Race Reports

James (576) August Weekend

Loudon, NH

August 13, 2007

Friday:
Went out for practice Friday and thought something was wrong with the bike. Wouldn't go where I thought I was putting it, etc;. I think I must have been real tired and just being very lazy with turn ins. I knew where I wanted to go, but the bike was just not heading there.

Finally by the last session I was able to get myself back together and ride the bike like I needed too.

Saturday:
GTO:
After my incident, this race is just killing me ... I'm obviously spooked by it, because I just can't get to pace here. I was doing ok until the experts started to swarm the AM pack, and I backed my pace of a whole second for 3 laps ... don't know why. This gave Dave and Justin the chance to pass me, which gave me something to go for and pick up the pace, which was fun. I was able to catch up to Justin, but the red flag flew just before we would cross start finish ... heheheh, could have been a fun battle. I got 5th (out of 6th) in my class ... not where I wanted to be in this class this year. Disappointed. Thinking of switching this race out to something else, like the Dash for cash or something.

I enjoy the longer GT races, just can't seem to get my head back in this one.

MWSS: 
We only got 4 laps into this one. I got a 7th. After the start, the front 5 took off and I couldn't keep pace, with them, but had a gap on the back group. Pretty much ran this one alone.

Sunday:
MWSB:
This was a CRAZY race. People were dropping like flies and the stupidest stuff was happening in front of me. I decided to let it all sort out, which resulted in two guys knocking into each other coming out of twelve and red flagging the race on lap 1. The restart was just as crazy, but we made it through lap 1. There were 3 crashes in turn 3 during the race, but we were able to keep going. The front group took off again (my lap 1 is awful), so it was just me in 7th for the duration of the race. Not too exciting as far as racing goes.

HWSS:
Got a good start on the restart and was 3rd going into turn 1. This helped me get 3 seconds faster on my lap 1 and hang with the front group for a little longer. I had a nice two lap battle with 388, who had great corner speed in the middle section, but was a able to catch him and out drive him on the back section and the straight. We swapped positions a couple times (which was fun), then was able to get a great drive on him out of 12, and put my head down and put some distance on him. Because of that battle, the front group was gone once again, and I was on my own. I took 5th in this race and got back down to the 19s again.


My biggest issue right now is the fun factor. Its not there like it was. I was having a great time this year up until June, and now I'm just struggling mentally out there. It gets much better as the weekend goes on, but by the time I start feeling like myself again, the weekend is over. Hopefully I can pick up where I left off in Sept since its a little closer.

I found alot of drive out of 10 going into 11, but can't seem to set myself up correctly for 11 now with the speed i'm carrying. Its obvious I don't have any good reference points out there, so its something I'll be working on.

My turn 6 got better this weekend, which is a bonus, along with learning more about the speed to be had in turn 9. Turn 3 right now (along with getting through 11 correctly now) is my weakest point. I just am braking so early, losing so much speed midcorner, etc;. Its why I am not on pace right now.


Once again, thanks to everyone in our corner of the infield! Always a great time! So much fun to have Dave out in the AM mix now.

Erin is the best pit crew anyone could have! I love it when she is there! She is so helpful, supportive, and just a pleasure to have at the track!

Thanks to Geno and Kyle for sticking around for the awards so I could get me my 5th place trophy. Nothing spectacular, but was great to have a couple people there in support.