2008 Season, Round 1 - Heartland Park Topeka, April 23 - 27

The NESBA Blackhawk weekend was a bit of a bust with all the snow and cold weather. We had hoped to get the bikes (A and B Bike) dialed in at this NESBA event, but we had to accept that we were quite limited in what we could accomplish. So we decided to start round one with a trackday at Blackhawk Farms to get the bikes setup for the weekend at Heartland.

We spent all day enjoying the most perfect weather you could imagine at Blackhawk farms. Lots and lots of open track, so we got both bikes dialed in and the bikes were performing very well. The B bike had a fork issue that we noticed while preparing the bike on Tuesday night, but we were able to swap out forks and we were really relieved at how well these backup forks were performing.

We drove all night on Wednesday night to get to Topeka early Thursday morning. We got about 3 hours or so worth of sleep and started the CCS track day at Heartland confident in both bikes and our ability to do well. It was wet most of the morning, but we were able to get in some dry laps in the afternoon. Even though both bikes had the same geometry, the B Bike (on the backup forks) was cornering a lot better than the A bike, so we decided it would be the workhorse for the weekend. I was able to run both bike in the mid 55's, but the A Bike was a little more difficult to ride although it was giving me tons of feedback front and rear.

GTO (25 minute)

First race was mid-afternoon, I got a good start and was half way through the Expert field heading into turn 1. The bike felt like it was on rails and the track was great. The only real issue was the wind was blowing hard and gusting at times which made the back straight a little hairy at times. I finished 1st among the Amateurs and 3rd overall. Good start to the season!

Unlimited Superbike (7 lap sprint)

Second race was at the end of the day. Had a good race and got another good start. I was able bring home another win!

Saturday, April 26

After speaking with several people on Friday evening and spending a long sleepless night doing some soul-searching, I decided to request that CCS bump me from Amateur to Expert. I met with the CCS officials first thing on Saturday morning and pled my case with them. They agreed that it was the right thing for both me and CCS. I am now running in the Expert group.

Unlimited Superbike (7 lap sprint)

My very first expert race. As I lined up to go out on the warm up lap, I saw the sharks filing into the tank. I took a deep breath as we headed out for the sighting lap. Once I had the bike on the track, I began to feel confident as the bike always feels so planted on fresh race rubber. Half way through the sighting lap, on my way to the starting grid, the bike all of the sudden just died. A mechanical. DNF in my first expert race. We later found that the voltage regulator wiring was rubbing against the fuel tank and had caused the main fuse to blow. We got it fixed and got the bike back on the warmers, ready for the second race of the day.

Unlimited GP (7 lap sprint)

Got my first expert podium finish...the HARD WAY. I was chasing the 1st and 2nd place racers the entire 7 laps and running a pace a full 4 seconds faster than I had ever ran at Heartland. If I had not made a couple of mistakes, I think I may could have actually won this race. Instead, I was collected by another racer in the last corner of the last lap. I'm OK, just shook up a little. The bike however, got the worst end of it and will need some pretty extensive loving to get her back ready for battle. Since they red flagged the race, they credited me with 3rd place since they count the lap before the red flag as the final lap. I am encouraged that I can run with the experts and compete. But I also learned that will require maximum effort, flawless performances and the absence of a couple key money chasing experts for me to actually win an expert race at this point.

Pics of full crash sequence

Unlimited Supersport (7 lap sprint)

Awesome race for me this time. I finished 4th and beat the guy who I couldn't chase down last race. Given that both the "Hall boys" ran away at the front, I feel very good about bouncing back from a pretty hard crash, running my best times ever and being able to run faster lap times this race than the winner ran in the last race. No doubt about it, today was a tough day at the office. But I honestly feel that I have made the right move in requesting the bump to expert. Maybe the water isn't so bad in here with the sharks after all!

Sunday, April 27

At this mornings rider's meeting I was talking with the rider who was involved with me in the the crash during the Unlimited GP race yesterday. Come to find out, they didn't red flag the race at all. In fact, CCS neglected to show us the checkered flag so we were actually on lap 8 of a 7 lap race!! In essence, we were laying it all on the line during the cool down lap (thinking it was the final lap) not knowing the race was already over.

Unlimited Supersport (7 lap sprint)

Best race of the weekend so far. I got a bad start and was dead last by the end of the first lap. But over the next 6 laps, I was able to work my way back through all the expert field except Robert Jensen, Brian Hall and Matt Hall. I finished 4th and really enjoyed some close elbow to elbow racing with some new found brothers in the CCS expert group.

Unlimited GP (7 lap sprint)

Jensen set a new track record during this race. As ridiculous as this sounds, I actually got an amazing start and was right on his rear wheel headed into turn one and as I threw the bike in there with him, I immediately realized that he and his bike can turn a lot better than me and mine! As I pushed the front hard, another expert carved a deep gash down the left side of my bike with his tail section. Ah yes, rubbin and lovin in the shark tank. I finished this race with another 4th. I am getting much more comfortable at pace and I now beginning to find a place where I can clearly recognize some issues with the bike and start to work on tuning the bike a little better to do what I need it to do.

Summary

Respect is not given, it is earned. It is my heartfelt desire to earn the respect of my peers. I sincerely hope I have made steps toward that this weekend.

In addition, I could not do this without the help of my sponsors and I am very appreciative of their belief in me and all their support. I am proud of the way I represented them this weekend.

Many times the right path, is the most difficult one. Saturday was a rough day at the office for me filled with tough choices and hard bought experience...but it is days like these that forge our character.

I feel good about the choices I have made this weekend. I am excited about the many new friends at CCS I made this weekend. I learned a ton. I am looking forward to round 2 at Blackhawk farms. But for now, time to rebuild the bike.

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CONTACT INFO: ron@ronhix.com or 630.430.7449