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Lake Odessa, Mi 1/2 mile GNC 7-10-10>
In the last letter I wrote I forgot to tell you the ending to the story about me leaving my pliers behind the soda machine at the airport. Anyhow, once I got to the airport I went to look for them, really thinking that they were probably gone. There they were, still in the same spot I put them. Haha, I pulled a little one over on their security system, but I donot think I will try that again.
I never got around to writing a letter after my last race which was in Lima, Ohio two weeks ago. We had done a lot of testing on tracks like Lima in the previous weeks, and I really felt that I could probably get the American Agip Ducati www.americanagip.com around Lima better than my Harley, and this was totally my decision. So I picked to ride the Duck that race day. I had won Lima three times over the years, and got a few seconds there too, so I really liked the track you could say. But all day at the race I was kind of catching myself second guessing if I had chose the right bike or not. I mean my times were decent in qualifying and such, but not where I wanted to be, and I do not blame that on the bike, as the Ducati was working pretty good at times throughout the day. But just the fact that I was second guessing myself all day was the main factor here. Should I have picked the Harley today instead of the Ducati? I wasn't sure? In order to beat these guys, you have to be 110% on your game and confident, because our lap times are usually very close, and if you are off a tenth a second a lap, it's gonna hurt you a lot more than one spot, more like ten spots in a race. Anyhow, I kind of struggled all day somewhat, and finally ended up 5th in the Dash and 9th in the final. So I was kind of down on myself following that race, and I had a hard time finding the time to write that letter, you know how that goes. blablabla. So that was my short and to the point Lima letter. Henry Wiles won that night and pulled up in a tie with me for the points lead, but hey I was still sitting good, just a little depressed about that race. I'm not a guy that gives up very easy at all, and I knew that our next three nationals were all slick clay 1/2 mile tracks coming up, and this in my mind was going to be my time to pounce on them. A little payback to myself for my own wrong doings last race. At least that was my plan, but I also know that beating these guys is always easier said than done.
Rob and I talked after Lima, and we agreed that we were going back to plan A, and plan A was dig out our Latus Motors Harley XR750's www.Latus-HD.com for the 1/2 miles. I feel like I am riding better than the other guys right now on the average, and I just wanted to be on the same playing field with them. So I went home and worked out harder than ever, rode my dirt bike a bunch, and just got myself ready for Lake Odessa. I had not raced my Harley since Pomona last October, but I had rode it recently at some of the testing we had been doing before Lima. So I was a little nervous going into this race as I knew what I wanted to do, but I was hoping I could adjust back to the Harley style as quick as I wanted to in my mind. So now we're at Lake Odessa, and now it's practice/qualifying time. I'm in the first group out, inline right behind Jake Johnson, Sam Halbert, myself, Mees, Coolbeth Wiles and so on. There is an order they line us up each time for practice/qualifying, and we have to line up in this same practice order all three times each day. Last week Sammy passed me in practice at Lima and he gave me a little wave when he went by. Yah it fired me up that day, but the way my day was going at Lima, there was not much I could do to pass him back as he was going pretty good that day. I guess he was happy as he had finally passed me, which he had not been able to do in the last 5 races we had been at together. So I'm behind him in the line up, and I knew exactly what I was going to do when I passed him in a couple laps on this track. So we take off, and Sammy was all over the place, so I snuck under him coming off turn four on the second lap and gave him a nice little wave. Right back atcha Sammy! Yah, you probably know by now that Sammy and I are not the best of friends, as he is just not my type of person. Enough said. We come back in and I have got the fastest lap times of the session, and Sammy was fifth I think. I was pumped, as I now knew that I could adjust back to my Harley real quick, plus I got to give Sammy a wave. I guess this fired up Sammy, as he went out in the next round and got fast time, and this time I was fifth. Well, you know me, I'm not gonna let this happen, as I started the battle today, and I dang sure want to try and finish it. So I went out there in the last session and put down some great laps and came home with fast time again with Sammy 4th. So we ended qualifying and I had the fast time of the day and it felt great. I was glad to be back in my XR saddle you could say.
Now its time for my heat race, and during practice we had developed a really abrasive groove around the whole track, but right before my first heat race, they decided to water the track as it was looking kind of dusty in the prosport 450 race right before us. That was great, but water over the top of a rubber groove makes it slick for a while even after it dries out, as it just puts a film over the rubber and it takes some laps to get the film off there and get the rubber to start building back up. I nailed the start in my heat and got the holeshot, but Carr was right behind me keeping me honest every lap. The track was definitely slick the first half of the race and started getting better with each lap, but I wanted fast time for heat races so I had a good pick for the main event and Dash for Cash, and I could tell this was going to affect my overall heat race time. I ended up winning the heat race, but my heat ended up being third fastest of the night. Just what I thought. I had already looked at the start line earlier, and I could see there were two or three starting spots that were not very good at all.
In the Dash, I had the third spot from the bottom to start with, as in the Dash the pole sitter gets to pick inside or outside, and then everyone lines up in that same order we qualified. So yah, I got a bad start in the Dash as pole sitter Coolbeth got the holeshot and the win, behind him, Sammy, Jethro Halbert, myself, then Johnson and Carr. But I was all over Jethro in the dash, so I knew my bike was working great, I just needed a better start next time for the main event.
Now it was time for the Main event. Coolbeth picked the bottom where he had been getting good starts all night long, then Jethro went right beside him, I had third pick, and I took the far outside, then Johnson was beside me with Sammy and Chris in the middle. I had not got to start on the outside all night, but it looked like a pretty good spot to me right now. At the flash of the green, I was off the line with Johnson right beside me, then my bike started to wheelie a little and I had to clutch it to keep it down, but this let Jake get that edge on me going into turn one. I quickly gathered it back up and got in line right behind him in turn one in second place, with Coolbeth in 3rd behind me, now it was time to race! For two laps I was all over Jake, but then on lap three someone crashed back in the pack, so the red lights come on and the race is stopped. I looked back quick to see we had already gapped Coolbeth a little. It would be a total restart and I knew this time I had to control the wheelie, as the start was very important, and passing was tough because the groove was very narrow and right down on the inside of the track.So to pass you had to either wait for the person in front of you to mess up just a little or go around the outside, but it was very dry slick on the outer edge of the groove, so the narrow groove was where you wanted to be, but I needed to get there first.
At the restart, the light flashed green and we were off. I got a little better jump this time and had the lead going into turn one, with Johnson 2nd and Coolbeth 3rd and the rest of the pack right behind them. A few years ago here, I had the holeshot in the main event, and I got passed early in the race on the outside going into the turns, and I told myself before this day ever started, that that was not going to happen to me ever again. So right away I started charging real hard into both turns one and three, and at the same time making sure that I did not charge too hard and slip off the narrow groove. That is what you call the fine line of dirt track racing on a groove style track. Charge hard into every corner but don't slip off the narrow groove, or preferred racing line, because you will usually loose a few spots instantly with one slip. My bike was working just flawless, as we had her geared just perfect and it was handling like a dream. I could not even believe myself that I was able to charge the corners this hard and still make the turn right where I wanted to be. I could hear I was getting away, as the bikes behind me were getting quieter each lap. There were also some bumps going into turn one that I would drive straight through, and my Durelle Racing suspension www.Durelleracing.com would go through it like it was glass smoothe, Thanks Davey! In 2005 I was leading this race running away from Coolbeth and the pack and then with two laps to go my motor expired, DNF! With as good as my bike was working right now, it reminded me of that very night and I was just hoping right now that everything would keep working the way it was right now. Then on lap 12 all of a sudden the red lights flash and the race is stopped as someone back in the pack had crashed and leaked some oil on the track in the process. I looked back quick to see that I had built up a very comfortable gap on Johnson and Coolbeth and was getting away, but now they would be able to restart right back on my heels. I looked later after the race, and my best lap of the race was that last lap before the red flag came out, and to me that is what it felt like too. I was just getting into my rhythm, feeling very comfortable and then these darn red lights came on. Ooh well, these guys behind me had now gotten the break they were probably hoping for, but I wasn't giving up that easy I knew. It took a little while to get the oil dried up, but once they did it was race time again. This time if would be a single file restart, with 12 laps to go, with me at the point, then Johnson, Coolbeth and so on.
At the flash of the green light for the third time in this race, I jumped out of there again and had the lead going into turn one. After they had dried up the oil on the track, there was still some Oil Dry residue left on the racing line in spots, and this made is pretty slick in certain areas. I rode very cautious for the first lap or so, just to make sure not to slip off the groove. This allowed Johnson and Coolbeth to really follow me close and stay right there during these first couple laps. I knew it was still slick in certain areas, so I had to ride kind of cautious, but I also knew that if I did not slip off of the bottom, that they would have to go around the outside of me, and that was tough on a track like this one. This was one of those moments that I was happy to be a veteran on the circuit, because I have learned over the years how to be patient and ride smart when needed be. And it was needed right now, because they were breathing down on me very, very hard. I could see their shadows going into the turns, and I could hear them non stop, but really I was not that nervous, because I knew I had paid my dues to be able to ride like this and not screw up, at least I had hoped I had. hahaha. If there was one place on the track I felt very strong right now, it was going into turn three and then going through turn three and coming off turn four. My bike was as hooked up as ever off turn four and I knew if I kept hitting my marks there, that would help me a bunch throughout the race. Lap after lap I could not shake them, but at the same time I knew I was having to ride kind of defensive right now, so I was not too surprised they were hanging right there. Now the 5 lap to go board comes out, and I started counting down the laps, 4,3, just keep her going. I know this is when really have to charge when you are the guy following, so I was trying to make sure and still haul butt, but don't slip an inch Joe! I remember thinking about now that these type of situations are what make me who I am, and I felt pretty confident to be in this spot right now, because I knew I could do this without slipping an inch. 2 to go, then white flag, OK don't screw up, they are still right there I could hear them, and I knew that usually on the last lap is when a hell-mary move is made from the guy behind. You know, the go for broke on the last lap move. So I drove it into turn three a little extra hard this last time just to make sure no pass attempt was made, now ya gotta a hit your mark again, and hit it we did. I got to my favorite part on the track, the middle of turn three and I just tapped that Harley throttle wide open and pointed for home and knew there was no way they were beating me to the checkered flag. I came home with a very hard fought WIN over Johnson 2nd, Coolbeth 3rd, then Sammy, Mees and on down the line. I have to thank Jake and Kenny for racing the race and not making this a bash fest which I know some other riders seem to do at times like this. I guess that just shows that if you go out there and race the race, that you will more than likely beat the guys that are doing the rough riding and such, and I think Jake and Kenny and I proved that tonight.
Last race at Lima Wiles said on the podium that he could not believe this was the best guys there was in flattrack, as he had lapped up to 9th place which was me. I can't stand arrogance like that, so I was kind of wondering what happened to the "I'm better than anybody else guy" tonight? Ooh, he got 9th! I guess it just takes a few years before you learn when you should just zip your mouth or let it flap.
I jumped back out in the sole possession of the points lead again tonight, as I now have 13 points over Johnson in 2nd and our next race is out west in California. I've got to Thank Rob and Ronnie for all the help today, as it just seemed to go so smoothe and easy. Then Rob, Ronnie and I packed up the truck and headed west on the interstate towards home. 36 hour drive back to home, but we could tell this drive was going to be much easier now after the night we just had. West-ward ho!
Until next time, G'Day! Joe
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadslide, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming- WOW-WHAT A RIDE!
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