Weekend Report
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6-28-03

Another weekend, another race... wait, make that two!

Saturday night was the regularly scheduled program and Sunday was a make up race in an abbreviated format. So much happened over the weekend that I know I don't have the space to cover it all so I'll be as brief as I can.

Saturday Night:
Weather was great. Nice cool breeze and good traction on the track. I was trying to triple the into the second section of whoops but could not make it either time.

After my first heat I got back to the pits and my bike was leaking oil. It was streaming from under the bike. We had replaced the waterpump seal earlier and it turned out simply that I only had hand tightened the tranny drain bolt. Once I tightened it back everything was fine.

I signed up for 3 classes again and got back of the pack finishes in each. However, I felt I raced well for the most part. In the +30c/d James, #180 Carl and I had a really good battle and I edged him out on the last lap. However, I think he was still taking it a little easy b/c of his knee.

Vince rode well but had a run in with another rider. Not sure what happened as I was looking away at another guy (#180 Carl) who had went down.

Sunday:
Sunday was hot. The track dried out and watering it just made it slick in the places it was not already slippery. On Saturday night I was using the inside line effectively but Sunday I could not hold my line and the bike kept stepping out on me. A few times I went into the whoops sideways b/c I lost traction in the corner (read, not talented enough to actually ride on anything less than perfect traction <g>).

One time after the finish line jump in practice I came towards the corner entering the whoops and Roy #33 had his bike on the ground. He pulled in the clutch, revved the bike so it wouldn't stall and tried to pick it up. Unfortunately for him (and almost me too!) his clutch had broke so when the rear tire touched dirt it launched from him and directly towards me!!

I think I'd have been more scared if I didn't see the volleyball size eyes he had! He saved it from hitting me though.

I rode 3 classes but did poorly in all of them. I have the speed to run better in the Unl Rookie but just couldn't get the confidence up to battle with those guys. In +30c/d I was nowhere near #180 Carl who I had battle with the night before. He checked out!

In 250D I rode fairly well. I still finished farther back than I'd have liked but I was within sight of 3 other riders (#85 - my old bike, #43 - Jeff Means and James). I made some mistakes and never could close the gap but I did not continuously fall back either.

James had a great battle with Jeff #43. They were going at it and were nipping on the heals of #85. James finally put a great move on Jeff and moved on to try and catch #85 but Jeff was fighting till the end. James held him off and took a 4th overall trophy.

WAY TO GO JAMES!!

After that I went home and changed the oil in the bike. I noticed some discoloration and some coolant loss. Not sure if the seal is messed up again or if it is just coincidence. It is quite possible that the oil was a little milky due to some oil left over in the cases and the coolant drop may have been a result of the system being flushed the day before and the fluid settling in or something.

I'll run it again Saturday and see how it does. I am going to keep an eye on it though.