AFM ROAD RACE
Infineon Raceway - April 27, 2008

Load up and hit the road around 7 PM Friday night and pull into the hotel around 2 AM, get a couple of hours sleep and hit the track. I ran this config for the first time on Pete Licht's SV650 last year and figured that I could take my best lap on the SV650, add three seconds and call it my goal for the day on the FZR400. That would put me around 1:56-1:57 as my realistic goal for the weekend.

Saturday Practice

In the moring the FZR won't start again so I pull of the cover, air box lid and air filter and spray a little carb cleaner in there while cranking it over and it fires up instantly! Then I head out to practice and lay down what felt like some very lazy laptimes. When I come in I see that I was pulling consistent 2:01's and begin to wonder if my goal of 1:57's was too pessimistic. However, I end up running those exact same laptimes all day. I get smoother and more comfortable but, never pick up more than a couple tenths.

I get 3 practice sessions in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. At $115 for a full days practice, $65 for AM only and $45 for the afternoon that makes that 1 afternoon session a bit pricey for my taste [Expenses]

After practice we cheer for David Sapsis in F40, hang out and then Kristine and I hit Chevy's for some 'dillas and try to get some sleep.

450 Superbike
I was experimenting with a low launch rpm of 8,000, the green flag dropped and I snapped my fingers off the clutch as fast as I could and promptly stalled it, ducked and hoped that no one would ram me. When it was clear I twisted the throttle while simultaneously fingering the start button and with a 10 o'clock wheelie I ran up the hill after everyone.

...and then I had a really good time! 450sb was the second wave so, I got to weave my way through traffic until the very end! I made up 10 spots, and finished tenth

650 Production
My second also-ran class for the the day. Still, I was hoping to dramatically improve on my morning start and make a good show for the first few corners before the inevitable bleeding of positions. From the outside of the second row (9th) I get a decent launch and am running maybe 5th into turn two. Going into four I setup to show Rick Williams a little something on the exit. It won't last more than a few seconds but, I thought it would be fun to say, "hi" and then cheer him on for as long as I could. Unfortunately, a bronze colored SV running 2nd or 3rd, lowsides in front of us and while we scatter for clear track I loose my drive and that idea goes out the window.

from there it's back to my usual bleeding of positions. I'm probably on the slowest bike out there and the rear tire consistently goes greasy after 4 or 5 laps this weekend. I assume that I must be overheating it - I'll have to keep experimenting with tire pressure (Set at 27.5/28.5 in the morning). At anyrate, I lose what little mojo I have and surrender some positions that I shouldn't have. I'll also try to remember to sleep and maybe eat next race weekend. ;)