a weekend in New Jersey...

A Fat Storm Trooper ?

On the way to New Jersey Saturday Morning, we stopped at Duncan Donuts, where Monkey had a Samuel L Jackson moment, while trying to pick up my bacon, egg and cheese bagel:

Monkey: Bacon, Egg, Cheese Bagel please. Standard Fare.
Dunkin' Donuts Guy:  Plain Bagel?
Monkey: No, Bacon, Egg Cheese Bagel.
Dunkin' Donuts Guy: Plain Bagel?
Monkey: No, a bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwich
Dunkin' Donuts Guy: Plain Bagel?
Monkey: On what planet do they speak Plain Bagel?
Dunkin' Donuts Guy: What?
Monkey: Say Plain Bagel again motherfucker. I dare you.

Dunkin' Donuts guy: Bacon, egg and cheese bagel coming up.

benny da jewlar

Beacon.
Beacon is one of my favorite races. The venue is so unique, the racing so fun and fast. I always look forward to what Wade and crew have in store for me. Cheers guys.

Beacon was a fun race. I locked in on Chris Long's wheel, and frankly planned to sit on him the entire race if I could. With 3 to go, I botched the run up the Amphitheater of Pain, and he gaped me. I'd never get back. Brad Ford and Chris Samuel were dangling just in front of me, but I couldn't seem to get across. Last 1/2 lap  Fryberger came out of the pit. He's stronger than me. I told him we could get those two guys. He drilled it and I hung onto his wheel for dear life. Up the Amphitheater of Pain we drew even. At the top, Kevin bobbled getting back on the bike, I let him know I was coming around on the right. Kevin put me in the tape. I would have done the same to him. We didn't catch the two, and I rolled in following Fryberger. We laughed about him putting me in the tape later...

Monkey had probably her best ride ever at Beacon. When you 5 feet tall the 2+ feet tall steps on each level on the Amphitheater are extra challenging. She ran it the best, and had a pretty epic battle with Jill Neuman, and she actually had to make her final move on the final run, to lock up the group. She was pretty stoked.

Saturday night we had dinner with Bad Kat, Bad Andy, Auer, and Breyla-la. We had Thai and sushi. It was very good.

Highland Park.

Highland park hates me. 5 years racing at the Jamesburgh venue, and 5 years of misery. The course has more elevation change than normally suits me, but it's also technical and a good drivers course should be right up my alley right?

I got a good start today, I was riding in the top 25, in with the group of guys I want to race with.  The front of the race was largely still together. I was sitting comfortably on Auer's wheel when I laid it down hard. On one of those dirt to road transfers, I took too tight of a line and was on the ground before I knew it. The race was quickly riding away from me.. Chris Samuels, total class act stopped to make sure I was okay, and made sure that the race behind me that was closing in, didn't run me over. I thank Chris, who sacrificed his race to check on me to get going.

I picked myself up, and started going again. There was a group of 10 or so hanging out in front of me. I couldn't get to them. Auer had some issues, and eventually came back to me with 3 to go.

Did you ever see the Speed Racer episode when Speed gets temporarily blinded and Racer X rides shotgun and gives him instructions the entire race? Along with my good start, apparently when I went down my bike handling skills went out the window too. Auer gave me instructions as I sat on his wheel and followed to the best of my ability. "accelerate out of this corner..." " stand up and power this section..." "rail the off camber..."

Clearly I wouldn't have had the effort I had without Racer X, I mean Auer driving me along.

Monkey struggled at the start a bit. When I cheered for her, she shook me off, and told me she just didn't have it today... Then about 2 laps into the race, something clicked, she started to move forward a bit, and drive her bike. She fought really hard the last laps. In the end she was ambivalent about her result, but was able to smile knowing she put in some good work, and that will pay dividends down the road. I was really proud of her effort, and how she fought back.

So I got a sweet raspberry on my leg and and ankle and feel a little beat up but really got off easy. thanks to Chris  and Kris for being a class acts. Halloween Observation: Kids much more patient this year, and only taking one piece of candy. This versus last year when kids would take heaping handfuls of candy without asking... respect. fatmarc