BeaveRun 9/4/2011 - 9/5/2011
It seems like it’s just been one of those years….
Beave Run has always been a team favorite for Peak Honda Racing. However, after 2011 we may have to reconsider. Our Friday pack-up and drive down went as expected. We didn’t arrive to the track until late Friday night, which always makes Saturday morning seem too early. None-the-less, everybody was out of bed and ready for a hot day on the 1.6 mile circuit.
The Middleweight Expert Solo 20 was listed as race 2 for the day. By the time the calls for grid came through the speakers, it was a balmy 104 under the PHR canopies. When it’s that hot, the racing can get pretty dicey. The track starts to feel greasy, in addition, the racers fatigue faster, and the odds of mistakes skyrockets. This was proven just 2 laps into the race when the red flag came out signaling a stoppage of the race. After a short clean up, we were being called back to grid for an entire 20 lap restart. Strangely, there was a bike missing from the grid as the starting procedures commenced. Oliver’s 91 machine suffered from some mechanical gremlins and didn’t make it all the way around the track. Just after the start of the race, the bike refired, and he was able to join the race, but well behind the battle for the lead. Unfortunately, another red flag waived after 12 laps, and the race was called at this point. Nick was credited with his second place position at the time of the incident. Strangely yet again, the 91 died again on the red flag lap.
Sunday brought more desirable temperatures. However, with highs in the low 80’s came a moist race track from some overnight rain and high probability of afternoon thunderstorms. When racing commenced just after lunch we were greeted with a 95% bone dry track, with only a few damp spots where trees blocked the limited sun. 1000 Superstock was the teams first race of the day. Nick made haste working on his second podium of the weekend, finishing in third. Oliver, managed 5th but was quickly regaining confidence after a long gap since his last races. Nick was in a tight points battle in the 600 Superstock class, both riders second race of the day. Our friend Rick Lind was able to catch Nick’s first lap high side.
Rick also happened to be the person that the 53 rider was battling with for points, so he also caught a break and a commanding lead with only 1 round to go. Oliver’s rising confidence propelled him to a very tight third place finish when the race completed.
Between injuries, crash damage, and impending storms, Nick decided to call it a day. No permanent damage was sustained by the rider, but the 60 MPH tumble left him sore and stiff. Oliver finished one last lucky dry race in the 750 Superstock class with another 5th place finish and a great battle. Less than lucky was the bike shutting off after both of the latter races of the day.
This makes for a good opportunity to thank Quince, the teams crew chief, and Peak Powersports for their diligent work getting the bikes to the grid each week, even after the riders overwork them and tumble them down the race track!
In addition, we have unlimited gratitude to the companies that keep the riders safe after they tumble down the race surface themselves: Scorpion USA, Sportbike Track Gear, and Knox Armor! Even after a combined 6 crashes year to date, we have had no serious injuries.
Lastly, thanks to all the others that keep the team running: Our very understanding families Scorpion, Leo Vince, Sportbiketrackgear.com, GP Tech, Knox, Vortex, Pit Bull, Hotbodies Racing, Chicken Hawk Racing, Uber Racing, Pirelli, Sportbike Tire Service, Witchkraft Motorsports and Peak Powersports.
