Mark Tenn #22, Race update for PBIR May 3, 2009
This round of the CCS Florida Region presented by HD Promotions and its gang finds us at the all new Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) formerly known as Moroso located in Palm Beach County. With all new facilities and multiple venues PBIR and its staff have taken a giant leap forward to entertaining the masses. The track is some 40' wide and very flowing with a very fast back straight that is long enough to get a draft pass by the end.
On April 27th, 2009 both my Sons Troy and Chad got on the Marines bus and departed for Basic. This also means that I will be at the track alone and without their help or company. These have been some of the best days of my life spending time with my sons racing.
Saturday practice:
I will be trying to get to grips with the new layout of the track and the excellent grip that it has. There are no real reference points with this track as compared to the track of old. This will be my first time aboard the Ducati 800 at this track since the completion of construction. I will also be racing for the first time, the Ducati 748 of Marc Miller from European Performance Cycles. However, I have raced here in March aboard the FZR400.
With the Florida Region of CCS all day Saturday is primarily dedicated to practice. But with a new schedule this year, later that evening the lights come on and the show begins with some nighttime practice and then ultimately a spectacular showing of the Expert GTO and GTU class racing under the lights.
Sunday Race Day:
I am at the gate bright and early waiting in line to get through as quickly as possible. I have a casual meeting with the other racers as they wait. The atmosphere is more like a group of old friends getting together for a picnic.
When the gates open we make our way to our respective paddocks to prepare our hardware for competition. We will later prepare ourselves by becoming more focused on the task at hand.
Ultralight Superbike:
My first race of the day is against some fierce competition in the likes of Brian Gordon (#39) aboard his built SV. The class is a mixture of expert and amateur class riders competing against each other. The Ultralight Superbike group is in the second wave behind the 125GP bikes.
I am grid on the first row of the group with Brian just behind. Vito on his 80hp TM motard is slotted in the pole position. I expect a great start from Vito as those motard riders always do get a great start. I am only hoping that I can get a good start and pass him going into T1.
At the flag, I almost jump the start. It is usually a quick flag but today there is a fraction of a second delay. All my preparation for the start by being just so on the bike, clutch perfectly controlled, and rpm just so has paid off and I get a rocket of a start. I grab the hole shot and I make a mad dash to T1-T2 kink. By the time I make my way through T5 I see my informal cheering fans of Bill and Joe waving their arms. I wave back acknowledging their gestures of praise. I know though that hot on my heels will be the red SV of Brian Gordon making his way forward.
For the first two laps everything is going well and I am using my newfound knowledge of the track and how to ride it. I feel as though I am going faster than I have ever gone and the lap timer shows it. I am out front and there is no one in sight.
Lap 3; on the third lap my gremlins from practice return and I notice the exhaust note getting louder. The slip-on exhaust is now slipping off and coming loose. I lose a considerable amount of power while on the gas. I have also lost confidence in the safety of my bike and take a good look to see what I could see. I don't see the pipe dangling so I continue, just that my pace has slowed. In one lap I have gone from a two second advantage to being caught by Brian. He catches me on the back straight and motors by me like I am standing still.
Lap 4; all I can do is hang onto the draft of Brian and bring it home. I monitor the sound of the exhaust and I notice it isn't getting any louder. I stay as a good pace but nothing close to keeping up. I look back to see the gap back to Dave Gabert (#225) in third place. I don't see Dave anywhere.
Lap 5; Brian hasn't pulled away like I have expected. I stay the course and keep my momentum going. I need points. I need tire contingency, I tell myself.
Lap 6; the white flag is out, one more lap. Can I hold onto this position? Please stay together I plead with fate. These are some of the thoughts going through my head. I am able to maintain and get the bike around. The checkered flag is out, what a lovely sight.
Thunderbike as presented by European Performance Cycles:
Third call for the Thunderbike race as presented by European Performance Cycles and I am ready to go. I am riding the Ducati 748, a borrowed bike from Marc Miller of European Performance Cycles. I have some major anxiety knowing the competition would be fierce. The local fast guys of Kevin (Doc) Mendez (#91) aboard his Bimota and Chris Sullivan (#282) aboard his Superbike Ducati DS1000 are no slouch. Then again there is also Bob Cole (#509) and Eric Menetrier (261) on their ultra fast Bimotas. For once I am geared and ready to go without a rush and approach this race to have a little fun with this hobby of mine. I make my way to pit out only to be flagged away due to an extended delay for the clearing of the track from the previous race. I make my way back to the paddock to catch some shade. Man I need an umbrella girl!
Lap1; I am on the grid in the P4 position with Kevin Mendez in P1, Chris Sullivan I think in P2 and Bob Cole (#509) in P3. I can only hope to get a good launch and try to follow these fast guys. Bob always seems to get a good launch as I strategize on how to approach T1. As the time approaches I do a once over on my gauges. I quickly shift into first as I prepare for that just right launch. I check the clutch feel, throttle response and position my body as far forward onto the tank.
The green flag flies as we all launch from the starting line. Can I really believe it? It is that perfect launch as the front wheel hovers above the ground by a couple inches. The throttle is pinned as I release the clutch to its full engagement. I bang through the gears up into second gear and as the front wheel touch the tarmac it rips the left handle grip from my hand. I grab a hold again as I get into third gear. Hard on the brake for T1, but not too much for this switch back of T1-T2. Coming out of T2 I am hard on the gas only to find I'm in the wrong gear. I am riding this thing like my Ducati 800 that has a lot more torque down low. On the outside comes Kevin Mendez as he motors by. I catch a quick downshift and I am back on his rear wheel. As it turns out this first lap is a huge learning curve for me as I learn how to ride the Ducati 748. By lap 1 Kevin is some three seconds ahead and Chris is closing in.
Lap2; this is my best lap of the race and something just seems to be going right. I make quick work of the back section but I just can't figure out what gear to use for the different corners. I can only imagine that Chris is making his way forward including the rest of the field. This bike is fast and I am hoping the gremlins from practice don't pop up during the race. Another lap down and Kevin pulls away by another two seconds. I gap Chris by 2/10 of a second.
Lap3; begins with the Doc. now some five seconds in the lead. I am doing my best to keep the pace up but with too many mistakes being made I am losing time and allowing Chris to get onto the back of me. I struggle through the lap and missed many of my reference points. By the end of the back straight and on the brakes I see Chris sneak up the inside and I decide to follow his lead. I lose at least another second to the others.
Lap4; I am stocking onto the back of Chris but the mistakes continue. I can't seem to find the right shift points and I attribute this to the change between the air-cooled Ducati 800 and the faster Ducati 748. This lap is much better than the lap 3 and I close on Chris down the back straight.
Lap5; I decide that I have a good lead from fourth place behind me and decide to just relax and do a little testing and learn this bike. I am still learning how this slipper clutch works and don't have the confidence to just bang down the gears.
Lap6; is a carbon copy of the previous lap but I do learn so much. I want to make Marc and his family proud and bring it home in third place.
This has been a great weekend sharing these times with the CCS family of the Florida Region presented by HD Promotions. Marc can take pride in the knowledge that the bikes he builds are ultra fast and commands some respect. Marc's dedication along with the help of James paid off this weekend allowing me to get on the box for the second race in succession.
Mark
CCS EX#22
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Sponsored by; MotoCorse Performance, European Performance Cycles, Bridgestone, Street & Competition, Cycle Scene Magazine, Nancy.
good write up. thanks for the report.
tim