I hope each of you has a wonderful and blessed Christmas as well as a safe and joyous New Year!
This year has brought many changes in my life; some bad and some phenomenal! I lost love and found love (in my daughters passion), discovered a twist on my old passion, and learned that I have a lot to reflect on and be humble about. Overall, it was a very educational year both personally and professionally! Each New Year is a great opportunity to evaluate the past to determine how we can be better, stronger people for ourselves, our families and our friends!
I hope to start the New Year off at the track, looking to bring home the win! But regardless of the outcome…HAVE FUN! We plan on being competitive this season and achieving many of the goals we set! See ya at the track… pick a lane!!!
I wish each of you the best the season has to offer! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Bumble Bee
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
The split second WRECK...
So this weekend we went out for some more testing, despite what the weather people said. It started out slow, we spun off the line fairly hard but outside of that it was a decent run.
9.22 @ 143.9 mph with a -.220 reaction and a 1.66 60’ time (she was creeping hard as soon as I got on the two step and wasn’t waiting for no light… ah well)
Our next run was better, still spun but not nearly as bad as the first run. We talked about testing some new things, so I could know what it feels like (i.e., the bike bogging). We decided to see what she would do the next round and then make adjustments as needed.
8.84 @ 147.86 mph with a .141 reaction and a 1.300 60’ time (Great ET, good 60’ time…not so good reaction)
We discovered our launch was up WAY higher then we normally launch at so we adjusted for that and away we go…
8.82 @ 149.36 mph with a .091 reaction and a 1.307 60’ time (FANTASTIC! This is our best ET to-date)
We decided to adjust the launch to attempt to make the bike bog this next pass… UNFORTUNATELY, it didn’t quite turn out as we had envisioned…
I got out there did my burnout, my normal routine, staged and… HOLY CRAP…
Let’s just say the bike got seriously wicked on me and well the “rookie” in me let us down (literally). I couldn’t get out of it fast enough (or at all in this case) and it got out of control and I wrecked. The video is pretty narly too. L Good news is I AM OK…I did a brief slide, my leathers hooked on something and began a brief but significant tumble. When I came to a stop it was mere mili-seconds before Jason and Eddy were at my side to make sure I was ok. THANK YOU GUYS! There were several others at my side and tending to our now wounded bike…THANK YOU to them as well. I am so sorry Eddy. In the end, I walked away with minor bruising. my spirit is ready to ride (right now)… my body needs a week or so to recover. I want to extend a huge I’M SORRY to my daughter, she was really freaked out. Baby, know that I love you and this is a risk we both take when we decide to race. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!
So we have some minor repairs to make and we’ll be back out testing in preparation for the new year and new season! Till next time…have fun, be safe and Happy Holidays!
BB
9.22 @ 143.9 mph with a -.220 reaction and a 1.66 60’ time (she was creeping hard as soon as I got on the two step and wasn’t waiting for no light… ah well)
Our next run was better, still spun but not nearly as bad as the first run. We talked about testing some new things, so I could know what it feels like (i.e., the bike bogging). We decided to see what she would do the next round and then make adjustments as needed.
8.84 @ 147.86 mph with a .141 reaction and a 1.300 60’ time (Great ET, good 60’ time…not so good reaction)
We discovered our launch was up WAY higher then we normally launch at so we adjusted for that and away we go…
8.82 @ 149.36 mph with a .091 reaction and a 1.307 60’ time (FANTASTIC! This is our best ET to-date)
We decided to adjust the launch to attempt to make the bike bog this next pass… UNFORTUNATELY, it didn’t quite turn out as we had envisioned…
I got out there did my burnout, my normal routine, staged and… HOLY CRAP…
Let’s just say the bike got seriously wicked on me and well the “rookie” in me let us down (literally). I couldn’t get out of it fast enough (or at all in this case) and it got out of control and I wrecked. The video is pretty narly too. L Good news is I AM OK…I did a brief slide, my leathers hooked on something and began a brief but significant tumble. When I came to a stop it was mere mili-seconds before Jason and Eddy were at my side to make sure I was ok. THANK YOU GUYS! There were several others at my side and tending to our now wounded bike…THANK YOU to them as well. I am so sorry Eddy. In the end, I walked away with minor bruising. my spirit is ready to ride (right now)… my body needs a week or so to recover. I want to extend a huge I’M SORRY to my daughter, she was really freaked out. Baby, know that I love you and this is a risk we both take when we decide to race. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!
So we have some minor repairs to make and we’ll be back out testing in preparation for the new year and new season! Till next time…have fun, be safe and Happy Holidays!
BB
Monday, November 05, 2007
8.87 with a Top speed of 150.35 mph
We went out to Saturdays Test N' Tune to see if we could back up our 8.90 from West Coast Motorcycle Challenge and to have a little fun on a beautiful day!
Here are our stats for Saturday:
- 9.26 @ 145.61 mph with a .406 reaction (CRAP) and a 1.51 60' time (this run was partially rider error & partial breaking the tire loose, we lowered the tire pressure a tad – no good)
- 8.92 @ 150.35 mph with a .182 reaction and a 1.31 60' time (we corrected the tire pressure and I got my head out of my dairy-ere) Our best MPH to date and back down to that 8.90 range!
- 9.29 @ 148.80 mph with a .028 reaction (FABULOUS!) and a 1.37 60' time (so our ET was not there but dam what a great reaction time, we spun a little off the line and got out of the groove a little)
- 8.87 @ 149.55 mph with a .173 reaction and a 1.30 60' time (WOOHOO! This is our best ET todate, but dam this means I'd break out of an 8.90 index…shoot)
Overall, it was a GREAT day, we accomplished three things…
- Quickest ET (to-date)
- Best reaction time (to-date)
- Fastest MPH (to-date)
I'm very happy with our progress and look forward to learning more. I firmly believe in learning something from EVERY run and strive to do so every time we go out.
Till next time (probably when we go down to Infineon, November 25th…) keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and bee safe!
BB
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Article from 1tail.com - Thank you Patti!
Annette Robb - A Hired Jockey Kicking Butt and Taking No Names
Patti Smith for 1Tail, Wednesday, October 31, 2007
California, USA - Annette Robb aka "Bumble Bee", mother of two, has now been officially racing for the past 2.5 years. She used to crewchief for an old boyfriend, for 5 years and decided to take the leap and jump into the rider’s seat. She loves the sport and the camaraderie that comes along with it. She feels it’s a “great community and wanted to be directly involved.” Now, it’s a serious passion and, Robb`s doing everything in her power to become an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider.
When asked how many other women raced around her area, her reply was “about 6.” Why it was still a 1-digit number, especially in California, she stated, “Women seem more intimidated by the machines and the guys. They lack the self-confidence to participate more actively. There are a few women rider groups in our area, such as Plush Racing and NorCal Chic Riders, that were formed to get more ladies involved in the motorcycle community from a hands-on perspective. They have track days to show these potential new riders safe practices in a safe environment. When a woman feels safe the intimidation subsides. With local companies like Go Moto, which caters specifically to women riders, the level of interest and confidence is bound to skyrocket.
When asked how she specifically felt about her sport, Robb emphatically stated, “It`s sooooo much fun, I LOVE IT. Regardless of what you do for a living, everyone needs an escape from the day-to-day drudgery and, I found mine. There’s nothing else out there like this. It’s you, your machine and the environment and, for those 8 seconds, nothing else matters. I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT I CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS INDUSTRY.
How was her first run? “It was exhilarating. I was racing my old street bike – an ‘03 Kawa ZX6. Having crewed for such a long time, I had no fear whatsoever I felt REALLY comfortable. I’m extremely competitive, which pushes me to perform better. My first run was a 12.78, in the ¼ mile on a 636cc bike. Every time I went out, for the first couple of weeks after that, I cut a .10 off of my times – eventually, reaching a time of 10.75, at 131 mph. At that point, you really start to push yourself, your skills and your machine.” Unfortunately, in June of 2005, she pushed herself a little too hard and flipped her bike at the track but, her desire to succeed healed her wounds and mended her spirit and, when asked by the ER tech if she’d race again, her instant reply was, “absolutely!” She was off the track long enough to repair her bike and, a month later she was out racing and riding like nothing had happened.
Due to financial reasons, in October 2006, she had to get rid of her street bike and was without a motorcycle for about 9 months. As Luck would have it, this put her in a position to be a “hired jockey” for her friends Eddy and Paula Palmer of the NorCal Dragrace Association. As she explained, “Instead of being a lone racer, I had the opportunity to ride for one person – one team.” When the offer came, she had to ask, “Why me?” "The response that I received was `because I know you can do it`", but, even with such an amazing opportunity, I had to discuss it with my family. One has to understand and accept the reality that all racers face, which is that every time you line up we intentionally put ourselves in harm’s way. If anything should happen to me, it would affect my family, permanently, and that’s something they need to understand, too.” What do her kids think of their mom’s racing? “My son is fairly removed rom it. It’s not something that he actively participates in or has an opinion about. My daughter, on the other hand, is very involved and, actually, races, also. There is a saying in racing circles which states, ‘The families that race together stay together’, and we are no exception.”
For those uninformed about drag-racing and, interested, Annette points out some differences between street bikes and drag bikes. Street bikes, for the most part, are stock and street legal, whereas, most drag bikes are not. The variances in bike set-up largely depend on the type of racing you do – i.e., Street E.T., Pro E.T., Super Comp, Super Gas, etc. Almost every event you race will have it’s own set of rules designed to make the class fun and competitive for all. Know your machine, your set-up and always have fun!”
Her latest time and personal best-to-date is an 8.90, with a top speed of 149.5mph. Thus far, her best 60’ time has been 1.28 seconds. She is currently racing an ’86 Suzuki GSX-R with a 1340cc motor and 13.5:1 compression. “It’s like riding a rocket but sooo much fun, In fact, we’ve made that the team’s motto – ‘LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!” she stated, laughingly. Robb credits the owner of her ride, Eddy, for being a huge part of her success, to date. “He is a phenomenal teacher – always very good about telling me what the bike should do after we make tuning changes which, ultimately, helps us perform better.”
Recently, the team participated in a local event, The West Coast Motorcycle Challenge at the Sacramento Raceway. “We were very excited and optimistic. Essentially, going into this event, we were the underdog but we managed to rise through the ranks and take home 1st Place in the Super Comp Category. For those that are learning about drag racing – a Super Comp is an 8.90 time index, which means you have to run as close to 8.90, without breaking out. We had a lot of fun and walked away with the win. Now, that’s a great way to end the day!” she stated. “We are working very hard to put together a strong, competitive season for 2008, and plan on bringing home 1st Place, as frequently as possible!”
Annette Robb, Eddy and Paula Palmer, and NorCal Dragbike would like to thank their sponsors: AEC Cycle (Sacramento, CA), AERIS-West (Sacramento, CA), Pac-West Trailers, (North Highlands, CA) and Natinal Down Syndrome Coalition (Roseville, CA)
The team is currently seeking additional sponsors for the 2008 season. Annette may be reached at bumblebeezx@yahoo.com. To check out what she’s been up to, visit: NORCAL DRAGBIKE ASSOCIATION AT http://www.norcaldragbikes.com/, http://bumblebeezx.blogspot.com/ and at www.myspace.com/bumblebeezx.
To check it out at the source go to: http://www.1tail.com/sa/news/s/default.htm?g={0BB984A8-7A2A-49D4-B38C-564A53347581}
Patti Smith for 1Tail, Wednesday, October 31, 2007
California, USA - Annette Robb aka "Bumble Bee", mother of two, has now been officially racing for the past 2.5 years. She used to crewchief for an old boyfriend, for 5 years and decided to take the leap and jump into the rider’s seat. She loves the sport and the camaraderie that comes along with it. She feels it’s a “great community and wanted to be directly involved.” Now, it’s a serious passion and, Robb`s doing everything in her power to become an NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle rider.
When asked how many other women raced around her area, her reply was “about 6.” Why it was still a 1-digit number, especially in California, she stated, “Women seem more intimidated by the machines and the guys. They lack the self-confidence to participate more actively. There are a few women rider groups in our area, such as Plush Racing and NorCal Chic Riders, that were formed to get more ladies involved in the motorcycle community from a hands-on perspective. They have track days to show these potential new riders safe practices in a safe environment. When a woman feels safe the intimidation subsides. With local companies like Go Moto, which caters specifically to women riders, the level of interest and confidence is bound to skyrocket.
When asked how she specifically felt about her sport, Robb emphatically stated, “It`s sooooo much fun, I LOVE IT. Regardless of what you do for a living, everyone needs an escape from the day-to-day drudgery and, I found mine. There’s nothing else out there like this. It’s you, your machine and the environment and, for those 8 seconds, nothing else matters. I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT I CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS INDUSTRY.
How was her first run? “It was exhilarating. I was racing my old street bike – an ‘03 Kawa ZX6. Having crewed for such a long time, I had no fear whatsoever I felt REALLY comfortable. I’m extremely competitive, which pushes me to perform better. My first run was a 12.78, in the ¼ mile on a 636cc bike. Every time I went out, for the first couple of weeks after that, I cut a .10 off of my times – eventually, reaching a time of 10.75, at 131 mph. At that point, you really start to push yourself, your skills and your machine.” Unfortunately, in June of 2005, she pushed herself a little too hard and flipped her bike at the track but, her desire to succeed healed her wounds and mended her spirit and, when asked by the ER tech if she’d race again, her instant reply was, “absolutely!” She was off the track long enough to repair her bike and, a month later she was out racing and riding like nothing had happened.
Due to financial reasons, in October 2006, she had to get rid of her street bike and was without a motorcycle for about 9 months. As Luck would have it, this put her in a position to be a “hired jockey” for her friends Eddy and Paula Palmer of the NorCal Dragrace Association. As she explained, “Instead of being a lone racer, I had the opportunity to ride for one person – one team.” When the offer came, she had to ask, “Why me?” "The response that I received was `because I know you can do it`", but, even with such an amazing opportunity, I had to discuss it with my family. One has to understand and accept the reality that all racers face, which is that every time you line up we intentionally put ourselves in harm’s way. If anything should happen to me, it would affect my family, permanently, and that’s something they need to understand, too.” What do her kids think of their mom’s racing? “My son is fairly removed rom it. It’s not something that he actively participates in or has an opinion about. My daughter, on the other hand, is very involved and, actually, races, also. There is a saying in racing circles which states, ‘The families that race together stay together’, and we are no exception.”
For those uninformed about drag-racing and, interested, Annette points out some differences between street bikes and drag bikes. Street bikes, for the most part, are stock and street legal, whereas, most drag bikes are not. The variances in bike set-up largely depend on the type of racing you do – i.e., Street E.T., Pro E.T., Super Comp, Super Gas, etc. Almost every event you race will have it’s own set of rules designed to make the class fun and competitive for all. Know your machine, your set-up and always have fun!”
Her latest time and personal best-to-date is an 8.90, with a top speed of 149.5mph. Thus far, her best 60’ time has been 1.28 seconds. She is currently racing an ’86 Suzuki GSX-R with a 1340cc motor and 13.5:1 compression. “It’s like riding a rocket but sooo much fun, In fact, we’ve made that the team’s motto – ‘LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!” she stated, laughingly. Robb credits the owner of her ride, Eddy, for being a huge part of her success, to date. “He is a phenomenal teacher – always very good about telling me what the bike should do after we make tuning changes which, ultimately, helps us perform better.”
Recently, the team participated in a local event, The West Coast Motorcycle Challenge at the Sacramento Raceway. “We were very excited and optimistic. Essentially, going into this event, we were the underdog but we managed to rise through the ranks and take home 1st Place in the Super Comp Category. For those that are learning about drag racing – a Super Comp is an 8.90 time index, which means you have to run as close to 8.90, without breaking out. We had a lot of fun and walked away with the win. Now, that’s a great way to end the day!” she stated. “We are working very hard to put together a strong, competitive season for 2008, and plan on bringing home 1st Place, as frequently as possible!”
Annette Robb, Eddy and Paula Palmer, and NorCal Dragbike would like to thank their sponsors: AEC Cycle (Sacramento, CA), AERIS-West (Sacramento, CA), Pac-West Trailers, (North Highlands, CA) and Natinal Down Syndrome Coalition (Roseville, CA)
The team is currently seeking additional sponsors for the 2008 season. Annette may be reached at bumblebeezx@yahoo.com. To check out what she’s been up to, visit: NORCAL DRAGBIKE ASSOCIATION AT http://www.norcaldragbikes.com/, http://bumblebeezx.blogspot.com/ and at www.myspace.com/bumblebeezx.
To check it out at the source go to: http://www.1tail.com/sa/news/s/default.htm?g={0BB984A8-7A2A-49D4-B38C-564A53347581}
Thursday, October 25, 2007
To the finals - she went!
Everytime my daughter gets out there and races, it brings me so much pride! She has found something that she enjoys, much like mom, but really for her own reasons!
She made it to the semi-finals the last two Wednesdays in a row and last night (10/24/07) she made it to the finals! WooHoo!
She ran good and had some luck thrown in there too but overall she kept the pedal down and her eyes on the prize!
She got one qualifying pass:
She made it to the semi-finals the last two Wednesdays in a row and last night (10/24/07) she made it to the finals! WooHoo!
She ran good and had some luck thrown in there too but overall she kept the pedal down and her eyes on the prize!
She got one qualifying pass:
- 16.01 @ 84.45 mph with a .215 reaction and 2.49 60' time
As she entered eliminations she was cool, calm, collected and ready...
- 16.06 on a 16.00 dial-in WINNER
- 16.16 on a 15.97 (but she got a bye run) automatic WINNER (thank goodness on that run)
- 16.01 on a 15.97 dial-in WINNER (her opponent red-lit)
- 16.14 on a 15.97 dial-in (hole shot win) WINNER we are on to the FINALS
- 16.01 on a 15.97 dial-in had she cut a better light she would have walked away with the win
Overall, she got a great runner-up trophy (her first drag racing trophy at that)! I will post a pic soon! I am SUPER SUPER proud of her...it took me 2 years of racing to get a trophy! You rock princess! She ran her personal best reaction time of .033 and I believe her personal best 60' time of 2.45! WooHoo!
I love you baby, you rock!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Rock & Race @ Redding Dragstrip!
Come one...come all! Let's have some fun at Redding Dragstrip this Saturday, October 27th. Gates open at 6pm!
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Friday, October 19, 2007
Wednesday Night Drags – October 17, 2007 @ Sacramento Raceway
Well Sara has found her element - Wednesday nights thus far! She admittedly said she likes racing in the evening better! I am so proud of her, she is doing so good!
§ 16.21 @ 84.63 mph with a .189 reaction and a 2.61 60’ time (qualifying pass)
§ 16.13 @ 84.13 mph with a .132 reaction and a 2.57 60’ time (1st rd) WINNER on a 16.15 dial in
§ 16.39 @ 80.03 mph with a .169 reaction and a 2.52 60’ time (2nd rd) WINNER on a 16.10 dial in {hole shot win}
§ 16.07 @ 84.26 mph with a .046 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time (SEMI-FINALS) on a 16.10 dial in {she broke out}
Regardless she made it to the SEMI-FINALS twice now! ROCK ON!!! She also learned a little more about bracket racing too! Its all about seat time and she is LOVING every minute of it!
I am so proud of her (WOOHOO!!!) and really appreciate Jason allowing her to beat on his truck week after week. THANK YOU!
In addition, I like to say CONGRATS to my girl Alicia of Go Moto for winning in the finals against her husband Ira! Good Job girl, display that Trophy you earned it! WooHoo!!!
§ 16.21 @ 84.63 mph with a .189 reaction and a 2.61 60’ time (qualifying pass)
§ 16.13 @ 84.13 mph with a .132 reaction and a 2.57 60’ time (1st rd) WINNER on a 16.15 dial in
§ 16.39 @ 80.03 mph with a .169 reaction and a 2.52 60’ time (2nd rd) WINNER on a 16.10 dial in {hole shot win}
§ 16.07 @ 84.26 mph with a .046 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time (SEMI-FINALS) on a 16.10 dial in {she broke out}
Regardless she made it to the SEMI-FINALS twice now! ROCK ON!!! She also learned a little more about bracket racing too! Its all about seat time and she is LOVING every minute of it!
I am so proud of her (WOOHOO!!!) and really appreciate Jason allowing her to beat on his truck week after week. THANK YOU!
In addition, I like to say CONGRATS to my girl Alicia of Go Moto for winning in the finals against her husband Ira! Good Job girl, display that Trophy you earned it! WooHoo!!!
TRUCK DRAGS – October 14, 2007 @ Sacramento Raceway
My pride continues to grow as my daughter, Sara, continues to get better and better at her new adventure! Jason and I had been working with her in hopes of getting her ready to run Truck Drags on October 14th. It was a great weekend of racing, both Saturday and Sunday!
Big thanks to Fred for organizing this event, it was fun and a lot of trucks showed up to run. Even a few volkwagens and el camino’s came out…although I still haven’t figured out the correlation between them and the TRUCKS… It was a TRUCK drag, but whateva!
They gave them numerous practice runs, starting around 10 am. Giving her plenty time to get comfortable and ready to roll.
§ 15.38 @ 88.36 mph with a .257 reaction and a 2.38 60’ time
§ 15.78 @ 92.07 mph with a .247 reaction and a 2.54 60’ time
§ 15.56 @ 88.02 mph with a .195 reaction and a 2.44 60’ time
§ 15.98 @ 90.04 mph with a .264 reaction and a 2.57 60’ time
§ 16.03 @ 84.62 mph with a .209 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time
§ 16.02 @ 85.47 mph with a .127 reaction and a 2.52 60’ time
§ 15.99 @ 85.16 mph with a .137 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time
§ 16.03 @ 83.85 mph with a .174 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time
So lots and lots of practice passes! And she is pretty darn consistent….how does she do that? So now we break for a quick lunch and we’ll jump into the action a little after 1pm.
Unfortunately, she broke out 1st round and was eliminated with a:
§ 15.92 @ 85.24 mph on a 15.98 dial in
Yikes, so darn close. Her opponent was off by a lot on his run vs. dial time too! Oh well, that’s racing but she was hot when she went out. She cooled down a bit and we bought into Jackpot… let’s see how we do here!
Not so good…
§ 16.07 @ 84.82 mph on a 15.90 dial in
She needed that pass on the previous round, darn it! Ah well, it was all good fun and great practice… Not to mention her first competition! Good Job princess! She is excited for the next race…
Big thanks to Fred for organizing this event, it was fun and a lot of trucks showed up to run. Even a few volkwagens and el camino’s came out…although I still haven’t figured out the correlation between them and the TRUCKS… It was a TRUCK drag, but whateva!
They gave them numerous practice runs, starting around 10 am. Giving her plenty time to get comfortable and ready to roll.
§ 15.38 @ 88.36 mph with a .257 reaction and a 2.38 60’ time
§ 15.78 @ 92.07 mph with a .247 reaction and a 2.54 60’ time
§ 15.56 @ 88.02 mph with a .195 reaction and a 2.44 60’ time
§ 15.98 @ 90.04 mph with a .264 reaction and a 2.57 60’ time
§ 16.03 @ 84.62 mph with a .209 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time
§ 16.02 @ 85.47 mph with a .127 reaction and a 2.52 60’ time
§ 15.99 @ 85.16 mph with a .137 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time
§ 16.03 @ 83.85 mph with a .174 reaction and a 2.50 60’ time
So lots and lots of practice passes! And she is pretty darn consistent….how does she do that? So now we break for a quick lunch and we’ll jump into the action a little after 1pm.
Unfortunately, she broke out 1st round and was eliminated with a:
§ 15.92 @ 85.24 mph on a 15.98 dial in
Yikes, so darn close. Her opponent was off by a lot on his run vs. dial time too! Oh well, that’s racing but she was hot when she went out. She cooled down a bit and we bought into Jackpot… let’s see how we do here!
Not so good…
§ 16.07 @ 84.82 mph on a 15.90 dial in
She needed that pass on the previous round, darn it! Ah well, it was all good fun and great practice… Not to mention her first competition! Good Job princess! She is excited for the next race…
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
West Coast Motorcycle Challenge – SUPER COMP WINNER!
We brought home 1st Place! What an amazing weekend (yet again)! I want to extend HUGE thanks to Charlie for putting on the event and having such a great turnout. Last but definitely not least… to my crew, without you this would not be possible in more ways then the obvious! I love you all (Eddy, Paula, Sara, Arianna & Lucas)!
Despite the weekend starting out wet and dreary, it ended with AMAZING glory! Friday I opted to stay home cuddled in a warm blanket with my buns firmly planted on the couch…NICE! ;) Saturday started with excitement and anticipation of a great day and it was nothing less then SPECTACULAR! It was cold and foggy when we got to the track at 8am, but the sun came out and blessed us with a beautiful day!
From what I understand each class was fairly well rounded out! Top alcohol had an exceptionally big class for the type of bike and amount of money/effort that goes into making these puppies run! Street ET/Pro ET were very big as well! Both Super Gas and Super Comp had a fair number of competitors!
Despite the weekend starting out wet and dreary, it ended with AMAZING glory! Friday I opted to stay home cuddled in a warm blanket with my buns firmly planted on the couch…NICE! ;) Saturday started with excitement and anticipation of a great day and it was nothing less then SPECTACULAR! It was cold and foggy when we got to the track at 8am, but the sun came out and blessed us with a beautiful day!
From what I understand each class was fairly well rounded out! Top alcohol had an exceptionally big class for the type of bike and amount of money/effort that goes into making these puppies run! Street ET/Pro ET were very big as well! Both Super Gas and Super Comp had a fair number of competitors!
We were VERY optimistic going into this competition and registered for Super Comp (which is an 8.90 index) which means we had to run as close to 8.90 as possible. We started the day out with two qualifying passes…
§ 9.29 @ 146.62 mph with a .283 reaction and a 1.53 60’ time
§ 9.01 @ 147.17 mph with a .343 reaction and a 1.41 60’ time
Our first pass lead to some mechanical issues, which we fixed! Now as usual my reaction SUCKED…and this was not a good time to have my 60’ times so crappy either BUT we did qualify 2nd in our index so I’m not going to complain!
At this point we talked about making some changes to help with reaction and my 60’ time. We opted to make some minor but significant adjustments. As usual, Eddy prepped me for the recourse and THANK GOODNESS he did! Now anyone who has drag raced a motorcycle/dragbike themselves will tell you many times a challenging run doesn’t feel as bad as it looks…well apparently that was the definition of this next run…which just so happened to be my 1st round elimination run…
§ 11.39 @ 134.56 mph with a .157 reaction and a 1.300 60’ time
Ok so reaction time was much better and 60’ time was where we need to be BUT… it hit SUPER hard off the line and all I can tell you is it headed for the cones, I got out of it long enough to straighten her out and get back in it. From what I’m told and from seeing my daughter’s reaction it must have been one heck of a scary thing to watch. Now let me follow that up with this… it didn’t feel that bad! I was pissed to say the least when I exited the track and said a few choice words as loud as I could in my helmet. But to my amazement when I got to the time slip booth the gal handed me the white slip! “WHAT? Are you sure???” I was shocked and at first thought “there is no way I drove around her…” (yes my competitor was a chic, Jessica from Utah). But apparently Jessica red-lit and I was so busy having fun on the track I never saw the win light come on. Anyway, I was excited! Then Eddy brought my poor baby girl to me and she was in tears, my run had scared her very badly. So it was time for me to have "the talk" with her, the one that reassures our loved ones that despite the danger we as riders take on every time we get on that track that she needed to trust my ability and my comfort zone. I felt terrible! I’m sorry I scared you Sar-bear, you know that is never my intention! But hey we won and I’m ok! After the run, several people came up to me including Eddy to ask if I was ok?!?! Again, it didn’t feel that bad, sorry for scaring everyone! From what I’m told you could read the bike number (which is on both sides of our wheelie bar) both sides clearly (at one point), I was leaned over VERY far and just all over the place. I’m told many people were ready to run to help me (even the EMTs), as they thought for sure I was gonna wreck. But we pulled it out and still won the round!!! ;) Now we are on to 2nd round and I’ve got the crazy/fun ride out of the way… (hahaha) let’s get down to business! We reversed and compensated for some of the changes we made on the previous run, so let’s have some fun…
§ 9.04 @ 148.92 mph with a .287 reaction and a 1.45 60’ time
So again, I was expecting the yellow slip and the gal gave me the white! What? Are you sure??? So not enough adjustment to get me in the 8.90’s, but enough to get us to the finals! YUP you read right… my opponent broke out (8.87 in an 8.90 index) now in these circumstances I always hope that was a best pass run for my opponent (it helps soften the blow…I know from experience)! The amazing part was he tree’d the crap out of me with a .003 light (BEAUTIFUL) but he broke out by… you guessed it .003!!!! We make a few more adjustments, some which were just hard to believe… like running 4.5 pounds of pressure in the back tire! But Eddy you’re a genius because it was everything we needed….
§ 8.904 @ 147.74 mph with a .225 reaction and a 1.28 60’ time
This run felt AMAZING from launch to finish, everything was in synch and it was truly amazing! As I came around to the time slip booth I see Eddy grab the time slip from the gal and wave me threw. All I can think at that time is “how sweet, he doesn’t want me to be disappointed” I mean the run felt great but I was running a bike that just looked like an 8 second bike (standing still)! So I get back to the pit, park the bike, begin to take my gear off and I hear Eddy clear his throat (enough to get my attention) and as I turn around he displays the WHITE time slip! Are you kidding me??? WOOHOO!!! Seriously I think people in Georgia could have heard me scream!!! What an amazing feeling! Then as if it can’t get any better, he shows me the time… an 8.904 on an 8.90 index. This was by far the sweetest, not only did it bring home the win for our crew but it was our best E.T. and best 60’ time! We are elated!!!!
In addition, my girl Alicia of Go Moto won first place in Pro E.T. category, I am so proud of her. She widdled down a huge class and kicked butt all the way to the Winners Circle! Sorry guys…sometimes a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do! ;) CONGRATS Alicia, I love ya!
We received many, many CONGRATS and we appreciate every single one of them! THANK YOU! I will have pics soon!
For those that did not make it out, please mark your calendars for May 2008! I understand we are going to have this event twice next year, which will be great! It was SSSSSOOOOOO much fun and such a great turn out! In addition to the bike drags, there were pit bike races, ATV races, stunt bikes and as usual great fun! Thanks to everyone who made it possible! ;)
Till next time…keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and be safe!
Bumble Bee
Thursday, October 11, 2007
She made it to the semi’s last night!
My daughter, Sara, raced in the Wednesday Night Drags last night to get some much needed seat time in preparation for Sundays Truck Drags! As you may recall last week was her first time in the truck without a rider accompanying her. So as nervous as I was she did fantastic! Jason has been very patient in teaching her the do’s and don’ts of drag racing a truck/car, I have NO experience in that category. I’ll stick to two wheels, thank you very much! As soon as we got to the track, Jason threw her in the truck and she was off and running! Her first hit (qualifying pass) was:
15.92 @ 84.5 mph with a .176 reaction and a 2.47 60’ time
She patiently waited her turn till the next run which was her 1st round hit:
15.97 on a 15.92 dial in. 84.4 mph, 0.70 reaction and a 2.52 60’ time (WINNER, WINNER)
She must have intimidated her opponent because he red-lit! So now we are on to 2nd round… ROCK ON!!!
15.95 on a 15.95 dial in (NICE)!!! (WINNER, WINNER)
She actually ran a 15.959 that’s how close she got it… YOU ROCK GIRL! 85.13 mph, .042 reaction (killin’ em on the lights girl…) and a 2.56 60’ time. FANTASTIC! Her opponent (which was a mustang BTW) dialed a 13.20 and ran a 14.10. Now we are on to the SEMI’s….
16.13 on a 15.93 dial in…
OOPS she red-lit this time. Just a tad too anxious, watched her roll just enough as the last amber lit up. If she had held it a split second longer I’m positive her light would have been a teen or better. Her opponent was dead on his dial in; he ran a 15.052 on a 15.05 dial in. But if she would have tree’d him it would have made all the difference! Anyway, she ran 84.01 mph, -.064 reaction and a 2.58 60’ time.
It was a FABULOUS night, she learned a lot, had a good time, and went to the semi finals! I am a VERY proud mom and am tickled that she gets to experience this at such a great age!
Thanks to my friends Eric and Steve for letting me use your bikes for a quick spin. They are fun, but Steve you need a SUZUKI bro! ;)
Also HUGE CONGRATS to Ira for winning Wednesday Night Drags, don’t get too carried away with your cup now ya hear! ;) Alicia, send me a pic of Ira from last night, so I can post it!
Till next time… well you know how I roll! ;)
15.92 @ 84.5 mph with a .176 reaction and a 2.47 60’ time
She patiently waited her turn till the next run which was her 1st round hit:
15.97 on a 15.92 dial in. 84.4 mph, 0.70 reaction and a 2.52 60’ time (WINNER, WINNER)
She must have intimidated her opponent because he red-lit! So now we are on to 2nd round… ROCK ON!!!
15.95 on a 15.95 dial in (NICE)!!! (WINNER, WINNER)
She actually ran a 15.959 that’s how close she got it… YOU ROCK GIRL! 85.13 mph, .042 reaction (killin’ em on the lights girl…) and a 2.56 60’ time. FANTASTIC! Her opponent (which was a mustang BTW) dialed a 13.20 and ran a 14.10. Now we are on to the SEMI’s….
16.13 on a 15.93 dial in…
OOPS she red-lit this time. Just a tad too anxious, watched her roll just enough as the last amber lit up. If she had held it a split second longer I’m positive her light would have been a teen or better. Her opponent was dead on his dial in; he ran a 15.052 on a 15.05 dial in. But if she would have tree’d him it would have made all the difference! Anyway, she ran 84.01 mph, -.064 reaction and a 2.58 60’ time.
It was a FABULOUS night, she learned a lot, had a good time, and went to the semi finals! I am a VERY proud mom and am tickled that she gets to experience this at such a great age!
Thanks to my friends Eric and Steve for letting me use your bikes for a quick spin. They are fun, but Steve you need a SUZUKI bro! ;)
Also HUGE CONGRATS to Ira for winning Wednesday Night Drags, don’t get too carried away with your cup now ya hear! ;) Alicia, send me a pic of Ira from last night, so I can post it!
Till next time… well you know how I roll! ;)
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Another step to independence...
Well we are trying to get Sara ready for the Truck Drags on October 14th @ Sacramento Raceway! As of lately she has been making passes in the truck with a passenger, but last night marks the first time she made a solo pass! WooHoo! YOU GO GIRL! She did very well and beat a Honda, even better! She's still learning all the do's and don'ts of drag racing but for the most part she knows a good more then some of the guys I've seen run out there! I'm very proud of her and look forward to her progressively getting more confident and getting better overall!
All you guys...look out. She's gonna kick your butt....one day! ;)
All you guys...look out. She's gonna kick your butt....one day! ;)
Monday, October 01, 2007
FINALLY...
I am truly a blessed individual, I have a beautiful daughter who is amazing in so many ways and a great son who is charming and cool, I have amazing friends, I have a phenomenal desire to race and I have the support of a GREAT crew, and I also have a huge passion for bikes in general and get to enjoy that more and more, recently. All these things help me to be who I am and achieve the goals we set. Thank you to all who are a part of that!
I know I always take time out to thank Eddy and family, but I really can’t express how much I love and respect them. They had faith in me to do well and that in turned fueled my desire. Eddy you’re a FANTASTIC teacher and person. You’re always patient with me and always help me to perform better. Thank you! Paula I appreciate you allowing him to come out to the track so frequently! Thank you!
This weekend ranks up there with some of the best! My daughter had an opportunity to go out of town, which left mom with a free weekend! Friday night I went out to the track for no other reason then just to go. Watched some racing and then went and hung out with a friend. It was the start to a great weekend. Saturday, Go Moto had a BBQ at there shop, which seemed to have a great turnout. NorCal Dragbike Assoc. was out there representing our crew and what we do! Thank you Alicia, for letting NorCal Dragbike come out and share in your event, it was great fun! Alicia also had a dyno guy out there, so lots of people got their bikes dyno’d. That was cool to see and hear! Several riders came by (guy and girl) to check out the event and it seemed as though there was a fair amount of store purchases happening too! Hurray! Photos to come...
Saturday night was Grudge Fest @ Sacramento Raceway and we decided to go have some fun! We’ve been having some problems with the clutch slipping, but did not get the new clutches in on time so we went with some stiffer slightly longer springs. Eddy is ALWAYS really good about telling me what the changes will do, so I know what to expect. We knew the new springs would make it hit harder off the line…but I didn’t realize how hard till we got out there. The first two passes hit really hard, we made some adjustments through the night and got it down to what I call “Manageable Chaos”. All good…
- 11.29 @ 142.69 mph with a .270 reaction and 1.31 60’ time (shitty run, hitting super hard of the line, good 60’ time)
- 11.12 @ 141.25 mph with a .168 reaction and 1.38 60’ time (again still hitting hard, had to get out of it, but consistently good 60’ time) Thanks Dave for your tip, it really helped me!
- 9.35 @ 147.41 mph with a .263 reaction and a 1.38 60’ time (we made some adjustments and its manageable now. 60’ time still consistent – GREAT!)
- 8.97 @ 149.57 mph with a .271 reaction and a 1.39 60’ time (WOOHOO! Finally my 8 second pass! We again made some minor adjustments on this pass, we were still spinning and still doing a little dance but it was an overall great run. Again, consistent 60’ time)
- 9.09 @ 148.77 mph with a .170 reaction and a 1.30 60’ time (Best 60’ time yet, but the track just didn’t have the support we needed. This pass did a lot of dancing but ironically it was FUN, I wasn’t in the least bit intimidated or scared.)
- 9.35 @ 147.01 mph with a .318 reaction and a 1.49 60’ time ( I was cold as was the track. Again we were doing some dancing, although this time I'm fairly sure you could have set a beat to it, but it was FUN!)
Overall, we learned A LOT and had a phenomenal night! I learned a TON more about riding and improved my skills by a good amount! I LOVE RACING and with every pass that passion grows that much deeper!
There were several people who came by to give congrats and inquire about the bike/runs, etc. Thank you, your support is overwhelming! Eddy you looked like a kid in a candy store every time someone came by to say something, I’m so glad I could do this for you/for us… so glad I could pull out that 8 second pass! Thank you again for the opportunity!
Sunday was a completely lazy day for me which rounded out a fantastic weekend in the best way! Till next time… keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and be safe!
BB
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Winner Winner!!!
Huge CONGRATS to my girl Stacy for winning her first Wednesday Night Drags! She beat out numerous other riders (mostly guys) to take the win! I am so proud of you girl! YOU ROCK! Keep up the good work, your doing great! Clearly she was possessed to win last night...look at those eyes! ;)
Lots O' Love - Annette
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
38th Annual Governor’s Cup
Sacramento Raceway Friday, September 21 @ 6pm – Sunday, September 23 @ 9pm
The weather predicted rain Friday night through Saturday. We thought we were perhaps gonna be in the good graces of mother nature as Saturday morning rolled around and there was no rain (yet). Yes, it was overcast, but as long as it wasn’t raining we are good to GO! We ended up getting two (2) qualifying passes done before the sky opened up and dumped on us. The track officials said if it rains they would call the race until Sunday (which was predicted to be nice & sunny)… Well that’s exactly what happened. Although it rained fairly steady for about an hour and then got beautiful again… Oh well, for many it was just what they needed (in order to fix or make last minute adjustments to their cars/bikes or equipment). Our crew did great, our two qualifying passes were consistent but we spun off the line both times… but we knew where we stood at the end of the day! :)
Another crew Wild Child Racing however was up against a dilemma… they had some problems with the belt that drives their transmission. Although many reasons could be deducted from the problems they were having, there was nothing specific that said “that’s the problem, for sure”. One of the best things that I love so much about drag racing is the camaraderie that is developed between teams and people. I don’t run with Wild Child Racing, but I know the guys and I know enough about bikes in general to be able to lend a hand (where needed), so that’s what I did. We worked on a few different things, while the rest of the crew tried to find another belt, unfortunately the alternate belt did not pan out. However, at the end of the day when all was said and done, it was decided to run the bike with the belt with some minor adjustments (not the ideal set-up but it would work)… Now it wasn’t all work and no play. These guys (Greg, Rogge, Steve, & Johnny) are nothing short of great, they all make you laugh and have a great relationship with one another, not to mention they are all easy on the eyes! They certainly made a drab rained out Saturday entertaining… thanks guys, you’re the best!
Sunday morning rolled around and everyone was ready to race! Now I’ve seen, heard and felt funny cars from attending NHRA Autolite Nationals the past 3 years, but I’ve never seen, heard, and felt them up close and personal. I had the opportunity to do that at this event. There were some amazing Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars, as well as Nostalgia Cars running some phenomenal numbers. I love the ET and speeds they are hitting, but still think I’ll stick to two wheels! There is nothing like the smell of nitro and the rumble these cars put down… it’s truly amazing! In addition, to all this good fun…
The weather predicted rain Friday night through Saturday. We thought we were perhaps gonna be in the good graces of mother nature as Saturday morning rolled around and there was no rain (yet). Yes, it was overcast, but as long as it wasn’t raining we are good to GO! We ended up getting two (2) qualifying passes done before the sky opened up and dumped on us. The track officials said if it rains they would call the race until Sunday (which was predicted to be nice & sunny)… Well that’s exactly what happened. Although it rained fairly steady for about an hour and then got beautiful again… Oh well, for many it was just what they needed (in order to fix or make last minute adjustments to their cars/bikes or equipment). Our crew did great, our two qualifying passes were consistent but we spun off the line both times… but we knew where we stood at the end of the day! :)
Another crew Wild Child Racing however was up against a dilemma… they had some problems with the belt that drives their transmission. Although many reasons could be deducted from the problems they were having, there was nothing specific that said “that’s the problem, for sure”. One of the best things that I love so much about drag racing is the camaraderie that is developed between teams and people. I don’t run with Wild Child Racing, but I know the guys and I know enough about bikes in general to be able to lend a hand (where needed), so that’s what I did. We worked on a few different things, while the rest of the crew tried to find another belt, unfortunately the alternate belt did not pan out. However, at the end of the day when all was said and done, it was decided to run the bike with the belt with some minor adjustments (not the ideal set-up but it would work)… Now it wasn’t all work and no play. These guys (Greg, Rogge, Steve, & Johnny) are nothing short of great, they all make you laugh and have a great relationship with one another, not to mention they are all easy on the eyes! They certainly made a drab rained out Saturday entertaining… thanks guys, you’re the best!
Sunday morning rolled around and everyone was ready to race! Now I’ve seen, heard and felt funny cars from attending NHRA Autolite Nationals the past 3 years, but I’ve never seen, heard, and felt them up close and personal. I had the opportunity to do that at this event. There were some amazing Top Fuel Dragsters and Funny Cars, as well as Nostalgia Cars running some phenomenal numbers. I love the ET and speeds they are hitting, but still think I’ll stick to two wheels! There is nothing like the smell of nitro and the rumble these cars put down… it’s truly amazing! In addition, to all this good fun…
- The Jelly Belly fire truck which does quarter mile wheelies. I didn’t get any pics of this bad boy but it’s cool to see. Haven’t figured out how the guy does it, but as he passes down the lane you get the hint of cinnamon (like a cinnamon jelly belly)! How does he do that? I gotta know!
- The worlds largest motorcycle was there too, Thanks Greg & Kaleb for bringing out your beast. This thing is amazing and is always a crowd pleaser!
Tons of fun all wrapped around a great weekend of racing! I really have no idea who won in the different categories aside from motorcycles, sorry. However, motorcycles did great! Miss Katie made it to the semi finals against Michael O’Neil while Phil Nasca went against Eddy Palmer. Michael won against Katie, good job Michael and Phil won against Eddy, good job Phil! Then we moved on the finals and it was Phil against Michael… Now it was a good race, both left the line hard (so much so... that they both red-lit) and both were given it their all. The difference between the red lights was marginal but it comes down to who red-lit worse… and that ended up being Michael. Thereby making Phil Nasca the Governor’s Cup WINNER! WooHoo, Phil! I am so proud of you; you worked hard for it and raced good all weekend. Plus it was great that Mia got to be there and see her daddy win! I’m sorry I did not get any pics of the Governor’s Cup trophy, when it gets dark my camera is useless.
But there is more… Phil was not only in contention to win the Governor’s Cup; he was also striving for the NorCal Dragbike Association 2007 Championship. Which he accomplished! FANTASTIC! So the season finished out like this…
- Phil Nasca – CHAMPION
- Eddy Palmer – Runner Up
- Diego Ortiz – 3rd place
Great job guys, I’m proud of each of you! In closing, I can’t encourage those who did not attend any more then by saying “get ya azz out there next year!” It’s always a ton of fun with great racing and fun people! Till next year peoples… Photos to come!
BB
Monday, September 17, 2007
Eluded again...
ADDICT: n. One who is addicted
ADDICTED: adj. Doing or using something as a habit or compulsively
Ok so we have defined the two… I’m fairly certain that mine, along with many of my friends and now my daughter faces appears next to these definitions in the dictionary. Because when it comes to drag racing there is NO OTHER option. I always say drag racing is black or white; you either LOVE it or you HATE it! Although, I really don’t know how anyone couldn’t love it but again, I think that falls under the broad definition of addict.
With that said, the weekend doesn’t get any better when you get to race and your daughter gets to race too! I posted her results and the evenings character previously, make sure you take a peek at Victory...so SWEET!
So it’s been awhile since the last time I ran, seriously feels like forever. In reality I think it’s been a tad over 4 weeks… YIKES, that’s too long – I’m going through withdrawals! So as usual I leave work, go grab the kid and my gear and we head to the track. We get there and there are a few street bikes playin’ along with a few dragbikes. Mark Topalinski (sorry if I killed your last name Mark) and another guy (so sorry, I always forget his name). Very nice guy and his wife is such a sweetheart! We get ready to run and go over a few details (bike set-up and minor changes)…
8-17-07 recap – best pass was a 9.27 @ 149.1 mph.
First pass, get up to do my burnout… can’t seem to find second, neutral, or first gear. Eventually I get it, line up and GO…
9.14 @ 149.3 mph with a .520 reaction and 1.56 60’ time
Next pass…the launch throws me off balance and the whole run feels like a dance to keep it in the groove. I drifted toward the cones then towards the guard rail till finally I get her going straight and dam its over… WOW, a low 9 second pass sure goes by quicker then a high 9 or low 10 second pass. Even with all the dancing we still ran…
9.11 @ 149.3 mph with a .355 reaction and 1.46 60’ time
This next pass marks the first time I’ve raced with someone in the opposite lane. Thank you, Brandon! I firmly believe having a competitor naturally pushes you to do better and this was no exception!
9.00 @ 149.5 mph with a .274 reaction and a 1.45 60’ time
Now, let me start by saying I thought for sure this was the 8 second pass that I’ve been craving for so long… But alas it was not. However, you don’t get much closer to an 8 then to run a 9 flat. At this point, I think I just over-amp’d myself and somehow wedged my head up my a$$. My next pass was straight out of the twilight zone, as if I just couldn’t get it together…stupid, stupid, stupid.
16.36 @ 105 mph with a .346 reaction and a 1.42 60’ time
Ultimately, it didn’t feel good when I got out there and I got out of it, which yes was the right thing to do but definitely threw my momentum off. I questioned…was it me or was it the bike? The bike died at the end of the track, but was that my fault, did I get out of the throttle too much??? Well clearly based off the reaction time and 60’ time (which was my best so far BTW) it was NOT the bike… 100% rider error! I let the fact that I wanted that 8 second pass so bad get in my head and it ultimately back fired. The irony in this was that Eddy was trying to teach me a lesson, but again “head up a$$” so hard to hear way up there… :) He asked if I wanted to go ahead of the Jr’s that were running, to which I replied “nah, I’m in no hurry”… now I have a better understanding of WHY he wanted me to go ahead of them. Sorry Eddy…
So the next and final pass (we were concerned about the track going away at this point, it was getting cooler and there were no big tire cars running anymore)…but we said “one more”…
9.39 @ 148.1 mph with a .256 reaction and a 1.66 60’ time
So we rebounded a bit but the track was just not able to support us. Its all good, as usual, I learned a lot and had a blast! My daughter got a couple of pictures (from my phone, despite having the camera with us)… Enjoy! Feel free to leave me any comments, I love to hear the feedback!
ADDICTED: adj. Doing or using something as a habit or compulsively
Ok so we have defined the two… I’m fairly certain that mine, along with many of my friends and now my daughter faces appears next to these definitions in the dictionary. Because when it comes to drag racing there is NO OTHER option. I always say drag racing is black or white; you either LOVE it or you HATE it! Although, I really don’t know how anyone couldn’t love it but again, I think that falls under the broad definition of addict.
With that said, the weekend doesn’t get any better when you get to race and your daughter gets to race too! I posted her results and the evenings character previously, make sure you take a peek at Victory...so SWEET!
So it’s been awhile since the last time I ran, seriously feels like forever. In reality I think it’s been a tad over 4 weeks… YIKES, that’s too long – I’m going through withdrawals! So as usual I leave work, go grab the kid and my gear and we head to the track. We get there and there are a few street bikes playin’ along with a few dragbikes. Mark Topalinski (sorry if I killed your last name Mark) and another guy (so sorry, I always forget his name). Very nice guy and his wife is such a sweetheart! We get ready to run and go over a few details (bike set-up and minor changes)…
8-17-07 recap – best pass was a 9.27 @ 149.1 mph.
First pass, get up to do my burnout… can’t seem to find second, neutral, or first gear. Eventually I get it, line up and GO…
9.14 @ 149.3 mph with a .520 reaction and 1.56 60’ time
Next pass…the launch throws me off balance and the whole run feels like a dance to keep it in the groove. I drifted toward the cones then towards the guard rail till finally I get her going straight and dam its over… WOW, a low 9 second pass sure goes by quicker then a high 9 or low 10 second pass. Even with all the dancing we still ran…
9.11 @ 149.3 mph with a .355 reaction and 1.46 60’ time
This next pass marks the first time I’ve raced with someone in the opposite lane. Thank you, Brandon! I firmly believe having a competitor naturally pushes you to do better and this was no exception!
9.00 @ 149.5 mph with a .274 reaction and a 1.45 60’ time
Now, let me start by saying I thought for sure this was the 8 second pass that I’ve been craving for so long… But alas it was not. However, you don’t get much closer to an 8 then to run a 9 flat. At this point, I think I just over-amp’d myself and somehow wedged my head up my a$$. My next pass was straight out of the twilight zone, as if I just couldn’t get it together…stupid, stupid, stupid.
16.36 @ 105 mph with a .346 reaction and a 1.42 60’ time
Ultimately, it didn’t feel good when I got out there and I got out of it, which yes was the right thing to do but definitely threw my momentum off. I questioned…was it me or was it the bike? The bike died at the end of the track, but was that my fault, did I get out of the throttle too much??? Well clearly based off the reaction time and 60’ time (which was my best so far BTW) it was NOT the bike… 100% rider error! I let the fact that I wanted that 8 second pass so bad get in my head and it ultimately back fired. The irony in this was that Eddy was trying to teach me a lesson, but again “head up a$$” so hard to hear way up there… :) He asked if I wanted to go ahead of the Jr’s that were running, to which I replied “nah, I’m in no hurry”… now I have a better understanding of WHY he wanted me to go ahead of them. Sorry Eddy…
So the next and final pass (we were concerned about the track going away at this point, it was getting cooler and there were no big tire cars running anymore)…but we said “one more”…
9.39 @ 148.1 mph with a .256 reaction and a 1.66 60’ time
So we rebounded a bit but the track was just not able to support us. Its all good, as usual, I learned a lot and had a blast! My daughter got a couple of pictures (from my phone, despite having the camera with us)… Enjoy! Feel free to leave me any comments, I love to hear the feedback!
As I close out, please come out and join us on Saturday, September 22 at Sacramento Raceway for the 39th Annual Govenor’s Cup! Pit Adm. $25. General Adm. $20. All kids under 12 Admitted FREE. Racing 10am-10pm.
It is the final race of the season for Nor Cal Dragbike Association and we’d like to see as many fans out as possible! Come out & enjoy the weather, a great event and some kick-a$$ racing! For event details check out www.sacramentoraceway.com. If you want more info on Nor Cal Dragbike Association, visit http://myspace.com/norcaldragbikes. Hope to see you there!
Victory...so SWEET!
Well my friend Jason officially created a monster! Thank you! Sara got to race his truck Friday night (9-14-07) and ran the best time he’s seen on it (14.90 @ 84 mph)! ROCK ON, girl! He swore she wasn’t racing it again, but then ended the night with…”she can race tomorrow night too, if she wants”…
So as soon as Saturday morning rolled around, I hear “Mom, when are we going to the track?” I couldn’t help but chuckle as I assured her we would be going later since Grudge Fest didn’t start till 6pm anyway! She was happy with that and happily rolled over and went back to sleep! We got ready as the evening came around and got to the track around 8pm… yeah I know a little late, but we both knew she wouldn’t get a ton of passes in. Or at least that’s what I kept telling myself. Now let me give you some back ground on this… I’ve raced motorcycles for a good number of years now and have progressively gotten quicker and faster! None of which scares me or makes me feel uncomfortable. However, I have NEVER raced a car and thereby am a little nervous especially because Jason said “you have to ride with her, since I have to work the tree”… YIKES!
Wow, its different then being on a bike… well duh!
Everything seems so much slower… again duh! (do you see a pattern forming here?)
So the light is a bit different and I actually got to look around and see the track go by. WOW, now that is a new concept for me. I typically see the start and finish…the rest is a quick blur! Overall, she did great and above all else had a GREAT time!
So without further adue…here are her stats from Saturday night.
.739 reaction, 2.33 60’ = 15.20 @ 91.6 mph
.677 reaction, 2.30 60’ = 14.83 @ 94.6 mph – now this pass has significance for her…
She raced a newer mustang on this pass. It was actually VERY cool to see how close it was throughout the whole 1,320 feet of track we covered. In the end, she beat the mustang. Here are his stats…yes I said HIS…
.443 reaction, 2.35 60’ = 15.12 @ 93.8 mph
WooHoo! That’s my girl that just schooled you in a Dodge Truck! Can you tell I was a little excited for her!?! As was she… so much so that Sunday when we got up she said “Mom, I had a dream about racing last night…” she’s addicted! Till next time, keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile)!
Bumble Bee
Monday, September 10, 2007
Its genetic!
I'm super excited to share a fun and exciting moment that took place this weekend. As you all know I live and breathe drag racing! Well I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree (now)! My daughter had her first experience with drag racing Friday (9/7/07). My friend Jason asked if it was ok to let her run his truck, he was in the truck with her during the runs. I was very clear if anything happened, it would be his ass! :) Well, she did great and now understands the addiction that comes along with the quarter mile! ;) Here are her stats...
- 16.94 ET @ 81.4 mph (1.398 reaction & 2.60 60' time)
- 16.15 ET @ 84.4 mph (.358 reaction & 2.49 60' time)
- 16.38 ET @ 84.4 mph (.231 reaction & 2.75 60' time)
- 16.25 ET @ 84.3 mph (.390 reaction & 2.53 60' time)
- 16.03 ET @ 85.1 mph (.094 reaction & 2.53 60' time)
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
ET Summit Series @ Infineon Raceway
I'd like to take a moment to hand some well deserved "KUDOS" to the crew! The guys did good Monday (Labor Day)! We went to Infineon Raceway for the guys to compete in the ET Summit Series. I'm very proud to announce that although they did not bring home the Wally, they did one hell of a job! Phil Nasca made it to the semi's taking a loss to Michael O'Neil, while Eddy Palmer had the by run. Then it came down to Eddy and Michael in the final round, due to unexpected challenges with the bike and breaking the tire loose all day, Michael walked away with the Wally! Congratulations Michael!
The crew did great! You both should be very proud of yourselves!
Till next time...keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and be safe!
Bumble Bee
The crew did great! You both should be very proud of yourselves!
Till next time...keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and be safe!
Bumble Bee
Monday, August 20, 2007
An 8 is in sight...
Wow, what a FABULOUS Friday (8.17.07)!
I got to run on Friday night and we ran fairly consistent and produced some really good numbers! :)
Before I post stats, let me remind you the best I ran last time (8.3.07) was 9.72 @ 146 mph...
I got to run on Friday night and we ran fairly consistent and produced some really good numbers! :)
Before I post stats, let me remind you the best I ran last time (8.3.07) was 9.72 @ 146 mph...
- 9.50 @ 148.2 mph with a 1.68 (60') and a beautiful .031 reaction
- 9.29 @ 149.1 mph with a 1.61 (60') and an ugly .238 reaction (I might have been cat napping here...hee hee)
- 9.46 @ 147.4 mph with a 1.60 (60') and a ick .160 reaction (I got out of the groove on this run and had to do a little riding and still ended up running in the 9's)
- 9.27 @ 147.0 mph with a 1.49 (60') and a decent .066 reaction
Two VERY IMPORTANT things to point out. Pass #2 produced the best mph this bike has ever run and pass #4 produced the best E.T. this bike has ever run. Both of which are my personal bests (to-date). We ran into a minor complication on the 4th pass and honestly feel if we had not encountered the complication we would have seen a high 8 second pass.
I was able to get all my license passes done and now I just gotta come up with the $168 to pay for it! :) hee hee
I can't wait till next time! Thanks for all the support, until next time keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile)!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Finally in the 9's...
So the whole intent Friday night was to get into the 9's and well I finally made it! I don't have any pictures to share but I am pretty proud of the stats. Let me preface this by saying I've already ran the best MPH that Eddy's bike has run and I'm knocking on the door of his best ET. As always HUGE thanks to the Palmer family for allowing me to do what I do! Thanks Paula for making the bump for the seat that really was a huge help (at least comfort wise) and for taking video. I continue to learn something on every pass and it continues to feel better and better each time! Also HUGE thanks to my friend Jason and he knows why! You've been a big part of this too! So without further adue here are the stats:
First pass: 9.98 @ 147.6 mph with a 1.91 60' (not a bad way to start the night considering the best I did before was a 10.33)
Next pass: 10.52 @ 143.3 mph with a 1.66 60' (started getting a little more aggressive with the clutch but the tire spun)
Next pass: 17.14 @ 62.1 mph with a 1.50 60' (again more aggressive but this time I had major issue finding the air shifter button)
Next pass: 9.72 @ 146.3 mph with a 1.79 60' (NOW that's what I'm talking about!)
Last pass: 11.73 @ 82.6mph with a 1.53 60' (Eddy asked me to run a 1/2 pass)... this would have been a great pass had I stayed in it! Next time...
On the very first pass, it was actually very comical as I figured the pass was a low 10 perhaps close to the 10.33 I ran last time. So I wasn't expecting much...as I entered our pit Eddy looks at me and says "you haven't looked at your time slip have you"...to say the least I was excited! Let's just say there was some screaming involved! :) hee hee (like I said very comical)!
I am also at the point now that I have to get my NHRA license, since I have every intention of continueing to run in the 9's and hopefully the 8's. Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement! Thank you again to the Palmer Family!
We are very excited about the progress we've made and look forward to a "quick" future! ;)
On the homefront: My daughter came home from her summer vacation with her brother and father! What a FANTASTIC topper to an already exciting weekend! I LOVE my kids more then anything (yes, including racing) and I am so happy to have her back home!
Keep the rubber side down (for awhile) and be safe out there!
First pass: 9.98 @ 147.6 mph with a 1.91 60' (not a bad way to start the night considering the best I did before was a 10.33)
Next pass: 10.52 @ 143.3 mph with a 1.66 60' (started getting a little more aggressive with the clutch but the tire spun)
Next pass: 17.14 @ 62.1 mph with a 1.50 60' (again more aggressive but this time I had major issue finding the air shifter button)
Next pass: 9.72 @ 146.3 mph with a 1.79 60' (NOW that's what I'm talking about!)
Last pass: 11.73 @ 82.6mph with a 1.53 60' (Eddy asked me to run a 1/2 pass)... this would have been a great pass had I stayed in it! Next time...
On the very first pass, it was actually very comical as I figured the pass was a low 10 perhaps close to the 10.33 I ran last time. So I wasn't expecting much...as I entered our pit Eddy looks at me and says "you haven't looked at your time slip have you"...to say the least I was excited! Let's just say there was some screaming involved! :) hee hee (like I said very comical)!
I am also at the point now that I have to get my NHRA license, since I have every intention of continueing to run in the 9's and hopefully the 8's. Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement! Thank you again to the Palmer Family!
We are very excited about the progress we've made and look forward to a "quick" future! ;)
On the homefront: My daughter came home from her summer vacation with her brother and father! What a FANTASTIC topper to an already exciting weekend! I LOVE my kids more then anything (yes, including racing) and I am so happy to have her back home!
Keep the rubber side down (for awhile) and be safe out there!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
NHRA Autolite Nationals 2007
What a fantastic friday, it turned out to be! I got to hang out with a good friend of mine, Jason! He's a super sweet guy and available ladies! ;) Sorry I don't have any pics of him... (I'll have to work on that!)
This is the one time a year that I absolutely refuse to miss! I watch drag racing religiously and one time a year I really get to be in the thick of it, I get to see and meet a good percentage of the drivers/racers. This year I did not sit in the same section as I have in years past (that won't happen again), so unfortunately I did not get very many pictures. However, I did get a chance to really have some good race & bike discussion with Karen Stoffer (sponsored by Geico) & Matt Guidera (sponsored by Mohegan Sun & Rocklin Harley Davidson). I met Scott Lewis and got to see Peggy Llewellynn run her career best. It was a fantastic weekend!
Here are a few pics from the day!
Me and Ashley Force!
Ashley's Top Fuel Car
John Force's Top Fuel Car
Go Angelle, Go!
Go Matt, Go!
All in all, it was as always a fantastic day! The weather was beautiful and the fans were so excited to see all the action! Can't wait till next year...
Monday, July 23, 2007
7/20-7/21/07 - Making progress!
First let me say HUGE THANKS to Eddy Palmer for teaching me how to ride his bike and allowing me to do what I do with patience and confidence! THANK YOU!
Friday, July 20th
Unfortunately, I do not have any photos to share with y'all this time, but I do have some good stats!
Friday night I got to run (Thank You, Eddy). I had a very good time and I'm learning more and more everytime I get on. There was a very nice couple at the track from Arkansas, the husband (young guy) who was also learning how to ride a dragbike. Much like me, he started on a streetbike and ventured his luck on a dragbike (courtesy of Mark Rissling). I really didn't get to watch too many of his runs, but from what I heard he got into the 9's. VERY COOL! :) I also heard he got a little loose on his last pass... ;)
The night started out good, my friend Jason introduced me to Matt Guidera (he rides a Prostock Bike sponsored by Mohegan Sun Buell) who happen to be doing a little testing @ his home track. Very nice guy, but he is much shorter then I thought. ;) LOL... you know I mean no harm, Matt. I got to talk to him and his crew about racing which was cool. Unfortunately, he did not really get to test all that much as he was having an "engineering problem"! ;) Hopefully, I'll get a chance to chat with him again at NHRA on Friday!
So on to my runs... I made 4 passes Friday night. As usual my first pass was decent:
I hope to be back at the track soon!
Friday, July 20th
Unfortunately, I do not have any photos to share with y'all this time, but I do have some good stats!
Friday night I got to run (Thank You, Eddy). I had a very good time and I'm learning more and more everytime I get on. There was a very nice couple at the track from Arkansas, the husband (young guy) who was also learning how to ride a dragbike. Much like me, he started on a streetbike and ventured his luck on a dragbike (courtesy of Mark Rissling). I really didn't get to watch too many of his runs, but from what I heard he got into the 9's. VERY COOL! :) I also heard he got a little loose on his last pass... ;)
The night started out good, my friend Jason introduced me to Matt Guidera (he rides a Prostock Bike sponsored by Mohegan Sun Buell) who happen to be doing a little testing @ his home track. Very nice guy, but he is much shorter then I thought. ;) LOL... you know I mean no harm, Matt. I got to talk to him and his crew about racing which was cool. Unfortunately, he did not really get to test all that much as he was having an "engineering problem"! ;) Hopefully, I'll get a chance to chat with him again at NHRA on Friday!
So on to my runs... I made 4 passes Friday night. As usual my first pass was decent:
- 11.27 @ 131.4 mph with 2.11 60' and .350 reaction
- 12.06 @ 120.3 mph with 2.00 60' and .282 reaction (this one my foot hit the shift lever and I couldn't find the air shifter button)
- 11.24 @ 133.2 mph with 2.02 60' time and .186 reaction
- 11.06 @ 130.4 mph with 1.79 60' time and .663 reaction
So overall, I am very pleased with my runs. As I stated earlier, I keep learning so much about what different things feel like on this bike and what I need to do or not do. I'm very excited about the progress I've made.
Saturday, July 21st
Grudge Fest! I inquired if Eddy wanted to run on Saturday and to my pleasant surprise he said sure. SWEET, I'm stoked!!! Grudge Fest starts at 6pm and there wasn't a large # of cars out and we were the only bike, except for my friend Dan (who was playin around). So I'm bound and determined to get some better numbers today. I know I can do this. I get all suited up and I'm ready to go... So we get up there do our burnout and prep to run:- 10.33 @ 144.0 mph with 1.76 60' and .301 reaction (WOOHOO, I'm freakin' stoked... this is my personal best E.T. & MPH)
- 12.22 @ 134.6 mph with 2.11 60' and 1.24 reaction (tried something new and it didn't all work out, but I learned)
- 11.05 @ 141.2 mph with 1.97 60' and .537 reaction
- 11.08 @ 129.9 mph with 2.37 60' and .086 reaction (I was much more aggressive on the clutch but still managed to grab it again...dang it!)
- 10.84 @ 140.6 mph with 1.93 60' and .303 reaction (Again, more aggressive - only this time it was with the throttle)
- 11.55 @ 135.1 mph with 1.49 60' and .121 reaction (WOOHOO, again I'm stoked...my personal best 60' time) [This run was actually on the rev limiter (just a tad) and I finally dropped the clutch]
- 11.31 @ 136.4 mph with 1.77 60' and .259 reaction
So at this point I am elated and if you could have only seen me jumping around after my 10.33 run... it was very comedic! ;) Nonetheless, I was not consistent in the 10's nor did I hit the 9's but I did learn a great deal and feel I'm better prepared moving forward to achieve those numbers soon!
In addition, to me running my personal best this night, the bike shared in that victory. The pass that achieved the 144mph is the best mph the bike has achieved to date. I hope to lay down a better number as I get more comfortable out there, but recognize that number isn't going to change too much. :)
I'll be attending the NHRA Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, CA on Friday, July 27th. I'll try to post some pics and highlights from the day upon my return.I hope to be back at the track soon!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday Drags
So in my completely bias opinion there truly is nothing that compares to drag racing... I decided to go out to Wednesday Night Drags @ Sacramento Raceway! I had not been in awhile and have heard that there has been a fairly good turnout of bikes. So I went to investigate... (ok not really I just wanted to go) :)
It was a good turnout, too bad we can't get that at our events. I need to figure something out to help promote our events and get a bigger/better bike turnout. No offense to you car people, but frankly I'm a tad more focused on the bikes... So with that said, its always interesting to go out to the track on days when the newbies come out with ego's in tow! Now let me preface this by saying, KUDOS to all for bringing it to the track vs. taking the risk on the street. However, lets follow some simple yet effective track etiquette:
- Wait your turn
- If your prompted to enter a lane (water box or not) - don't be scared thats what your there for...
- DON'T begin your burnout until prompted
- Roll your windows up (car people) - windows down eqauls drag which equals bad ET (and no one cares what your stereo sounds like!)
- When staging, roll into the beam until you see both amber lights lite up... if you deep stage go further until only the bottom amber is lit.
- When your light turns GREEN, you should already be gone... it don't get any greener
- IF something goes wrong with your vehicle during your run, PLEASE pull to the outside of the lane (as far as possible)... no one else wants to wait to run because your a dumb ass.
- Thank you!
Now on to bigger and better things... the girlz did great last night and I am always stoked to see any girl out having fun on the track (car or bike)! No offense guys but your a dime a dozen! ;) So with that said... here's Stacy on her GSXR 750. She is running in the high 10's and has knowlingly figured out what works for her off the line! I personally think she'd have a blast with an air shifter.
Here is Alicia of GoMoto, both her and her husband Ira race. His bike is currently "not feeling well"... so he did not race this night, but he was there in support! :) Good job, Ira!
What a great night of racing! I left before the end of the final run, so I am not sure who won last night (if anyone would like to volunteer that info, I'll post it)! Overall, it was a great night of good racing, great company and a beautiful weather!!!
I LOVE DRAG RACING... I think you've all heard me say that a time or two! I love anything that has to do with motorcycles (streetbikes specifically) and I am always looking for ways to promote safe riding and racing! To get people involved! There is such a stigmata about riders and it really is about educating ourselves and the public. We are not a bad group of people, in fact I've never found a tighter community of people, but that is not to say there are not those out there that abuse the very foundation we try to maintain. I love that anyone wants to ride, but please do it responsibly!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Back @ the Track...
After a very long absence (at least it feels like it), I've finally made my way back to the track. Only this time I'm not racing a streetbike... this time I'm taking the next step and racing a dragbike. Which is the next step in my long term goals to go ProStock. So here is a few pics of the bike that I am now jockeying (is that a word???) :) hee hee!
I'm so excited and want to take this time to give HUGE THANKS to the Palmer family for giving me the opportunity to ride. Here's me and Eddy talking about what things I need to be aware of... Also big thanks to my friend Tom for coming out to give some moral support too!
So its a tad different to go from a 636cc bike to a 1340cc bike! Some of the differences between what I have raced and what I am racing now... air shifter (what a FABULOUS invention, seriously I LOVE IT), wheelie bar, 1340cc motor, leave on the rev limiter, drop the clutch, no tach to gauge rpms... all of these things are tad different from what I'm used too (too say the least) but I'm super excited to see how far I can take it!
So here are the stats (let me preface these #'s by saying my 60' times were not so good):
1st run - 14.45 @ 105.4 mph (60' = 2.28)
2nd run - 13.44 @ 107.7 mph (60' = 2.11)
3rd & final run - 12.0 @ 119.8 mph (60' = 2.06)
Now keep in mind we opted to start out slow and I launched the bike like a streetbike. I feathered the clutch and attempted to find a comfortable rpm (again within reason since there is no tach). I spun the tire off the line on the second run and on had a hard time finding the air shifter button for the first two runs. On the 3rd run however, everything felt like it was coming together. I was able to find the button easier and hit most of my shift points. NOW I have to work on the reaction and 60' times. I'm not even going to list my reaction times...too embarrassing!
What a GREAT weekend! I hope to be back out there Friday and will hopefully have some more stats to post for you! The goal is to take this bike into the 8's which would me a major rush!
Keep the rubber side down (at least for awhile) and be safe out there!
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