Race Report: Thunderhill 6/17 & 6/18

[Raiderex]

The weekend actually started on Friday with an open trackday for AFM'ers. So, after working until just after midnight, I came home, loaded up the truck and trailer and hit the road at about 3:00am. I got to Thunderhill at about 5:30 and slept in line at the gates for about an hour. I met up with Paul (racepaul) & Jeanette "JT" along with Craig and his lovely wife Sandy, Lenny and Mikey. We set up the pit area and got the bikes unloaded. It was a pretty sweet setup.



Another view:



I was in group 1 and had my initial session. I came back and put some new tires on the bike and spent the rest of the day just relaxing and trying to learn the bike. Here's a pic of JT spanking the moneky while Mikey and Paul chill.

[Raiderex]

Saturday had practices until 3pm then there were the three clubman races: lightweight, middleweight and heavyweight. I, of course, was in the lightweight class since I ride a ninja 250 in the production class. Lightweights go to 600cc bikes. I knew I wasn't going to come close to a top ten finish, I just wanted the track time and race experience as I try to get back into the groove of racing again.

I started dead last in 33 position. I was the only one on the last row also which made me REALLY It's a "Short Fuse" thing.

Green flag drops and I get a killer launch. I must have passed 4 or 5 bikes by the time I hit turn one, then I passed a couple of more. I was doing pretty well and ended up finishing ahead of 11 bikes for a 22nd place finish. Not bad. I learned a few things and had a great time. My times came down from 2:30's to consistent 2:25/2:24's.

So, Saturday was in the books and I did well. I think I'm ready for Sunday.

[Raiderex]

Yes sir! Sunday is race day. The weather was in the low 100's most of the time during the weekend and the prospect of being in the 10th race of the day in the burning afternoon was not a pleasant thought but really I was just happy to be there. But, before I get to that, there were other important races going on. Namely, the Super Dino and 500 Twins where Paul raced his 88 GSXR 750 in Super Dino while Lenny and Mikey raced their EX 500's in 500 Twins.

For the 500 Twins, Lenny did great and took a 3rd place podium finish while Mikey on an under-powered stock motor took a very respectable 8th. Great job guys!! Pics to come later.

Paul, on the other hand took a fantastic 2nd place finish. The really cool thing was that they did a trophy presentation for his race and it was the first time he got to participate in such a celebration.

Here's the man giving his take on the race in the post-race interview



here's a very small video clip

[Raiderex]

Of course, no celebration would be complete without the champagne.

[Raiderex]

Here's a group pic of most of the team. From left to right:

me (Raiderex), Mikey, Dan (family/friend), Craig, JT, and the man himself Paul.

[Raiderex]

Very exciting stuff. Now we had a few hours to kill while waiting for the 10th race to roll around. When it was our time, we geared up and went out to the track. We had our sighting lap and I pushed a bit to make sure I had good heat in the tires.

I was gridded 26th and Craig was 27th for our group which comes out to 12th and 13th respectedly. There was actually two other bikes after that so I wasn't gridded last this time. Not sure why but what the heck, I'll take it.

As you know, the gridding is staggered so I looked past the two bikes in the next row and focused on the next row after that to the bike directly in front of me. That was going to be my goal on the start. The thing is, this isn't clubman racing, these are folks who've been racing for a while and I'm the newbie playing catch-up.

Again, I get a killer start and push right up into the next row. We must have been four wide going into turn one. Craig was right behind me and it was on!

I pass two and there's already a space between me and the next group. I spent the next 2 or 3 laps trying to catch the next racer. Catching is one thing, passing is another. We end up in a really great battle. I pass him, he passes me and this goes on for the rest of the race. I get ahead of him on the last lap and manage to hold him off until turn 14. He stuffs me on the inside but loses his drive and drifts wide. I squared off the corner in turn 15 and although he's ahead of me coming out of the turn, I have a much better drive than he. I draft him on the straight and take the postion at the line. I AM SOOOOOOOOOO PUMPED! And to make it ever sweeter, I managed to pull a 2:21 during the race.

here's a couple of small pics from gotbluemilk.com that when I get them I'll post better pics.



*NOTE* The 830 bike belongs to Trevor. He's the guy I clipped at the line for 9th. I was so excited that when I got back to my pits, I immediately went out to look for him to tell him what a blast that was. He was out looking for me to do the same. We finally found each other and had a great conversation. To me, that's what racing is all about. We both made clean passes on each other and had a ball! That we shook hands afterwards and shared a laugh or two makes it all the more enjoyable. Good on you Trevor.

[Raiderex]

It was my first top ten finish. I finished 9th. Unfortunately, Craig crashed on the first lap in turn 6.



He's ok. A little sore but he'll be fine and the bike will be back as one very soon.

[Raiderex]

After a great weekend, what better way than to top it off at the Black Bear diner.



The sell a lot of tanner paraphernalia there.



Hope to see you at the next round.
The End.

[rxrated]

VERY GOOD Chuck!! Improvements !! Sounds like the racer thing has started to develope well The bike must be running well??

[DREX]

chuck that was great looks like you had a solid ride Maybe I can show up next time thanks for the pics and play by play

[C.Jay]

Outstanding results!!! TOP TEN!!! Thats great. Got any pics of you in the "Cyclone"?
<---RaiderRex

[Raiderex]

Thanks for the comments guys.

C.Jay: no pics in turn 5. Most of the photographers were camped out in the usual places, 3,4,6, 9, 10, 14/15. This time there are more than just a couple of pics but I don't want to post them with the watermarks on them. I'll get the CD and post more another time. There may be a new avatar in my future.

Btw, I didn't see Frank there. Maybe next race.

[craig682]

Chuck:

Great write up, you were flying out there. I on the otherhand was doing a different type of flying into the dirt. The bike seems fine, just need to straighten the forks out a little...

See you in July,

Craig
AFM682

[Raiderex]

let me know if anything is bent on the front end. I have extra fork tubes and triples.

[Ca Pete]

Very cool, top ten is awesome, way to go Chuck the 3 second decrease in your lap time during the race is fantastic.

[tanner]

very good sir.

[MFed]

Great write-up! My heart's still pumping a mile a minute

[Raiderex]

Originally posted by C.Jay
Outstanding results!!! TOP TEN!!! Thats great. Got any pics of you in the "Cyclone"?
<---RaiderRex

I bought these pics from 4theriders.com so I'll post them while I'm waiting for the cd in the mail. Here's one at the top of the cyclone and the second pic is at the bottom of 5a

[Raiderex]

.

[C.Jay]

Originally posted by Raiderex
I bought these pics from 4theriders.com so I'll post them while I'm waiting for the cd in the mail. Here's one at the top of the cyclone and the second pic is at the bottom of 5a

Thats a great pic!!!!!!
I love the "cyclone" Too bad Thunderhill was built after I quit racing and moved to Mt.