~ Glad That's Over ~

Hooray! Glad that's over!

Last weekend netted us some really great numbers at the Texas Mile in Goliad, Texas...we walked away from the mile intact (and believe me walking away is much better than riding out in an ambulance)...no broken bones ...motorcycle in one piece still covered in pink, white and silver flower decals, and turbo Hayabusa still running!

Remembering last March's Texas Mile event, a nervous Jen hopped onto the bike early Saturday morning. Conditions were ideal. An early run with low winds, warm temperatures (okay, it was hot, but it is South Texas, what do you expect?) gave us hopes for a good shakedown run on the turbo busa. The weekend's ultimate goal? To run over 200 mph!

I can't begin to tell you how nervous I was and all the preparation in the world would not change that. Jen got in line for her first run down the Mile. She was given the go ahead and off she went! I tried to video tape it - but honestly if her hands were shaking as much as mine, the bike would never have stayed on track. When she returned to our pit area we checked the bike over; the GPS said she had run 201 mph! but her time slip said she'd crossed the 1-mile marker traveling at a slow 118. She had let off at the 3/4 marker because she just did not feel 'comfortable.' Hey - if she is not comfortable, I'm not comfortable...my question - how do you feel 'comfortable' at 201 mph?

After a thorough going over of the bike - and of the rider - Jen once again headed for a very long line at the start of the Mile. Before we knew it she was off and down the Mile where about 30 seconds later she passed the 1-mile marker with a MPH of 203! We were estatic! Our original goal was met. An additional pass that day brought her to a whopping 211.6 MPH run :) And there was always tomorrow!

It was decided that Roger would try his hand at this 200 MPH stuff on Sunday. He made one run down the Mile - 211.3 mph! One run! He got off the bike and said, "she's all yours." He was finished and we were all quite pleased. Now - the question..."she's all yours???" No, he was not talking to me - there is NO way I am getting on that bike even to take it down the street - that bike is a MONSTER!

Jen took the Stage 1 Turbo Busa down the track 3 more times that day, beginning with 213 MPH and ending with a whopping 216.506 MPH run which gave her the offical Texas Mile record of 'Fastest Female Ever on the Texas Mile!' It also makes her the 2nd fastest female on two wheels in the nation...

You do realize what this means, don't you? It means we need to find just another few MPH in that bike to make her the nations fastest female on 2-wheels - so, I suppose this is..."to be continued..."

It's Official - she's the fastest female ever on the Texas Mile! To see the beginning of the 216.506 mph run on the Mile, watch the video!

In Preparation...

I am having a difficult time wrapping myself around the reality that another Texas Mile is upon us. The last one, although we had high hopes of 200 mph runs down the track, did not turn out so well. There are two of them a year and March's Mile was a bit more than I could handle ( Turbo Busa Tumble - April 07). I will add October's upcoming Mile to the list of things currently keeping me awake at night!

This time 'we've' done things a bit different. I say 'we' like I actually have anything to do with it...I have NOTHING to do with it. I do nothing except fret!

We took the turbo Hayabusa to Johnny Cheese in Round Rock, Texas - yes, that really is his name - who worked for quite some time to tune the bike, producing a Texas Mile 'map' that he says will get us the mph we need for the Mile. Okay, I really don't know exactly what all this means, after all who needs a map to get down a straight one mile track anyway! I mean, there is already a GPS on that thing...we need a map too?! I can tell you one thing - turbo tuning is VERY loud.

Johnny Cheese tunes the Turbo Busa

We took the grandpup, Chance, along with us to Mr. Cheese's shop (he was a big hit, as always), and he knew exactly what to do - he put on ear protection!

Chance attends most all of our racing events - he is quite the traveler - and I often wonder what he thinks about his life. He makes friends wherever he goes and usually he just lays there and enjoys the attention.

Chance and his Papa take a nap at the track.

Chance cools off with some damp cloths at a hot race in Houston.

Jen and Chance inspect the damage on 'Rustman's' crashed bike at a Texas Mile. This bike went through the speed trap at 209 mph before taking it's tumble.

Grandboy AJ gets a seat in one of the 'fast' Texas Mile cars! I know it won't be long before AJ gets his turn at the mile - but I am pretty certain he will be on 4 wheels :)

Another landspeed racer ready for a run on the Texas Mile.

One of my very favorite pictures taken on the Mile. Jenn in the background and a man on his 'barstool' pit-cruiser.

Oh, I suppose I will survive once again - and when it is over, I am just certain I will have amazing pictures and wonderful memories as with all of our great adventures!