Tales from a female racer's perspective...

October 18, 2001

I have a quite a dilemma writing my perspective this time. I am torn between two of my greatest experiences ever- racing Daytona for the first time in the Race of Champions and the Formula USA Aprilia Cup AND going to Las Vegas and riding around the track with Rueben Xaus....hmmm. Okay, we'll have to go in order of occurance.
I have to say that racing Daytona began as the most exciting, but yet the scariest thing I had EVER done (even more so than skydiving...Somehow jumping out of an airplane with a parachute seemed like a joy ride). Now notice how I said "began". The anticipation of racing at Daytona was more nerve wrecking than the act of actually riding out onto the track. For whatever reason, the anticipation always is. So my tale begins like this...
Jeff went to the track on Wednesday to set up and practice. I began my new job as a MarCom Manager at VERITAS (which I LOVE) so I couldn't exactly take time off to go play at the track. I did take Friday off since I had pre-registered months prior. I arrive to the track with everything set up, again another advantage to racing with my wonderful teammate! I had only one race this day, Lightweight Supersport. I entered the race only for the track time and race experience, knowing full well that racing Daytona against a grid of all SV650s wasn't exactly going to earn me any championships. My first practice was just getting acquainted with the track...learning the lines, braking points, building confidence, etc. Ughhh. My 5 laps around the track wasn't what you would call "practice". So much for the confidence piece. My race was later in the day. The weather forecast called for scattered showers and scattered we got....right at the start of my race.

I lined up at my grid position amongst the flock of SVs (what is going through my mind is how to get some incredible start so I don't fall behind and have to play catch up) and I look over to the east of the track where someone is pointing out a large rain cloud. Great. We do the warm up lap, come back around to our grid position and it is sprinkling. Two minute board comes out...REV the heck out of my little 250...green flag- GO...turn one...POURING RAIN!! Let the adventure (or shall I say free-for-all) begin! By the time we get to NASCAR turn two it is raining so hard you can't see the other side of the track. Well, I am always a sucker for gaining experience, especially in areas I have none so I keep going and think "this isn't too bad" until NASCAR turn 3 where a guy is down on the banking. I thought it would be a red flag (I couldn't see one if I tried) so I followed everyone in front of me (oh, I didn't mention my flop of a start which led to me 'following' rather than 'leading') into the pits. Well, guess what? NO red flag. I could have stayed out there, but since I pulled past the hot pit lane, I couldn't go back out. It was just as well because my goal for Daytona was to qualify for the Aprilia Cup Challenge the next day so letting my leathers dry and staying in one piece was a good idea...at the time!

Saturday was qualifying. I thought it was so cool entering a race where you receive a transponder for your bike and you are timed (hey, it's my first year, things like that are cool!). Even more cool is that the Simon's came to watch me (they are very good friends of my family from New York). It is great to have your friends and family come experience our racing endeavor with us. Qualifying was a session where everyone goes out on the track like in practice and you do your best lap times within the 10 minute time period. They post every one of your lap times. My time was 21st out of 25. To qualify for the race on Sunday you have to be within 10% of the fastest qualifying time. Yea, I made it!! I was so incredibly excited...to qualify in a national race was more of a dream just the day before.

ONE PIECE
Sunday was the big day. Jeff had his Formula 40 race and then mine would be after lunch. My practice was after Jeff's. The day before I was talking to John Simon, who had raced hydroplanes with my dad, and he was helping me to get faster in certain areas in which I was slowest. My concentration for practice was the chicane. I got behind some fast guys and was able to keep up entering the chicane. I observed how they negotiated the turns and went a little faster every time. The last and final time I went in fast, I mean really fast and took an inside line going in. Well, the inside line is bumpy and I get a little head shake, realizing that there is no way that I can make the transition into the right hander, so "LOOK KIDS, THERE'S BIG BEN!" and off the track. It seemed to happen so fast. I do know I low- sided, but after getting up with a very sore ankle and knee, there was more than one piece of my bike to pick up. Oh, I was so mad. I crashed in practice for crying out loud! By the looks of my bike I didn't think my bike would be racing later in the day and by the looks of my fat ankle and knee, I didn't think I would be racing later in the day.

I put ice on my injuries and Jeff and Matt helped me put my bike back together. Thanks so much guys for doing all of that! But first was Jeff's race. I was so excited for him. He had a great chance to win the championship...I know that he was faster than everyone else. He was so upset about his bike failing him and took it very personally. He will get 'em next time!

So after Jeff's race Matt and Jeff worked on my bike for the next three hours...bending, replacing, etc. and it was back together. Thanks so much to John at Blackman's for giving me a couple of parts...we owe you big time! I suited up for my race and made my way out to the grid. I was still a little shaken up mentally after my first crash, but like I said, anticipation is the hardest part. Once I get out there on the track, everything feels so natural and so fun. It's like riding with your best buddies on a Sunday afternoon, just with a lot more speed and more turns! My race went well. I was so proud that I got out there and finished 20th.

Now that I have raced Daytona, my level of confidence has risen and I am so syched about next season! See you in Daytona in March!