svsrevlis
Wed 3/14/07, 5:40PM
So right on time with posting this...just before the March race!
February was my second month racing in WSMC. I had race school and the first race out of the way and now had my first opportunity to see the way it really went. I took the opportunity by showing up late to make it for the first practice session. There are always people at track days or race practice that skip out the first session or quit early, but not me. I figure I am paying for track time and the all important seat time so needless to say I wasn't thrilled about missing that first session. Lessons learned I guess…get up earlier!
The good news of the day was that I ended up pitting next to Kurt and Cody. I hadn't met either of them before, but knew of them by reputation. Both were very helpful all weekend with advice, getting the bike up on the stand, changing my tires, etc. Thanks guys for helping the FNG out!
I had some suspension work done after January's race to improve the rebound rate on my front forks and noticed a difference right away. Without even really pushing, I beat my January best of 1.42 with a 1.41. Thanks to Andy Palmer and West Coast GP! As the day went on I kept dropping my time and after getting some new rubber I ended the day with an all time best of 1.39. I was happy with this time, but knew I needed to shave a few more seconds to get a respectable showing in the middleweight race.
Sunday morning practice went well and my times were about the same as they had been on Saturday. Then came the long wait through the whole day for my race, the second last of the day. As seems to be the norm the day drags on and then suddenly it is 30 mintues until race time and I am freaking out about getting my gear on, warming up the tires, getting my head in the right place, etc. It all worked out and Cody and his wife helped me with getting the tires warmers off and stuff.
I was 10th on the grid in the first wave out of a total 33 riders in both waves and was hoping that a good start might allow me to maintain that position and get a top 10 finish. Well, my start was horrible...and by horrible I mean dumping the clutch at 8500 rpm's for a nice sky high wheelie. By the time I got the bike back on two wheels and going I was near the end of the first grid...I think I was second to last out of 15 or 16 riders. I got by a few riders in the turns (no chance of passing someone on the gas with an SV) and got passed by a few riders on the straights...and by some guy flying in turn two. I ended up crossing the line in 15th place out of 33 riders with a new best time of 1.38. I guess I will be happy with that for my second race.
I am going to be at Laguna Seca this Friday for a Code's Superbike School and then will be heading down to Willow for half a day of practice on Saturday and another race. We will see what Keith and Co. are able to teach me!
February was my second month racing in WSMC. I had race school and the first race out of the way and now had my first opportunity to see the way it really went. I took the opportunity by showing up late to make it for the first practice session. There are always people at track days or race practice that skip out the first session or quit early, but not me. I figure I am paying for track time and the all important seat time so needless to say I wasn't thrilled about missing that first session. Lessons learned I guess…get up earlier!
The good news of the day was that I ended up pitting next to Kurt and Cody. I hadn't met either of them before, but knew of them by reputation. Both were very helpful all weekend with advice, getting the bike up on the stand, changing my tires, etc. Thanks guys for helping the FNG out!
I had some suspension work done after January's race to improve the rebound rate on my front forks and noticed a difference right away. Without even really pushing, I beat my January best of 1.42 with a 1.41. Thanks to Andy Palmer and West Coast GP! As the day went on I kept dropping my time and after getting some new rubber I ended the day with an all time best of 1.39. I was happy with this time, but knew I needed to shave a few more seconds to get a respectable showing in the middleweight race.
Sunday morning practice went well and my times were about the same as they had been on Saturday. Then came the long wait through the whole day for my race, the second last of the day. As seems to be the norm the day drags on and then suddenly it is 30 mintues until race time and I am freaking out about getting my gear on, warming up the tires, getting my head in the right place, etc. It all worked out and Cody and his wife helped me with getting the tires warmers off and stuff.
I was 10th on the grid in the first wave out of a total 33 riders in both waves and was hoping that a good start might allow me to maintain that position and get a top 10 finish. Well, my start was horrible...and by horrible I mean dumping the clutch at 8500 rpm's for a nice sky high wheelie. By the time I got the bike back on two wheels and going I was near the end of the first grid...I think I was second to last out of 15 or 16 riders. I got by a few riders in the turns (no chance of passing someone on the gas with an SV) and got passed by a few riders on the straights...and by some guy flying in turn two. I ended up crossing the line in 15th place out of 33 riders with a new best time of 1.38. I guess I will be happy with that for my second race.
I am going to be at Laguna Seca this Friday for a Code's Superbike School and then will be heading down to Willow for half a day of practice on Saturday and another race. We will see what Keith and Co. are able to teach me!