Tom's Race Report from Infineon
4/23/2006 Sonoma, CA - Round 2 with AFM
Like
Pat, I was really looking forward to racing at Infineon again. My wife
Sally would be coming to this one, as she does all the Cali. and Vegas
races (I wonder why she doesn't like going to Deming, NM?(haha) We would
fly up and my brother-in-law Paul and sister Valerie would drive the rig
up and back. They always wanted to see San Francisco and figured this
would be a good opportunity to help us out and see the city. It was a
plus for them when they found out that Ball Sac Racing pays all expenses
to whoever drives our rig, as we have always done. Which is a fair trade
off for that boring long drive! So we all fly up to Sacramento and head
to the track Friday night. Paul and Valerie get to the track about the
same time and we drop the trailer at a good pit location.
Saturday morning it was mixed clouds, no rain. We get to the track,
register, and tech in about 10 minutes. Amazing since there are 1500
race entries and about 450 racers! First practice session I get right to
the 49's and feel good. The bike is running great. Second session, get
to the 47's right where my best time from last August was. I feel great,
like the track and look forward to racing! I plan on wasting the tires
that are on the bike from the previous race and put new ones on Sunday
morning. Towards the end of the day Saturday I decide that turn 2 is my
most favorite turn of all the tracks I have been on. Just as you crest
the hill, it's off camber and I was having such a blast counter steering
and spinning the tire all the way to the next turn sideways with the
front in the air, hands down the most enjoyable section of track for me
ever!! It was a great practice day (other than David (the flying Pole)
Siminski crashing) got down to 1:46.5, a second better than my best,
still not the 44's I wanted.
Sunday
morning, new tires. Go out in the first practice and run a 1:51!! Damn!
Now I'm pissed, what the hell is going on??? My first race is Unlimited
Superbike, I'm gridded 33rd. on the 7th row. The flag drops I get a good
start and a bike is stalled on the second row!! I just brush his leg!!
That was scary! I get to Turn 2 around 40 something and I'm happy to be
there! I put my head down and finished 23rd with a best of 1:46.5.
Next race is F-40. This is the race I had a mechanical in the first
round so no points. I really wanted to run up front with these guys, I
think they will pull me along and make me better. I'm gridded again on
the 7th row, 34th. Good thing I'm on the outside. I run on the outside
of Turn 1 hard on the gas, up the hill and force my way into Turn 2
around 15th! The plan worked (thank you Mark Ledesma for all those
horses!!) We all settle in and I make a nice pass going into 7 on the
brakes. It seems a lot of these riders are not used to hard braking,
point and shoot tracks like we have in AZ and NM. They do have track
knowledge in their favor and also the long fast sweeping turns, which we
are not used to, they do very well. It makes for some fun racing. I was
dicing with a 250 that was flying. I was amazed how I didn't pull him on
the straights like I did everybody else. Don't get me wrong, when it
came power to power he was no match but he got such an unbelievable
drive. I think I got lost just watching him. I figured it was better to
follow him and learn, than to power by him on the straights and hold him
up. I learned a lot and finished 12th with a best of 1:45.6.
Last race was Unlimited GP. I had a good start position since I finished
this race at Buttonwillow in 16th. That's where I started on the 3rd
row. This was actually my best race. I got a good, not great start and
started to pick guys off. The bike and tires felt great. I had battles
all race long with mostly Gsxr 1000's. Once again, my best times come
the last race of the day? Once again, I feel the best the last race of
the day? Do I need to do more races? If it's warmer will I do better
earlier? I just miss the 1:44's with a 1:45.0, more than 2 seconds
better than my best. I finish in 7th place! Should have a good starting
spot next round! Rob Mesa won the race with a 1:41.5. I know I can shave
a few seconds. It just comes off so slow! I probably need bigger balls,
I'm still not willing to ride on the edge of disaster. I did improve
quite a bit this round. Very rarely would I drag the rear tire into a
corner sideways, I mostly drug it in straight up and down. I am getting
way more comfortable dragging it in pitched over. I also improved
getting on the gas earlier because of Turn 2. Turn 2 got me comfortable
with the rear spinning much earlier on exit. You notice I say
comfortable a lot. I know I can get to really fast times yet be
comfortable doing it. It just takes tons of laps and experience. The
other alternative is big balls, riding out of a comfort zone. that is
not an option, I can do this without crashing. Any crash I have now is
because I lost concentration and had my head in my ass. That's why
everything has to be just right in my thick head and why it will take
time. When I get there, I'll be there for good!
Thanks again Pat for all the help. Paul and Valerie for driving the rig.
The "flying Pole" for keeping us entertained. Brian for all the web site
work. Michelin Tires (they really are the best), Alex at AF Motorsports,
Motorex, LP, Veshra, Sidi, Vortex, Sunrise Crane. Mark Ledesma at North
Valley for a bike better than me. And Sally for all the support in
helping me make this dream come true. I am having the time of my life
and it's great to share it with her.
Tom
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