posted on June 05, 2010 22:36
Summit Point with CCS!!
Summit Point!!!! What a wonderful weekend. I was back with my original support - Drew Harbuck (former multi-championship winning WERA Expert) and my friends. Morning practice was a little rough to start. I was having a very difficult time controlling the bike. Drew got with Hemmelsbach from Penske and they made some quick changes. I went out for my next practice and instantly went 2 seconds faster... the bike felt amazing!! A few more tweaks and eeks - here is 2 more seconds. I was able to get into the 22s in practice, which was a litle discouraging considering I ran 1'18s last year at race pace and 1'20s during practice, but oh well. I figured come race time I'd be feeling more aggressive and pull those times down. Everyone seemed to be off except a select few (Bemisderfer ended up running 1'13.5 on Monday!!).
Sunday: Race Day 1
Saturday morning practice I was still running 1'22s. I was hoping to get those times down, but just couldn't find any seconds. Race 1 was the GTU - it's a 25 minute timed race. I got a decent start, but got eaten alive in turn 1. I need to work on being more aggressive. I got toegther with Rachel and Todd and we battled the entire race. About 1/2 way through I stayed back and let them go at it a bit. It let me relax and save myself for the last few laps. There was no one in front or behind us within sight so I had nothing to lose doing this. I passed Rachel in the 2nd to last lap, thinking it was the very last lap, but didn't see a white flag. I got Todd as well. I knew I had to keep them behind me, but Todd kept going ono the inside of me in 1. Sure enough he did, so I tried to go back up the inside in 2, but he closed the door. I hung back a little bit, knowing I was faster through 10. I got a good drive, but this time so did he so I didn't get him as soon as I had been the whole race. I passed him with about a 1/2 bike length between us at the line. It was fun battling the whole time because usually in the 25 minute races I just want it to be over. I have been too busy to do too much training lately, so I thought I would get fatigued but I think doing the 6 hour with Krystyna really helped out a lot.
Race 2 was the MiddleWeight Supersport. I was gridded on the second wave, row 5. It was the first row of the second wave. Todd was right next to me so I knew I had to get a good start and take off to keep him behind me. The green flag dropped and I got a killer start - only problem was that I was WAVE 2! I did my stop and go lap and ended up about a half lap behind everyone. I quickly got about five guys and passed them. At least I didn't finish last. It was my goal. I ended up 22nd. As it turns out, a bunch of people got confused when I went and also jumped the start. They did not do a stop and go lap so they lost 1 lap in the results.
Monday - Race Day 2
Monday was HOT. A stagnant 95 or so degrees with no wind. I only had one race all day and it wasn't until race 12. I hung out for a while and got to watch many of the races I normally dont get to see. It was fun cheering on the other racers as well. Race 12 was finally up and I was sweating my butt off. I was gridded up in Row 5 again. I got an OK start, but again wasn't agressive enough in turn 1 and fell back quite a bit. I battled with someone and Joe Messina the entire race. I got down to 1'21.05, still nowhere near where I wanted to be, but I ended up finishing between the two. It was fun as well.
Overall, it was an amazing weekend. I cannot thank Drew enough for the trackside support, wrenching, suspension tuning, tire changing, and cooking. I couldn't have asked for more! On top of that, Teri Gorrell took her personal rotors off her bike and shipped them to me to use for this round since mine got bent in transport in the Bioweapon Rig on the way to Miller. Totally badass thing to do! Jeff Atwell loaned me some warmers to use on top of his normal support, and Pirelli helped out with some tire changes. Bioweapon helped with part of the funding for entry fees. Thank you to those who stepped up to help make this round possible! Other sponsors that helped in this round thank you: Pit Bull, Galfer, Sidi, XES leathers, BG Oils, Team Promotion, and Vortex!
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