char393
02-24-2008, 10:40 PM
The EVO series caters to the vet rider, no matter what they ride. That's what the guy said. They have vintage and evo classes and modern support classes. No women's class, so I signed up for the +30 junior class, which I guess is the equivalent of a c class. No beginner class for us "older" peoples...the guy said "I've never seen a 30 year old beginner... if you're over 30 you're a novice rider.":lmao
My race was #11, the last moto in the race order, we were double gated with the +30 a&b classes. There six in my class.... remember that number . The gate drops and I lag a little bit, but I got on the throttle and ended up third through the first turn. Man... I love getting a good start. No matter that I have absolutely nothing for these guys...they all passed me in quick order, but I sure get a kick out of starting well. I pretty much brought up the rear, ran as fast as I felt comfortable and finished in 6th.
The afternoon weather was perfect...sunny, light breeze and warm but not hot. I headed back over to the truck, pulled out a chair and took a little nap. It felt good too!
The second moto rolls around and I make my way over to the gate. Someone commented about me being the only girl out there and all I could do was shrug and say... "yep". He also swept my gate for me, so I guess there are advantages to being a girl... LOL. My goal for this race was the same as every other race... keep it on two wheels and just finish. I figure if I have low expectations, I won't be disappointed. The gateman gives us the signal and the bikes roar to life.... it's really such a cool sound. The deep, throaty sounding four strokes, with the high-pitched whine of some two strokes mingled in. He goes down the line pointing at everyone to make sure we're ready, and you hear everybike revving to the moon....he runs into the doghouse and clink! the gate drops...the a&b riders take off and they're around the corner in a heartbeat. The gate slowly raises, I've got my bike revved, clicked into second gear, clutch just barely grabbing and the front brake dragging. It never fails...my heart is pounding and I'm concentrating on the gate as it drops. It's funny as I think about it now... trying to remember to feed the clutch out, keep my weight forward so I can get off the concrete pad decently, throttle on...shift my weight back and start grabbing gears. It sounds like such a long process, but it requires no thought at all when it's happening...it's like second nature. I dang near pulled the holeshot, I'm second going into the rhythm section, which I double, double, double through. I'm feeling pretty good, until I hit the braking bumps before the next turn...holy cow have they gotten big! Sure enough, I get passed by everyone again, only to get past one guy who has crashed on the triple stepup. Seems he ran into the back of someone when they didn't double and he did. He's fine though and he's getting up on my next lap.
I end up 6-5 for 6th overall on the day. I guess I really got my butt kicked, but those guys were fast...that's my story anyway! I enjoyed it...getting the good starts really made my day. I think I'll run some more EVO races as I get the chance. I know they have another round at Splendora and hopefully I'll be able to do that one. I love that track...even though the jump faces need to be re-worked, even though the trees are gone, even though it got dry, dusty and rough... it's just an awesome place. I guess it's not so much the track, but rather the memories the place holds that makes it so special.
Start of the second moto
http://www.mxgurl.com/images/IMG_7699.jpg
Almost led 'em all to the rhythm section!
http://www.mxgurl.com/images/IMG_7702.jpg
This is about as far as I get off the ground..:cool
http://www.mxgurl.com/images/IMG_7640.jpg
My race was #11, the last moto in the race order, we were double gated with the +30 a&b classes. There six in my class.... remember that number . The gate drops and I lag a little bit, but I got on the throttle and ended up third through the first turn. Man... I love getting a good start. No matter that I have absolutely nothing for these guys...they all passed me in quick order, but I sure get a kick out of starting well. I pretty much brought up the rear, ran as fast as I felt comfortable and finished in 6th.
The afternoon weather was perfect...sunny, light breeze and warm but not hot. I headed back over to the truck, pulled out a chair and took a little nap. It felt good too!
The second moto rolls around and I make my way over to the gate. Someone commented about me being the only girl out there and all I could do was shrug and say... "yep". He also swept my gate for me, so I guess there are advantages to being a girl... LOL. My goal for this race was the same as every other race... keep it on two wheels and just finish. I figure if I have low expectations, I won't be disappointed. The gateman gives us the signal and the bikes roar to life.... it's really such a cool sound. The deep, throaty sounding four strokes, with the high-pitched whine of some two strokes mingled in. He goes down the line pointing at everyone to make sure we're ready, and you hear everybike revving to the moon....he runs into the doghouse and clink! the gate drops...the a&b riders take off and they're around the corner in a heartbeat. The gate slowly raises, I've got my bike revved, clicked into second gear, clutch just barely grabbing and the front brake dragging. It never fails...my heart is pounding and I'm concentrating on the gate as it drops. It's funny as I think about it now... trying to remember to feed the clutch out, keep my weight forward so I can get off the concrete pad decently, throttle on...shift my weight back and start grabbing gears. It sounds like such a long process, but it requires no thought at all when it's happening...it's like second nature. I dang near pulled the holeshot, I'm second going into the rhythm section, which I double, double, double through. I'm feeling pretty good, until I hit the braking bumps before the next turn...holy cow have they gotten big! Sure enough, I get passed by everyone again, only to get past one guy who has crashed on the triple stepup. Seems he ran into the back of someone when they didn't double and he did. He's fine though and he's getting up on my next lap.
I end up 6-5 for 6th overall on the day. I guess I really got my butt kicked, but those guys were fast...that's my story anyway! I enjoyed it...getting the good starts really made my day. I think I'll run some more EVO races as I get the chance. I know they have another round at Splendora and hopefully I'll be able to do that one. I love that track...even though the jump faces need to be re-worked, even though the trees are gone, even though it got dry, dusty and rough... it's just an awesome place. I guess it's not so much the track, but rather the memories the place holds that makes it so special.
Start of the second moto
http://www.mxgurl.com/images/IMG_7699.jpg
Almost led 'em all to the rhythm section!
http://www.mxgurl.com/images/IMG_7702.jpg
This is about as far as I get off the ground..:cool
http://www.mxgurl.com/images/IMG_7640.jpg