RGN Round 1 Atwater TT
Sunday, May 3rd 2009
Sunny, 50 degrees and getting warmer. I decided to head up to Atwater, WI for the TT race
and give the RGN series a try this year. I've seen these guys and gals at events last year
and they looked like a great group. The idea of "Run what you brung" is right up my ally.
The track was about 60 miles from home and the ride was great. Spring was finally here in WI.
One of my good riding buddies, Bill, was down from Neillsville for the weekend. He would be
helping me in the pits and capture the horror on his camera. Around 9:30 we find the track
tucked away in among cornfields and trees. I pay my admission fee and the guy asks if I
came to race. I smiled and said "Yes". He kind of laughed and shook his head, not unlike
other times I've raced my bike. I think 90% of the time these guys think I'm pulling there leg.
After all, I did ride in on my KTM 950 Adventure with side luggage full of gear, huge 13 gallon
fuel tanks and crash bars. Looking more like I just got back from Alaska.
I've never been to this track and find out they were starting there 50th year of racing.
Beautiful place packed full of race trailers, vans, and even a hearse pulling a trailer full of
race bikes. Small river winding around the back of the pits with large trees to offer shade
from the cloud free sky.
We found the RGN gang and starting prepping the bike for practice. With help from Dave we
pulled mirrors, taped up head and tail lights, blinkers, and put on some race numbers. (41)
Dave was a huge help getting me settled in and signed up, I'd be on a TT track for the first
time very soon when practice starts. John offered me a "real" race bike if I wanted to sign up
for another class, thanks, but I thought I'd make sure I could handle one class for my first time
out.
Lining up for practice I see who I thought was the ticket guy earlier doing flag duty. I think he
was a little shocked to see I was actually going to do this.
I survived practice, but was unsure, I'm a bit out of place and feel bad holding people up. I do
a lot of trail riding so if someone is faster I normally slow down and let them by. The gang
eased my nerves by telling me I'm here to race, if they are faster they'll get around me. Dave
gave me his second practice ticket that allowed be to go out for another 4 laps. I was much
more calm and got a better feel for this big bike on the track. Huge difference, in my head,
those few extra laps made. Thanks Dave.
We ended up with about 25 RGN racers, so the classes were split in to an "A" and "B" class.
I raced "B" with 12 others. We were split into two heats of 6. The big 950 got the holeshot in
my heat and tried my best to hold everyone off, 3rd lap I drove in to the 180 hairpin turn way
too hot and got passed on the inside. I kept pressure on the leader and in the same spot I
messed up he did the same. I passed on the inside for the checker flag. WOW, I won my
heat. This is fun. To celebrate I did a big wheelie leaving the track. Who would have
thought a 500lb bike could race too?
I had plenty of time in between to watch many of the very fast racers make it look so easy.
Hoping to pick up insight for my main. Out of the 2 winning heat races the fastest time gets
first pick of lane choice. That would be Charlette, a very talented young "girl" on a 150 Honda.
So first on the line is a 150 Honda, then me on a 950 KTM. About as big of a CC spread as
you can have. Not sure, but she must be less than 5' tall, I'm 6'4". I lined up on the outside a
few bikes spaces down as to give her room, and if I kick my bike sideways in a corner I would
most likely not even feel her if we ever hit. It's all for fun, no need for anyone to get hurt.
Engines reving and adrenaline flowing, the light goes green and I spin up and slide the back
tire sideways off the line. End up in 6 or 7th place in the first corner. I kept a pretty good
pace fighting my way up to 3rd place. Took 4th place overall out of 12 being beat by a Girl.
Afterwards, I removed the duct tape and got the bike ready for the road. Bill headed home for
a long 3 hr ride on his 950 ADV, next time maybe I'll get him to race. What a great Sunday
ride. 500lb dirt bikes can fly too. This should be a great season. Thanks for the help
everyone.
It was a pleasure meeting alot of new people, hope to see you at Round 2 in Elkhart Lake.
Craig
Sunny, 50 degrees and getting warmer. I decided to head up to Atwater, WI for the TT race
and give the RGN series a try this year. I've seen these guys and gals at events last year
and they looked like a great group. The idea of "Run what you brung" is right up my ally.
The track was about 60 miles from home and the ride was great. Spring was finally here in WI.
One of my good riding buddies, Bill, was down from Neillsville for the weekend. He would be
helping me in the pits and capture the horror on his camera. Around 9:30 we find the track
tucked away in among cornfields and trees. I pay my admission fee and the guy asks if I
came to race. I smiled and said "Yes". He kind of laughed and shook his head, not unlike
other times I've raced my bike. I think 90% of the time these guys think I'm pulling there leg.
After all, I did ride in on my KTM 950 Adventure with side luggage full of gear, huge 13 gallon
fuel tanks and crash bars. Looking more like I just got back from Alaska.
I've never been to this track and find out they were starting there 50th year of racing.
Beautiful place packed full of race trailers, vans, and even a hearse pulling a trailer full of
race bikes. Small river winding around the back of the pits with large trees to offer shade
from the cloud free sky.
We found the RGN gang and starting prepping the bike for practice. With help from Dave we
pulled mirrors, taped up head and tail lights, blinkers, and put on some race numbers. (41)
Dave was a huge help getting me settled in and signed up, I'd be on a TT track for the first
time very soon when practice starts. John offered me a "real" race bike if I wanted to sign up
for another class, thanks, but I thought I'd make sure I could handle one class for my first time
out.
Lining up for practice I see who I thought was the ticket guy earlier doing flag duty. I think he
was a little shocked to see I was actually going to do this.
I survived practice, but was unsure, I'm a bit out of place and feel bad holding people up. I do
a lot of trail riding so if someone is faster I normally slow down and let them by. The gang
eased my nerves by telling me I'm here to race, if they are faster they'll get around me. Dave
gave me his second practice ticket that allowed be to go out for another 4 laps. I was much
more calm and got a better feel for this big bike on the track. Huge difference, in my head,
those few extra laps made. Thanks Dave.
We ended up with about 25 RGN racers, so the classes were split in to an "A" and "B" class.
I raced "B" with 12 others. We were split into two heats of 6. The big 950 got the holeshot in
my heat and tried my best to hold everyone off, 3rd lap I drove in to the 180 hairpin turn way
too hot and got passed on the inside. I kept pressure on the leader and in the same spot I
messed up he did the same. I passed on the inside for the checker flag. WOW, I won my
heat. This is fun. To celebrate I did a big wheelie leaving the track. Who would have
thought a 500lb bike could race too?
I had plenty of time in between to watch many of the very fast racers make it look so easy.
Hoping to pick up insight for my main. Out of the 2 winning heat races the fastest time gets
first pick of lane choice. That would be Charlette, a very talented young "girl" on a 150 Honda.
So first on the line is a 150 Honda, then me on a 950 KTM. About as big of a CC spread as
you can have. Not sure, but she must be less than 5' tall, I'm 6'4". I lined up on the outside a
few bikes spaces down as to give her room, and if I kick my bike sideways in a corner I would
most likely not even feel her if we ever hit. It's all for fun, no need for anyone to get hurt.
Engines reving and adrenaline flowing, the light goes green and I spin up and slide the back
tire sideways off the line. End up in 6 or 7th place in the first corner. I kept a pretty good
pace fighting my way up to 3rd place. Took 4th place overall out of 12 being beat by a Girl.
Afterwards, I removed the duct tape and got the bike ready for the road. Bill headed home for
a long 3 hr ride on his 950 ADV, next time maybe I'll get him to race. What a great Sunday
ride. 500lb dirt bikes can fly too. This should be a great season. Thanks for the help
everyone.
It was a pleasure meeting alot of new people, hope to see you at Round 2 in Elkhart Lake.
Craig
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