I rushed home from working later then planned last night so Sawtooth and I could hit the first Thursday night practice at Sugar Creek MX across the MO state line. I was so pumped to go riding that I hook up the trailer and load the gas guzzlin SUV in my dress cloths. We shove off for the 14 mile drive to the state line and arrive about 6:30. The track is packed. We unload and suit up for some riding. Practice is split up by bike size with each group getting 15 minutes on the track. So we have to wait. Sawtooth gets to hit the track first. He slowly makes his way around for the sight lap, yes he has learned his lesson, and gets stuck behind another kid that falls over in a off camber turn. After some help from a flagger, he gets going again. I get to hit the track next and go to put my helmet on and discover in my excitement to go riding I didn't bring my contacts. So I have to go without goggles since they will not fit over my glasses. I wait until all most everyone has left the gate before dropping the hammer on the Mighty CR Red Rooster. The dirt is black and slick from a combo of water and those dang 4 wheels. Every turn is slick because of this combo. Its really hard to read the terrain with the dark dirt and lighting. I almost throw it away in a corner, not realizing it is so slick. Slow, I get three laps in before my session is over.
Back in the pits, Sawtooth and I hit the concession stand and drop a buck fifty on two candy bars. Sawtooth gives me a big "Thanks Dad", made me thing it was the best candy bar he every had. Anyway, we wait for our seasons to roll around. Sawtooth hits the track again, this time a little faster, but that old off camber turn gets him again on the first lap. He tells me later he doesn't like that turn. I watch him finish his season, proud that the next three laps he didn't master the off camber, but made it through with out falling over.
Again, I head to the line and let everyone go due to being goggle less. I keep having thoughts of Dick Burleson from not being able to wear my goggles. After the first lap, I pick up my slow speed a little more, the corners are even more slick then the first session. At the end of lap 2 I decide to hit the 90' table top a little faster, mind you not to clear it, only to jump further then what I was. Landing I have much more speed then my previous laps. After the table top the track veers to the left. Coming into the bend in the track I let off the gas, set up and then drop the hammer. Then it happens... the back end swings way right and the handle bars go into a death swap. The next thing I know I'm projected through the air like a Patriot missile aimed right at Saddam himself. Bam! I hit the ground and do the rag doll roll. Coming to a stop on my back, I hear the bike behind me with the throttle wide open. My first instinct is to jump up and go shut it off. But, I hear someone hit the kill button and feet running towards me with the first question being are you all right? I decide to stay put and take inventory of my personal damage. Fingers and arms move, no pain. Good. Legs, yeah good. Wait, my left knee feels like a ice pick is stuck in it and I can feel blood running down my knee. I reach up to feel my left collar bone since I have broke it twice, relieved to feel it is not broken. After a few minutes I get up, one of the guys around me hands me a piece of plastic. At first I thought is was from the bike, only to see its half of my visor. Dang it! I get on the bike to discover the hearty Renthal handle bars are mangled. The bike starts with only three kicks, and I idle back to our pit area. Thinking this must be what it is like to ride one of those $40,000 custom street bikes with the weird shaped handle bars. Once at our pits, I take off my helmet to discover my fairly new Bell Moto 7 is toast. My chest protector didn't fair much better. I have deep scratch marks on the back and both shoulder pads. We slowly load up and head for home.
Once home, with the bike in the garage I discovery the true damage. That nice looking Pro Circuit pipe is bend and smashed, the left foot peg mount is bend as is the sub frame. I think the bars maybe all right. It looks like the rubber mounting system may have took the impact, but I will have to see once I tear down the bike on Sat. to inspect it closer. My riding pants also have a dime size hole in the left knee.
I guess I can look at it like this. I may have a few hundred dollars in damages. The helmet will need to be replaced which chaps me. The chest protector now has battle scars, but it and the helmet did their intended jobs. My left knee has a deep cut in it and is stiff, (man the parking lot at work this morning was long) but hopefully will be all right in no time at all. Bottom line, I'm worse for wear, but at least it didn't require a trip to the ER!
Total outings on the new CR, 3. Score; Sawblade 2, Mighty CR Red Rooster 1. Next match TBA!
Back in the pits, Sawtooth and I hit the concession stand and drop a buck fifty on two candy bars. Sawtooth gives me a big "Thanks Dad", made me thing it was the best candy bar he every had. Anyway, we wait for our seasons to roll around. Sawtooth hits the track again, this time a little faster, but that old off camber turn gets him again on the first lap. He tells me later he doesn't like that turn. I watch him finish his season, proud that the next three laps he didn't master the off camber, but made it through with out falling over.
Again, I head to the line and let everyone go due to being goggle less. I keep having thoughts of Dick Burleson from not being able to wear my goggles. After the first lap, I pick up my slow speed a little more, the corners are even more slick then the first session. At the end of lap 2 I decide to hit the 90' table top a little faster, mind you not to clear it, only to jump further then what I was. Landing I have much more speed then my previous laps. After the table top the track veers to the left. Coming into the bend in the track I let off the gas, set up and then drop the hammer. Then it happens... the back end swings way right and the handle bars go into a death swap. The next thing I know I'm projected through the air like a Patriot missile aimed right at Saddam himself. Bam! I hit the ground and do the rag doll roll. Coming to a stop on my back, I hear the bike behind me with the throttle wide open. My first instinct is to jump up and go shut it off. But, I hear someone hit the kill button and feet running towards me with the first question being are you all right? I decide to stay put and take inventory of my personal damage. Fingers and arms move, no pain. Good. Legs, yeah good. Wait, my left knee feels like a ice pick is stuck in it and I can feel blood running down my knee. I reach up to feel my left collar bone since I have broke it twice, relieved to feel it is not broken. After a few minutes I get up, one of the guys around me hands me a piece of plastic. At first I thought is was from the bike, only to see its half of my visor. Dang it! I get on the bike to discover the hearty Renthal handle bars are mangled. The bike starts with only three kicks, and I idle back to our pit area. Thinking this must be what it is like to ride one of those $40,000 custom street bikes with the weird shaped handle bars. Once at our pits, I take off my helmet to discover my fairly new Bell Moto 7 is toast. My chest protector didn't fair much better. I have deep scratch marks on the back and both shoulder pads. We slowly load up and head for home.
Once home, with the bike in the garage I discovery the true damage. That nice looking Pro Circuit pipe is bend and smashed, the left foot peg mount is bend as is the sub frame. I think the bars maybe all right. It looks like the rubber mounting system may have took the impact, but I will have to see once I tear down the bike on Sat. to inspect it closer. My riding pants also have a dime size hole in the left knee.
I guess I can look at it like this. I may have a few hundred dollars in damages. The helmet will need to be replaced which chaps me. The chest protector now has battle scars, but it and the helmet did their intended jobs. My left knee has a deep cut in it and is stiff, (man the parking lot at work this morning was long) but hopefully will be all right in no time at all. Bottom line, I'm worse for wear, but at least it didn't require a trip to the ER!
Total outings on the new CR, 3. Score; Sawblade 2, Mighty CR Red Rooster 1. Next match TBA!
