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General Moto | Off-Topic Posts
Tolle's Finley Race Adventure (June 16th)
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[QUOTE="justalonewolf007, post: 1209148, member: 77294"] [b]Sorry for the Delay Here's the Rest[/b] I rode above my skill level. I pushed my bike to the “riding zone” and navigated the ruts and rocks to wait by the starting gate. I picked the second lowest clothespin from the bucket, and got the usual ribbing from the clothespin lady. Again, the vets were slow to the gate, so we had to wait for them (again, no offence to you guys, but being 15 seconds early wouldn’t hurt you!!! ;) ). I never like waiting before the gate, because the little CR is tall enough to where I tend to have quite a few close calls when it comes to tipping over at a standstill. As the vets took off, we shielded ourselves from the stinging horizontal hailstorm of dirt clods and stones, and then lined up. The little CR seemed all too happy to get out of the gate, and although the chick on the 250 ate me, we still had a very good start, and kept up in the first turn. My race pace differs completely from my practice pace, as it should. However, I noticed that my corners were coming around much more smoothly. The little CR was no longer sloshing through and diving around! Even though I had realized it before, I still couldn’t get over how nicely the bike was riding. With that, I grinned evilly and attacked the whoops section. “Aieyah!” It went easily as I caught up a little bit of a rhythm, jumping a set, letting the next set buck, then jumping another. My turn coming out of the whoops was even better than the first, and the little CR was anxious to get on the gas at every jump. It was a little too anxious though, and I ended up panic revving to save myself from kissing the front fender because of the kicker styled take-off. I gave the little CR a gentle reprimand, reminding it that there were still a couple laps left, and began preparing myself for *IT*. I glanced up in the next turn to see some guys cheering for me and giving me thumbs up. Somehow, for some idiotic reason I decided that I should catch the chick in front of me. I’m pretty sure it had something to do with the guys cheering for me, and my nature that tries to show off in everything I do, but as soon as I tried to pick up the pace a little more, I knew that I was going over my head. The little CR thought otherwise. It was almost as if the engine wasn’t screaming. Instead it seemed to be begging me “FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASTER!!!!” Finally, the 6’ drop-off was behind me, and the straight section before the finishline tabletop was flying past me. At the tabletop, I tried to pull a little more air than I normally would, trying to impress the crowd. The CR went high instead of far, and I bogged the engine heavily as I landed. A quick downshift and the rear wheel was spitting dirt as I flew past the crowd. *IT* was directly in front of me, and I faltered for a split second on the next upshift. My mind made up, I pinned it, hoping for the best as the ground disappeared from under my wheels I was determined to kill *IT* or have *IT* kill me…it was then that I saw the landing coming up way too quickly. Actually, I was going WAY too slowly. Instead of the battle cry “AIEYAH!” it was more of an “AIE-NOT GOOD NOT GOOD NOT GOOD!!!!” Needless to say, the little CR and I came up just a little short on the landing. I have never landed so hard in my life. In fact, the bike and I bounced two or three times, impossibly landing rubber side down with me still on top (no, there were no fantastic summersaults, but I still don’t know how I stayed on). I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I thanked the powers that be, and promised never to try *IT* again. I was so rattled that I slowed down for the rest of that race, and rode with my tail tucked well in between my legs. The exit takes you straight past the crowd, so I took a bow as I idled past them. I might as well act like a goon if I’m going to ride like one. I had taken second out of three, and was congratulated by the people who hadn’t seen me mess up. The other rider was riding a 4 stroke 80 and had finished about a half-lap behind me. I walked back past the registration trailer to talk to one of the chicks who was helping out with scoring, to ask about DNFs (did not finish?), and she completely ignored my question and excitedly told me that I was going to get a trophy as long as I finished the race. I had to smile a little bit as I walked back to sit on my trailer. I have dozens upon dozens of medals from swimming, but having a trophy for motocross would make my entire year! I burned. As luck would have it, the sun came out and it was a gorgeously sunny day, but was extremely hot as well. My snow white shoulders took on a pink tinge within minutes of the sun’s appearance, and I didn’t have any sunscreen along. Two hours later, my shoulders began to itch, and I knew it was a bad sign when they showed up as bright red. I threw on my jersey over the tank top I was wearing and found some shade to sit in, and stayed there as long as possible, only leaving when my second moto swung around. I watched the other racers clearing *IT* and defiantly decided that I was going to try *IT* again. As I readied the bike for the second race, the quad guy came and talked to me again. Apparently I had been a mere foot from making it safely over *IT*. My back wheel had caught the landing, which accounted for the very hard landing. Quad guy: “You can totally do it! I made it this time! Just ease the tabletop a little more, or hit it a little harder, and it’ll be smooth sailing” “You mean smooth sailing as in sailing off my bike to land on the road by the track?!!?” Quad guy: “No. Smooth as in easy landing and no problems. You’ve got it I know you can do it. It’ll be way faster too! Good luck!” With that, I gave my thanks, and pushed the bike towards the riding area. Second Moto We lined up again, waiting patiently as they chased down and rounded up all the vet class riders. I planned on getting a good start, but holding my pace instead of chasing the 250 rider. Instead of going big on the tabletop, I planned on rolling it and using it as a runway for more speed to clear *IT*. Everything else would be taken more carefully, as I wouldn’t get any bling for not finishing. I was determined to push my bike the three laps if I had to, just so I could get that shiny trophy! (They are really nicely made…). As the red, yellow, and green lights flashed on in turn, I readied myself and sprang from the start like I’d been shot from a rubber-band. The 250 got ahead quickly, but I let her go, working carefully through the course. Despite my caution, I could tell that I was riding “better” which meant I was also riding faster. I only had to face *IT* twice, as it is located just after the finishline tabletop. “Easy baby let’s keep it rubber side down okay?!” It’s probably a little weird that I talk to my bike while I ride, but no one else could hear, so I wasn’t too worried about people thinking I was crazy. I lost concentration as I went down the straight section before the tabletop, losing my “be careful Tolle’ “ thoughts to the sound of the engine and the adrenaline rush that accompanied the acceleration. I launched myself off the tabletop and realized my mistake just in time to jam both brakes on before I hit the face of *IT*. I rolled it safely, then leapt back on the throttle to try make up for lost time, determined to keep it under more control the next time around. The next few sections went very well, and I picked up the pace just a little bit, hoping that it would smoothen out my ride. It helped a little to focus on rhythm and throttle instead of speed and air distance. Again, there were guys cheering for me in a couple of the corners. I wished I had remembered what they looked like enough to find and thank them, but on the bike it was too quick to get any details. As the tabletop flew up to meet the little CR and I, I rolled off the throttle and kept the wheels low, almost rolling it. As I looked ahead, there sat *IT*, looking terribly intimidating and ominous. With a little longer run-up, I was at least determined to try again. As I pinned the throttle, my first Aieyah came out as little more than a squeak past my dry lips. I knew I could do better so I tried it again as I hit the takeoff. “AIEYAAAAH-YIKES!!” (I really have to stop watching the ground underneath me when I go off jumps...I always end up scaring myself. Both wheels landed perfectly on the landing! “HAHAHAH!!! SUH-WEET!!!” I couldn’t help but give a goonish victory fist pump as I came into the corner. It was the last lap, and everything went without a hitch. The 250 chick had waited at the end of the riding area to congratulate me on the 2nd finish and certain trophy. I nearly hugged the quad rider for talking me through things again. I went to get my trophy, and was congratulated by one of the race organizers. As I shook the presenter’s hand, I blurted out without really thinking that the trophy didn’t have any boobs. I was immediately embarrassed as the guy who presented it to me stood there with his jaw hanging while the lady next to him laughed her head off. I didn’t really mean to say it out loud, so I apologized quickly and walked off with my prize, grinning ear to ear as I went. It ends up that 400 people were there to see me case the gap, but receiving that trophy, I didn’t even care. I sat and recovered while I watched the last couple races, then loaded up and headed for Cabana boy’s place to leave the little CR. It was definitely a good day. My shoulders are still a little raw from that day, and I don’t think they’re going to heal very well in two patches, but everything else is good, and I have some hardware to show off now. Racing life is good. [/QUOTE]
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General Moto | Off-Topic Posts
Tolle's Finley Race Adventure (June 16th)
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