Refreshing the Stable

January 2012 not only marks the beginning of a new year, but a new chapter for Tornado Bait Racing.  Club racing is some of the most fun we've had in our lives.  Its paved the way to make great friends, great memories, and explore our passion for motorcycles through competition and camaraderie.  But as with many competitors there is an ever present urge driving you to pit your skills against increasing odds.  AMA Pro Racing's Daytona SportBike class seems the perfect arena to do just that.  So Tornado Bait Racing will be giving the AMA a shot this season.  However our trusty steeds, while proven and loyal, are no match for the AMA ranks or the stringent equipment standards.

What a great excuse to justify some new blood in our stable (detached 2.5 car garage).  The 1989 FZR and 2005 CBR 600RR are still the perfect mules for pulling instructor and coaching duties at track days, but the 2008 CBR 1000RR has been sold and the proceeds used to secure a couple of Honda's latest generation middle weight fillies.

The road trip to pick them up is ~13 hours one way according to Google maps.  And the rendevous logistics of long distance purchases with two seperate sellers on the same weekend is a test of my preparation skills, but no match for my determination.  The Tornado Bait Racing Transport has already been primped and preened as if seeking audience before the Wizard of OZ.  The stable...uh....garage has been reorganized maximizing every square inch of floor space to welcome the new arrivals.  Road snacks will be bought and stashed with freeway pit stop menu in mind.  A 35 gallon gas tank offers fewer fuel stops, but requires well planned bathroom breaks.  After all there is a satisfaction of orchestrated rhythm between man and machine that pays dividends in bragging rights when your buddies ask how long the trip took.  A test of endurance if you will.  The trip is this weekend and I can hardly wait to trailer the new ponies for their trip home.

Next will be some development time at track days and early season races with CMRA to turn the new rides into AMA level thoroughbreds.  Hopefully this old Jockey's performance in the saddle will produce some great results for 2012, but that tale remains to be told in the posts to come.