Tom's Report from AFM - Infineon Raceway

08/12/05 - 08/14/05 Sonoma, CA

click here for video montage

Rian had my truck for the month since we were at Thunder Hill and then Seattle. So Pat, Sally and I flew up to Infineon. We had a good flight and got in at a reasonable hour Thursday night. My goal was to get to the 1:45's this weekend, that's what the winner of Formula 40 ran the last time here. My best time the last time was 1:49.7, good for 12th in F-40. We had a good practice Friday and I got down to the low 1:47's.

Saturday I never rode my bike. We had the endurance race on Pat's 749r. What a blast!! It was our first endurance race, we didn't have a clue and finished 6th in the 750 class (which we should have run in the 600 class, we would have finished 4th)! and 15th overall out of 47. Pat's 749r was assume, never missing a beat. Jeff Tigert passed me going over the hill before the carousel and I said to myself "try to stay with him." I quickly learned that was not a good idea! I made too many mistakes. I then said to myself "just hit your marks and be consistent." That was better advice. I rode for 1 hour 10 minutes all in the 1:49 range with 5 laps within a hundreds of each other.

Sunday I did 1 practice session on my bike, then had race 2. Race 2 was red flagged on the 5th lap. It was looking like I was not going to have enough time to get to my goal. My next race was after lunch, way after lunch, so I sat for a few hours. Still I was looking forward to doing well by the time I got to F-40, my last race. The next race, I was coming on, passed a few on the first lap and passed 3 going into 11 on the brakes. As I was coming out of 11 a 4th rider that was way outside 11 when I went inside came from the outside and hit my front. The corner worker saw it a notified race control that the crash was not my fault, another rider took me out, so I was able to continue racing. With such little time on the track I only got to 1:47.2 ,not my goal. I think I finished 12th in F-40 after starting 21st, still I think I can run up front and will try, the next time with AFM.

Once again an AFM weekend is by far the best. It's a pleasure to race with them; they are organized, friendly and all for the racers, much like Roger at Arroyo Seco in New Mexico.

Gotta thank Pat for the use of the 749r in the endurance race, it was fun and something we will do again. Also thanks to Alex for riding with Pat and I, putting down some unbelievably consistent low times on a bike he never rode before and for awesome Michelin tires. Thanks to Rian for changing tires, driving the truck and pit work. Thanks to Sally for bringing us stuff, helping out and accompanying the 3 of us to some very nice restaurants as usual. It always helps my mojo when she is around, thanks babe!
 

Tom Savoca
#151