After a year wait I finally got to go to Barber; I had crashed last year and had to cancel. The trip down was rather complicated. At first, I was going to drive. Next, Jason said he was going too, and we could carpool, with my trailer towed behind his truck. Next, he was offered a job with ActionVideo, so he would be taking Dave's trailer down. Mary and Kelsey were going, so they offered to take my trailer. So, Thursday I took my trailer with bike to work, where Mary picked it up with her Neon, and took it home to attach to Kelsey's brother-in-laws truck, which was loaded up with his an Mary's bikes.

    Friday morning I drove to Jason's parents house and loaded my stuff into his truck and Dave's truck for the 14-hour drive to Alabama. Fortunately, Jason is good company and a good travel partner. Our plan was to arrive at the track in time to tour the museum. Well, with only 30 minutes before closing we didn't bother. It was another 2 ½ hours before the gates opened and we could set up. As has been reported by everyone who's been there, the facility is beautiful. We set up as best we could in the dark and headed for dinner, then the hotel, which, due to our late registration, was 25 miles away.

    Saturday was beautiful; I didn't even set up the canopy. Rider's meeting at 8:00 as usual. It was damp in the morning and I didn't know the track. Jason offered to tow me and , Dave's co-worker around the track for the first session. He had new tires and was going to take it easy the first session. My tires were shot but I brought new buns. I decided after seeing the damp pavement to wait until after lunch to switch. Good choice, as it turned out, as Jason lowsided in turn 5 on the second lap on his new tires. He and his bike were unhurt, but that turn collected several riders that day.

    On my third session Mary came past me. I thought I would follow her for a while. Big mistake. I hadn't yet learned which way the track went, and got lost and soon thereafter, slower. It was lunchtime, anyway, and I decided to change my tires and rethink my strategy.

    When I pulled my rear tire off I noticed the rear bearing looked shagged. The swingarm had been chewed up as well. I got my tires switched anyway, but without a new bearing my day was done. (I had a perfect wheel sitting at home.) Fortunately I had my laptop and wireless Internet. I found four local Kawasaki dealers and found one with one in stock. Two hours later (I had given up on any more riding on Saturday.) I returned with a new bearing. Unfortunately there were a few parts still missing and my weekend was done.

    Sunday I resigned myself to spectating. Jay and Lisa kindly offered me the use of their bikes; Lisa's GSX-R 600 and the their new CBR 600 RR. I rode two sessions on the Suzuki and one on the Honda. I was able to pretty much figure out which was the track went. Once I was ready to pick up the pace I decided to park their bikes. They had saved my weekend and I hadn't scratched their bikes. I took off the afternoon to explore the museum.

    Session 1: I was rusty. No need for a lap timer. There were 45 people in each group today (full house) so I got separated from Steve and Mary.

    Session 2: By now I had replaced the front tire too, so at least I had a matched set. I could see Mary off in the distance, but never gained any ground on her. The session was red-flagged when somebody went off in turn 4. It turned out to be Steve! Here's what he had to say the next day.