<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jul 7 2009, 01:04 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Noodlerizer was a solid kid too. He called me a week before Laguna to give me the whole scoop on his racing weekend and how I could get a credential to be part of his pit crew. I went to the credentialing office (
LINK), but the lady I spoke to (a very rude and fat women) basically told me to go to hell. This ..... said I needed to have some release of liability notarized (it does say that on the application, but Noodle had got his buddy a credential the same day, so I figured it would work for me too). Anyway, this snafu kept me from getting a crew credential, but ....'em, I though, I'll just sneak onto the raceline as usual.
As you can see, it didn't stop me from sneaking onto the race line. Check out the track officials to the left of the pic. Those are the fools I scammed on getting in. Clark had his premium paddock pass from Motegi which looks like a crew pass from far away. I told him to let me use it. I picked up a box out the trash can and walked by them as if I was in a hurry to get something important to a rider on the raceline. I walked fast and just pointed at the pass. No eye contact, just looked rushed. The fools waved me in! All I had in the box was the straw hat I was wearing (in my left hand). Idiots.
7252:Noods_Jumkie.JPG]
Noodles reaction to learn he qualified for the Supersport race. (After a snafu during practice, see next pics).
7253:Noodler_...leathers.JPG]
Noodle's crew chief, mechanic, telemetry tech, truck driver, & team owner, AND PROUD FATHER!
7261:Noodler__s_dad.JPG]
I WILL LET NOODLER EXPLAIN THE NEXT PICS (Will help you understand Noodle's reaction to qualifying for the race):
7255:Noodler_bike2.JPG]
Poor kid was feeling like ...., to give his crew some extra work to do (check out his face standing to the left), but with everybody's, "never say die" attitude they got it all back together again and their rider qualed for the race!
7258:Noodler_bike4.JPG]
7257:Noodler_bike3.JPG]
Duct tape, man's greatest invention
7259:Noodler_bike5.JPG]
7260:Noodler_bike.JPG]
Entering pit (where he spent alot of time, he will explain...)
7263:Noodler_...ring_Pit.JPG]
Noodles on track:
7262:Noodler_T10.JPG]
LIVING THE DREAM...RACING AT LAGUNA (Turn 10)
7264:Noodler18_T10.JPG]
Well here it goes. Pulled in thursday and setup, did not get to walk the track but went around and look from behind the fences. Friday rolls around and SuperSport was first on track at noon. I gear up and get ready to head out very nervous. I pull our into the paddock and that is the scariest place! Gotta swerve around all the people that stop right in front of you and take pictures. Okay now I head to the end of hot pit row behind the safety car. We head out and damn! I thought the citing lap would be slow, hey but I pass one rider by the 2nd practice lap, maybe I am not that slow! Then about half a lap later when i finally starting feeling comfortable with the track Ricky Parker the fastest kid out there passes me sideways into the corkscrew! That was my welcome to the Pro's moment! Anyways Friday was good, got about 30+ laps in and had one hell of a time. It was amazing going around and seeing the cameras following you, especially the swooping camera at the top of the corkscrew you think it is gonna take your head off!
Saturday wake up at 6 and get ready for 8 am practice. Feeling sick I head out and try to get up to speed. By the 4th lap I was finally feeling comfortable, but then my contact pops out! ....! Had to pull into the pits and get a new one. I then head out again very pissed off and try to go too fast too soon..... I am on a flier coming down rainey curve when Garret Willis comes past and I stay on him through turn 10 and then tuck the front sliding off the track into the nice soft gravel (no joke). I get up and feel fine just covered in gravel, I don't even look to close at the bike then head back to the pits. I was struggling all weekend to find feel in the front end, but it never really happened. Well after I sit down next to my trailer feeling awful, everyone was not sure if they could get the bike back together in 2 hours. Everyone is scrambling and we ended up getting the bike ready just 20 min before qualifying. I go out and get up to speed easily. The temps were coming up the the GP boys laid a lot of grippy rubber down. I put my head down and get into a rhythm, on my fast lap I backed it in hard into the corkscrew hearing the rear wheel howling trying to get it turned, I come into the pits finding that i went 2 seconds faster and I am in the big show.
Race rolls around at 5 and I grid up 4th row 2nd to last. I get a bad start and head into turn 2 last but carnage started! Within 2 laps many bikes went down and I found myself in 12th with a big smile on my face just telling myself to bring it home. By the 3rd lap my contact pops out again! Long story short I had to pit 3 times while my contacts would not stay in, it was far too dangerous trying to race blind so I just parked it with 10 laps to go.
Besides the minor set backs during the weekend I learned more than I ever imagined and had the time of my life. Just livin' the dream!
