Anticipation...is making me.........crazy~

It’s the middle of April…

The weather has been taunting those of us who prefer the 2 wheel mode of transportation, and especially tormenting for those of us who rely on such for therapy.

The sweet song of the wind in our ears is soothing to our souls, and after a long winter, those souls are sorely in need. It’s been an agonizingly long winter, but the grass is finally turning green, the sun looks so inviting (when it’s out), and our bikes are calling our names. I swore I could hear mine whimpering from under her blanket all winter, hidden in the dark, cold recesses of the corner of the garage. As if riding weather wasn’t anticipation enough, there’s race season to add to it. I made my official drag racing debut at the FINAL race of the season in Bowling Green KY last September. Baptism by fire, having my first race in the AMRA Fall Finals, and the beginning taste of a potential full-fledged addiction. I found something else totally enticing and addicting too…watching the guys hover around my bike brainstorming about what they can do to make it go FASTER. Oh YEAH, gimme whatever you have in mind, and let’s GO RACING!

The days are getting longer, the sun closer, and the temperatures warmer, and I’m itching to get out there and savor a new season’s worth of moments. Only one problem…my bike is in the shop. It’s all good though, she’s getting fitted with nitrous and a quick shifter! I don’t have a problem with the bike being in the shop, it’s a GOOD THING. I’m just sitting here, on pins and needles, with, not only the anticipation of riding season, not only a new full racing season, but brand new TOYS! OMG, I will be riding a Night Rod Special with NITROUS!! That’s some crazy ass shit right there!

I feel like I’m going to burst with excitement. I know that the job at hand is being completed with the utmost of meticulous care and precision and is all but complete. I am sure it will be ready to be sent for tuning any day now. All good things come to those who wait, so I’m trying my best to wait patiently…and for those of you who know me, that’s a BIG DEAL, cuz I’m lacking in that patience department. I’m a bundle of cheesy grins and nerves all wrapped up in eager anxiety, and it feels good to me.

I can’t wait for the payoff, to see how much time we can trim off my ¼ mile, to qualify for more divisions, to see the smiles on the faces of ‘my crew’ who helped accomplish it. So, in advance, in case I pee my pants with excitement (or fear) and miss the prime opportunity, a big fat THANK YOU to Steve & Brian for slapping this big cheesy Cheshire cat grin on my face already! U ROCK!

1/4 mile at a time

I did it! I'm now officially a drag racer! I made my racing debut at the AMRA finals in Bowling Green Ky last weekend. I had been practicing and preparing most of the summer, but I had never had a real race until then. What a way to initiate myself! The AMRA finals, tons of spectators and record numbers of competitors. Talk about go big or go home! Another 'big dog' moment completed for me. (The kind of moment where I feel I'm pushing the limits of my ability & I tell myself "you wanted to run with the big dogs, don't get back on that porch now!")

The details: Going up to the registration booth not knowing who, what, where I was supposed to be was the start of my baptism by fire. Fortunately I had good friends to guide me. Studied the schedule, which may as well have been in latin, then had a whole night to make myself a mental case about it. Saturday morning I had about 2 hours to run test & tune. I delayed until I couldn't get away with it anymore, then got myself together and rode up to the line. My first trip down the track was nerve wracking, but when I got my times, I was fairly ok with it. I'd done better, but I've also done much worse. I managed to delay myself enough to only get a couple more passes in, I needed to take baby steps. Qualifying rounds were next. Lots of classes, I was participating in two. I spent a lot of time waiting in line, sitting in the sun wearing a helmet and leather sweating. Not a good hair day, to say the least. I managed to consistently run average times, and it frustrated me that I couldn't do better. I knew I was capable of a 12.3, but for the life of me I couldn't break 12.5 the whole weekend. The track was slick, and I had trouble with my back tire spinning too much. Sunday is race day. Do or die! I got a few test & tune runs in, still getting 12.5, but my last run was the best, a 12.53 (as opposed to the 12.56, .57, .58 i had done before) So, I set my dial in time for 12.53, my fastest time, figuring I hadn't gone faster than that all weekend, so why not. (For those of you not versed in drag racing, I raced in a division where basically, the rider that comes closest to their fastest time, without going over wins.) Mind you, I'm not all that much in the know yet either!
I got nervous again awaiting my very first REAL race. Another self talk...stay off the porch and run with those big dogs! I lined up, lit the staging lights, and GO! I gave it my best shot, and it felt pretty good through the whole run. I couldn't tell if I beat the other rider or not. Got to the turn off lane, rode to the booth, took my ticket, can't read it until I get to the pit, what torture! I get to the pit and the 'crew' I was with was smiling. I won??? Really? No way! How cool was that. I get to race again! Round two I was less nervous, gave it my best shot. I knew I beat the guy next to me. I broke out (went faster than my set time). Oh well, ya win some, you lose some. My mental win was, I just beat a bike that had a 1 second head start!
All those days of practice boiled down to two 1/4 mile trips down the track.

Now I just need to work on the 'game' aspect of racing. Watch the guy next to you, if you're going faster, pace yourself so you don't break out. It's a gamble, and a strategy kind of sport. I'll get there with experience, 1/4 mile at a time. I made measurable progress. It was a slick track, and I spun that back tire a LOT. I used to freak out and let off the throttle when that happened, and now I'm able to keep on it and ride it out. :)

Post race experience I had some time to reflect. I was amazed at the camaraderie of the racers at the AMRA's. I got a lot of thumbs up and fist bumps from perfect strangers and fellow competitors. I didn't know them, but they made me feel at home. I definitely want to go back! I also reflected on how fortunate I truly am. Not just in material things, but in physical ability, in the people who love me, and the fortunate opportunities. I have some awesome guardian angels up there, and I've witnessed proof of their existence. I had my key velcroed under my seat so the alarm wouldn't go off, and after putting it back up on the trailer, I noticed it had fallen down, and almost fell through the frame. If that had happened during a race it could have had some awful results. In questionable weather forecasts, I've been able to successfully get practice and racing in without weather being a factor. So, for all my blessings, thank you to God, the Universe, and to my wonderful Guardian Angels. I will do my best to keep learning and improving, one 1/4 mile at a time!