Rookie Roadracer
By Patricia Kay
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| Patricia Kay made her racing debut at Kershaw, S.C., in June 2002 in the Historic Production Lightweight class, and had a surprise waiting for her at the awards presentation. (Photo by Parker Lilly |
Oh! Oh! There’s the alligator teeth. Bump! Bump! Slide! Hold on, Patty, hold on. Not too tight. Easy! Grass, dirt, grass, small washed-out gully from last night’s rain. Up, down, over. Sand! Careful, looks loose. No, don’t touch the front brake. Easy, easy. OK, you’re OK. Slowing down. Now just ease to the left, just a little throttle. That’s it. Just a bit farther. Look over your shoulder. OK, back on the track. MX session over.
That’s how turn three looked to me on my second session of Friday practice at Kershaw. The whole episode scared me good. I was afraid to pick up my speed after that and ready to scrap my whole racing plan. Ken, my husband and Sportsman 750 roadracer (#697), calmed me and then convinced me that my racing plan, which worked before the incident in turn three, would work again. And it did. By the end of the race weekend, I had a huge smile on my face, completed two races, picked up my speeds considerably and earned the Best Prepared Machine and Great Attitude award. Not bad for my first time!
Five years ago, Ken became a member of AHRMA and we began traveling to various tracks three or four times a year. I was content being a push-monkey and helper, and I did a lot of observing through the lens of my camera.
Non-racing people used to ask me if I was frightened for Ken when he raced. Seems as though the term “motorcycle racer” conjures up images of horrifying accidents. But I’d always answer that Ken is safer on the track then he is riding his street bike to and from work. My observations showed me that racing with AHRMA is safe. The racing is professional and presented in a well-organized environment that utilizes the most updated safety practices. The officials and volunteers work diligently and responsibility. The racers are respectful of each other, realizing that they’re racing for fun not for money or fame. The club is an eclectic group of members whose passion brings them together for the purpose of racing, and all together they make it happen with grace, camaraderie and friendly competition.
Last year, Ken suggested I think about entering the Historic Production Lightweight class. This class was started about three years ago. It’s designed for the novice rider using a street bike that’s made race ready. After some thought I decided I’d like to try. We bought a 1971 Triumph Daytona at a swap meet and then spent the entire winter disassembling, painting and refurbishing, then rebuilding. In the meantime, I worked on losing some weight, strengthening my body and building my endurance.
This spring I attended the Penguin race school in New Hampshire. It rained all day, with temperatures around 34 degrees. I got over my concern of racing in the rain, but the conditions didn’t allow me to learn much about the bike’s or my capabilities. I didn’t find out just how difficult racing can be until Kershaw. There’s so much to learn, so much information coming so fast, so many ways to respond, and even an MX excursion is a beneficial lesson. It seemed that everyone that weekend reveled in my beginner’s excitement. The best advice I received was to never give up, keep my focus and run my own race.
I’ve got a long way to go before I can think on a more competitive level, so for now, when you see that orange-vested woman speeding around the track, know that I’m just racing with myself—and having a damn good time doing it!
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