WMRRA Round 3 - Spokane 25-27 May 07
Friday, 25 May 07
I attended the Mike Sullivan Trackday (http://www.sullivanraceschool.com/class.htm) at Spokane Raceway. I had never been to Spokane before, but the 5hr drive was WELL worth it. I started the day in the "Slow" group since I had never been there before - Mike Sullivan was only running Slow and Advanced sessions - and after the first session I got off with a big smile and was actually laughing with enjoyment in my helmet. The track is very fast and the back stretch has a section where you are wheeling over 3 dips. It was a blast. After the first session, Mike Sullivan came to me and basically kicked me out of the slow session. I had past too many guys on the brakes and was being forced to bump up, which I was going to do after one more session anyways. The rest of the day I spent working with a few of the other racers, learning the correct lines, brake markers, and gearing for the track. I finally started to see some big improvements by the end of the day running in the 1:41's.
Please visit Brandon Bones of Studio 819 for some pictures http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/2967592#P-1-9
Saturday, 26 May 07
WMRRA Round 3 and my first expert race on a new track. Should be interesting. Saturday was just a practice day as I was not going to be running in the 750 classes this weekend and all of my 600 class races were on Sunday. I spent most of the practice sessions again working on brake markers and getting more comfortable with the new track. Everything was going pretty good and there was only a few minor accidents on Saturday.
Please visit Brandon Bones of Studio 819 for some pictures http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/2978536#161664563
Sunday, 27 May 07
Today was my first schedule "Expert" race. The morning started off VERY wendy and looking like it would rain at any minute. I had decided early if it rained I was sitting the day out, as I didnt want to ride a brand new track in the rain. The weather Gods were kind, and it dint rain. It held off until 6pm and then started to rain. The first and only practice session of the day didnt fair the best. No get offs or close calls, but something on the bike didnt feel right. Comes to find out it was all rider and for the rest of the day I just felt "OFF". No matter what I didnt I felt uncomfortable on the bike.
Anyways...the first race was the 600 SBK race. The grid was 41 bikes. I was very nervous on the grid. This was the first race where WMRRA was trying a wave start due to the high number of entries in this class (normally over 60+) and the probability of a crash going into turn 1. The wave start went off with a hitch. I got a decent start and noticed VERY quickly that this wasnt Novice anymore. I was used to running in the front of the pack, not anymore. I was very happy to have a few guys to fight it out in the back of the pack. I ended up finishing 30th out 41 entries. Succesfull day and I WASNT lapped. Very happy for the first race, but still didnt feel the most comfortable on the bike.
My second and last race of the weekend was 600 SS. The grid was a bit smaller, 28 bikes. No wave start in this class, for now anyways, I got a great start and was mid pack until in the middle of turn 2 there was a 3 or 4 bike crash. This pushed a few of us way out and almost to a dead stop. Me and 2 other riders were all fighting for the end now. It was a good race until the race was red flagged for one of the riders in the first lap crash being seriously injured. I ended up 23rd out of 28. Again, satisfied - but not riding good.
Please visit Brandon Bones of Studio 819 for some pictures http://studio819.smugmug.com/gallery/3001097#163012326