Evie n I are on for NCB, season-end

Evanne & I are on for this weekend at NCBike, 4 days from today :o)   It will be our first go there,  staying Holiday Inn Express.  Evanne got a hitch installed on her CRV “Little Rickie” so we’ll give “ELVIS” a rest from the long drive. 

“Repsol Rusty” neé “Rocinante” ( proud graduate of Leo Vincé Academy for Anger Management ) has new EBC brake pads.  Per the MXT coaching team, I’ll bracket their inital-bite using the step-by-step manner, adjusting through the days for temperature changes.  Coach Higgs intimidated me as so:

“Get those new brake pads.  Learn to feel that initial bite.  Otherwise I can’t help you, Gus.”

and in his exasperated, Foghorn Leghorn sputter — that I so often hear — he added:

“There’ll be hell to pay.  Mother Nature will happen.  The wind’s gonna come from the southwest, now.”

Rusty is sporting no other new mods.  I am the new owner of 8 10 12 14 Craftman 5-degree ratchet box-ends and a handsome 24mm Craftsman socket :o)   Coach Higgs warned:

“Don’t use them to break a bolt, use 6-points, not 12-points.”

I was very very very gratified when Coach Brian and Coach Noah agreed to bump me up from N —> I on Shennie  — and for Coach Cowboy Chris to encourage my Eval Rides in the first place!

“You’re ready.”    …    “You’re solid out there.”

After that rainy morning Monday, I got super-schooled with the special opportunity to ride with combined Intermediate & Advanced Racers.  I learned I have new responsibilities, on the inside & outside:

“Damn he passed me, but damn, that was a pretty pass on the inside rail.”  :o)

Since we’ll have a density of riders from other trackday organizations this post-hurricane weekend, I’ve planned to register Novice.  And anyway, in her firm way, Joan affirmed to me that as NCBike is new-to-me:

“You need to qualify for a bump on each new track.”

Thank you to all the coaches, and to Bruce, John, Devin, Emory, Harry & Roger that helped me learn how to loosen Rusty’s chain, install new brake pads and bumpstart him.  Great team of sharp-eyed, professional, constructive coaches you’ve built.

Gus