Background: Motor rebuild, way inside the legality border with the
airbox, rejetting as a result, starter motor failed at the track.

Friday: Jetting, missed some riding but not as much as expected. Went
slow. Steve blew his motor and I agreed to let him race my spare bike
on Sunday if it was still available then.

Saturday: Morning grip surprisingly good. No motor worries. Thanks due
to Eugene for use of his rollers. Seemed like McGrail (#886) would be
able to run with me like he hadn't done in a long time if I didn't
find some speed somewhere.

Sunday: Bong showed up. Thanks due to Eugene for use of his rollers.
Ginny crashed in 250 s/b.

500 twins: pass/pass, Adam crashed. In front of me, same as last
year. Stuck behind two slow 500's to the line. Not a big worry -- not
my race. Adam turned out to be OK, but took the transport because his
knee hurt.

250 production: Decent but not great start. Not sure whether Darren
was ahead of me on the start or not (probably was, cuz he always
is). Got around someone (Darren?) outside turn 1, and around someone
else (Kevin Scott?) after turn 2. Spent most of the race in third on
Frank Mazur's tail, but couldn't see a safe place to get around
him. Every now and then he would open a gap, too. Chris caught up to
us and took the opportunity to whiz by on the subsequent straight when
Frank parked and slowed me on the way up the hill for turn 8. Finish:
Brian, Frank, Chris, me. Steve got 5th on my spare bike somewhere back
there.

Buttonwillow confidence just isn't up there for me. I can run much
harder into the corners at Sears and even Thunderhill, and tolerate
much more intimacy with the edge than at Buttonwillow. I just don't
know the subtleties as well at Buttonwillow: where the little bumps
are, where the lower-traction spots are, where the corners make little
changes in shape. This slight impediment to confidence stands not only
in the way of speed but even moreso in the way of passing. Need to get
more time at Buttonwillow.

As a result of the lack of confidence, I feel inconsistent at
Buttonwillow, but all my lap times for the 250 production race fell in
the range 2:14.00 to 2:14.28. Pretty surprising!

Pretty late trip back, stopped at Harris Ranch with the group for a
beanie burger.

Summary: Made my season goals of consistent 2:06's or better at Sears
Point (did 2:03's), and 4th or better in the class (got 4th). So I
can't complain. But I know several ways to do better, too. Not
crashing out of next year's first race will be a good start! :-)