TORO Race #106 - Bonita, TX

Grinding my teeth every time I go the TORO web site and don't see the results.
I think I finished 7th and got either 8th or 9th overall. That's what I was trying for.
I either liked the Bonita track way better than Thurber or changes to my suspension made me think I liked Bonita better. Or maybe it's because I got to practice at Bonita. I don't know. I do know that it was mega whooped out and my entire body is still sore. But I don't have blisters. I wasn't sore after Thurber, just had blisters on my hands. I fell three times, killing the bike once, and got run over by one of my competitors during one of my crashes. I did like the fact that there were many places that were good for passing because being behind anyone out there really sucked. I got passed in a check point at one time. I was in 3rd place until I started crashing. I was freezing after the race (and a chilled brew) so I had to get the heck out of there.
Thanks to TORO for the winter racing.
Now on to the grueling 14 race TCCRA season.

I have a feeling that Taraker's prerace report will outlast his race report.

Ya that was rough, but the weather, once the race started, was good even though I thought I was going to freeze to death waiting on the start. Real bad start for me, this was my second start on the 450 and the first one went good. Sunday I was a little jazzed up and nervous about the track and the competition and I just couldn't layoff that throttle when I kicked. Took me a couple kicks and neutral to get gone. I got close to the pack right off the bat and was able to stay a few seconds back for quite a while. However, I was not yet comfortable with the high speed sections at first. One lap of practice wasn't quite enough to get it all memorized for WFO 5th gear. Therefore, I pumped up a little and was trying to cut and thrust the big bike a little to much. I think the third lap was probably my best as I got into a good flow with the bike and left the clutch out to let the motor work the way it can.

In the woods a mile or so before the back check, someone from a class behind me was trying to get around (#A116 Bert Reynolds) on a 520 I believe. Anyway I was giving him the good line, but not slowing down much, just backing off a little in the straights to let him shoot by. Bert, I don't know him got his name from a buddy after the race, starts screaming at me to move. I scream back "Please kind sir allow me to hold your hand as you pass me for a spot in the overall finishing order." I think that's what I said, but it sounded a lot like "Come on you @#%^#@! I'm not gonna stop my @#%%%^ bike, @%^^@$#!" After he went by he looked back entering the fast open track leading up to the back check and tried to unload the 520's full roost force on me. I dodged and we proceeded to flog the absolute snot out of the bikes on that open stuff. I hit the check in a hurry and left early accidently ripping my card in half (sorry checkpoint guy). I think I overreacted a little to Bert (no hard feelings), but at least I picked up the pace on the fast stuff.

The last two laps I battled back and forth with a 200 number on a YZ250F. We must have passed each other 5 times. On the last lap my buddy Bobby Southard slipped past me in stealth mode on his KTM300. I stuck right with him before he saw an interesting piece of sandy soil outside a berm and decided to taste it! I was able to get around the YZF and pull away a little, in the process I got pretty tired and an earlier knee twist was starting to twinge with each additional sand whoop. I forgot to mention that somewhere in lap 3, 4, or 5 I hit a kicker sitting down on the outside of the track at about 65mph and I swear I saw Elvis telling me to hold on and pin it or say goodbye.

Of course, a half mile before the boggy area by the pits I dropped it in a sandy turn and Bobby and the YZF slipped by for good. Ran it to the finish and shook hands with the YZF for a great ride.

Don't know where I ended up because we had to get home to OK, but didn't care too much considering it was a new track and new competition for me. Overall, I really enjoyed it even though it one of those ass-kicker tracks we all dread. I'll be making a few more North Texas tracks this year I hope.

Well there's not much to say for me. I hated the track, didn't really like anything about it. Needless to say, I only rode one practice lap on Saturday, that was about all the fun I could stand for the day. :silly:

Got up early on Sunday and rode the parade lap. Felt much better than Saturday, but my hands were so cold that I had to stop and warm them. They were burning so bad. Once I got finished, I went back to our camp and got in the suburban (nice and warm) and laid in there for like an hour. After that, me and the old man had to go score the A/B race. Too bad about Dean Lane. He was winning the pro class by about a minute and a half after 2 laps and then just disappeared. If yall didn't read it yet, apparently he blew the plug out of the head on his Thumper Racing KTM 450. Now, THAT'S impressive.

Anyhow, after we get finished we go to the truck, get dressed and head to the line. To make a long story short, I got a bad start and couldn't really do much for the whole rest of the race. All I could do was hold on for two laps, and I decided that was enough for me. At that time, I figured I was more like 22nd out of about 22, which would pay 5 points, just the same as if I had got 15th. No biggie, I thought. When I went to look at the scores, I found out I was 13th, and woulda been 12th if I had done my other lap. Oh well, I'm just glad that I left that place with my bike in one piece and my body in one piece as well.

I guess I had a good time, especially on Saturday night. Taraker, Twinkie and myself had quite a feast. Thanks for the steaks Matt, I agree that should be the new tradition. Maybe we can continue that tradition at Gilmer? With some of the other members of the NTSP? BTW, Who's going to Gilmer? I think that we might be going. Depends if the old man can stand it again. :silly: Apparently this stuff takes a toll on the body. Whatever you guys say. :eek:

Thanks for coming down and racing with us Smitty. I'm glad you had a good time.
Here's something for everyone to think about.....In four weeks, the TCCRA will be having a race there in Bonita.....and the amatuers have the PM race. If you think it's whooped out now, just wait until the TCCRA has an open, all day practice on Saturday, and Experts racing in the morning. It's gonna be a killer on Sunday afternoon. The TCCRA will also run a longer race. I figure the amatuers will get an extra 30-60 minutes more than what we got at the TORO race. Better start working out right about now if you plan to survive that race.

Where should I start, how about the start. After bragging to my friend that came with me to watch about being top 5 off the start the other 2 races guess who was dead last this time. I practiced several times, started first kick. I guess it was cold and I did not give it my all when the light turned green. I passed a few guys the first couple miles, most because they fell. towards the end of lap one I was coming into a right hander with a deep sandy berm, when someone in front of me fell right in the middle off it. So I plow through the entrance and the front end sticks like grass to bubble gum and I go flying over the left side. I land right on my shoulder which is still sore from the broken colar bone from six weeks ago. I get up and feel the pain and wait a minute to see if it gets worse, hoping I did not break it again. Don't think it is broke, struggle to get the bike up and carry on. It hurt like crap but was able to finish. I think I got 10th. If not for that I may have had the strength to push harder at the end and pasted a couple more. Monday I could not move my arm and it is bruised all over my shoulder. If I can make TCCRA at Gilmer I may wrap it in bubble wrap.:scream:

How long has it been taking to get the scores up? I saw some pictures, but no scores.

The results are up now. Trash talkers better recognize.
Too bad Twinspar had to leave early before he got SMOKED by jeffd. At least that's what Jeff told me.
Dennis

6th :silly: Not bad, not great. I'll have to give it another shot next season!

Hey congrats to everybody on a great race and season.

Congrats to our top ten class finishers:

Taraker - 10th in Over 30 C
DA - 8th in Open C
Will Pattison - 2nd in Open A
Mason Hall - 4th in Open A
Mike Looney - 7th in Over 40 C

Then we have our bottom of the barrel finishers:

Jeff D - 19th in Over 30 C
Eric Looney - 12th in 250 C
Twinkie - 45th in Over 30 C :moon:
Smitty - 12th in AA

And finally our PeeWee guys:

Jason D - 7th in 65 C
Cody D - 11th in 65 C

Did I miss anybody? BTW, these are overall positions.

I don't consider 12th overall and 6th in the AA bottom of the barrel! Look at it like 12th out of 300 and looks pretty good don't you think?:moon:

LOL, I thought you'd like that Twinkie. Hey Smitty, you don't have to get all defensive. It was purely a joke to get a rise out of people. The NTSP has been rather quiet lately (taraker's computer must be broke or something) and I thought I'd "play with the fire", to use Twinkie's words, a little. :aj:

:whiner: Edit it or I'm parking ya next time I see ya! ;)

The track was great, the race was great & I think I could have done better except I screwed up my water regimen and wound up battling cramps.

I really had to race for some positions & I love that. Billy (C464) was not giving an inch and we had allot of good passes on each other.

Now, I gotta go back to buying my new truck................