Tales from a female racer's perspective...

August 6, 2001

We recently competed in our fourth race weekend of my first season of my racing 'career'. We traveled the usual three hours to Roebling Road, just outside Savannah, Georgia. As we arrived on Friday night, the rain had just about stopped and we set up our pit area. We brought Karl (our dog) with us again so I took him for a walk and fed him while Jeff unloaded the trailer, which is where we set up our 'home' for the next two nights.

As morning approached we were able to sleep an additional hour since we had pre-registered for our events. I was entered in two events for Saturday, GT Lights (30 minutes) and Middleweight Sportsman (8 laps). My first practice session was in my usual Group 1, however I waited until the second round of practice until I was ready. First call- I go sit in the trailer and prepare mentally, second call- I get suited up and third and final call- I am on my bike heading out to the track. My first practice was just an easy one, getting used to speed again after a month between races. The second round of practice I started getting on the gas.

My first race was after lunch, GT Lights. I have been racing the GT series since I started and have gotten pretty used to racing for 30 minutes straight. Today, however had been a little different. My start was the usual "so-so" (my starts could use some practice, especially on my 250 racing against the SV 650s) but I was in the front of the pack, I believe around fourth. Within the first few laps I had been as high as third, but as the half way flags came out, I was losing some ground. I had spent the first few laps catching up after a mediocre start at best and it seemed like it took all of my energy to do so. I had saved little for the second half of the race! I placed fifth, not what I had hoped for, but placing in the top five in the GT series does earn you at least $30. Fuel for the ride home.

Two races later was my second race of the weekend and last race for the day, Middleweight Sportsman. I had never raced this event previously so I wasn't sure what to expect. The grid was sort of small, seven riders, but what I didn't know was that it is a combined race, meaning that amateurs race against experts. Hmmm…challenging. This time I finally got a great start. I jumped out ahead of the amateurs and finished that race in third place overall (first on a 250), first out of the amateurs (but CCS doesn't recognize the different classes). What a great way to finish the day! After all the events concluded, we stayed at the track and cooked out with our friends, Jeff, Ray, Dawn and Sarah, probably the best part about racing, hanging out with friends.

Sunday came and with only one event on my schedule, Lightweight Supersport. This is my favorite class because it is always competitive and always exciting. I guess I can't leave out the fact that once again, my start was not the 'starts of all starts'. I think I was running fourth, maybe fifth. About the third lap, Darla, another female racer on an SV650 passed me in turn 2. Time to wake up. You see, the race prior to mine, our friend Jeff was in a crash in turn one. Luckily he was okay, his only injuries looked to be a dislocated shoulder and a huge hematoma on his side where he must have hit the ground. The other two involved in the race were hurt worse than Jeff. Hopefully they are both okay and are recovering well. Needless to say, I think my head was still back at the pit because as Darla passed me I seemed to "wake up". I followed her for a lap and passed her going into turn four. I thought that the third place rider was too far to catch, but it turns out that I was able to catch Randy (#231) and pass him to take the third place spot. As I said, this is always the race I enjoy the best and I had a great time racing with both Darla and Randy. After my race I took our friend Jeff to the hospital to have them check out his side, it had grown about three times the size and we thought we had better be safe than sorry. Luckily, he will be just fine and back at Roebling on September 1st. See you all then!

Next time…corner worker Rick and my first "autograph".

Tales from a male racer's perspective...

August 6, 2001

We arrived at the track (Roebling Road) on Friday evening after torrential thunderstorms. We always skip the first practice session on Saturday...the weather had cleared somewhat but rain looked imminent. The practice session #2 and #3 went ok.

Luckily my main competitor in the Formula 40 had crashed so I though I may stand a chance of beating him. Last I saw him his bike was upside down after a nasty get off in Turn 1. When the race did start I managed to hold him off and his bruised rib cage for 5 of 8 laps but once again the laws of physics interrupted my glory and I finished my usual 2nd place.

Nicole first race was the 30 minute endurance GT Lights. For once she got a fairly good start and clawed her way to 3rd before her over used tires gave way dropping her back to a eventual 5th place. We did mount a fresh set of Michelin tires which lowered her lap times considerable allowing her to score a first place Amateur and 3rd overall place in the combined Middleweight Sportsman (both experts and amateurs race against each other) She lost to a National Champion.

My next race was the Heavyweight Supersport, 26 riders entered. Here is where it gets freaky. I was running at the tail end of a 4 bike freight train running the best lap times of my life (1:17's) when the white flag came out (last lap) I watched the other guys in front of me knife fighting each other and decided to stay where I was, since none of us had either the motor or the balls to pass anyone...or so I though. As the white flag was shown we were all headed into turn 1 at approximately 160mph...yes there was a radar gun at the end of the front straight....when the rider in front of me attempted a bonzai pass on the inside of my friend Jeff Bankston. #715 got into the turn way to hot and either hit Jeff in the rear or hit the front brake to hard (or a combination of both) and the bike flipped over...yes ass over tea kettle..I had only seen that happen one other time of TV when factory rider Steve Rapp flipped his Ducati over after hitting his team mate at the start of last years Pro AMA event at Road America. It was spectacular and scary. The racer went flying and his tumbling motorcycle went across the track in the center of the turn and took out another rider (#710)...some how Jeff got caught up in the crash and went off the track separating his collar bone and severely bruising his kidney. The rider who flipped over was air lifted out of there. The innocent unsuspecting #710 received serious injuries to both arms and was transported to the local hospital.

I escaped unscathed but forgot to downshift and kept on going. The race was red flagged (stopped) and they revert back to the last lap whereby I finished 5th....Nicole drove Jeff to the hospital and sat while I finished my last race (I finished 4th in the Heavyweight Superbike), considering I had my head up my ass I was happy. Nicole is now becoming very fast on her Aprilia 250cc and his working with much enthusiasm on our sponsorship proposals which will be sent out for next season to many companies outside the racing industry....Our next race is Sept 1...