I only made one pass. My kill switch tether pulled off half way down the track, but even before that it was apparent that my mid range was fugged. I had raised the needle to its highest position to rich-en up up the mid range and it was obviously a mistake. I did have a surge of high end power, but I was shifting too soon. I promised myself that if the bike ran crappy, I was leaving early and I did. I wish there was at least one more drag night, but I will have to wait until next season. I think there is plenty I can do in the long cold winter which will be on us only too soon.
The highlight for me was that my nephews came out and raced their rat bikes; an old Magna and a CBR. The CBR was running 13s. Its a p.o.s. stripped down rat bike, but he still cracked off 13s at over a 100 mph. My nephews have hooked up with some other rat bike riders and its pretty cool to see them riding together. They look the biz (real bikers, not decorated in the latest Willy G. fashions). They were all hanging at my shop before we went out to the track, and I really enjoyed their company. I feel like kind of a mentor, which at my age is about all I can expect. Very cool to have young guys drooling on my iron, and twisting my ear about building bikes.
Bulldog, Kaziff and new member Daryl were there, and I finally met Ken a.k.a. FJ1200. I was especially pleased to see the younguns hanging with the olduns in the bleachers. The younguns also showed up at PAGARA to view the potential flat track venue.
Rome wasn't built in a day, and no one ever set a land speed record their first day at Bonneville. Its amazing the way us optimists rationalize failure. I was told the announcer who mercilessly made fun of me last time, this time only said I was "determined." I take my strokes where I can get 'em.
Peace & Grease, Dennis
