2008 WMRRA Round 3 Race Report – Kevin Klemmer

WMRRA Round 3 Race Report – Kevin Klemmer
PNWRiders Racing Team – WMRRA Round 3 Race Report – Kevin Klemmer

As I use my right hand typing this report, I am consistently reminded how the weekend went oh so wrong… But first the good stuff.

Friday’s Adrenaline Freaks Track Day was great! We all arrived around 7am to get the pits set up and start making adjustments to the bikes. We had a good representation of the team there; Chris Fratini (Rubber Ducky), Eric Anderson (Slow Eric), Eric Featherstone (Tuarusracing) and me of course (K2AK). We are all control riders for Mario of AF so we had our morning meeting received our schedules and got to work. Crack!

It was a little overcast, but none of the wet stuff, so it was all good. Several dozen laps and some minor adjustments helped me to 1:36:3s during the day. I had fun riding around with the Group 2 & 3 guys and gals and showing what little I know about the lines and safe laps.

Saturday was more of the same. Weather was okay at first then got great as the day progressed. Randy Bailey (PNW282) made it out with his brand new 07 GSXR750 all pimped out and ready to go. Capitan Chris Sarbora (Tophyr) made it later in the day but was racing at OMRRA, so was there for support. I had a few minor adjustments to make to the bike, including a rear sprocket swap and new Bridgestone BT002 DOTs. The previous set worked much better than I had expected and now I’m sold on them. Can’t wait to try out the 003s.

We had two practice sessions before the 600SS race and that gave me plenty of time to scrub in the new tires and check the new sprocket. Still a little off, but better.

I had lots of butterflies before the race. I try to think of it as just another practice session, but that just doesn’t ever seem to sink in. Out for the sighting lap and then to grid position 4-1 on the far left of the track. Another rider (not to be named) was in my spot and we had a couple of seconds trying to figure that out. The board went up, sideways, the red light cut and GO GO GO!!! I had a pretty good start and managed to stay out of harms way through the first few corners. Then it is just settling into the race rhythm and try to stay consistent throughout the laps. At lap 5 we had a RED flag and that ended the race. At first track control had us re-grid, then changed their minds and back to the pits I went. I’m having trouble offloading the video of the first race. As soon as I do, it will be up at www.VholdR.com, so stay tuned…

Next up the 750SS Race and the end of my weekend… I was stoked about turning a 1:34 in the 600SS race and thought I’d be able to do it again. I was gridded at 4-4 up against the far right wall. After the sighting lap, I got to my spot and hunkered down for the start. The race directors told all of us to kill our engines. Then start them back up. Then kill them again. Then start them back up. I’m trippin at this point. The directors run off the track which means “its on!” The board goes up, sideways, the red light cut and NOTHING!!! I stalled the bike! Crap! I’m thinking that I’m going to get hit hard by the second wave. My arm is up and waving and I’m freakin! The second wave all goes by, I get started and off I go. I’m thinking I’m pretty much done with the race at this point and I’m off for a nice Saturday ride around the track. BUT, I actually catch up to the back group and start passing them with relative ease. I know I’m not getting back to where I was, but I keep thinking that I might not get lapped at this pace. A few laps into it and I’m at the front of the back group and I can see more racers not too far in front of me. I can catch them… so I think. I got passed by Tyler #44 (?) from BC going into turn 2 and it is a nice pass, he gets out of the corner real good too. I’m following as best I can and think I can get back in front of him as we come up on turn 3. It seemed to me that he broke early and I can get him on the inside. So I get in faster than usual and both tires are sliding as I try to tip in the corner, I collide with him and take out my rear tire and his front. No chance to save it. Just down in a split second. That sucked! All is slow motion and I can feel my collarbone pop as I hit the ground HARD. I remember to bring my arms in and rag doll the rest of the way into the hillside. See the video at www.VholdR.com. We didn’t merit a red flag, so it was roll around and fell miserable and then watch the rest of the racing and try to not get hit if anyone else decided to go off track there.

A red flag did come out a few laps later (which seemed like forever) for a crash in turn 4. Turns out that our tea is very good at crashing and Randy Bailey had a big high-side there with another racer. The other guy lost consciousness, so out came the red flag. I didn’t find this out until they pick my dumb ass up and drove us down to turn 4 to pick up the rest of the bikes and there’s Randy walking around. Fratini was corner working in 4 so he comes over and it’s a team meeting all of a sudden.

One funny note. Fratini didn’t realize I was the broken collar bone guy and starts hitting my in the shoulder with the red flag making fun of my stupid crash… classic. Thanks Rubber Ducky!

Tyler (?), the guy I crashed with, had a pretty good strain to his knee, but was up in a few minutes walking and helping with his bike. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him after, but hope all is well and congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

I’m having surgery Wednesday to plate and pin my clavicle. My avatar is my clavicle. Doc says I’ll be able to back within 4 weeks. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks to the WMRRA staff for picking my crap up! Oh and if you find a black Vortex rearset in that corner, its mine and I want it back.

Thanks to my teammates, Chris, Chris, Eric, Eric, and Randy for helping pack up all my gear. And thanks to “Uncle Billy” for helping out. And to my wife Germaine for putting up with my craziness.