WSMC April edition....long

RRWANTR · 04-19-2004, 7:17 PM

Well the weekend started off pretty badly to say the least. On Fri morning at about 1am I ended up in the emergency room getting 5 liters of liquid and medication pumped into me by IV due to the large amount of fluids lost in 2.5 hours of throwing up and other bodily functions (thought due to food poisoning).

Went home and got a few hours of sleep and then picked the camper up and packed (wife did the LARGE majority) for the track. I was beat and feeling terrible so I took a nap for a bit before meeting up with AXO and driving down to the track. After slowly getting the site set up I spent the rest of the evening lying around in bed.

Awoke Sat about 3 in the morning to my 3 yr old daughter throwing up and me not feeling well yet either. Wife ended up taking her home (AXOs girl took them home and came back bringing my F4 fender which I had left at home…THANKS!!).

Got the tires changed on the F4 (after snapping off a bolt and having to drill it out) and put in 3 sessions on the new bike (haven’t had a chance to mess with the sag or anything) on Sat in the terrible wind, cold temps and at time showers. Bike felt ok but could tell I needed some more time on it and needed some time to adjust the suspension. Going through 2 and 8 the front felt pretty loose like it wanted to push but figured that may be due to the very high winds which were blowing me all over. Got my times down to where I was on my F3 so I was happy with that, as I still didn’t feel comfortable on the new bike.

My wife and kids came back that evening as things were a lot better. Woke up to my wife getting sick at 1am….she spent all of Sunday in bed….so one can say this weekend wasn’t going well at all. One positive was that I was feeling quite a bit better but pretty weak. Did the two very short practice sessions (Dave our pit mate crashed in the 2nd practice thus making the weekend even less appealing….he was ok though and ended up racing later that day) in the morning and spent the rest of the day until race time taking care of the kids and wife.

I was glad to be gridded 6th but was worried about my start as I hadn’t had any experience with this bike yet. Got a decent start and went into 1 in 4th. First lap I was pretty slow and a couple people went past me but repassed them in 8 and 9. The next 3 laps were pretty uneventful as I got passed a couple times and then repassed them. On the 5th lap I could see fourth place ahead and was closing up on him. Crossed the line for the white flag and was about 15 bike lengths behind. Pulled closer through 1,2 and 3 and was about a bike length behind coming into 4. I feel good as I know I can get this guy through 7 to the line as I’d been pulling on him through that section pretty good but then I see a lapper ahead going into 4. We catch him going into 4b and the 4th place guy just barely squeezes by on the inside spooking the lapper. The lapper jerks to the left and then comes right back to the right going into 5, right into where I was headed making me grab a handful praying I wouldn’t overload the front as I wait to dump it into 5…I make it through and pass going up into 6 but this allows 4th place to pull quite a gap which although I pull on him through to the line, I can’t quite make the gap up resulting in a 5th place finish.

I’m satisfied with the results particularly with how the weekend events unfolded along with a totally new bike that I didn’t have any time on or chance to work with the settings at all. Wish I could make it in May but looks like I won’t be out there again till June…..is it June yet?

G-Force Junkie · 04-19-2004, 10:53 PM

They are all in trouble when you get that bike sorted out

coderedcbr · 04-20-2004, 3:24 AM

I see a top 3 finish in your future

G-Force Junkie · 04-20-2004, 3:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

I see a top 3 finish in your future

New avitar from this weekend? Going over turn 4?

coderedcbr · 04-20-2004, 3:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Force Junkie

New avitar from this weekend? Going over turn 4?

Yep Dude that was after my crash too. You should have gone to the gift shop they had a many pick of you draging you knee over 4 too. Now I see why I crashed trying to keep with your fast line through there.

h8mondays · 04-20-2004, 6:09 AM

Congrats on your fifth place finsih despite an otherwise sick weekend. I'm sure you will be placing considerably higher throughout the rest of the season. Needless to say, your opening weekend went far better than mine. I couldn't get any kind of rhythm and couldn't find a line if you had painted it on my face. My bike was giving me a little bit of trouble with some pretty bad head shake and I was hitting false neutrals going into a pretty fast turn. Overall my first weekend with a new race organization (OMRRA) was fun, but I was mad at myself for riding so shitty. I'm in your boat with not being able to make my races in May and the next one I'll get to attend is August.... I'll be a trackday fool for a few months anyhow.

Good luck with the rest of your season, sounds like it's going to be a good one.

h8

RRWANTR · 04-20-2004, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

Yep Dude that was after my crash too. You should have gone to the gift shop they had a many pick of you draging you knee over 4 too. Now I see why I crashed trying to keep with your fast line through there.

Nice avitar man.....way to protect the bike with your body when you crashed..

tigerblade · 04-20-2004, 12:20 PM

5th on a new (to you) bike ain't bad!

Pete · 04-20-2004, 12:28 PM

Great job RR!!! Thanks for the write-up!

RRWANTR · 04-20-2004, 1:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Great job RR!!! Thanks for the write-up!

Thanks....now trade me the 600rr.

G-Force Junkie · 04-20-2004, 3:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

Yep Dude that was after my crash too. You should have gone to the gift shop they had a many pick of you draging you knee over 4 too. Now I see why I crashed trying to keep with your fast line through there.

Continuing the thread jack...Do you know if they keep the pics till next month? Ya, turn 4 is where I get the most lean angle...probaly just comfortable at that speed from the small bikes, I have no problem pitching it in and really getting it over...yet I dont even touch a knee down on 2 untill I about exit

coderedcbr · 04-20-2004, 4:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRWANTR

Nice avitar man.....way to protect the bike with your body when you crashed..

I here people joke about if my bike goes down they would save it buy getting under it befor it hit the ground. Well I guess I can say I did it.

rawrider · 04-20-2004, 4:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

I here people joke about if my bike goes down they would save it buy getting under it befor it hit the ground. Well I guess I can say I did it.

I told you not to clean that bike!

rawrider · 04-20-2004, 4:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Force Junkie

Continuing the thread jack...Do you know if they keep the pics till next month?

I'm pretty sure they do.

Oh....and Good job RRWANTR!

coderedcbr · 04-20-2004, 4:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrider

I told you not to clean that bike!

Then I would have dirty leathers when the bike fell on me

I am a

RRWANTR · 04-20-2004, 6:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-Force Junkie

Continuing the thread jack...Do you know if they keep the pics till next month? Ya, turn 4 is where I get the most lean angle...probaly just comfortable at that speed from the small bikes, I have no problem pitching it in and really getting it over...yet I dont even touch a knee down on 2 untill I about exit

They keep the pictures for a looonnnggg time from all the events.

RRWANTR · 04-20-2004, 6:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coderedcbr

Then I would have dirty leathers when the bike fell on me

I am a

G-Force Junkie · 04-20-2004, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rawrider

I told you not to clean that bike!