TEAM SWUNK NEWS
Sunday Endurance
IT AIN'T WOOD, IT'S LUMBER!!
Sunday started out very early, with registration starting at 7 and then practice from 8:15 - 9. Some feared that it may rain, but the sky was just overcast and warm. What was supposed to be a 3 hour endurance was chopped down to 2 hours. Time restrictions on the track rental made it a 2 hour event. The Hornet decided the night before that he was going to be ready to race on Sunday to help Team Swunk bring home its first trophy since it's conception. The Razor agreed. With only 20 minutes for the Hornet to practice on the Razor's #20x machine, he looked quite comfortable and relaxed. The format was to have the minimum of 3 rider changes within the 2 hour span. As always, Ron (the organizer) has a sick twisted way of starting the endurance race. Last year, the starting riders had to run backwards across the track to there bikes. This year, it was the wheel barrel crawl about 15 feet to there bikes. The Razor was to start first. As the race started, the Razor jumped on his bike, bump started and started to take off. In the process almost got taken out by 2 others and then almost hit a stalled rider which in the process probably almost took out others by trying to avoid the stalled rider. (did any of you get that?) Anyways, it was a clean start. And let the fun begin. The endurance race is like a practice session, you are racing but because it is so long there is not a last lap so it seemed to be a much safer and fun race. Everyone was passing cleanly and having alot of fun. All but one. About 45 minutes into the race, one of the Sponsored riders went down in turn one. That is one of the fastest turns on the track. I don't think many knew he went down. But when everyone look down there, there was no movement from the rider. The race was stopped and everyone was again gridded on the starting line. Oh no. 20 riders again all fighting for the first turn. Sounds like a gong show. But, as the flag dropped and the race restarted, it was a clean break. Team Swunk was doing great, swapping spots with Team Do re mi for first and second. Team Swunk was down a couple of laps when a Team Do re mi rider (Tada) went down in corner 1. He remained there for awhile as the Razor passed him about 3 times before he got back to the pits to quickly fix the bike and change riders. At that point I knew Team Swunk was going to win the 80 stock class. Team Swunk made another change, and the Hornet lived up to expectations keeping the bike on 2 wheels and keeping pace. Now with about 1/2 hour left and the skies threatening rain, they made there last change. The Razor new he had it in the bag and was getting pit signals from the Hornet. Then with 15 minutes left, the skies started to open. The rain fell lightly at first, and all the Canadian riders slowed it down a notch. Since they new what rain does to a track. The Americans kept up the pace. Soon the rain fell harder and then too did the riders. The race was stopped but unbeknownst to the Razor who kept going as he had some one on his butt. He was almost taken out in turn 2, then as he approached turn 9 (the carousel) he decided to let the rider go ahead. Well, of course he was going to fast and the other rider wiped out. The Razor thought yes!! Then as he round the corner, WHAM he went down. As quickly as he got up he looked behind him and Louis ( Team Do re mi) who was chasing as well, he was down too. Then they all say the red flag. Phew! That was good cause riders were strewn all over the track at that point.
At the awards ceremonies, TEAM SWUNK finally did it!! They walked away with FIRST PLACE in the 80 STOCK CLASS. But that wasn't all, they also walked away with THIRD PLACE OVERALL for 50 CC Class. They beat all the 50 Mod bikes as well as Big Wheel 50's. The only 2 bikes ahead of them in that class were 2, 50CC Big Wheels. Great job guys.
I would like to thank all of our supporters for taking my advice and refraining from partying and hanky panky on Saturday nite to save your energy for Sunday and you did. But for our riders it was a different story. The secret to their success was to get drunk the nite before and then ride slightly hung so they would have no fear. Well, it worked and now the Hornet swears by it. Now, only if they could get a little of that Hanky Panky action who knows how far they could go!!!! Any takers????
Over and out. Great job guys and thanks again to all our fans and supporters. Maybe now some of you could throw some money their way to help further their racing careers. Or at least get the Razor a new set of leathers.