2008 GRANDS.
The race came and went so fast I can hardly believe it’s done. It all started at 4am when I woke up and headed out on the half hour trip, with my girlfriend Kristi, to Rick Lehman's house. Rick had rented a sixteen passenger van and packed it to the top with GHP product and nine race bikes. He taken out the two rear bench seats and slammed the third row all the way up against the second row. When Rick packs a van he means business. We all piled in at 5am. Rick, his wife Crystle, daughter Alexis, son Austin, local kid Connor McIntyre and myself. Crystle was kind enough to give me shot gun for the whole ride there. I said my good bye to Kristi and we all headed off.
Less than a mile into the trip we all noticed a vibration coming from the rear of the vehicle. Rick, looking at me, asked what I thought it could be. I had a bad feeling. It was either a tire was out of balance or the cords were separating. We drove to Flagstaff where we stopped for gas and I inspected the tire. Confirming the worse, the left rear tire was separating. Nothing was opened yet, so we headed out. I called up Wall Mart in Winslow and set up a tire change. We pulled in ran a muck in the store, sang a little song, and got out as soon as we could. Hour and a half wasted.
The rest of the trip there was quiet and uneventful. Besides the car following us needing to pull over every thirty minutes. We stopped in Oklahoma City for the night and rolled into the arena at about nine Wednesday morning. We unloaded the van into the pit area and waited for Gary Oie from Staats Challenge to roll in with most of our pit stuff. Team manager Matt Zito had Gary bring the boards, some display/product and a couple of bikes. We set up the pits and rolled out to the ABA Hall Of Fame and Golden Crank Award Banquet.
GHP was up for bike of the year and team of the year. With just one year under its belt, to be in the top five in both categories of the Golden Crank Award is a fete in itself. I got to see Brian Lopes inducted into the Hall Of Fame and Silver Medalist Mike Day win for pro pf the year.
Thursday morning rolled around and Rick's daughter was the first to practice with Rick then myself to follow. By this time Factory rider Johny Little and adopted racer Josh Shipp had both flew into town. My first impressions riding the track were that the turns were rougher than usual. In talking to Billy Allen he said the ABA has to buy more dirt for the size of this years track and it was kind of dry. This caused the dirt to clump up easy and hard to lay down smooth. I snuck into the older cruiser practice that ran before mine for a couple extra laps. By time my practice came up the sun was piercing though the arenas windows blinding all the riders down the first straight. I made my first attempt at the big step out of the first turn. You needed a little more air than I expected. Still cleared it though. The next jump was built so perfect. A double to another Double and both were very jumpable. It was so much fun I spent the last part of the after noon practice cutting the track onto the first straight and running the second straight. The third straight rhythm left a lot to be desired. It was choppy and rough. The ABA filled some of it in Wednesday night because they said it was too deep. Not sure if that made it better or worse. Jimmy Manroe said I should jump the two doubles down the last straight. I thought about it and felt it wasn't going to be worth it in my class. So practice ended and we went back to the hotel.
Friday, the Race of Champions, I had 23 riders, qualifying 2-2 to semis. First round, one word, embarrassing. I was coming out of gate 7 and was thinking way too much about the guy in gate 8. A sling hotter. All I wanted to do was beat him out and cut him off. Don't know why or what I was thinking. We were on the outside, it didn't matter. The gate dropped and over the first jump I got sideways and came unclipped. Kept the bike under control and was clipped back in by the next jump. I started to pour on the gas and had a good second straight. In the rythm I "bonked" just about every roller. By the time I was near the end of the section my left elbow felt like it was going to explode so I assessed the situation and shut down. First and second where at the finish line so I thought I would save it for the next round. Now usually at a national I would not shut down under any circumstances, but being that far back and almost crashing twice I had to get my head straight. I felt so embarrassed I had to go and just sit in the stands and think. I didn't want to talk to anyone. Eventually second round came around. I sat in the staging area and tried to remember what Greg had told me. "Don't think of winning the race. Just take it one lap at a time. Qualifiers to Semis and Semis to the Main" and that’s what I did. With the 2007 NAG 2 rider on my right I snapped him out and shut him down the first straight. Holding second place the whole race. I was so relieved. Semis came around. Needing to take at least 4th I finished first. I thought Ok, I made the main event, hard part is over. In the main I had gate 1. Couldn’t ask for a better one. Gate dropped and I was asleep. Came out so late. Second straight I passed 2 riders for 5th overall. One race down, one to go.
Saturday morning, I got to the track and checked my moto. We jumped to 28 riders, which means they only take 1-1-1 to a semi. 5 groups going down to 2. I kind of felt bad for the new guys. When you race cruiser there are a lot of new guys and dad's that are novice on the 20 inch side. Here they run against Expert riders. Oh well. It was time for breakfast. I took Johnny Little and Josh to a cafe Mark Mankie took me to the first year I was there. The food is awesome and the waitresses are fun to pall around with. After rivaling Johnny's breakfast I was ready to puke. Way too much food, especially before a race, but it’s so good. Rick called and had us run to McDonalds on the way back. All three of us were looking for a bathroom for the morning business but they were being attended 2. I thought we were around moto 230 but it was actually 213. Heading down the ramp to the staging area my moto was behind the gate. Luckily a rider was down stalling the racing. Got up there and was looking for Johnny. He just made it. Gate dropped and so did all that food. Took fourth. Get'm next time. Second moto came around and the best I could do was 3. This didn't look good. I knew I had one more chance. One more chance to come that much closer to my NAG plate.
That night we were looking for Todd Perry to see if he was taking Mike Larson to Pro warm-up in the morning. Josh Johnny and I were in the lobby and didn't want to stay in the hotel the whole night. Josh found a bar names Kilkelly's, I think, just down the road. The three of us took the shuttle. Getting there we found a couple seats at the bar. There was an Oklahoma U verse Oklahoma State football game on. Josh being the character he is started rooting against anyone he could. It was great. This 6 foot something "Grape Ape" stirring up you knows what. Nothing really happened but I'm sure a few people were a little peeved. We left after an hour and 2 drinks each. Just enough to put me to sleep. But wait Josh is hungry. When you’re as big as Josh and Johnny you eat all the time. At 10'30 I'm trying to sleep and josh is making a BP and J while they both watch TV. So much for sleeping early.
Sunday rolled in. The last day, last chance to show yourself you do belong there. I had one guy to worry about. He's from Mexico and for some reason is kind of quick. I had the inside lane though. Gate dropped and I got down the first straight. Jumping the big step out of the first turn I got sideways and locked up. Thought I was going down for certain. This caused me to loose some speed so I had to boost the second set. Pedaled into the second turn and the came in on the inside and tried to hit me. I kind of expected it. Pedaled through it giving me a slight advantage. Down the rhythm section that I couldn't get right all weekend. Into the last turn I'm thinking pedal, if he hits you don't give, just pedal. Sure enough he hit me pretty good. I took most of it but faded up the turn just enough to grab and few pedals and accell around him. Looking down the last straight the only thing I thought about was not giving him any room to come inside so I went straight to the soft dirt separating the decision maker. Crossed the finish line first. Let out a big sigh of relief. I made it, I'm in the semi, O.k. relax, Get some water and food and prepare for the next round.
The semi motos where posted. I in the infield was watching the Quarter finals. A few people had come up to me and asked me what semi I had. "Don't know I replied. Don't care." I figured I would find out in good enough time. The quarters were over so I went to the boards and checked it. Shad hedges, Bubba McIntyre, Team mate Johnny Little, NAG 2 Jason Lindsay, and couple other. Gate 5, I love gate 5. One more, just one more. I had to get at least 4th to make the main. My moto came around and we loaded into the gate. Gate dropped; Think I got a decent gate. I was pinched a little down the first straight but I kept with it. Into the first turn I saw the opportunity. I slid under Lindsay and took his line, but on this track if you don't move over enough the rider can easily charge down the second straight and get it back, so I went all the way over. So far that when I came over the big step there was only enough room for my tire. Down the second straight and into the second turn. I was in fourth. All I had to do was keep it. Through the rest of the track I didn't see anyone near me. I did it. Crossing the finish line was the best feeling in the world. I sat there for a second a thought "I did it. I did what I came to do. I don't care what else happens, I have my NAG plate." I'll admit I wanted to cry. When you spend so much time in the sport you love, and fail three years previously to make the mains at the biggest race of the year it gets to you when it finally happens. I went to Tulsa just wanting to make the main on Sunday and get my plate. Jason Lindsay crossed the line a few second later. I turned to shake his hand but he just had few words to say as he rode by. Guess he didn't like me taking his line and keeping him out of the mains. I still wish him the best.
So there I sat, thinking of all the things Greg had told me over the past year. I finally felt that the training I was doing was starting to pay off. There comes a time when it finally just clicks. I know what I have to do between races. The sprints, the gym, the plyometrics, It all has to be done, and oh ya, there’s still one more round to go. The mains were posted, Gate 6. I was between the Daniel Campos on the left and Troy Krause on my right. Daniel is from Mexico, he’s been flying all weekend. Troy is from Wisconsin, good rider but I knew I could beat him out. The gate dropped and my timing was perfect. I came out before most everyone but as usual the second and third pedal just weren’t there. Through the first turn and down the second straight all’s I remember is coming over the second jump in the air and seeing Shad hedges and Freddy Chulo hit hard. I thought I was going down with them so I veered left just barely missing both of them but hitting Hedge’s bike. Luckily I was able to pedal through it and break free. Through the second turn and into the rhythm. I could hear my good friend Josh Shipp yelling. “Go Don go!” Forget manualing, just girly pump through it. Cross the finish in 4th. I was so happy. It was finally over. The hard work finally paid off.
I’ve learned what I have to do next year. I have a set point, so now it’s time to improve, to train the way I should and work harder. Someone once told me “Motivation will get you started. Dedication will keep you going.