Commerce, GA This would have been a great day to race if there was no wind. The sun was out, the skies were blue and it was cold as hell. If there was no wind it would have felt fine.

That being said 15 bikes showed up to run, we had the regulars along with a few new faces. Hopefully it will stay that way for the rest of the season, we can always use the motorcycles.

We are running 1/8th mile now for the points series to save time and insurance for the track. So it took some getting used to. For my time trials I was all over the board, I ran a 6.45 and a 6.660. Not what you want to see when you are trying to pick a dial in.

My first race I had to run Zach Hulsey with his all out drag bike. Last year he was running a Bandit because he did not have his license to run the drag bike. He took me out in the first race, I don't know what I was thinking but I let off the throttle even though he was out in front of me. Dain Bramage.

I made the "Walk of Shame" to the tower to buy back in. I am not a huge fan of buy backs, especially in a point series, but I figure if my competitors are doing it, I need to being doing it.

The next race I should have lost because I dialed in at a 6.45 and ran a 6.660 on a .070 light. Gladys was nice enough to break out for me because she felt sorry for me. She knew it would seriously affect my pride and I would never be able to race again if she beat me. (That is my story and I am sticking to it.)

The next race I should have lost also, I raised my dial in fram a 6.45 to a 6.50 after a joint consultation with my significant other Stephanie. Frank cut a .1 something light and I cut an .033. I had a great leave even though my front wheel was about 2 feet off the ground. I shot passed Frank and let off the throttle at the end knowing I could not breakout. Wrong! I ran a 6.48 pass, fortunately Frank broke out worse than I did. Frank and Gladys are partners so I figured he was trying to help my pride also and broke out on purpose. ( This is also my story that I am sticking too.)

The last round Will came out for his first points series race. He cut a great light to my .090, my back tire broke loose all through first gear and I lost. Will was knocked out in the finals by another new face Ryan Cooper. Ryan was consistent all night and will be someone to watch.

The big news is my brother started racing and came in 3rd. He is racing a 1987 GSXR 750 and now wants to buy a Hayabusa.

2 more weeks until Prostar Atlanta.

With the new season Steve Gould will be taking more photos. Check out his site at www.gouldphoto.com. Also I will working on another music video with the new footage I took with what we affectionately call the "CAVCAM".

I would like to thank Tami Pittman for suggesting adding new pictures, she told me she wants new pictures, so she will get new pictures. Have to keep the audience happy. Now if she can only teach me to bowl as easily as it is for me to add pictures...

If there are any other requests I can be emailed at paulcav@earthlink.net.

The following is my calendar for racing. I highly recommend the PROSTAR race at Atlanta Dragway if you can make it. It is quite the show.

3/15 Atlanta Dragway points race #1

3/31-4/1 PROSTAR Atlanta Dragway

4/7 Atlanta Dragway points race #2

4/28 - 4/29 PROSTAR Richmond, VA

5/5 Atlanta Dragway points race #3

5/12 Atlanta Dragway points race #4

6/8 - 6/10 PROSTAR Memphis, TN Night races

6/16 Atlanta Dragway points race #5

7/7 - 7/8 PROSTAR Ohio

7/21 Atlanta Dragway points race #6

8/4 - 8/5 PROSTAR Indianapolis, IN

8/18 Atlanta Dragway points race #7

9/22 Atlanta Dragway points race #8

9/29 - 9/30 PROSTAR Atco, NJ

10/5 - 10/7 NHRA Division 2 finals

11/9 - 11/11 PROSTAR World Finals

  Valdosta, GA. Prostar/ AMA Season opener.

It was good to be back in the saddle again. The weather was a bit chilly with some pretty strong winds, but no rain, all in all a good weekend to race.

Nothing was done to the bike over the off season except checking the clutch out. It is amazing to me that after all of last years racing the clutch looked new. The only thing new for this season was to run VP U4 fuel.

 I have to admit, it was a little rough starting out after a 4 month lay off. My first pass would have been a nice run if I remembered what the yellow light flashing in my face meant. Oh yeah, the shift light, push the button… Next year I’ll have to install the automatic transmission. I also red lighted by -.004, fortunately these were just practice runs. That pass ended up with a 10.047. The second pass I forgot about the yellow light again and ran a 10.136. The third pass was a 9.92 and the last was a 9.90. Now I was feeling it again.

 In my first PRO ET race I cut a .077 light and ran a 9.85 on a 9.90 dial in. Fortunately the other guy broke out worse that I did. The second round I was knocked out because I missed 4^th gear and ran a 10.000 on a 9.90.

 The 2^nd PRO ET race I entered in for Sunday was pretty much the same. I won the first round because the other racer red lit. This was good for me because I ran a 9.89 on that pass. The second round I was knocked out because I was an idiot. Yellow bright light in your face is important.

 Street ET is what I came for and felt good for it. I won the first round because the other guy broke out. The second round I was up against Brandon Teasley who was last years Street ET Champion. He has a new Hayabusa for this year and it looks and runs great. I cut a lousy .131 light to his .047. Although, I had a fantastic launch, at the 1000 ft mark I looked over my shoulder and he was nowhere near me so I let off the throttle. On a 9.95 dial in I ran a 9.88. Next time I need to hit the brakes also.

 The next race is in Atlanta in April. I should do better there as I will have more track time with the local points race and some new toys on my bike…