It all started Thursday at 1:30 a.m., I thought someone had thrown sand in my eyes as the alarm clock did its thing. Stumbled down the stairs and into the shower where I seriously considered bribing Alex into taking up ballet instead of racing. The hour and a half drive to the airport was uneventful and I sat around waiting for the check in kiosk to go active. We did the take of the shoes and belt thing at security and off to the gate we went. Boarding at 5 a.m., wait in the aisle while the fat guy three people up squeezes into his seat and the petite gal in front of him struggles to fit her bag in the overhead compartment. Why do I always have to sit next to the stinky guy with sandals, never a pretty girl. With all the traveling this year, never have I sat next to a pretty girl, oh well. Stop in Atlanta with all its organized confusion, take a train to the next gate, wait then on to Kansas City. Take a bus to the car rental facility where I tell the lady at Avis my name and reservation number. I tell her "I am taking the cheapest car without coverage and I do not want to purchase any gas". She says "yes sir", then tries to upgrade me to a larger vehicle with damage protection and a prepaid tank of gas. Out to the car, walk around, document damage and out the gate I go, finally on the way to Topeka.
I arrive at Heartland Park at 10:30 a.m. . Alex comes zipping out to the gate on the scooter and enthusiastically slides in the gravel and smiles. Credentials and parking permit in hand, into the track we go. Entering the track always reminds me of the movie Gladiator, let the games begin.
I get to the paddock spot and start my routine of picking up and organizing the trailer and equipment. Alex has the bikes out and the canopy up. He has already had a session on the track and is happy with how the bike is feeling and his times so far. Next session on the track the sliding started as it seems to every round, we change settings, get advice, change tires and always end up confused and apprehensive about the next morning.
Up at 4 a.m. to get a better game face on and finish prepping the bikes. Both bikes ready, body work hung and painted, lets go to work. We continue to tune and adjust throughout the morning. Sometime after lunch Alex wrecks, rider not hurt and we continue with the other bike while fixing the wrecked one. Qualifying for Daytona Sportbike goes well and we finish the day at the Golden Coral.
Saturday starts at 4 a.m. , qualifying and a race today. Supersport qualifying goes ok. Daytona Sportbike race gets redflagged after 2 laps. On the restart 2 riders fall in front of Alex on the warm-up lap and he runs into 1 of them. He gets up and keeps going then wrecks about 6 turns later. That's one way to get time on Speed Channel. More repair work, the night ends very late.
Sunday, 4 a.m., get to the track and setup. Double check all the repair work from few hours ago. Warm up session, new tires, oil change on bikes and ready to race. Bike on the grid early and then the "fan walk". Lots of pictures of the bike and questions about "The Regulars". Someone told us that "grunts and tankers" don't get along. Daytona Sportbike and Supersport races were the best of the season for us. Alex worked hard and fought the whole way. The races were back to back so he jumped off one bike onto the other and went. Finishes were 25th and 9th, raced forward from qualifying in both classes.
Monday 1:30 a.m., well up and out, off to Kansas City Airport. Return the car at Avis, plane to Atlanta then Greensboro then to the office for afternoon hours. Next round, VIR. Go Army!