<:> Thank you for stopping by to check out our site, and taking the time to look into this section to see what all I'm thinking about the team's progress, and our plans for the future.

<:> From the bike set up standpoint, I'm feeling good in that area. We were able to get last seasons bike back together, and is nearly ready to rock and roll. We have basically rebuilt the entire bike from the ground up. We have new parts, which have all be upgraded with better parts. I'm excited to see how it will run. We plan to have that completed in the next couple weeks, and ready for the track. I do need to start training very soon, and get myself prepared for the track as well, but that can't really begin until the bike is together.

<:> From a financial standpoint, we have some work to do in this area. We are working on building the racing account up, but this has been our biggest difficulty for the past couple years. (2015-2016) We just need to focus on this area, and if we can get that organized, we will do fine. It is just a learning process right now, and we are working on it. (trying to fine tune the budget in an effort to make it work, and work well) It cost so much to run one of these things these days, and you have to have a very good, strong, and solid budget plan to make things work.

<:> As far as everything else goes, things are starting to come together. We have some areas to improve in, but we are starting to go in the right direction. Our main focus right now is the financial side of things, and getting sponsors ready to go and all that good stuff.

That's all I have right now, but I will be posting my thoughts on things as the season progresses. Check back often. See you at the track, and as always, thank you for your continued support of Tick Racing Team.

<:> Overall, it was a great day for Tick Racing, and myself. We did not pick up a win, but we did get a heat win, and had a solid day. I honestly think I ran better than the last race back in May. Starts were better than expected, but still a bit slower than the others. The only part of was down on myself the whole day was in the first heat race where I let my guard down on the final straight, and got passed while running 2nd place, but it was a heat race, and I can live with that. 

<:> The focus next time out will be the 2nd half of the track. I know our starts are slower, but we can make up ground on the second half, so that will be my focus, so I can make up any ground that we loose on the starts. 

<:> The gears I'm running are so far different than what everyone else is running, but I'm not 100% sure I want to change them, as the top speed is very competitive. Just a bit slower on the starts. I think if we can get out on the track more often, it is a matter of time before I get that first ever feature win at that track. We just need to get the financial backing that the others have, and we will be fine. 

Until next time, go fast, have fun, and be safe.

My thoughts about the points situation. I think to start would be by saying that I do drive for a awesome team. I helped build this team from the ground up back in 2002, and plan to drive with them for the rest of my career at this time. The only thing I'd like to see change is that we need to get a sponsor to get back on the track full time. That is what needs to be done if we are going to get that top 100 in the final year points in our district. 

About dropping in points, that is tough man. It sucks. I know it is because we have not been to the track in nearly a month now, and that is killing our chances, and we are almost at the mid way point in our season, so that is the biggest thing, get back on the track, and make the feature events so we can take the points from that. 

I have been asked by other drivers why we have not been back. Let me answer that. We are racing on a very limited budget right now, as we have no sponsors paying at this time. It is all out of pocket right now, and it is killing our shot at making our goal for the year. I know the team is doing everything we can, we just need luck to turn our way a little bit. I have also been working on balancing family time, and shop/track time, so that is a big thing with me as well. Family is very important to me. But to sum it up, the reason we have not been out to the track as much as we would like to is due to the being under funded issue we have going on right now. When we do get more funding, I'm sure we will be back in action on a more regular basis. It is frusterating at times, but there is only so much we can do. 

What is next? Well, the bike is about ready to roll, so I need to get it out to a place I practice jumps, and then after that, we go to another place where I can practice speed, and cornering more. I think a lot of it is the speed, and being smooth. Also my starts need to improve. We can really only work on that during practice/testing at the track, as we need the starting gate to work on timing more. 

That is all I have right now, but I'll be sure to update again next Friday night, or before if something happens before that time with my thoughts, and insights that may be of interest to others. Until that time, ride hard, ride safe, and have fun. See ya.

-Tornado-