Tom's Race Report from New Mexico

9/12/04 Arroyo Seco Motorplex - ASMA

Well once again we got off to a late start! Heading down the road at 6:30pm Friday! We were really haulin' (85-90mph with 13,000lbs trailer) and stopped at Casa Grande for some ice and food. When we got out, the burning clutch/brake smell was overpowering! Pat said "your clutch is burning up, I hope it makes it". I'm thinking, "I have been beating the piss out of this truck but it should take it...it's a truck fer' christ sake"! Well we get back on the road and kept it around 75mph. As it is getting dark I notice the trailer lights are not on. Long story short, the plug was not in correct (Pat) and we turned the brakes and drums so the shoes were nicely bedded on the trailer. Oh, and we got better fuel mileage with the trailer brakes off!

Got to bed at 3:30am Saturday morning, up at 8:00am. We prep the pit, bikes and register for Sunday races. I had a lot to work on this practice day. I wanted to get some laps on the RC first to settle into the track, then work on getting used to the CBR. The RC didn't have any changes except for new paint, but the CBR had a new Yoshimura pipe, new map, 520 16/42 and only 234 miles on it. Once again I didn't have time to do everything I wanted, so I concentrated on getting a fast entry to the carousel at the end of the back straight where you need to be fast for a good lap. I kept hearing everyone saying "forget the esses, just get through them, nobody can pass there, relax and don't worry about going fast there". Dumb ass me forgot about them, I mean really forgot about them! I think this is where a lot of my time was lost. Lesson learned.

Race day I had 6 races (I am not a light weight like my teammates). It worked out well; the morning I would race the RC in Southwest Thunder and 750 Superbike, then park the RC and run the CBR in the afternoon. I did one practice session on the CBR to get loose then rested and saved tires. Tires were a concern. I didn't want to change them since next weekend both bikes would need new ones for Vegas, but they were used. The RC tires raced at Buttonwillow 5 races in July, then did 2 track days (splitting time with the CBR) in August. The CBR tires had the 2 track days in August and practice Saturday. Both sets were removed to powder coat the wheels and put back on. Because of all this, I was not willing to push these tires.

The RC is tired! (9,000 race miles, overheating a lot) Just needed to make it through Southwest Thunder (Supertwins) and 750 Superbike! First race I finished 4th on her. Second race was Southwest Thunder and I had a better grid spot than Pat and Brian. I knew I needed to get out front and hope the pack will hold up the other Ball Sackers. I saw the pit board with T + 0 and knew I had company. Pat followed me the whole race till the last lap (pay back is a bitch) and in the middle of the back straight flew by on his 999R. I tried to prevent his drive onto the straight, which didn't really matter cause that bike hauls. My next thought was to run as hard as I could to the carousel so he would brake late and blow a good entry by braking too much. I was going to drop 1 more gear than normal and try to get drive through the kink and onto the front straight. It kinda of worked, he was 4-5 bike lengths in front of me into the carousel and we were nose to tail hitting the straight. He then proceeded to pull 3 lengths to the line. Fun race, Ball Sack Racing 1,2,3 with Brian watching the battle!

My best race of the day was the Open Superbike. Finished 3rd in some fast company, toasted the last of the rear on the CBR, did 2 more races sliding around, kept the rubber side down and most of all had FUN! The team race was a blast again. Pat ran well, gave me the bike (with shagged tires) in 5th. Kane passed me, so we finished in 6th.

All in all a great weekend except for Mike having bike trouble and not being able to race. Sorry Mike. Looking forward to Vegas!!

Tom Savoca

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