Thunderhill race weekend May 12, 13

This turned out to be one of my funnest race weekends yet. My friend Ryan (#64) from OMRRA met me Friday night at Thunderhill raceway and brought his newly renovated motorhome for us to 'camp' in. We set up a monster pit area and then rode our bicycles around the track just as it was getting dark. This was Ryan's first time at Thunderhill and all the turns and elevation changes had him a little nervous but I promised to take good care of him during Saturday practice.

Saturday dawned with high clouds and somewhat cooler temperatures, it was really great waking up in the pits and knowing that there was really nothing to do but step outside and push the bikes down to tech. The first few sessions were spent going nice and slow to remember the track. We were running about 2:25 lap times. By lunch time I had turned it up a bit and was getting down around 2:15. After lunch I ran a couple 2:10s and then got down to 2:08. By this time my Dunlop 207GP tires were shot so I headed back to the pits to pull the wheels off for a trip to the Dunlop truck. Saturday night, AFM held a huge BBQ for the turn workers and everyone was envited to join in for $5 per plate, the food was outstanding and they gave us enough to last until Sunday lunch!

Sunday morning practice went great, got the new tires scrubbed in and ran a couple 2:10s. My first race wasn't until after lunch so I helped Ryan get ready for the Formula I race and then went and took some pictures. Ryan did really well but watching him just tied my stomach up in knots, now I was getting all nervous for my first race. We were both racing the 600 Superbike race, I was gridded in 35th position and Ryan was ahead of me, somewhere around 25th position. I had been running faster than him during practice and really wanted to get by him but if OMRRA history played out, his habit of getting much faster on race day would make it pretty tough for me.

I got a good start and was only a couple bikes behind Ryan going into T1, I was so excited and pumped that all my skill went right out the window and I messed up every single turn, it's a wonder I completed the first lap. At T14 Ryan was on the outside and I decided to try and sneak up the inside, another rider had the same idea and we went into the turn 3 abreast. The rider next to me kind of blew the turn forcing Ryan way outside and left the door wide open for me to get by. From that point on, I just put my head down and hammered. I was pretty much by myselft for the rest of the race and came in 23rd out of 50 riders. Best lap time was 2:06, my new PR!

The 600 Production race was the last race of the day and I was tired but thinking I may have a chance for a real good finish, especially if a few key 'fast' people would go home early! I got a good start and seemed to be somewhere between the fast guys and slow guys. I got passed at T9 but regained the position two corners later and never saw that rider again. Once again I was all by myself most of the race. I took another 2 seconds off my lap time with a best time of 2:04. When all was said and done, I came in 13th out of 32 riders, my best finish yet!


Ryan coming out of turn 15


A peacefull evening in the pits


Me trying to bend my brake pedal back in place with Ryan's 'man' sized cresent wrench!


Our pit space


Ryan