Brian's Race Report from Chandler, AZ

2/22/04 Firebird East

Hi all,

I attended the CCS licensing school yesterday and got my license. I am number 34 in the CCS SW Region. Today was my first day of racing!!!

I signed up for 3 races (Heavyweight Superbike, SuperTwins, Heavyweight SuperSport) but it was pouring cats and dogs during the first race so I decided to sit it out and hope for better conditions with the next two. Luckily, the track cleared up for the most part and my next 2 races were dry (mostly).

In SuperTwins I was running with a couple friends. They grid in order of entry so I was the last one out of everyone on the grid. There were 15 people on the grid counting the Experts and Amateurs (7 of them were Amateur). I got a decent start and on the first or 2nd lap I got around my friend (also on a RC-51) on the brakes. For about 4-5 more laps I was chasing down an expert RC-51 before my buddy came screaming by. At that point I was kinda gassed and started to loose touch with him. Still, that was close to the end so I finished 3rd in Amateurs. I also finished ahead of a bunch of Experts too as our pit "crew" said I finished in 5th overall. Not a bad race for my 1st race!! It was a BLAST!

In Heavyweight SuperSport I was once again gridded last. I think because of the rains hardly anyone actually showed up. There were only 3 Amateurs despite at least 7 registering. In this race I was kinda left in the dust by the lead pack of Experts. The leader was running 8 seconds a lap faster than I was! I ran a very lonely race and finished in 2nd place for the Amateurs. Not as fun a race because it was lonely, but it was still fun doing it. Good part of the story is that I improved my lap times significantly in this race. Over 4 seconds faster than my practice times!

Oh yeah...the first race was only the 2nd session I had on the track where passing was allowed! (class was all "no passing").

I'm hooked.....and broke (financially)....and not broke (physically).

That's my long story but I am pretty excited and wanted to share. Thanks for all the tips and guidance I have gotten from friends online.

Brian Kirkland CCS Southwest #34