July 2004 Race Report - The First Real Race

July 18, 2004 - WSMC Novice Middleweight

So today I got to race my first real race (My first race last month, I was in the second wave, blah, blah...).

****FLASHBACK to 2 minutes before my race*****
Me: :::nonchalantly turns to Jay:::: Hey...what does it mean when they wave that little white flag thingie

Jay: It means, last lap. It MEANS...if you can pass - you pass them NOW.
***back to the race****

 

Closest Call:
Tommy almost trying to take me out at T1 in yesterday's practice. I know that he loves telling this story...so Tommy - where you at, mang? Here's your intro...do your thang!

Posts Pulled From SCS (www.socalsportbikes.com)

Originally posted by TWOtheONE
c'mon it wasn't that close! ok, maybe it was....story happen something like this (while my bike was still running)....

Originally posted by Vyshtia

Thanks, everyone!!

I must be the most unfit racer out there...no one else takes this whole racing business less seriously than I do...

I mean, Sunday morning, I set out to my first practice session late...everyone is already out there racing around, and I putt out there to warm up my tires. As all the fast guys buzz me....I'm just thinking - "geez, guys...gimme a break...duuuuude!!! I just woke up for goodness' sake!!!

Oh, no...I wouldn't put it that way...
I try...but I seem to aim at different goals than most the other racers...and I try...but in my own way.

I mean...we're racing for fun, right? It's just "Club Racing". Then why do I see so many angry racers? Racers who have tied up so much of their own self worth into something as trivial as lap times and who wins the race - they tie up so much of their own worth into this that they're willing to behave in manners that degrades their personal relationships and take risks that - to me - is more than a race placement is worth!

So I go out there with very simple goals...if I see a bike that I can pass safely and I am willing to just about guarantee their safety and mine...hey...what's the harm? I'll go for it - but if not...I'll back off.

That was what was going on in the 3 laps behind that guy in third place...I've had "Real Racers" come up to me and go - "I KNOW you could have passed him every time you hit T1, T2, T5, T8, and T9 - so why didn't you??!!!" ...and they're mad at me!! And my answer is..."we're going kinda fast and I needed more to ensure that I wouldn't pass too closely, or cut him off, or something else just as rude..." And then they'd get mad again and go - "It's a RACE! If you can pass, you PASS! ...and just as long as you don't hit him or something - it's FINE! It's his responsibility what happens after you pass him...."

....and although I see what they're saying...and yes, if I had just passed him once I got to him - I would have had 3 laps to catch up to 1st and 2nd places...but you know what...how I raced was the safest in my mind...and that is the most important to me. I don't care that I didn't get the 1st and 2nd places...I already know that I can catch that 2nd place guy...and there's always next month. After all...if you get everything you want...there's nothing more to look forward to!

Dawn,
I hate (love, actually) to say I told you so, but I'll do it anyways... I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!! I knew that you would kick butt out there and you did it. We were all watching from the hot pit wall, jumping up and down saying-"look, look...she's in 8th",..."look, look,...she's in 5th",...etc.... And then you made your move and hit 3rd and made it stick! Not too shabby for your first 'real' race!!!!! You are rocking out there and you made us all very proud! Keep up the good work, girl and make sure to keep having fun. You had a great attitude about the whole thing so keep it up! Oh, and most important-keep using your superior riding ability to keep yourself safe...you'll have much more fun in the long run if you don't crash!@!!!

Thanks! I'll try to be myself...after all...I have no clue how to be anyone else!

I think that some people on here think that just because I can pull stuff outta my *&% sometimes (like placing 3rd on my first race) - that that means I'm fast and I know it...therefore, I'm putting on a "humble act". (they don't realize that I'm just a psychotic wild card in life's neat stack of cards) When in reality...I'm taking a look at all the factors here. I mean, Axel's bike wasn't running right, otherwise he'd be up there - maybe all the fast guys were having off days and/or they weren't racing that day. Maybe it's beginner's luck, maybe karma finally came back around and let me go fast that one day, maybe fate felt sorry for me and decided I needed something nice in my life...

We'll see how I do on my next races to see if this time was just a fluke. You guys don't even understand how shocked I was to hear I placed 3rd - I wouldn't believe ANYONE until they handed me my trophy...and even then...I was holding back all my excitement in case they found out they'd made a mistake and took it back to give to it's rightful owner.

Like I said...I don't feel fast, I've never been about fast, and I really don't think I'm all that fast. I just go for smooth and safe, and if it translates to "faster" - that's a nice by-product of the real goal and I'll be happy. I've been preaching to others, who care to hear my side, about my style of riding (in hopes that they'll give up *trying* to go fast and focus on all the other important aspects of actually *how to ride*!! - but have nothing to back it up with. If by winning a few races will give me more credibility that I do know what I'm talking about and it does work - and people will actually slow down to go fast...then that's one more thing that makes the risks of racing worth it to me.