Reckless929's (#911 ) First AFM Race

Reckless929 · 04-07-2004, 2:33 AM

Thought I would share my first race experience at AFM Buttonwillow event.

I entered the open production class riding my CBR929, it was quite an experience when compared to riding track days!

My practice session lap times started 2:13's then went down to 2:10's after the third practice. My actual race best lap time was 2:05.1 , I found it surprising how when the green flag drops everything you do is kicked up a knotch and the skills you had learned at track days begin to become assembled into one flowing high speed run.

I started on grid number 72 and was caught in the second wave start, I thought this was a big disadvantage but as it turned out it was probably best for me because there was plenty of open track ahead most of the race.

On the first lap around turn four as I came over the hill I saw a guy layed out cold face down on the right side of the track and his bike mangled off the side. At this point I sort of muttered under my breath, what the @#$% am i doing out here at 48 years old! These racers are awesome fast and I felt like a minnow swimming with the sharks. OK enough self doubt so I pushed it back and went back to riding as I have been trained to ride pressing forward and pushing harder than I have ever ridden before.

I found my forearms tightening up solid as a rock and realized I must have had a death grip on the bars, I began to remember to loosen up and let the bike work. Anyway after 5 laps there was another bad crash and the race was red flagged.

I guess it is the adrenaline pumping through your veins that squeezes every last drop out of you when that green flag drops

The official results are in and I finished in the 17th position for the open class production event. Hell I was happy to just finish! At least I wasn't last!

Now I am looking forward to Sears Point and really can't wait to race at Thunderhill where i do the most of my track days.

"Reckless929"

SuperDave · 04-07-2004, 7:55 AM

Good write up Reckless. Congrats on your finish. I have no intentions of ever racing, track days are fine by me. I had to laugh at your "I'm 48, what the bleep am I doin out here! "

Good for you! Was the racer who was down come out alright?

MACI4LIFE · 04-07-2004, 10:46 AM

nice job. Good luck for the rest of the year. Keep on posting. I wouldn't mind hearing how your progress over the season.

Reckless929 · 04-07-2004, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Good write up Reckless. Congrats on your finish. I have no intentions of ever racing, track days are fine by me. I had to laugh at your "I'm 48, what the bleep am I doin out here! "

Good for you! Was the racer who was down come out alright?

Superdave, as best I could tell the downed racer was up and off the track without the need of the ambulance. The corner workers and crew do an excellant job at AFM.

knip · 04-07-2004, 11:38 AM

Reckless,

Glad you are having fun out there...
Are you doing regular track days also or just AFM?

Trackho · 04-07-2004, 5:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Good write up Reckless. Congrats on your finish. I have no intentions of ever racing, track days are fine by me. I had to laugh at your "I'm 48, what the bleep am I doin out here! "

Good for you!

See you at Sears Aa----, two 40+ dudes on 929s---hehehehehehe

just faxed in the entry caca, Open GP, SuperBike, and Formula Pacific (probably)

roadracer319 · 04-07-2004, 5:32 PM

Good job!

I can't wait for the CCS race at VIR this weekend. Too bad they are calling for crappy weather. If the track is wet, I'll be on the sidelines watching. I just crashed a few weeks ago due to rain.

I don't plan on doing that again.

Cowboy · 04-07-2004, 7:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 929Boomer

See you at Sears Aa----, two 40+ dudes on 929s---hehehehehehe

just faxed in the entry caca, Open GP, SuperBike, and Formula Pacific (probably)

Jimm Groshong AFM#889 is 50 yrs old. Rich Thorwaldson Sr. AFM#31 is 57 yrs old. You guys are just children. Guess that makes me a baby at 35 yrs old. A couple of guys I pit w/ would then be sperm, since they are still in their 20s. All on 929s!!

Stop by and say hi if you get a chance, you old geezer.

02FBlade · 04-07-2004, 8:38 PM

Your absolutely right about the green flag....I just had my first race and it was double or triple the rush compared to a track day (maybe not your first trackday!

). It was a blast to out brake and open up some stove top on some experts...I served up a couple of orders of stuffing!

Cowboy · 04-08-2004, 1:23 AM

"....open up some stove top on some experts...I served up a couple of orders of stuffing!"

never heard that one before.

Reckless929 · 04-08-2004, 7:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knip

Reckless,

Glad you are having fun out there...
Are you doing regular track days also or just AFM?

Hey Knip! Good to hear from you, I am still doing track days as well as AFM. I am doing Thunderhill on April 15 put on by Lynn Baza then going to Sears Point AFM race on Saturday & Sunday.

I have been doing Lance Keigwin's track days most of the time. I rode Laguna Seca a couple of weeks ago, that is always a fun track!

Hope to see you at a track day soon!

Reckless929