A racing report from the past

Billy, if you're out there, give me a shout (you wanker)...

From: Bill Brownsberger <bbrownsb@comsys-opg.com>
To: Motorcycle Roadracing Listserver <race@micapeak.com>
Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 09:21:20 -0800
Subject: A backmarker's view of the 200



Hey everyone!

I resubscribed to The List to tell you all what a horrible
time I had at Daytona this year! Let me start by saying that
the AMA just doesn't have the Average Joe in mind when they
run this event, which really pisses me off! Come on, this
is supposed to be the biggest race in the country, and if
it isn't open to everyone, regardless of their financial
backing, then something just isn't right.

My week started off well enough, after almost a year's
hiatus, I really felt like I was getting back into this
roadracing thing with the right attitude. Since I've sold
off all of the racebikes, I walked out to my garage to
peruse my possible mounts for the weekend:

'86 VFR 750 - nahh, I'd hate to scratch the paint while dueling
with Russell and Duhamel
'94 ATK 406 - nahh, I just rebuilt it, it needs more break-in
miles on the trails before I can flog it
'84 RZ 350 - nahh, it only runs with the choke on
'94 KDX 200 - this will have to do it, it'll give a little
away up on the banking, only making about 25hp,
but I should be able to make that up in the infield

Race prepping consisted of shaving the knobbies down bald,
and of course the obligatory safety wire. We're there.

The AMA officials gave me some weird looks as I headed out for
the first practice session, most of them told me that the
supercross practice didn't start until later in the week.
Idiots! The KDX is an ENDURO bike, far from a supercross or
even a motocross bike. The sheer ignorance of some people amazes
me. I saw Laura Hardy directing some bikes out onto the course, and
made a beeline for her. She must not have recognized me, because as
soon as she saw me, she looked the other way. Oh well.
Once past the officials and onto the track, I started
to really blow those cobwebs out, and quickly got up to speed.
My wife was my pit crew, and she would yell my laptimes through
a bullhorn as I went by. You can't imagine the sense of
accomplishment I had as my laptimes lowered. I started off
doing :58s, then :56s, and before I knew it, I was down around
the 4:50 mark. I'd always heard Russell talk of getting into
the "forties" and figured I wasn't far off, I just might have
something for these guys come Sunday. I did think it strange
that most everyone had at least 100mph on me on the banking,
and they even went by quickly in the infield, but I must be
making time somewhere. I was waiting for SOMEONE to come by who
I could race with, but I guess Zack Jones's truck must have broke
on the way to the track. A few of the guys on superstock bikes
stopped by my pit to congratulate me on doing so well in
practice, it seems they were really glad to have me around.
Everyone loves a winner I guess.

Rather than make the 45 minute drive home that evening, I
decided to sleep in my van that night, and hang with the superstock
crowd, I figured this would let them know that I'm just as
needy and deserving of a 200 entry as they all were. We
sat around, drank cheap beer and lamented the fact that none
of us had the money to buy big-rig bike haulers or those
fancy-pants slick tires that some of the top riders had,
but we knew deep in our hearts that Daytona is the place
for us, and you can keep all of those "support" races, we
ain't nobody's underwear! And NASB? Forget it, the 200 is
the ONLY race we need mess with, Go Big or Stay Home! Sam
Fleming and I did get into some interesting discussions about
what lines to take on a bike making less than 140hp... I was
surprised that Fred Fartzignewton didn't show up, but then I
remembered that those high-horse AMA elitists only want 'experts'
and pros in the race. I told them that 5 years of racing is more
than enough to make you an expert, but they still want that piece
of paper! I even called Fred and told him that he needs to come
and argue his point, but he declined, saying that he'd rather
not race against guys who have been on a racetrack before, especially
if he can't protest everyone who beats him... Andy Birko came by
all of the non-factory-guys' pits, and kicked sand in our faces,
telling us to get the hell out and "Stay the fuck off the track!"...
Other than that, he seemed a likeable guy, although his
190lbs looked pretty funny on a 125.

Well, to make a long story short, it turns out that I didn't
make the cut for the 200, and boy am I pissed! How can they
deny me the right to race? I know that I may have been a little
off the pace, but come on, I can't afford the expensive tires
or 3 brakes like those other guys! Just because I'm a little
low on funds doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to get out
there and mix it up a little! I know I would have impressed
some people in the race, I really come alive once the pressure
is on. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I did win
my fair share of regional races ya know, so I know I've got
what it takes to run with these spoiled punks.

Next year...

Billy B.

PS: If that Scott Russell flicks me off 1 more time...