Well, race season is off to a frustrating start. Lack of practice time (too much work travel), many bike upgrades and it feels like a completely new bike I'm not "settled" where it's predictable. Also, some bike downgrades to make myself legal for the "production" class I race in. Production is a category for not-modified bikes, or in truth highly modified bikes but only modified in ways explicitly allowed. For example can't change forks but can change fork internal parts.
So I'm doing roughly the same lap times I was at the end of last season. But somehow the Clubman races have gotten extremely fast! The same times that earned me 2nd place last year are good for only tenth place this year. Ha, ha. In part due to the economy, race grids are smaller this year. Most of the very serious riders still race though - it's just the bottom of the stacked ranking group who's bailed. So the average speed has increased despite the lower volume of riders. Also, some of the sponsorship money has opened up for Clubman races. I run Pirelli tires who will give cash prize for placing 1st - 3rd. This also brings additional talent into the Clubman race.
I finally acquiesced to the incessant lament of fellow racer #630 and got a full leather suit, rather than using a two-piece zip together suit. I'm not convinced this is a safety upgrade really, but it does make me look more professional anyway. Friends have been coming out to the races this year in spades to watch - which has been outstanding fun. Great fun to have a pit crew cheering us on! Next race that's near-ish to San Francisco is August 1st... mark your calendars! Even if I take absolutely last place, I'm 100% going to be fun to watch and having a blast!
