Aug 22, 2005...
So it's Saturday and I still haven't seen my race bike, I've kept in touch with Kevin Cringle (Santa’s brother) the bike assembler (chassis) and Slick Performance the motor builder and they said I would get the bike soon, that was Thursday. This reminds me of last year at the TT when the shippers misplaced (LOST) Wade's and my bikes that were in large crates clearly marked, we drove all over the island looking for those. In the end they found the crates and delivered them on Saturday, I had three hours to get my R1 together and barely made it to tech in time. So it's de ja vu. I know Slick Performance and Kevin have excellent reputations and have seen their work this year with Wades race bike for the TT, so I do believe they will produce , it's just starting to cut it really close. I try to take my mind off the situation, running around doing useless tasks however i am stressed. I sign in and go thru the riders briefing, nothing really new there, repaved sections of the track and flag procedures discussed. I call at 11:00 and was told to call at 3:00, wow this is cutting it close, at 4:00 they say they will be there in half an hour. By now i have a fuck it attitude, if it doesn't show up I'll run Monday, driving myself crazy won't help. I get the bike at 5:00 and i meet Kevin and a man that calls himself Big H, my friend Tim who lives here and helps me a great deal couldn't believe H was assembling my bike, i didn't think much of it until he said Big H is like a local legendary fast guy, he even offered to show me around the course, nice guys. So the bike looks like a GSXR 600, nice, then he said what i was riding, a totally rebuilt 120 hp motor with close ratio transmission, titanium bits and high compression pistons, i sit on it and he fires it up, WOW, it sounds mean and feels tight. Cringle mentions that the suspension is redone and needs to be dialed in, also the gearing needs to be figured out (something i know nothing about), as well as the controls need to be adjusted to my liking, I have alot to do and tech is now open, crunch time. Tim and i start working on the set up, i adjust the bars and controls, he puts the numbers on and tapes the bodywork fastners, i race wire the bike and get a baseline set up for the suspension. I'm nervous, the first time i will test the bike is balls out down Bray Hill, i hope the brakes work. Oh yeah we need to add fuel. We make tech and it's now about 6 something, the practice is at 7:30, down to the wire. The tech people have misplaced my paperwork, (alx who?). I sit there in the garage waiting it seems forever, while all this is happening it seems GOD has other plans, a truck carrying horse grain (really) has dumped it all over the track, first newcomer practice has now been delayed, I am third practice ,still have time, this goes on for about half an hour. I still don't have any news, waiting waiting. Then they say all cleaned up and ready to go out. The tech guys go to a different office looking for my file. Attention attention, from the loud speaker... there is an uncontrolled fire at Kirk Michael (later I learned it was a house), practice has been delayed, apparently the fire truck runs out of water and they need to go on the course to get more. It is now getting late enough where I think practice will be cancelled, nope new comers will be guided around, so they go. The nonclassic bikes (me) will now go second, I start to sweat, the tech guy finally comes in and says, oh you didn't have the transponder earlier in the day only the number, sorry lad the office is closed, and there you have it no practice for me. I actually could have made it if they didn't keep me waiting...oh well. In the end the guys that went out said due to the lateness the visability was blinding due to the angle of the sun, also one lap wasn't really more that a sighting lap. I saved gas and tires but gained and ulcer. I run today (Monday) wish me luck. # 76 alx
Aug 23, 2005...
Well the weather for Monday was great, very sunny but windy, that calmed down by the time tech and practice came. The bike looks good and i put some sponsor decals on, Subterranean Cycles , Speakeasy, and Zeitgeist, also the Tamale Lady has a prominent spot. I do however need to get Benders and Subculture (which are named in the program) as well as Scuderia West stickers mailed to me, we were out here. Tim and i go thru tech and the "man" says i need to wire some pinch bolts on the forks and the exhaust springs also the muffler bearings need oiling (JK). "Don't come back unless their done but you can practice today" ok then. So then we get to the transponder station (remember this), well they have no data on mine, Tim and I laugh, earlier I personally went to the main office spoke with the powers that be and even have a sticker on the transponder, he calls in, we wait...o.k. you can run but without the transponder, we pull in and set the bike on its stand. On the way out, hold up, you have to go to the principals office, so we do. It seems the person in charge of the transponder task didn't look in his "in" box, however we can run. By now i'm getting the prerace jitters (yes... i do have fears sometimes) Am I good enough, will the bike hold up, what the hell am I doing here. So the line starts and i say see you soon Tim, he wishes me luck and says remember what Wade said, i do, it's taped to my triple clamp.."you better have fun alx" this gives me strength. I start the bike and all of a sudden i'm flying down Bray Hill..."Jesus, this is steep", there is mass sensory overload, i am in action reaction mode, which is not the best thing, I get to the bottom and give it gas, the gearing is to tall and i'm not going fast enough "shouldn't i be over there... oh yeah" then i get to Quarter Bridge "try the brakes alx...shit " i'm going too slow i may as well stop for coffee, i guess the brakes work. We (me and the GSXR) go towards Bradden Bridge and the tires move a little "relax alx let them warm" i still feel slow my actions are tight and it's all i can do to hold on give it gas and stay on course. some riders pass me, vroom, I try to keep up hoping i can learn but i'm still not feeling in tune, they get away, "ok alx relax you know how to do this" . The bike is bouncing around, especially the rear,and i'm trying to read whats going on suspension wise as well as try to go fast as i can "no touring alx" as well as try to learn the course " too much information alx take one thing at a time" "turn left , shit go go go " I miss the fast turns and throttle down, i really need to carry speed, this will come with more time i have to be patient. then something clicks i go from "run forest run" to "use the force luke" I start to look ahead and concentrate, weed out the stuff i don't need "wow that wall is tall" "ride your own ride alx", the bike is fast it just needs some tuning "talk to it alx... wow your fast you just need some tuning" we start to gell, i'm doing something wade said, not revving it changing gears too much "keep it in the power alx" the suspension is definitely off, i need to soften the rear "remember that on the mountain alx" so i ask myself "are you having fun yet alx, well yes i am" and smile in my helmet, i get confidence , warmed up getting up to speed and now i'm at Kirk Michael , this is a favorite part of the course for me, even though I always blow the entrance, a fast right into town and you fly thru this really cool town, braap, it kind of goes down into it then up, at the bottom.. Crack! "Uh Oh " I fly through, Double Crack!, "shit" get thru town and Thunk, "shit fuck!!!" at the dip something broke in the seat at the rise the suspension throws the seat into me and the inertia breaks the mounts and I fall into the bike about five inches, i try to feel the bike "alx you should be watching the course... Shit Shit, look where your at where your going”. i then remember the first day last year. ( its weird how time slows when things are critical, you think of the weirdest things)... last year at the TT I had been going thru Ballacrye area when my clutch lever froze, while trying to fix it on the fly the bike steps out, not even done a lap yet. The first thing they tell you at the riders meeting is Never NEVER try to fix your bike on the fly .Lesson learned so I decide to pull over, the area is Rhencullen 3, one of wades favorite wheelie spots. As i pull in i ask the turn workers to call in that i'm ok ,i know Tim will be fearing for my safety. So i have a cup of tea and try to calm down, my day is done but i have seen the dragon and survived, i know i can do this. so hopefully i'll get the bike fixed by practice tuesday. Its supposed to rain and a gale force storm coming in, i heard they run in the rain anyhow so it should be interesting to see how that is, ugh, i'm tired and it isn't even the second day. so wish me luck and i'll keep you updated. be safe #76 alx
Aug 25, 2005...
So Tuesdays practice was held up, then held up again, i knew it was going to be off (from previous times there) so i wasn't worried, my bike was still being repaired and not present at tech time. I told Kevin to not rush i wasn't going out anyway, i didn't have rain tires (even i'm not that crazy). So the practice session in fact was cancelled at 7:15. Dinner time, I went to have kebobs and beer at Sam Webbs ( a pub). That evening all hell was going to break loose, apparently a gale force storm of 8 or 9 was due in, i asked the pit next to me "Andy is that bad, he said it goes up to 10... ok", better put the bike AND the scooter in the tent. It was tight but homey, all i needed was a fireplace. The storm went thru and i had little water inside but otherwise i was fine, i should send an ad to that tent maker, three TTs, bikes and all and still standing, my cot on the other hand is on it's last legs, literally. Wednesday comes and i feel great, it's sunny almost hot and i sit and read in front of my tent for awhile looking over the Irish Sea, the pits have a terrific view and i have had first picks on the spot...beautiful. So my racebikes here and i realize i don't have to waste time sitting waiting for it later. I have a perfectly fine R1 in the Subculture garage... pissed that i haven't given it any love, so we ride. I take three laps around the course over the next couple hours, since this is on actual roads there is traffic but no real speed limits, vroom! (Just try not to rear end anyone alx) I get a good feel for the course and the mountain, a really fast and fun time. Practice comes and were set , Tim myself and the gsxr. Kevin changed the gearing and fixed the seat , Slick added stickers, i adjusted the compression in back and were ready to fly. Just before we go Tim sees Kevin and his 2 sons in the grandstands, i give the peace sign, then i say "hey they are in front of a rainbow how cool, and point it out, neat (remember i said that)". We start the bike and go. This time i'm confident but still cautious on the untested bike, we fly down Bray Hill, "open it up alx, i do, we up shift", the gearing is still too tall but i work with it, I get passed in the first section by several riders but i'm not worried "feel the bike alx" i have to find the tone of the sweet spot to stay in the power, vroom, get passed by a group, "must be the leaders", it's cool and amazing at the same time. I take a line Wade told me about going into the Ballaugh Bridge, "at the pole turn left alx, never mind the wall in front of you, then blip it.. vroom and your up..uh ok Wade" i really nailed it good, hope they got a picture, landed perfectly 10 points. I concentrate and know that i need lots of improvement, but that takes time and patience, also a well set up bike, get to Kirk Michael and fly thru my favorate part braap! I finally get to the mountain and start to go fast, uh oh waving flags, you try not to look but do, "keep going and run alx, i do"... another flag, "wow i wonder where his bike landed "( i believe this is where our pal Smitty got off last year, he was alright but sore and we never did see his ducati again) i run, however again a missshift and the power is gone, "work on that alx". I get the biggest wheelie i've ever had coming down to Craig Nee Ba, "wow alx even wade would be proud of that one, i smile". vroom. Now thru the first lap... "ok alx lets fly" and i start to go on what i want to be a flying lap....then GOD has other plans. As i'm going thru the first part, i'm following an orange vested rider and want to pass him...drops... rain. "what's this , looks like rain alx" i stay behind that guy and another orange vest passes us " Alx i know what your thinking but stay here" i don't like to get passed by orange vested guys, they're supposed to be slower, i stay. The three of us try to go faster to outrun the rain, now it starts to pour, i mean really really pour. Now you can't really lean and the weird part is it's really sunny almost to the point of blinding from the reflection.( i've always said that tires that don't have tread all the way to the edge will bite you in the ass if it rains, i was right) "ok alx, feel for grip", i do, there's not much, if i gas it in the power the rear slips, there is lots of water on the course running down to the sides... really. "alx....yes uh, i'm kind of busy now. do you know you're racing in the rain at the isle. uh yeah cool but lets discuss this later ok. ok ". So then we start to see flags, others weren't so lucky, hay and racers stuff on the course here and there. Ok , so we start to back off the guy in front of me and i, the other rider goes on. Then we really see flags waving frantically, it's a right turn when we get there, now at a slow speed and not leaning much, there is a blinding light you really can't see squat, the sun is right in front of you between the rain and now foggy visor your blind and we're still running, i concentrate on orange vest to see his course, we get through but the other guy in front of us earlier wasn't so lucky, hope he's ok. For me it's really cool doing this, the rain the loss of traction, i'm actually having a blast "having fun alx, yeah i am i really really am this is fun, i must be mad". So now we get to the area that i call the black forest (near Glen Helen) this is the hardest part of the course for me, trees above and a sort of canyon, really beautiful, but cold and very slippery. It's pouring here and then vroop... shit. I pull off the best i can, did i mention its pouring, so i try to restart, vroom, go go go, i do, then.. vroop, this time it's in a safer area. My guess electircal probably due to...water. I ask the turn worker where am i (right around the corner is Glen Helen) so i ask to borrow his phone and call Tim to say i'm ok and he gets Kevin to pick me up after practice. In the meantime I go in the nice warm pub for a well earned pint. The practice was red flagged shortly after i pulled off. I ended up with a 90mph average for the first lap, not bad all things considering and am now in the books. So today i hope to get the bike and run again, this time with a new rear tire. I really need to get a couple good laps in so wish me luck. # 76 alx
Aug 26, 2005...
Well i have to say that i'm better at dialing in a bike than i thought, today is thursday and i feel really confident, the bikes seat is fixed and the gearing adjusted, one tooth in front and rear, a bit shorter (meaning it will rev quicker) they didn't have a clue as to where it was when it was handed to me, so i'm rather proud of that, the suspension is also well adjusted. Earlier i ran a lap on the R1 and had a good time however i was cut short when some bikers coming the other way made the slow down gesture, COPS, worst than that sneaky cops, so i felt i better pull in as not to get a ticket in a foreign land, or worse my bike impounded ( uh license, insurance, reg... look over there an angel giving away free bacon! , then vroom an instant outlaw! ). Tim is in Germany for a party (rough life), so i have to go it alone, then my bike arrives at it's usual time of six, Kevin helps with the tech duties and we are off. I get ready, stretch and go to the bike. We're off, we fly down Bray Hill, in front of me is another rider "ok Alx what’s she got", (I decided the bike was a she due to her temperament) I notice right off she pulls nicely and I am going thru all the gears, we top out in sixth gear "wow we’re not losing him, go go go ", "ass up alx " I do and hit the bottom of Bray Hill and then back up the hill full throttle,( a little wheelie over Agos Leap) and down to Quarter Bridge (nice) I tell her "nice" I believe she smiles , I notice that the bike really pulls strongly and smile myself "come on baby lets go", and we do , now i'm with a couple riders and were all in a nice train running right along, this is great i can now keep up and not lose them under power " i knew you were fast baby". We go thru the lower section for the first time flat out (a new thing for me), the fast guys go by, now on their second lap incredible, i notice the strong and weak parts of the riders around me, we all have them and start to dice a little "take him alx", i do.. nice, then they take me "hey!" go go go, and we do. Near Kirk Michael there's four of us and it must look really cool "smile alx" i do. I notice i'm stronger there and have to let off a little for the pack "we'll get you next lap guys vroom", so we fly on and at the Ballaugh Bridge i slow again (i can go faster), if it were a race i would have stuffed these guys, a good thing to know. "Look for the pole alx " Braap, and jump, a ten pointer (we take a mental bow). So were moving along and pass a few other riders "feeling good alx, yeah man", the bike moves around under me, that’s how i know i'm flying. There's nothing like flying into a turn at good lean and the bike skirts laterally over the bumps, really cool, were also jumping off the bumps on the straights "cool alx". So we go thru towns and countrysides, every now and then pass a vintage rider, zoom. I'm having a really good time, "you ok alx, yeah i'm ok, how about breathing, good, arms.. relax the grip a little," i do "look ahead and concentrate, not just the riders in front of you alx", i do. That’s a problem if your in a pack, you still need to ride your own ride, analyze everything. So i do. We get to Ramsey, i like this part because i know the mountain is coming up, it's a part that’s really fast and one i know. "Get ready to lose these guys alx" so i start to plan the run, "ok after the Gooseneck take off", "lets go baby", we do THEN broop, "nooo not now especially not here" it’s a rather dangerous spot to be, they pass and go on, "restart alx go go go" i try and she fires up i move up more and she cuts out again, at least were out of harms way. Shit shit shit! I didn't even get a full lap in, i'm irate and really dissapointed, i tap her on the tank say sorry baby "sorry baby". However were thankful were out of the line of fire. I now hike off to the side of the course to the marshalls area to make that dratted call. "the bikes down again, yes it's the electrical, if it were mine i would first throw it off this cliff and then replace every piece of wire in her, i would have qualified man, you don't know how disappointed i am, I know it in my heart i would have qualified ! , come get me , it's getting cold" and he does saying how sorry he is. The marshalls were really cool and pointed out that we can see Ireland, England and Scotland from here, there's also a fire raging at Derby,"uh thats nice guys, no one has a beer do they I really need a drink" they have water... uh ok. So i stay with the bike after the marshals have gone and wait for my what now seems traditional ride back to the pits, thoroughly disgusted. I would have made it. So i get in and do what i do after a tough day, have a great meal at Paparazzis (chicken cattatori , a whiskey and a beer ) to lighten my heart, it works. Wade and i made friends with the staff there so they are good to us, Wade even got to sign the wall of fame, earlier this year when we were there, no sooner than we sat down they asked him to sign the wall, great riders have signed it so that was cool. After i go to Sam Webbs pub and to my surprise meet Dougie and his wife, they came from the U.K. hoping to see me, i met them at the TT when i ran last year, really cool folks, we rehashed the days events and the years happenings. I slept well that night. So today i get Big H's gsxr 600 it is a proven "fast guy" bike however i'm back at stage one with the dialing it in and all, hope it's not a she. (where's a YAMAHA when you need one) I only have four laps left to qualify and i've only finished one of 10 so far. Wish me luck. # 76 alx
Aug 27, 2005...
Alx, yeah, you didn't know that you have to do 5 laps AND qualify.(that’s from Bob in the pit next to me) Shit, i am now on the phone to Kevin, you'll have Big H's bike alx, not to worry, i really really can't have any problems Kevin, i'll have it there in time he says. I start to stress i only have four laps left total and one done from wednesday. Bob says go and ask for an out of practice session, i go to the office. Also i need to have a change of machine notice. Jaqui says your riding Big H's bike, that’s a handful, i take this to be good news. She said no one has been getting o.p. sessions though i should try. I do and see that 2 people are denied right there, not good. So when they leave i'm called to the principals office the big cheese, so alec whats this, i explain, he didn't understand the way i write you see, and said well it looks like you have a lot of work to do, so take this note and see me if you have problems tomorrow ( a small miracle really if you know the establishment) Thanks guys, and i get on the phone, the bike will be there alx, ok. So now it starts to pour, i don't care i've been there and it's not so bad (must be mad). The bike shows and we get through tech, it's yellow (must be a she). We get it lined up and wait for the rain to stop, it doesn't. Kevin wants to put wets on (rain tires), i've never run in those but agree. So it's 15 minutes before we head out and 2 more Cringle elves show up, they start taking the bike apart, I panic, can they get this together in time, i have no second chance here, i walk away and try not to look, now there is a crowd looking on, who's this guy with this pit crew and all the scruitneers . This is the first time i've ever had a crew working while i stand by like a superstar, it was cool. So it's done he says the bike'll be fine and i go to the line. Vroom she says, i pat her tank and say "i think i'll call you Kristin" after all she's blond like my Kristin from the past. The rain has lightened and were off. Down the hill, wow this bike rips, i tell her so. The rain tires grip but i don't know if they'll chunk in the now drying course, it's a small worry of mine, were running a good pace and with a couple of riders, my job is to bring her home even if i do 50 all the way around just get a lap in. So far the suspension is good a little bumpy but manageable."rebound alx, ok go go go". At one point i thought they forgot to tighten the rear axle, "shit the axle is loose" i step out in a big way, "feel the bike alx, it's the tires they let loose thats all" "thats all , thats easy for you to say, relax alx just get it home alx" and i do with no heroics. 1 lap down 2 to go" we can do this alx". I pull in and Cringle and his elves tear the bike apart for intermediate rains(tires), he says even if it's warm out they'll do the trick. ok. I get a drink and forget they shortened the run so i barely get out in time running to the bike, baad baad alx. We go off and hook up with another rider, the bike really rips vroom! The course is wet here and there so i can't nail it like i need to, "remember bring it home alx" i really need these laps. Then God tests me.... going thru to the Gooseneck(remember that place), down to first gear vroom vroom vroom and vrp, i look down and the gear shifter has come undone " SHIT I REALLY DON'T NEED THIS NOW ALX !!!, WE HAVE TO GO!" I pull over and there is a group of corner marshals and spectators, "TOOLS I NEED TOOLS NOW!!! I SCREAM" 2 bolts had come off the adjustable rearsets that caused it to fall off , one is still hanging on but the other is gone, the marshall holds the bike and i frantically try to thread in the one bolt, tools dammit ! Then i remember what my friend 9/5 (Matty) said in a similar situation, calm down alx be calm, so i do but work feverishly. Some guy brings out these tools that seem to be left over from the first war, i try the rusty pliers "shit how about an allen" a wot? The marshall says a spanner anyone have a spanner he yells, as this goes on i look the bike over for another bolt to steal, i think the one from the tank will work and it does. Vroom i'm off, we go up the Mountain, "ok alx relax we can still finish this and get another lap in, Kristin your doing fine" we gas up the mountain and i'm fogging up, my heart is now at a normal rate. "i said relax alx, i am relaxed, then why can't you see anything, your fogging up dammit" oh yeah when i took the helmet off my defogger closed, so i open it up. It's slippery up there so i tip toe thru the fast corners, i have to bring this home. I catch up to a guy on a Honda 600RR when we get to the Craig Nee Ba, Vroom we go together. i then recognise him, we met at paparazzis the night before, "small world huh and i smile", so we run together, he's seems slower in the fast stuff. We get to the front straight, my first time past there at speed actually, i blow by him like he's standing still, Vraap, and really really fly down the hill, "Wow your fast baby" and she really is. It's wet at quarter bridge so i tip toe, it's actually getting wetter it seems, so i slow, then braap i get passed, "ok alx let him lead" we get by another rider and i see the one in front of me taps his back as in to follow him, "Kristin stay on his ass, she does" and we do, the other rider slows and its just he and i. He really knows the lower half well and even though its wet out were flying, how fun. I start to get arm pump "alx relax relax". this is the first time i've had any real laps as well as ones back to back, so i wonder about my endurance. "concentrate alx" we're having a great time. We get to the Hairpin and he backs off, "ok i'll lead from here" we go by the infamous Gooseneck( I wave)and we pass a 400cc rider up the mountain, I start to cramp in my right inner thigh "relax alx", i try and it isn't working, "why are you stressed, i'm not , well somethings going on" we run and i try to stretch my leg down, moving to the side of the course the other rider isn't there. I then think of the most outrageous thing to relax myself and it seems to work. " alx how can you be thinking about that now, well it's working isn't it”, i have no response to that and keep going. Braap, i tell Kristin “your doing fine baby" and she is, i then start to wondrer why i can't see anything " whats up alx, i can't see" we're at windy corner and it has started to rain/mist visibility is reduced by 20% my visor is getting blurred so i slow and try to relax.I take the turns with extreme caution, "remember bring it home alx" and i do in the end. I tell Kristin "thanks baby" and tap her tank. WOW . So Kevin meets me and i brief him on the bike, tomorrow we'll bolt everything down and make a few suspension adjustments."Kristin" will qualify i know it. So wish us luck, only two laps left. #76 alx (and kristin)
Aug 28, 2005...
So this is it zero hour, two laps left to qualify. I'm feeling stressed and very sore from yesterdays runs, not a good way to go into battle. When i ran to the bike before the second run yesterday, we were rushing, the stand was taken off and bike fell into me i caught it at a lean and must have pulled my leg muscle. So all day i was trying my best to relax and stretch the leg a lot. The day was nice until the practice of course, clouds came in. I'm feeling anxious. Relax alx was a constant in my head. After a delay we run down the hill, at this point i want to get behind a group of fast guys and have them pull me, and do. We run without any problems thru hills valleys and towns, great fun, a freight train. "how you doing baby" "Vroom, fine she says" At the Ballaugh Bridge there's five of us going in "cool" i miss the mark and land sloppily, oops. " thats ok alx, next time just go go go" and i do, Thru Kirk Michael i notice i'm slowing for the train "i'm faster than these guys and smile" good to know. Then i start to get arm pump "relax alx", we get to the mountain and the pack starts to separate, i run well but start to stiffen, "ok alx relax and back off just a hair" doing this relieves the cramps but i am aware that to do so is costing precious time and MPH. We pass a couple riders and get down the hill, i know i'm faster than the two in front of me but am trying to conserve energy for the flying run (lap 2). We get to the front straight and i say "alright kristin lets fly" we do , then all of a sudden the rider to the left sits up while coming up to the grandstands and puts the binders on "oh shit " almost hitting him i look for a way by and the rider on the right is moving in the area i was going to go, " shit in the middle alx go go go, gas it and get around them", then i see the checkered flag, " he stopped for that... bastard!" , then there were red flags everywhere, the practice has been stopped after one lap, "shit shit shit !!!" I pull in and feel confident that i qualified but know it wasn't the best or fastest run i've had. I tap Kristin and thank her"thanks baby" and shut her down. Kevin's kids come up and say that there's a fire alarm in the pit's and maybe that’s why they red flagged the run. They also say they saw me almost nail that idiot rider, wow. We talk for a bit and the one boy starts advising me on where to give it the gas on the course (he's 11), he plays the Playstation version you see. I smile and tell him he'll be a racer some day, he likes that. So Kevin comes up and says there’s a BULL on the course ( why not huh) and since it's late there will be no visibility for the second run, cancelled, just my luck. I ask about my time and it's too close to call. I'm really nervous, it wasn't my best run. So we put the bike away and go to the office, knots in my stomach, i did get the required five laps in but...23: 11.48, i needed a 23:00.00... eleven seconds off, i didn't qualify, i'm grief stricken... after all this. Kevin try’s to console me "appeal alx, tomorrow you have a chance" i say thanks for all the help and i'll call him tomorrow. I've never been so sad and alone. The night was rough, i try to cheer myself up with a good meal. To get even with that stupid bull i get a steak, "hope its your cousin you bastard"! (the bitter taste, and sour drink of failure) Even the waiters see something’s wrong and leave me alone. The times are as follows. 1st practice ( 2 laps 0 done)Sat, no runs due to transponder office closing... 2nd practice (2 laps 0 done) Mon, seat breaks at Rhencullen 3... 3rd practice (2 laps 0 done)Tues,cancelled due to rain...4th practice( 2 laps 1 done )Wed,one lapdown, then bike electrical failure in the pouring rain at Glen Hellen...5th practice (2 laps 0 done)Thurs, bike electrical failure at Hillbury...6th practice ( 3 laps 3done)Fri, different bike rainy conditions but get all three in...7th practice (2 laps 1done)sat, one lap down, then red flag cancelling rest of run. The times are as follows...25: 07.05 at 90.128 mph(wet course monday ) 24:55.88 at 90.801 wet course, 25:47.73 at 87.759 NOTE:this is while fixing the bike at the Gooseneck for about 3 to 5 minutes, 29:11.09 at 77.568 wet, dark and rainy on the mountain ( all on friday) 23: 11.48 at 97.614 saturday from a standing start....( 23:00.00 at 98.42was the cut off.)
So i find it hard to wake up Sunday, i shower and shave for the appeal, i get to the office and ask for the form. Ann said the time has past it was from 9:30 to 10:00, ( i looked shocked) i got the time wrong, "what!" it's 10:02 "can you squeeze me in".. no. Why are you here alx?, Ann asks, no one told you you couldn't run, "what?!", are you on the list she says"what list" i ask, that one, she points and i go to the wall, sure enough there's a list and i'm not on it. Ann and the other woman there smile and see that i am visably shaken and relieved at the same time, "i was 1mph off" i say, Ann says, well your in dear why don't you go stand in that line over there and get you number packet, i want to kiss her. I'm shocked and still numb from these past days events, I get my race packet. I race friday the 2nd at 2pm, wish me luck. So from here i need to rest and get healthy, there's a 1 lap untimed practice wednesday in which i'll put new tires on and scrub them in. I swear i'll have a heart attack by the time this is all thru.
~Be safe, Alx, #76