7 races, 7 woodies
Roebling Road Raceway
March 29/30, 2003

So we're getting psyched for the first race of the 2003 season. Rebecca & I take a half-day off work so we can leave early. The plan is to leave at 1 PM. Though being the usual slack-ass, I'm late getting things ready and the trailer loaded. We end up leaving and hitting the road at 2 PM. The weather is a little overcast, and it starts to rain 20 minutes outside of Raleigh. It continues to rain for the next hour or 2, then tapers off.

So we're travelling down I-95 looking for signs for Savannah, and exit #104 for our hotel. As we pass exit 119, I see a sign for Savannah that says '126 miles'. And I'm thinking to my self, "Hm... only 15 more 'till our exit, but it's 126 miles to Savannah... something's not right, how can that be?".

So I say something about it to Rebecca, and as she starts to laugh at me like I'm an idiot (which you'll soon read), she reminds me that we're in SOUTH CAROLINA, not GEORGIA. DUUUUHHH!! Good thing she was awake, otherwise I would have gotten off at exit 104 in SC and been searching for the track... man I would have REALLY felt stupid.

So we decide that I need some food. We quick-pick Shoney's and decide to eat there. I check on the bike in the trailer, and find gas spilled all on the floor, around & under the bike. "What the fuck!?!?" I say out loud. I check things out and see the catch bottle is full and overflowing with gas. After some thought, I think that I had the gas tank filled too full and it kept sloshing around and spilling out into the overflow tube and into the catch bottle. So we sort that out, make sure the bike starts, and head in to eat.

We stuff our faces at the all-you-can-eat salad, seafood, & fruit bar and finish the drive to Savannah.

Saturday:

We get to the track and zip through tech w/o any waiting. Being the first time back on the bike since October, I'm REALLLL rusty in practice sessions, running 10-15 seconds of my pace from last year. "MAN I SUCK!" is the first thing Rebecca hears from me when practice is over.

First race is LWSS and I'm still trying to remember how to ride the damn bike. I come in 5th place, not too bad... well maybe, since there's only 5 of us racing :)

Next up is MWSM, our Aprilia $$ race. I decide it's time to take off the skirt and panties and grow a pair. No more pussying it around the track, it's game time.

The green flag drops, and I got a good start, thanks to my new Jolly Moto exhaust. I'm practically wheeling it through entire 1st gear. I come out in 2nd and just can't keep up with James, #24, who was in first. He slowly walks away from me and I have to accept the fact that there's no way I'm gonna win it, so I hold 2nd for the remainder of the race. Although, in the 2nd to last lap I shift too early and bog it, and get passed by Rob Greenwald, #56. Then I late-brake and pass him back into turn 1, and finish the race in 2nd. Whew, that was close.

Next is the LWGP & LWSB races. Not too much happening here. I'm racing against 3 SVs... no chance. They all start walking away from me after turn 5, so I chill, playing it like a practice session, working on my weak turns, and place 4th (last) in both races.

So we leave and head back to the hotel. We're craving some Chinese but can't find anything near our hotel in Pooler, except for this one small Japanese joint. This place is in the parking lot of an Ace Hardware and dollar store, in a converted bank building. Not exactly inviting, but it turns out to be GREAT.. cheap, good, and lots of food. $30 out the door for 2 rolls of sushi, 2 salads and 2 big-ass plates of meat, rice, noodles & veggies.

Sunday:

We wake up to rain... this shit sucks. We get to the track, and it's just POURING.

They call for the first practice group and no one shows up. So they decided to call it an open practice, and I think about 3 people actually go out.

We sit in the truck deciding whether or not to bother putting up the canopy. I go to the rider's meeting and they change the races from 8 to 6 laps. Afterwards, the rain slowly starts to let up so we decide to set up the canopy.

First race is LWSB. I don't have rain tires, but Rob, and Bill (on a SV) do, so I'm basically just going out for points & third place, which is exactly what happens.

After that race, lunch time. We head to the Japanese place again, but they aren't open yet, so I take a small 30 min. nap while Rebecca reads her magazine, until they open.

After lunch it's my 2nd race, MWSM, our Aprilia $$ race again. The rain has stopped, but the track is still wet. Robert is the only one who has rains. James, Daniele, & I have DOTs, so it's gonna be a battle for 2nd between the three of us. Rob takes off after turn 2 and we never see him again. James comes out in 2nd, I'm 3rd, and Daniele in 4th. James starts to walk away from me, and around lap 3 Daniele passes me. "Oh Shit", I say in my helmet. I need at least 3rd. I'm a little sketchy riding on the wet track, b/c I can't tell if it's a dry or wet line, but I slowly catch up to Daniele, who was slowly catching up to James. Shit, I'm still in 4th and I'm crossing the white flag. I'm on Daniele's ass around T1 & 2, and he's on James' ass. Going into T3 I pass Daniele on the outside, and between the exit of T4 & the entrance to T5, I pass James on the outside. SWEET!! I'm in second place. I try my hardest not to screw up the last 2 turns and I cross the finish line in 2nd place YEA!!. Probably one of the most exciting laps and races I've ever had.

Next up is LWSS. James & I don't have rain tires, but Rob and Bill do, so I was basically just going out for points & 3rd or 4th place. James gets a good start and had more confidence than I on the semi-dry track, so he walks away from me, sealing 3rd place. I settled for 4th, and take it easy around the track just practicing riding in the rain.

After that, we pack it up, collect our wood, and head back to Raleigh. Another successful weekend, keeping it shiny-side up.

- Michael Santelia, Onboard Racing