CCS Las Vegas Classic Course August 2, 2003 Friday ------ Load up, meet Jay Kinberger at Pete Licht's Brewery and hit the road. Saturday -------- Arrive, unpack and head to registration. Oh, and you can get a one time recipicocity license from CCS for $25. 1st Practice Session Just putting around so Jay can follow me and get a feel for the course. We get down to the 1:43's 2nd Practice Session This is the last practice before our first race so, it's on! I experimented with some passing lines and we got down to 1:40's and 1:39's - My previous best time was a 1:41. Race 1: Ultra-Lightweight Sportsman I had the pole and Jay was too my right, giving him the inside line into turn 1. The green flag catches Jay off guard and I rocket into the lead. This is the first time I've ever lead a race, Yehaw! Jay and I swap places a few times - he's taking more classic, swooping, lines through the tighter corners allowing me to dive under him on the brakes and I collect first place. Race 2: Lightweight Super Sport I don't even know what kind of bike's normally run in this class - we just entered it for more track time. I was gridded dead last on the 8th row and Jay was supposed to be on the second row but, he dropped into the back with me so, that we could play. Jay's so cool. I get my best start ever - The flags drops and I drop the clutch and take off with the front wheel just hovering an inch or so off the ground. I work my way through traffic and Elaine Seasly passes me on her MZ and we begin the most incredible dicing of my life! We must have swapped places 5 times a lap, practically touching the whole time. I got down to a 1:38 and dived under Elaine on the last corner to finish 7th. Yehaw!!! After the race Elaine and I go running across the pits toward each other screaming about how great a race it was! Race 3: Lightweight Sportsman Jay drops back into the eighth row with me again and has decided that I've beat him for the last time today. I get another good start but, Jay's right with me. We trade places a few times and he's taking tighter lines to block me this time, go Jay! On the last lap Jay goes wide into the decreasing radius turn leaving the door wide open for me. Just as I'm realizing that Jay had handed me my third victory over him for the day I notice the corner worker throw the yellow (no passing) so, I had to follow him to the finish line, Damn. I got down to a 1:38.2 and Jay got a blistering 1:37.9. When I went down to get out trophies for the first race they also gave me two first place trophies for Lightweight Sportsman. Jay finished first expert and I finished right behind him as the top novice. A first place trophy for both of us against those SV650's and what not. I had no idea! All I could see was Jay but, we must've have been slicing through alot of traffic in the process. Sunday ------ Get up and head out to the track. We're gonna do morning practice and hit the road. Session 1 I suck. Session 2 A little smoother. Jay and I get a little dicing in but, he steadily pulls away with a few tenths over me. Still, I guess I looked pretty cool to Elaine's husband, Zac. He said that everytime I came through turn one I was backing it in and left a big long darkie behind me. Tee-hee. I haven't had a race weekend that's been this kind to my ego ...er, well, ever. You can read more about Elaine & Zak's adventures at http://www.precisionstrikeracing.com/ ...And Pete's Brewery at http://www.whatalesyou.com/breweries/coastrange/index.asp