Pocketbike race, Immokalee - October 5th, 2008

The Immokalee track started a bit wet (more on that later) but dried out quickly in the sun. I hadn't ridden my pocketbike since the last time I was here at Immokalee back in June, so I used the first practice session to get familiar with the bike again. My GRC felt good but the red springs I put in the clutch were causing it to engage too high - I couldn't back the tension off anymore so I had to ride it "as is".

Here are the helmetcam videos. The camera's angle was set down a bit too much, but you still get to see all of the immediate action.

Heat 1 was fairly non-eventful. There are some shots of Rick and Teresa at the start, and there are some glimpses of Ricky up ahead every now and then.
VIDEO - Heat 1 [24.2M]

Heat 2 was my favorite race of the day with quite a bit of excitement.
I started on the front row and battled with Derek at the start through turns 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, until he came around me in turn 6. I stuck on him through turns 7, 8, 9, 10, and back into 1.
In turn 2 Darrell sneaks by and I hang with him through turn 3. Darrell blasts inside of Derek into turn 4 but Derek immediately takes his position back through the exit. I get beside Darrell down the short straight and close the door in turn 5, but Darrell gets a good drive and passes me down the back straight.
Diggie jumps into the mix into turn 6 and I try and hold on through the remaining turns, but there is a gap starting to open as we head past turn 1.
Diggie makes a slight mistake into turn 3 which put me close again but by the back straight Derek, Darrell, and Diggie are beginning to break away.
Diggie drives to the inside of Darrell in turn 3 and Darrell's front tire is clipped sending him to the tarmac.
Darrell quickly remounts and battles with me through turns 4 and 5 until he overtakes me down the back straight. He remains in reach through turns 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and back to 1 and then he starts to pull away until both his and Diggie's bikes break down.
I pull out a second place through attrition!
VIDEO - Heat 2 [24.3M]

I felt like I was going to do well in the main race, but during the first lap in the chicane I made a decision that sent me sliding through the infield swamp. My bike ingested water and died and I couldn't get my bike restarted. I was disappointed that my main race ended this way, but someone got my attention and said they were red flagging the race and I would get a chance to rejoin!
Thanks to my dad and Scott for helping me get my bike relit and back on the grid. It definitely sounded "blubbery" and wanted to die if I let it drop to idle. My lap times were almost 2 seconds off my pace during the heats, so I didn't place as well as I wanted (5th), but at least the bike sounded like it had dried out by the end of the race and it would even idle!
VIDEO - Main race [34.9M]