4-5-2009
I got the bike ready Friday night. Put the forks on, guessed the proper rebound and compression settings and put on the Flexx bars. Then I went in to clean up only to see that I had no hot water :(
Turns out the rain we had flooded the pit under the house where the water heater was so Saturday I was up at 7am to get the sump pump working and then had to re-set the element on the heater and was back in business.
Mike showed up with gifts! 6-pack of beer and Reeses Cups. What a swell guy.
We got registered and got the bikes through tech inspected and decided to put the radio in the truck. Mike did a great job figuring out the wiring mess. I was lost looking at all that. Then he took me out to dinner and I pigged out then he paid! I should have him down more often :)
The next morning we ended up getting to the track at the same time as Pat, Kletus and Edwin. We rolled to the start and I liked how far back Vet C35+ was. I was surprised that Mike's class was about 4 rows up ahead of us. I really did not understand the starting order.
When the flag flew I held off and let everyone go. I figured I would just enjoy the ride and not push too hard. That lasted about 1/2 mile until I found out I was running right with the class and there were a few holding me up.
I passed a couple or two and had a really good battle with some others during the first lap. I rolled through the first lap in 21st out of 24 total in Super Vet C (35+). I was feeling good and stupidly made the mental note that I haven't even come close to crashing yet so next thing that happened? Yep... boom. Lowsided on a turn.
Then shortly after that my camelback mouth piece gets caught in the flexx bars and when I pull up it rips off the mouth piece and water is pouring on my crotch. I pull over and take off the camel back and throw it to the side. No water the rest of the race!
I got up and the handlebars were cock-eyed. I went to a tree and tried to bang them straight. Didn't work. Got about 1/2 mile and tried again. Still didn't work but I decided to press on.
Then I guess my sub-concious had a better idea on how to straighted up the bars. Boom. Down I go on the other side. Get the bike up and the bars are straight... hell yeah.
I have a few more good battles with some guys. Not sure what class they are in but I was feeling good. I rolled through the 2nd lap 3 minutes slower than the first lap but had gained 2 positions and was in 19th in my class.
A little after that I caught a guy in my class and passed him, he passed me back and then I got going again. I was feeling good then my wrists started to hurt. I slowed a little and took smoother lines. Then I got to the last mud-hole and hit the gas and boom... down I go with both hands outstretched landing palms down in the mud... ouch! My wrists shot with pain but still moved fine as I sat there with my leg stuck under my bike and the mud makes it where I can't pull it out so I push and pull, kick and push with my free leg and then someone crashes on top of me and pushes my right leg further into the mud.
Fortunately, someone runs over and picks the bike up off my leg. Thanks to my aut clutch the bike is still running so I pull myself out of the muck and take a quick breather. The last few miles I go slow and have a little trouble holding on to the bike but finish 19th overall in my class and 303 overall.
The course was great overall. The hills were cool and with the auto clutch I could easily pull up and over. I had a great time. I was happy with my finish but know to be able to run fast enough to get a top 10 finish (and take a dump in the middle of the course Tobin style) I would need to get in much better shape.
It was great hanging out with Mike and catching up with Tobin, Edwina and Kletus. Great group out there.