F.T.W. Racing

This was submitted by Jay Fooey (WSMC Racer/TrackXperience Instructor/Great guy) via the For the win Racing forums.  This is a great read!

So about my 1st WSMC race...
My day was awesome to say the least. The day really didn't start off too well, as I wasn't prepared for it at all!!!! I got there a little early to stake my claim on a good pitting spot. The plan was to do my practice sessions and then change out my tires and then do my race at the end of the day, but late Saturday all that had changed when I found out my race was changed to the 1st race of the day! Like whole cow, I won't have time to change my tires out between practice and my race. I tryed to figure how I can get at least 1 practice in, and change my tires out... but time was wasting away having to regrister, going thru tech, having to get gas at the gas pump, because I forgot to get some, and just plain unloading all my stuff. I got behind and didn't make the 1st practice session, so I immediately start getting my tires changed out, I miss the second practice as well and just finish up with my tires just before the riders meeting. I have to say messing with my bike this weekend has had me beating the heck out of my hands, doesn't bother me too much as I am a mechanic, but man I have to take it easier ...lol

Race time!
I'm Gridded 12th, I'm starting to get the sequence down, on "2" I flip my visor down, "1" in gear, starting to rev, "1" side ways, I'm starting to Launch! front wheel comes up, I let off for a second and get back on it, wheel comes up a bit, I'm gradually giving it more gas and full throttle, I'm 5th or 6th going into turn 1... starting to pass on the outside of two made my pass, down shift going into 3 my back end is all over the place I pull in the clutch and it still was feeling loose. I stand the bike up and go dirt biking out in 3 but keep the bike up. I get back on the track in last (20th) place. I get back on it after feeling my tires are clean, I was back to business! On my last lap of the race I come up on 2 riders in turn 4 coming down to turn 5 they both park it, I don't know why they stop or close to stopping there, and I had to swing wide and clipped one of the those riders. I get on it hard and finished the race in 12th place!

I'm not happy with the morning and my turn 3 excursion, but I am very happy I finished my 1st race, I am happy with my 12th place finish after all that happened! Sure I have some things to work on and change, 1st no more medium tires for sure going with soft! I've got to either spend the night there at the track or get there earlier and get my stuff done, I want to change out my tires and do one session on them before race time. this was also the 1st time trying a 190 rear tire. Find out what Kris Johnson learned about launching?!?!?!?! A little birdie told me that Kris got schooled on Launching the day before!

Thanks goes out to a few veteran WSCM racers for their help, tips, opinions over the weekend!

Thad Wolff
Ryan Gagliano
Ken Kramer
Amy Hronek


a couple pictures from the weekend...
1st) coming over turn 6



2nd) got my novice racers license! Woohoo!!


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