[ReaperAZ]

7/22/05 Part 1:

Friday was finally here and it was time to get everything loaded up and ready for the drive to Deming, NM to attend my first trackday. I had a short list of things to do before we were to depart from Tucson at 6pm. Item one was to remount the street plastics since the race were giving a hard time and I just didn't want to fuss with it anymore. Item two was to get my tires(Pilot Powers) mounted, and third was to drive to my parents house and await the arrival of my new set of leathers. I wake early and see the SO off to work, time to begin. All the plastics went on without any issues. Checked and re-checked every nut and bolt on the bike. Packed every item I was bringing and set it all in the garage next to the bike. Took the wheels off the bike, grabbed the Powers, and went to my buddies shop for the switch. Once that was done it was time to see if my leathers made it to my parents hose yet. I get there around 2pm after doing everything else and there is no box by the front door. So I call Fed-Ex and she tells me the drivers have till 8pm to make there deliveries for the day! Well it shows up around 5pm. Seeing as I live on the other side of town and on a good day at 5pm you can make it there in about 50 minutes, I knew it was cutting it close.

I hauled ass to get home and made great time. Started loading up the Ranger and put the bike in the back, locked her down and called it good. Took a quick shower and called the rest of the crew to see where they were. They were way behind schedule and thought they needed at least an hour before they would get on the road...8pm rolls around and they finally call. Three hours of driving at night in a truck by yourself is soooooooo boring. I ended up getting there about and hour before they did since they stopped for food, and gas in the RV. I arrived at the track at midnight(New Mexico time) and decided since they were so far behind to take a nap. The sound of the RV woke me a little over an hour later as did the banging on the window of my truck form my friends. We camped in the parking lot outside the track for the night/morning until it would open. I slept like crap. I think it was mainly due to the fact that in a few hours I would be on a track and was excited as hell.

I woke at 6am and stepped out to stretch and noticed how dirty my bike had become due to rain on the way. I knew I brought the Honda Polish for a reason. I was about halfway done cleaning when I hear the muffled sound of a four stroke coming towards the gate. Here’s this guy hauling ass across gravel with a fuel jug on his lap on an XR100. It turned out to be the owner of the track and we talked for about 45 minutes while I finished up cleaning. I told him it was my first time and how excited I was about coming out to the track. After our talk he went back in to move brake markers and check the track for debris. My friends finally got up around 7:30 and we moved into the infield to set up our tents and stuff. Once it’s all unloaded and set up we head to the tower to pay for the weekend. $125 for BOTH days. The track in Phoenix is like $159, for one day. Roger(track owner)calls for the riders meeting and we all attend. The plan was to break us up into beginners and experienced groups, which was fine with me. We were informed that we would be running the track in the CCW direction(counter clockwise), to which Roger adds that there are three times as many crashes going this direction. Just wonderful I say to myself in my head. He gave us 15 minutes before the first session of the day. The fast guys are up first and three of the guys I cam with are out on the track.
It wasn’t until I put my leathers on that I actually thought about what I was about to do. The strange thing was I didn’t feel nervous at all and was actually much calmer then I had been all morning. I warmed up the baby blade and put on my lid. Two other friends were in the beginner session and I was going to follow them around as both had ridden this track and others before. The fast guys come in and the guys that were out come over and give me pat on the back and tell me to have fun. They make the announcement that the track is now open for the beginner session, and the flagman holds out the green. I reach up and latch the shield down on my Suomy, pull the clutch in, and off we go.

As we make our way around the track I’m trying to get comfy with a brand new 1-piece suit that is quite confining to say the least. The track is tight and technical and as a result the track record is held by a 600. After a few laps and getting to know the track I began to go a bit faster, by this time my two friends had pulled away from me and I was left to figure things out for myself. I finished out the ½ hour session and heading back to the pits. My friends all asked how it went for me and when I took my helmet off they knew…I had a huge smile on my face. The fast guys were up again and about three laps in a guy on a brand new 2005 R6, with less then 1000 miles on it, low sides and tumbles into the desert and cart wheeled to a stop. Crash 1 has taken place.

Session 2 starts and I’m following my friend on his 1000RR. We get through a lap and as we come down the big straight I missed a downshift and even though I probably could have gone deep and held a wide line to save it, I opted to stand her up and have my first OTE(Off Track Excursion). Off into the dirt I went telling myself to stay off the front brake since I’m doing about 85 as I hit the dirt. It took me a little while to get slowed enough to turn back towards the track, but I did and was ready to go. Finished that session without any further issues. Roger gave me a pat on the back for saving it the smart way instead of taking the risk of not making it. It was the next session of fast guys that my friend ran out of gas on the far side of the track. Our next session would be the one I will never forget. We head out and I’m following Bekah(the girl that came with us). We’re doing a decent pace and I’m feeling more and more comfortable on the bike and track. As we came to the end of the short straight she put the brakes on way late and as a result got further away from me. The next section is a double apex right that opens up nicely. I leaned in and as I got on the gas I feel my leg move and hear the sound of my slider hitting tarmac…..YIPPY! I couldn’t believe I had just touched knee. It wasn’t even a goal of mine for the weekend. I was there to have fun and learn a few things to better my riding. I instantly had a grin that would not stop for the remainder of the morning sessions. Each lap after that I would consistently drag though the entire corner. On my second to last lap coming into the large carrousel(left hander) I tried a new line and moved to the outside a bit more, as I tipped in and put the leg out I felt it again. This was even more exciting to me because I have never been a big fan of left turns. I laughed for the remainder of the lap as well as the last one. I came into the pits and ran to my friends to show them. I got the high fives and handshakes. Even got a goofy picture of me showing my sliders.

The remainder of the morning sessions goes well and we break for lunch. One thing I’d like to add is that I have never in my life drunk as much water as I did this weekend. During the break I spoke with all kinds of people at the track. Walked around and looked at others bikes and fed myself. Lots of guys were surprised it was my first trackday, so I took those as compliments. I hadn’t really had a chance to ride with my friends because the two in my group were much faster then I was and the others were in the experienced group. So for the morning sessions I was forced to learn the track and lines on my own. I really wanted to follow one of my faster friends to learn the right lines. So for the afternoon session my friends Andrew and Peter were going to ride in the beginner group and let me follow them around. Andrew and Peter have been riding this track since the mid 90’s so they know the fast and smooth way around. I was excited to get back out and learn, learn, learn.

To Be Continued…

[phobiaphobe]

Sounds like a good time. Must have been hotter than hell. I can't imagine riding in the kind of heat you guys live in. Nevermind wearing full leathers.