KaKa Racing Forum

Race Report WMRRA Round 2 May 9th & 10th 2009

Saturday, May 9th
Getting up really early in the morning is a bad habit of mine, mostly because I don’t like to be late for anything. Saturdays are no exception.
I loaded up the trailer the night before and had everything hooked up and ready to go, hoping that some twinkle toed communist (stole that from another forum) wouldn’t steal my stuff for somebody else that wanted to race more than I did.. Anyways, woke up, threw my gear bag in the truck and off I went. It was nice having a new vehicle that could tow all the weight and made the trip effortless. Of course, I was there 45 minutes before the gates to the big show were to open, so I just sat around. Early, waiting.
7:00 am the gates open and I pay my 10 dollar gate fee which helps the club pay for the track (about 11k per weekend) and I head to the pits (paddock to my friends in the UK) and find a spot near the center on the end. Eventually I ended up next to the Bridgestone vendor who takes care of my tires. More about them later. I set up camp, brought my gear to tech and then fetched the bike. (Tech=Scruntineers to my friends in the UK). Tech likes organized people like me.
9:00 a.m Practice Session 1 – skipped

10:40 Practice Session 2 –
Hit the track and did a medium paced lap to check out the circuit and proceeded on with normal practice. After about three laps of hard riding I noticed my hands were just cramping up and had exit on lap 5. Turns out my hands put on a little weight over the winter.

2:40 Heat 1 –
I was feeling a lot of anxiety all day, with dry mouth and all around not feeling well.
Alright, quick flashback and then lets just forget about it.
I was gridded in the first row, position 2. Great place to be. Well, I blew it! Bike was in the wrong gear and I bogged the launch. Lost six spots immediately. Got passed in turn three after a few laps by some very fast riders. Can’t catch my 600 on the straights. That’s passed, not lapped! The only thing good about the number 13 is that my daughter was born on the 13th. Yes, I placed 13th. Anyways, the rust is off and tomorrow will be better day. I have decided not to do my evaluation until I get at least one more race weekend and until I get my other race bike fixed.

Sunday, May 10th
9:00 a.m Practice Session 1 –
Today was a new day. I felt great. No anxiety, just really good as I got the first time out on the track this year out of the way yesterday.
Head out on practice and it was good. Did only three laps because my tires are on there last bit of grip.

2:15 Heat 2 –
Like yesterday, the weather was simply awesome. Dry, sunny. Nice. My grid position today is row 3-1. Keep in mind that grid positions are not done by lap times, basically random.
Ok, so we go out and do our warm up lap and grid. Ready sign, lights out and go! I had a great launch got thru turn one. I think in fourth or fifth position but lost many positions going into turn two. Down the hill towards turn three and four and up the back straight thru five, six, seven and eight and into turn 9 and then the bus stop. Pretty uneventful. Head down thru the death chute and into the short straight at aprox 164 mph into turn one, two and down the hill to three. (*(_)**&^!! I get passed by more bikes. I’m definitely dropping anchor way to soon on the hairpin turn, it intimidates me. My weakest point on the track.
Turns out that bike number 920 was going to be my own personal race. From lap two all the way to the end of the race I was right on his rear tire but just didn’t have enough power to get past him. Tried slipstreaming but couldn’t get past.
This went on and on , lap after lap. I’m not even sure if he knew I was there. I mean my front tire was literally inches from his back end in many of the turns. We would come out of turn ten (the BusStop) and accelerate. I’m not sure what he was riding but guessing it was a 750. My 600 is no slouch, 119 rrhp.
In the end, I placed 15th which is low , but you know what? That was the most fun I have EVER had on the race track. Seriously. It has now only motivated me even more. I know where my faults are and what I need to work on. I have only one excuse, and that is that I have had practically zero track time since Oct 08. I have decided that I will wait to do my expert evaluation only because I don’t think I’m ready for it just yet. Some track days and a few more race days and Ill be ready.
I was a full six seconds slower than last year.
Here are best lap times of bike 920 - 1:43.534 and me - 1:43.901
That’s how fun that was. Yeehaw!!

I would like to thank:
Sugar Momma
My family. Moral support!
Team Kaka Racing and Team Kaka Racing’s Bill Callister & Jeff Booth for expert knowledge and helping me live my dream. I value your input.
Mike MClane – maybe a future Team Kaka member. For his knowledge and assistance
Troy McCrae – Bridgestone vendor. The absolute best.
Chris Sabora – For tire assistance

Sounds like you had a ball , close racing is what its all about.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it , i felt rusty on my first outing but it doesn't last long .
Pukka write up and cheers for the mention at the bottom of your report.

Nice write up Tony.

I'm telling you, you should come to ORP this weekend. It will help you with your Turn 3 and Turn 4 issues. It's an extremely tight and technical track. Troy said it is a smart thing to do. Just think, if you work on Turn 3 and 4, you won't have to see my fat ass pass you!

Yay Poppabear.Im glad you had fun and made it home unhurt

Nice write up! and a good start to the season. Sorry I missed it, we will try to make to the next one and get that video finished!