After STT cancelled their August event I thought I was in for a long dry spell. NESBA had an event the following week, but that was the first day of school, and I wasn't about to miss that. Fortunately they filled the void with a newly announced date in September.

    I got the race tank fitted (finally) and had ordered a gas cap for it. By this time, the Speedo Healer was installed and calibrated as well. I'm very busy at work, so I didn't have much time to prep the bike. (I only got three hours of sleep, too.) so it went to the track on street rubber.

    I drove through some rain to get there, and got my bike to tech just as they were closing. Too bad my bike didn't pass. I had adjusted my brake lever; right in the way of the throttle cable housing! I never noticed this on the street, but fortunately Lenny at tech did. (He also noticed my muffler was loose.) A quick turn of the wrench and a visit to Lenny and I was on my way. The A-Group is first up so I only had time to change the rear tire.

    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.

Well, my season is O-V-E-R

I crashed BIG on Summit Main yesterday morning.
I went went down late in the second session in turn 4.
Before going into the details on the crash, let me say that I am guilty of not respecting the fact that Summit is slippery in the morning.

Normally, I have a little talk with myself before going out on the track to take it easy and warm up to things.
But instead, I was riding at my normal pace, hitting all of my normal markers, and getting on the gas as hard as I would in an afternoon session when some more heat and grip is in the track.

That said, I remember everything about the wreck (now) except for actually impacting the wall.
Coming out of 3, I was hard on the gas to the crest of the hill going down into 4.
Neutral throttle down the hill and just before the apex, where the front end is loaded the most, out she goes.
This was no gentle push.
There was no warning at all.
The front end just disappeared out from under me.

So, I go down hard on the right side of my body which today, is pretty much all black and blue.
My visor vanishes.
I'm generally going head first towards the wall.
I was telling myself, "Not the wall! Stay out of the wall!"
I got my elbow down and spun around, so now I'm going feet first.
I rolled (was rolled?) onto my belly and tried to dig in to slow down.
I feel my hand catch fire and figure digging into the pavement is not a good idea.
So I got back on my back somehow and relaxed.
I tried to pull my arms in across my chest and get my ankles together.
Pretty much resigned to whatever is going to happen at this point.

As soon as I hit the grass, I began tumbling violently.
Then I went feet first into the wall, which according the the corner worker via the ambulance driver, whipped my upper body into the wall.

The EMS guy said I stood up reall quick, took a couple of steps, and then fell over and didn't move.

That must have been real encouraging.

The tumbling broke both of my ankles.
Getting whipped into the wall, knocked me out.
I've got road rash on my right hand and elbow, and bruising all over.

The only part of my body that doesn't hurt right now is my left arm.

I'll rebuild the bike.
From what I can tell, neither the frame nor the engine cases were damaged in the crash.

This was my first wreck at the track in 3 years of riding on the track.
I guess if you're gonna do something, you may as well do it right, huh?

See you guys out there next year.
 

Here are some pictures of his bike and gear.

    We went to see Steve in the ambulance after unloading his bike from the crash truck. He decided he didn't need a transport, and things were going well until he tried to stand up. He realized he couldn't put any weight on his legs. They had taken the ice off his ankles, and we could see the were the size of grapefruits.

    At this time they called lunch (~10:30) because the ambulance had to leave. I went to Chez Summit for some chili dogs, but they didn't open 'till noon. I went back to our paddock and put my soda in Steve's cooler. I noticed a sub in there and thought "Well, why should this go to waste?" Same thing about his Gatorade. Thanks, Steve. I left him $10 in the cooler.

    Session 3: I break out the lap timer. I'm slow today (~1:31) My personal nest is a 1:27.00. I'm sloppy, and don't feel confident on the brakes. The front end shakes a lot coming out of turn 3. (I think about that last problem during the session. I have the same problem at VIR South. Pulling myself over the tank worked there; and it does here, too. I guess the shorter gearing pulls the front end up.) I see Mary up ahead, but soon she's pitting. I found out later her bike was cutting out. They found clogged fuel and air filters.)

    Session 4: On the first lap someone wads another bike up in turn 4, FIRST LAP. Red flag, and an emergency riders meeting. Chill out was the mandate. My mom stopped by. Cool.

    Session 4 part 2: I work on braking into 1, 3, and 10 and get my time down to ~1:28. I feel I can get that down even further, but I'm tired now (the three hours of sleep have caught up with me) and I hear thunder off in the distance. If it rains now it ain't gonna stop. I pack up and head home at about 3:00 PM. It starts raining before I leave the track.

    Overall, I'm pleased with my riding; I know what I want to work on. I think if I get my suspension dialed in I'll be more comfortable. That's in my budget for 2006; suspension work. My goal is consistent 1:25' or :24's.

    This Friday was quite a wadfest; seems like all the bikes that crashed were banged up pretty badly.