The first event of the Central Roadracing Season in 2005 was held over the April 29-May 1 weekend during which, we had temps ranging from the 30s to the low 70s.  I wanted to get off to a good start and challenge for a championship.

Saturday went well as I scored  7th place and 3rd place finishes in the Supersport and Trophy Dash races.  Sunday morning was a completely different situation. 

I awoke to winter temperatures in the 30s and the threat of snow in the weather forecast.  For those unfamiliar with Brainerd International Raceway let me set the stage.  BIR has a mile long Front Straight.  This part of the race track is also used for Drag Racing.  Drag Racing uses a substance called VHT laid down at the beginning of the strip to help provide traction to 1000 horsepower monsters.  Unfortunately VHT has the opposite effect when it gets wet.  This makes the front straight very slick in wet conditions. 

The best description I have heard of BIR’s straight when wet was “Frozen Ball-Bearings slathered in Grease”. 

Race #1 on Sunday Morning was Sportsman Superbike, and Supertwins which is one of the fullest, most diverse grids you will find anywhere with 500cc twins, 400cc fours, Non-Ram air 600cc fours, and 1000cc Twins all on track at the same time split between 4 classes. 

Roughly five minutes prior to the 1st call to grid it started to snow.  There was no time to put the rain tires on so I either had to run what I had or not at all.  Slicks work really well in the dry but not in the wet.  3rd and Final call to grid, I headed out past the tower (where staff member Steve Rogers snapped the picture) to pit road and try not to fall off. 

I remember passing fellow racer Jesse Stoner as I headed out.  Jesse was shaking his head and saying (I think this is what he was saying but my lip-reading skills are what they are) “You’re $*%#&^ NUTS”. 

I proceeded on track did my warm-up lap and started the race.  I nearly crashed 4 or 5 times during that first lap sliding from one side of the track to the other (I guess that ice riding in the winter pays off).  A couple of guys who had made better tire choices had been able to take off and some semblance of normal lap times, but I was about 30 seconds per lap off the pace sliding my brand new slicks at every corner.  I was able to finish in 6th place but I decided that in the future I will most likely skip a race with the combination of BIR, Slicks, Snow, and the Sage advice of Jesse Stoner #61.

By: Mark Miller #88