TEAM CHALLENGE - DIS Fall Cycle Scene

First, a special thanks goes to our supporters in the '03 Team Challenge:

• Tim Tew of StudioTew.com
• Killeen Mullen
• Jennifer Adams and Ohso Little Adams
• Cory Posocco
• Kelly Gast
• Chris Boals
• Chris Brandon
• Mike Ringham, Coca-Cola
• ...and Betty Kopp for her continued enthusiasm and coming to cheer us on!

Daytona Team Challenge

Well it seems that Nicole and I (namely ME! ! ) became victims of the dreaded Daytona Curse during our racing adventure. The 200 mile 56 lap Team Challenge started well with a few of Nicole's co-workers showing up to lend support, including Jim France. Nicole ran the first 10 laps then came in at which time we executed our first pit stop (fuel/rider change) and off I went. 6 laps later I get rammed heading up NASCAR Turn 1 by a MV Augusta and it breaks off the exhaust silencer and the corner workers give me a "meatball flag", which means you have a equipment failure that is posing a danger to other racers and your day is done. And so it was.

Formula 40

Come this morning's practice session Jeff manages to crash on the warm-up lap. The back end of the bike came out from under me and I fell and slid off the track. Very minor damage which was quickly repaired. My race started at noon and I was gridded on the second row in the second wave of racers (27 of 35) nearly dead last. The green flag waves and I get the most incredible start and enter the first turn in @15th place and as usual there was a crash in front of me whereby a rider was sliding backwards facing me and I swerved to avoid him but hit his crashed motorcycle with my left foot and it broke off my gear shifter... once again my day was done. Not even a single lap was completed in anger around Daytona this year.. the curse continues.

Bryan Cassell Killed at DIS

On a sad note a fellow Florida rider (Bryan Cassell #944) was killed during Saturday morning's practice session when his Ducati's engine seized coming out of NASCAR Turn 4 on to the front stretch and by all accounts he was t-boned by another rider, Bryan was 28. We are very sad and stunned. We are donating to a fund set up in Bryan's name via Sun Trust Bank. www.mightyducracing.com is his web site.