Summer Break is Over
The summer break is over and we're back to racing again. The VCHSS returned to racing at Blue Ridge 2 in Martinsville, VA. The weather was great although the dust was pretty thick. It seems there hasn't been much rain in Virginia lately. I had my bike prepped with new tires, sprockets, chain, etc and was really looking forward to riding again. At the start, my niece Alexandra was my umbrella girl. I got a good start, about fifth and was riding well. Just before the mile four marker, the front sprocket bolt decided to take a vacation and the front sprocket and chain jammed against the swing-arm. I came to a screeching stop. I searched as best i could but never found the bolt. I used a check-point worker's cell phone to call the pits and let my wife know what had happened. My friends were able to scrounge together a bolt and washer and one of the marshals brought it out to me. I was down over a full lap. I knew if I wanted to get any points for the day I had to complete two fo the three laps. I went out and was pushing really hard to keep the AA riders from lapping me. I ended up dumping the bike in a rocky corner and really tearing up my left elbow. I ended up with about a three inch gash that was a half inch deep. I picked up the bike to get going and noticed the right side radiator shroud was ripped in half and the front wheel was twisted way off center. I banged the wheel against a tree and kept going. I kept pushing hard and was able to reach the scoring trailer before the AA riders lapped me. I went out for the next lap know I just had to finish and I was going to get points. I ended up being the last rider to complete that lap as the AA riders lapped everyone else.
I was disappointed with my mechanical problem but have no one to blame but myself.
We're traveling to NJ this weekend for a NEOC event. Wish me luck!