Well, the day started out normal enough. Woke up in the hotel (there was no camping on Friday) and got ready, got some breakfast and got to the track. i was a bit disappointed that we had to pay the gate fee because STT normally covers that. So with a little less money in my pocket, i started setting up the pit area.

With my pit area set up, i got registered and inspected. The inspector mentioned that my chain was too tight, so i headed back to tighten it. Right before i was to tighten the axle bolt, i we were called to the riders meeting. Same meting as usual, flags, passing rules, etc. Then back to he pits to wait for the first session.

So first session, i am getting my riding legs back and wobbled around for a lap an a half, when a GSXR 1000 comes by and motions me to follow him. i guess i was looking quite wobbly and he wanted to show me a line or two. Well onto the front straight i pull up next to him to pass and he motions for me to follow him into the pits. It seems that as he was behind me going into the "fish hook" he saw a few bits fall off of my bike. I get off and look at the rear of my bike and see that i am missing my axle nut (that holds the axle on), a washer and a very important chain adjuster spacer. I quickly, and carefully, get back to my pit and take a closer look. Yup, the bits are gone and the axle was starting to work its way out of the wheel. If the other rider hadnt flagged me down the rear wheel would have surely locked up and caused me to part from the motorcycle before i was ready.

Finding parts on a racetrack is normally an exercise in futility. my first time on this particular track i ended up losing a knee puck and never found it. now a knee puck is significantly larger than the parts i lost, so i wasnt too hopeful. i tried calling the shop in town, but it was closed for the weekend. A quick search of the pits turned up no spares anyone could sell/lend/give me. At this point i was getting a bit dejected and i walked to the track marshal to ask if i could walk the track at lunch to look for my parts. It was currently between sessions and he sends a contol rider out onto the track for something. He said sure and asked me to wait there for a moment. The control rider returns with my axle nut! unfortunately, without the spacer the nut is useless so i still cant get back on the track.

Something about this track on the 4th of July weekend curses whatever group i go to the track with. Since we started attending this traditional event, at least one of our group crashes and this year was no different. Kelsey, who rides a zx10, high sided coming out of turn 6 and his bike was unrepairable with the collective resources we had at the track. It made me feel bad to see a rider crash so early when he had signed up for the entire weekend, but i had myself to think of. I switched to vulture mode and asked if i could try to scavenge his bike for the parts i needed. he agreed, but unfortunately none of his parts fit my bike.

The intermediate group seemed to have a problem on this day. Every session excpet one had a crash. This drastically ate into everyones track time as the crash truck had to get out to pick up the bike, the ambulance had to get out and check out the rider, and the ambulance had to make two trips to the hospital. Unfortunately, there was only one ambulance so there was no riding while the ambulance was away. Fortunately for me the track marshal agreed to let me search the track for my missing spacer and he even gave me a ride (he was going out onto the track to pick up a corner worker anyways). Although i received no encouraging words about my recovery odds, i went out and ended up finding it! So back in the pits i spent a whole 30 seconds getting my bike back together and i was ready to go. unfortuantely, another rider needed to be driven to the hospital so it wasnt until about 3:00 that i ended up back on teh track

Once back out on the track, i was still rather shakey and still trying to find my track legs. All in all i ended up riding two sessions (out of a normal 7), not including my "part removal" laps in the beginning of the day.

Day 2 >>

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