! Cough!! Cough!! I was in third place feeling really fast. Ike was in second and I felt I had to be in second right now, which was the big mistake. I was showing him a fender all over the track on lap one of the Middleweight GP as we came to the kink which is about a 140 mph corner. It is the ultimate worst place to crash because of the wall being just 6 feet off the track. We were flying in and I was pulling up beside him but realized how fast the corner was coming. I knew I was in trouble right away, so I tried to hold my line and get ready to try to lay the bike into the corner without going down. I started running wide but didn't panic and just hung off the bike and tried ripping it down to the ground. I started dragging the foot peg and then knew I was going down. I knew this was not going to be good. Before I knew it, I was on my side, sliding on the track at 140 mph.
The bike hit the air fence on the wall and bounced off and hit me and sent me into the grass. I just couldn't stop. Finally, I slammed against the air fence, stood up and realized what just happened. I was not mad, but just happy I was alright. It could have been bad. The bike was a mess. It looked like a yard sale, with parts everywhere. I waited patiently and couldn't wait to get to the pits the let everyone know I was o.k. It was not a good first race for my parents to go to. I went into the trailer to check myself over I had pretty nice road rash on my arm and leg but no broken bones. I'm happy.
After seeing other wrecks that weekend I think my parents realize that wrecking is part of the sport and the safety gear really works. It even surprised me. I learned a lot this weekend and found the limits of myself and the bike. After lots of late nights and elbow grease, I will be ready for Blackhawk Farms on the May 10th.
I really want to thank my Sponsors, my Parents for the Dunlops and for being there for me and also my Aunt Judy for making the trip. My pit crew was awesome. There is no task too big for Johnson and me. And, most of all, my supportive wife Heather for putting up with my addiction of racing and helping out HUGE at the track and off the track. See ya at Blackhawk Farms!
