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Tom's Race Report from Infineon w/ AFM
05/29/05 Sonoma, CA
 It was cold! Had the heater on going to the track! It was my first
time to Infineon and I was really looking forward to it. Rian had gotten
the bike ready, new tank, faring stay couple of odds and ends. Rain left
Thursday around 1pm with the truck and trailer, stayed at his buddy's in
Pismo Beach and got up to the track Friday evening and set up the pit
Sally and I flew in at 9:30 waited forever for the rental car and got to
the hotel around 11pm Rian already checked in.
I was put into the 5th practice group because of my times at
Buttonwillow. AFM has 6 groups. The riders are grouped by times the
slowest being group 1. Alex, the Michelin tire rep and a friend from
Rogue was in the same group as me and said to follow him around, it's a
tough track to learn.
I was going to run the slicks I had put on in Vegas the whole practice
day then put on new ones for the races Sunday. Group 1 goes out first so
we had some time to get ready. I pull down to Alex's pit follow him onto
the track and run off 3 times on the first lap! I loose Alex when I run
down the exit instead of staying on the track and do 1 more lap. I pull
of the track and go to registration and ask to be moved down to group 2,
I feel I was dangerous out there at my slow speed, trying to figure out
the track.
Next session I go out in group 2. Much better, I go out at the back and
learn the track.
 The next session I go out at the front and have a clear track the whole
session, starting to get comfortable. The rest of the day I am the
fastest in my group which is OK cause I am on the track alone but now I
don't have anybody to learn from. I should have gone into group 3 or 4.
I get my time down to 1:52's without any drama.
End of the day I feel good. Infineon is tougher than Barber. They are
both technical but Barber has such grip you feel confidant you can push.
When I told Mark Ledesma I was going to Infineon, he said "dude, be
careful!" Now I know what he means. At the AFM event there a few weeks
ago there were 72 crashes on race day. If you do not pay attention and
you get just a little too greedy with the throttle it will throw you.
The surface is mostly smooth, other than a few spots, but hills and off
camber tends to make high siding a common occurrence.
Race day, 3 races. Open Superbike, Open GP and Formula 40. Open Superbike
- gridded 33, 6 high side crashes, red flagged race, I
finished 25th. Open Grand Prix - gridded 23, many crashes. I watched 3 bikes
crash in T-3a; huge mess, 6 lap red flagged race - I finished 19th.
Formula 40, the race I wanted to do well in (because I play with kids my own
age). I was gridded 46 in a grid of 53. Get a great start go around the
outside in T1 passing a bunch and just about asshole a couple in T-2 and
T-3b, get around them and settle in behind another cbr1000rr and follow
for a few laps. I'm thinking I gotta get around him I know he is holding
me up. Just then 2 bikes pass both of us. Damn it should have gone
sooner! I get around him and as I go around in the carousel an April 350
goes around me! OK now this is fun!! 5 of us in a group for the last 3
laps swapping back and forth! I decided to pass all of them on the front
straight going into T-1 and put down my hottest lap to try and run away
to the checker. It all worked I put down the fastest lap of the weekend
on my very last lap 1:49.2. The April was the only one to stay with me,
he just didn't have the ponies to the flag. One of the most fun races
I've had. I finished 22nd, the winner just got to the 1:45's so with
little more time I feel like I could run with the leaders that were
running 1:46's.
Have to say again what a great organization AFM is. All their riders
hold their own on the track. There aren't any that are dangerously slow
in their class. Many are very very fast and would give any rider a run
for his money at any track. The people that run things don't miss a
thing, all goes off without a hitch. Top notch!!
Great weekend, gotta thank Rian for all the work, driving up and back
and the support. Also gotta thank Pat for all the use of his garage, his
undying support and willingness to always be there when needed. Also
gotta thank Sally for giving up her weekends to keep me company, and
watch me fall asleep at 9pm every night. Also have to thank Alex, for
putting up with all my dumb questions and annoying him all weekend and
on his birthday (Sunday).
Editor's note: Tom is currently in the middle of 7 weekends in a row
of racing! Go Tom!
Tom Savoca
#151
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