Wow, where to start my reflection on this past year. This was my first expert year, I exceeded all the goals I set out for myself, and so much more.
First I want to thank everyone who in one way or another helped me this year. There are so many individuals who were there for my questions, lent, or offered parts, tires, mechanical help, mental help, race craft help, cooking help, ToR help, etc. It was an amazing first year for me. Thank you to each and everyone of you!
Ok, so per the usual, I was out there with CTT before the race weekend. When I showed up Friday morning it was friggin cold. I was freezing setting up the pits, and staging everything for our pit area. Fortunately, my team mates were there to help. Once everything was setup, I got the bike ready. It was cold, the ground was 47F or so, and ambient wasn't much more (it was really foggy most of the morning). I set my pressures, and put the warmers on the bike. I wanted them toasty for when I went out for my first session.
I passed on the first session of the day, it was just to cold, and still a little damp from dew. By the second session there was a clear dry line on the front straight through the infield, but the back straight seemed and looked to stay damp. I went out and just started working on stuff (mostly braking into T1 and T7). The session ended with my blood pumping and warmth being re-introduced to my body. The third session the track was more or less dry and the fog was burning off nicely. This opened up one of the best track days this year (big thanks to Tyson for running a great program this year!!). There was a light showing today, so lots of open track for everyone. I worked on my two corners, and finally dropped consistently back into the 19s for the first time since June (I'm guessing here, but it’s been awhile). Cierra and Rowan showed up early afternoon and I was able to show off our new baby for a bit. Can’t even begin to describe the sense of accomplishment that has come over me from seeing his birth, to now holding him and seeing him look back at me. Wow, who knew this existed!
The day ended and I was completely beat from riding. We stowed our pit area and setup air fence for Sat, then heading home for some much needed rest.
Saturday came. I don't usually ride practice since I run CTT on Fridays, so I was just there to help my team mates, and pit mates with practice, and then to help with ToR. Everyone felt really strong in practice. It was shaping up to be a great weekend! Lunch time came, and with it comes ToR! This being our last weekend for this event, we were expecting lots of people. I think Saturday’s weather may have scared some off. We ended up with I think 17 riders. ToR ended and everyone was all smiles after being on the track for 20 minutes and no one falling down. Another exceptionally executed ToR. After ToR it was time for the endurance race. Brian Schilt was running in the endurance race with Lindsey, so I wanted to stick around to watch, and see if there was anything I could do for them.
Sunday came, and it wasn't as cold as the previous days. It was actually a pretty nice fall morning. I wanted to get some practice in to ensure I was sharp for my races. I set my pressures, warmers were on, and I waited for the call. I went out and turned some hot laps till the flag came out. Next practice came, and I went out on a mission. I was feeling really strong, the bike for some strange reason was pulling people it never pulled before on the straights. I was able to drop into the 18s this session, my fastest since June or so. Practice is done, its time to prepare for racing. I try and get my head into it. I'm feeling pretty good, my bike is running great for some reason, and I’m ready to push hard.
Middleweight Supersport - 8th (back into the 1:17s!)
My biggest problem with racing to date is my starts. I just do not start well. I need to do some drag night and just work on it. I feel if I fix this, it will make a huge difference in my scoring. Ok, we are on the grid, the flag comes up and drops, I kill it (WTF!), I get it started and get moving, last into T1, this is just silly and I’m screaming into my helmet in hopes that it will some how fix the problem, it doesn't, but Mr. McDonough does for me. Sorry you crashed, I was bike two behind ya with Brian Schilt on my left, he checked up and probably came pretty close to you. The red flag came out and we were back on the grid for another start. This time I did a little better, but damn, Schilt is a master at starts, he flew by me and the row in front of me before my brain said "turn the throttle stupid". Well we enter T1 and I am on a mission to stay as close to the guys in front of me as possible. I pass some people in T1/T2, then around T3, and I believe into T4, before we settled in. I could still see Suitor, Wallway, and I think Bothe up ahead so I kept my head down and finally started playing with them. I finally got by Suitor, then he would get me back, we went back and forth for a few laps, then he got by me and I couldn't get him back by the end of the race. It was one of my best races to date, I felt like I was riding more aggressively, and smart. I battled with Steve Suitor for the second half and that helped push me into the 17s again. I was running 17s in the beginning of the year, and just now, at the last race weekend, get back to them. Hopefully I can continue where I left off next year.
Thanks a ton Steve, that was fun!
Lunch time means ToR! Today we had a huge turnout for ToR, I think the final count was something like 29 riders. Wow! There were a few mishaps, two guys rode off track and kept it up, one guy fell down in T4, but was able to get his bike up, and off track so we could keep going (thanks!), then was able to ride it back into the pits, so it wasn’t in to bad of shape. ToR ended with everyone getting 20 minutes of awesome track time. Thanks everyone who came out and participated in ToR this year!
Ok, back to racing.
450 Superbike - 9th
My biggest concern in this race was my start. I can't afford to stall on the starts, so I really concentrate on not killing the bike, maybe too much, sure I don’t kill it, but my start sucks balls. Ok, into T1, maybe not last, but damn close. I get by some people through the infield, and settle in. About half way, I didn’t see any wheels poking up either side down the straights (now bare in mind, I’m a 250 pounder on an SV, I am a big wall going down the front straights, 160s can draft past me), so I take a quick look behind me and see Matt Gougler behind me a good distance, so I "think" I am pretty much alone. The next lap, out of no where comes Brian "I'm going to smoke ya" Mo right past me down the front straight. The first thought was where the hell did he come from? and the second was, wait, I have work to do, race on! For the next couple laps we traded positions, then on the white flag still behind him, he took an inside blocking line through T4, and I hung late and drove into the corner hard, I got about half a bike length past him, grabbed 3rd gear and hit a false neutral, he flies past me into T5 and I get it into gear and drive after him. Into T7/T8 cant get him there, push really hard on my drive out of T9, but just can't get him. Nice race Brian! You kicked ass!
Middleweight Superbike - 11th
This race was going to be one of those I wished I could watch as a spectator. We had Alan Schmidt and Steve Suitor racing with us. I finally got an ok start where most didn't just leave me in the dust into T1. I see Alan shoot past me before the corner, I didn't see him again. I raced around the infield, doing my normal passing, and settled into the race. At the half way mark I checked to see if anyone was behind me, I couldn't see anyone close enough to worry about. In front of me was Wallway, I just kept pressing to try and catch him. I just wasn't gaining any ground on him, and finished in 11th.
This ends our 2008 season, and what a season it’s been. OMRRA is a great organization, one I am proud to be part of. I was elected as the Rider Rep for 2009, and with the new board, hope we can continue the legacy that has been laid before us. This year also brought a new little guy into my life. Rowan Noah Miller was born September 29th. Cierra and I got married on the 28th of September. Wow, this will be one of those years I look back on for a long long time and just smile.
I want to thank everyone who helps make this sport happen for us. OMRRA and all the volunteers, you guys rock! To my sponsors; Eric, thank you! You and your shops help has been huge! Barry, your suspension work and tuning have been spot on for a big rider like me on a flexible bike like the SV, and your Dunlop tires worked flawlessly. Tyson, your trackday support has been huge, and has helped me hone my skills, and allowed be to become a much better rider! Thank you all!! To all my other sponsors, thank you so much, without your support, I would not be able to do this sport!
To my team mates (Dark Horse Racing – Git Sum!), and pit mates, thank you all! We have really turned a bunch of track day / street riders into full on club racers with everything we want from a team, and pit. No drama, no issues, everyone helping in one way or another where they can. I would not change anything. Thank you all again, you all are awesome! Now everyone hug and kiss Do.
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank my wonderful wife Cierra for being there for me all season. You were out there throughout your pregnancy, helping where ever you could, you rock honey, and I love you!
Thank you all!
