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August
14-15 WSMC The day was to get up to 105 degrees. In summertime even the lure of a cheap track day doesn't bring too many people around. Especially the racers: WSMC racers attend the races and that is about it, so Friday practice was EMPTY, giving us plenty of track time for set up and, well, practice. I changed my gearing for this track finally, from a 15/35 to a 16/36. It helped and I ended up shifting less, which saves a bit of time. I worked on entering turn one faster and also turn nine. |
 The empty pits and expansive sky at WSIR - it's summer in the desert. |
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It was nice not being rushed, we were able to complete all our set up and prep on Friday and we still had another practice day before the races. (Well, Dr. Know did, I had a 20 lap race on Saturday during lunchtime). Friday night we went out to dinner with friends, bought some wine and watched some Olympics in the hotel room. Saturday: Practice went ok, my bike suspension didn't feel perfect and I had not really put in a hot lap on Friday. So in gearing up for my 20 GT GP race (250 and 125 two-stroke GP machines only) I felt the front upsetting through turn two and nine. We made some small changes, but didn't get it right for my race. The GT GP race was in front of the GT Lights race, with a two wave start. The spread between 125s and 250s was about even. I think there were 8 in our race and I was in row two. Small grids as it is midday, 20 laps, in the desert. I get an ok start but a slow first lap, so I try to pick up the pace and hold it. Two quick 250s lose me and I don't see them, until around lap 9 where the lead 250 laps the field! I hear this guy was doing 1:25's on his TZ, that's quick! I lap a slower 125 rider around lap 11, and then a black flag is pointed at me. I pull into the hot pits, nervous, wondering if I'm spewing oil all over the track. I'm waiting there, watching my position dropping, and they tell me I didn't have the correct tech sticker! Evidently the rules have changed since last year, now you must tech your bike twice to run this race. ???? Yeah, I know. Don't they usually look at your sticker when you are let onto pit lane? Yes they do. The lady whose responsibility this is was talking and talking to someone on the pit wall and never looked at me. (Turns out she was talking to my husband, for sitting on the wall in shorts or some crap). So thats it for me, I'm DQ'd. At least the could have told me BEFORE LAP 12 for pete's sake. So that cost me: 70 dollars for the third place podium, a couple gallons of race feul and oil, and the rest of my tires. I get to the pits and EVERYONE is commenting on what a tough break that was for me. I guess lunchtime on Saturday more people can pay attention to what goes on than they can on race day! In the pits, I pull off my lower to change my tires and its absolutely full of rubber. I knew I needed new tires but I have never seen my tire peel like that. |
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Sunday: Suspension changes help a little but we are still guessing. Two short practice sessions then a long wait for my race. I'm second to the pole, as I am no longer in the points lead after missing last months races due to a family emergency. I get a great start and hold the lead until turn nine, where Kevin Murray passes me. This was a rough ride! The track is bumpy an dmy suspension isn't handling it very well but I'm not about to back off. Jay Pilster passes me on lap three and battles with Kevin for the lead. I draft past both of them on the straight and brake late into turn one. Jay tries to go outside of me and runs right into me! I hold the lead again until Kevin gets by me again, but I don't remember where. Jay passes me again and my plan is to double draft up the straight for the win, but we catch up to the mid pack 250 riders (already having passed the slow ones). They are going about 5 wide through turn nine and Kevin and I get stuck in traffic while Jay flies through to take the lead. No one else is close to us. I place third on a double points weekend, and I hear that it was the most exciting race of the weekend to watch! It was the funnest race in a while. Special thanks to Dr. Know for helping with suspension, and to Joel at Apex Predator Racing for the loan of a counter sprocket. |
 The bottom
of my lower, full of rubber! (that's fun to say, try it)
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