Regular Passnger Ann Goldberg was unable to attend, so a substitute has to be found. On race day we found out that the original subsitute l8braker had just broken his arm on a PB race the previous day, so PB racer Tom Leavy was drafted by l8braker at the last minute to fill in. However, after one practice session, Tom decided that he was not confortable enough, and eventually another PB racer Joel Espanol, who had little clue what the racing sidecar was, was recruited to "suck it up for the team".
Practice 2 went fairly well, but on Q1 we had mechanical problems and was forced into a DNS, forfeiting the pole position. In Q2 we did fairly well on the first lap, then we decided to call it off so that Joel can conserve energy for his PB race. In addition, since we had a DNS in Q1, we would have to start last regardless of how we finished Q2.
During the race we were stuck at third but kept up with the two leading rigs, but on the second lap for the big left hander, we tried too hard to follow the two factory rigs and ended up crashing at the end of the main straight. #91 suffered fairing and radiator damage, but everyone was alright.
The race was won by PB fast guy Ted Simpson and his passenger Larry Gonzales, who started from pole despite numerous excursions and mechanical failures during practices. Ted had just finished second in the PB race, so it was his second trophy of the day. Larry had been passengering for a few times, and they worked very well together. They ended up outdragging and beating the works leaders Meister/Herrera so it was no small feat. Good job!
Results:
1. Ted Simpson/Larry Gonzales (West Coast Minimoto Sidecars
ATM-Polini)
2. Dan Meister/Suzanne Herrera (West Coast Minimoto Sidecars
ATM-Polini)
3. Vince Ho/Joel Espanol (Alcatraz Moto ATM-Polini)
Championship Table:
1. Ted Simpson 200 2. Dan Meister 175 Vince Ho 155
Vince contemplating the race (Courtesy: Team Calamari)
Winning team of Larry Gonzales (left), Ted Simpson (right) with their works team West Coast Minimoto Sidecar ATM-Polini #24. Alcatraz Moto super substitute passenger Joel Espanol (in blue leathers and white cap) can be seen standing on the right (Courtesy: Team Pocketrocketz West Coast)
Team Alcatraz Moto ATM-Polini #91 (Courtesy: Team PocketRocketz West Coast)
Alcatraz Moto would like to thank East Coast MiniMoto's Marcelo for bringing Minimoto Sidecar Racing into reality, and West Coast Minimoto Sidecar's Dan Meister and Suzanne Herrera for making the racing happened. Ultimate thanks to Joel Espanol, who with absolutely no sidecar experience, having the courage to stand in for the last minute, good job everyone!
Vince Ho-Joel Espanol during practice (Courtesy: Terry Rust)