A Race Odyssey (Part Two - Grattan)
Ahhhh! Grattan Racaway outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan. A more scenic, challenging racetrack is hard to imagine. I have always enjoyed the races at Grattan as much for the ambience as the great track. Friday practice went as smooth as could be with lap times tumbling each session. One thing that became apparent though was that tire management was to be crucial as we had pretty well shredded a new set of tires during practice. Friday evening was spent cleaning the cars and socializing with competitors.
Saturday morning Rocket Dave Talbot appeared unannounced to help the rest of the weekend. Morning practice went well using this time to scrub in new tires and check jetting. Saturday's race was featured right after the lunch break and thirty-nine 125's lined up for the start. Starting on the inside of the third row things were looking pretty good. Again we used the J. West slow roll start and getting a good launch I was fifth into the first turn. The race quickly settled down into a hard charging event with the top five breaking away on the second lap. Hometown favorite Ted Tackett began to set the pace and slowly disappeared into the distance. This driver moved into third on the third lap and began to pull away from the rest. The top three drivers were not in a position to battle and we charged on in lock step towards the race finish. Three laps from the end and still in third I smoked up on a lapped car piloted by a rent-a-racer participating in one of Brian Kay's "arrive-and-drive" machines. The lapper had the arrive part down pat but I am not so sure about the drive part. Blasting up beside the back marker just before the braking zone on Grattan!s long front straight I took the line and went in shallow to give the lapper some room. In my peripheral vision I saw the other car go very high (VERY HIGH!) on the racetrack and thought to myself that he didn't need to give me that much room. The next thing that I knew, the arrive-and-driver flew over my left side pod and landed sideways across the front of my shiny new KGB. Still running well over 90 mph, the arrive-and-driver was looking me right in the eyes as I shoved him down the racetrack, tires smoking and debris flying. Afraid to back off for fear the other car would dig in and launch me over the top, I downshifted one gear and stood on the gas, shucking off the wide-eyed arrive-and-driver. But the damage was done. The side pod was destroyed and dragging on the track and even worse the rear axIe was bent. I limped the car around to the pits and was greeted by a furious Rocket Dave who after inspecting the damage went and expressed his concerns about the qualifications for arrive-and-drivers.
Needless to say, Rocket Dave and I had some work to do. A new rear axle and some percussive maintenance with a large hammer and a block of wood had us ready for Sunday's race. Sunday morning practice showed that we were right back on the pace again and we began the preparations for our race late that afternoon. After what seemed like an eternity the race director called us to the grid. This time we would be starting off pole and were confident of a good run. Another slow roll start and we made a good launch once again although third into the first turn. Myself, along with Chris Reed and Brlan Blair, began to check out on the field. At about one third distance it became clear that my concerns about tire management were valid as my front tires began to overheat and lose grip. I knew that if I didn't take some measures to preserve my tires I would be in deep trouble before the end of the race. Changing my lines to a less aggressive approach I put my head down for a run to the end. Reed and Blair slowly inched away but never got out of sight, With five laps to go the plot began to thicken. Suddenly the gap to the leaders began to shrink and the race was on once again. Three laps to go, and Reed and Blair were clearly in tire trouble. To make a short story long, I quickly passed first Blair and then Reed to take the lead and to my amazement pulled away to take a win in my fourth start with our new KGB 125.
Pulling into the pit lane after the cool down lap I was greeted by Rocket Dave doing a victory dance reminiscent of a 250 pound chicken. After much back slapping, high fiving and chicken dancing we cleared the car through tech and began to load for the trip back home.
Next stop is Elkhart Lake Wisconsin's Road America with it's 130mph+ straights and the stiff competition that the Annual SuperNationals always brings. Rocket Dave will be bringing along a one off team mate for this race in 1he person of Bobby Wilson the 2000 SKUSA Pro Moto National Champion. This next event will also feature the return of the mysterious Goose Man (?) who has signed on for the rest of the season as chief push starter and whipping boy for the rest of the crew.
It's true! The race is never over!
|
