Started out great, Levi, Tom and Karen were at my house Friday morning by like 8am. Got a real early start to the long drive. Everything was loaded up, my bike, Levis bike our gear, ETC just had to wait for Tom. When they got here, loaded his bike and stuff into the trailer and off we went. Everything is cool, no traffic what so ever. We get to our 1st , pull into a gas station and.... PROBLEM #1 The electric cable for the trailer came disconnected from my truck, the trailer cable was dragged for so many miles that it sheared off a pin. We found a trailer place and got it fixed, $45 we were on our way 20 minutes later.
Get into Virginia maybe a hour or 2 from the track and all of a sudden and the sky opened up, pretty bad. But drove right through it. Got to the hotel at a decent time, about 4pm or so. Checked in put our stuff in our rooms then went to the track to drop off and set up. We were probably the 3rd group of people there. Took the barn which was great because both days was extremely hot but it was nice and cool in the barn and most important NO SUN!
After dropping off and setting up we walked the entire track discussing things took like another hour or so. And for the people who see the dark tire marks on the track from the cars and think its slippery when going over it on the bike, IT IS NOT SLIPPERY AT ALL. After we finished walking the track it was off to dinner, get to the Texas place order our dinner then were ready to pay PROBLEM #2, A BIG PROBLEM!!!! On the way to the diner I took my money out while we were driving and put it under my lap so I can take the $8 dollars or so in change and put it on the side of the center console and forgot it was there. But I got out of the truck and it slid out with me and dropped onto the ground without me noticing so yes I lost $500 in cash.
Tommy and Levi helped me out. I feel bad borrowing money from people but Levi forced $220 down my throat just so I can buy in on Saturday because I was on the waiting list. But Saturday before we went to dinner my wife switched money from 1 account to another so I can pay Levi back, INSTANTLY.
After losing that amount of money I wasn't sure if I should punch a wall out of anger or just cry. And I even said to myself I wonder how the rest of the weekend is going to be after the cotastraphy I had last month at VIR. see link here if you didn't already --->>
http://shopphilly.com/teampromotion/...pic.php?t=5258 But Tom, Karen and Levi made things all the more better for me and brought smiles back to my face, not to mention cbrbob sending me the 37 things to my phone from his hotel room right behind us, which by the way, one of them is now my ringer
Saturday, Red group had 35 people total, which they say is full. (I'll get to that in a bit) but we won't know if we get in until 10am. Okay no problem I might not get in. My and Ian (who was also on the waiting list) were in that little tower right off the front straight talking and I was also video taping a lot of people. 10am rolls around me and Ian go to the TPM trailer with fingers crossed and BAMM, we were able to get in. So both of us had a cool aid smile on that reached from ear to ear!
I completely blocked out the fact I lost $500, had to make a pit stop to get the trailer fixed and most important blocked out the messy weekend I had last month at VIR. Now I gave myself a chance to see how the bike ran after dumping a little over $1000 into her. Changed the gearing, new front wheel bearings, new front brake lines, pads, tune-up, fixed the exhaust leak, tighten the steering next bolt and other stuff.
Went out there missing 2 sessions while everyone is almost up to speed. But I kept up with just about 70% of the crowd. 35 people on the track "so they say" and you can do anywhere from 4 to 6 laps before the first group of riders pass me, those guys that are probably ready for Blue. A lot of track to myself and everyone else too.
Great day I had with another cool aid smile. On Sunday I put my lap timer on my bike and after my 1st session I noticed I took 6 to 8 seconds off this weekend then from what I did there 2 years ago, Yes its been 2 years since I did South! But I was running a constant :31 - :32
But so far my best time from Sunday was a :25, second best is a :27 then a :28 but over all its a constant :32. If I can run a constant :18 to :20 then that's beginner blue group speed, dropping 5 to 7 seconds don't sound like a lot but it is, and I know where I can make it up but like Ralph says with the UPSIDE DOWN DIAMOND IS A PUSSY, I am able to do it. This time I took cbrbobs and Ralphs advice and used it.
Also the change of gearing helped out to, some turns 2nd gear was to fast, high RPM, 3rd gear I was dragging and getting a bad drive now its perfect whereas I can give it more throttle at places where Bob and Ralph told me. They came into the barn area and was like look, we told you 2 countless times about this and that, with that attitude as if they really want us to go faster NOW, not later, but NOW. BOB AND RALPH --- YOU GUYS ROCK AND THANKS AGAIN!!!!
Overall I had a great weekend and I'm sure everyone else did but I wish there was a 3rd day LOL
I got a shit load of pictures of people but couldn't get any from blue group, I had no clue who the hell was who out there. I was filming JimRBlue just to find out I was filming the wrong person
cbrbob has pictures too, but here's the kicker. I seen bob taking pictures for like 3 laps right off the front straight by the tires, then all of a sudden he was on his bike next to me, I had to take a triple look and I was like wadafuk, how did he change so fast and get on the track
Also congrats to Levi for the bump to Red and Jake for the free track day and training wheels
VIR South Pics - NWS - Report
thanks joe.
. Thanks for the work you did over the past few weeks on my bike, it feels great.
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