Download James' Racing Resume Here (PDF) James M Kupernik Forum name:  s a x m a n Hometown:  Dalton, MA Profession:  Web Programmer/Sysadmin Years racing:  1 Status:  Amateur Race number:  576 Race bike:  2005 Honda CBR600RR  (Red/Black) Penske Rear Shock GMD Fork Internals Woodcraft Clipons Woodcraft Rearsets Woodcraft Frame Sliders SS Braided Brake Lines Hotbodies Race Bodywork Akrapovic EVO Titanium Full System Power Commander IIIusb Gear used: Leathers:  Alpinestars GPU Helmet:  Arai Gloves:  Motophilia Boots:  Sidi Vertigo Corsa Back protector:  Bohn Favorite pro rider:  James Toseland Favorite track:  Loudon Personal best:   1:17.55 (dry) 1:28.3 (wet)

I started out riding in 2003 on a 2002 Honda F4i. I had always wanted a sport bike, and when I landed my first fulltime job (Studio Two) I went out and bought myself one, and sure enough, I dropped it on the first day while turning around in the driveway.

After that first session alone, I turned to my father to teach me the basics of riding. We went up to a parking lot and he had me do certain maneuvers to just get a feel for the bike. By then end of the season and the totaling of the bike at Deals Gap in North Carolina, I had put 10,000 miles on that summer … I was hooked.

I replaced the bike in the spring with a 600RR and attended my first track day with Tony's Track Day at Loudon International Speedway in Loudon, NH. I was nervous, but excited at the same time. I was taking some risks on the street and needed another place to ride like I wanted to. What I learned very quickly is that I didn't ride on the street, you can't ride a sport bike on the street. You can move around the roads on a sport bike, but real riding happens at the track.

That day was one of my most memorable. I started of in the Yellow (medium pace) group and after 3 sessions moved up to the Blue (fast) group. I quickly started watching everyone that was faster than me (which was everyone) and just focused on being smooth and building my confidence around the track. I had awesome assistance from the staff and friends from ODFU. By the end of the day I wasn't getting passed as much and just smiled for 2 weeks afterward.

I spent the majority of 2005 at the track doing all of Tony's Track Days, and very little time on the street (1500 miles). Riding on the street leaves me with a sense of wanting more, and it just doesn't seem to be worth the risk that is involved.

 

Neal P Mulcahy Forum name:  SilverDragon Hometown:  Clarksburg, MA Profession:  Sysadmin/Network Engineer Years racing:  <1 Status:  Amateur Race number:  427 Race bike:  1995 Honda RS125   (red) GMD Computrack suspension Dunlop slicks/rains Marchesini wheels RSC frame sliders 2000 HRC Bodywork Aim MyCron laptimer Gear used: Leathers:  Alpinestars GPU Helmet:  Shoei X11 Gloves:  Alpinestars GP Plus Boots:  Sidi Vertebra II Back protector:  Alpinestars Tech-Race Favorite pro rider:  Nicky Hayden Favorite track:  Loudon Personal best:   1:22.27 (dry) 1:30.9 (wet)

At age 8, I got my first two wheeled machine. A Kawasaki 75cc 2 stroke mini bike. From there, I moved up to 125cc dirt bikes (DR125 and CR125 from 1991 until 1994, Cagiva 125 from 1996 to 1997). Eventually, in 1996 I got my first street bike, a 1989 Yamaha FZR600. I never had any friends that rode, so I put a measly 2000 miles on it and then sold it after 2 years. Again in 2003, with Jamie having knowledge of my prior riding experience, let me try his brand new Honda CBR600 F4i and I was hooked again. About a month later, I bought my 2003 Yamaha R6.

Fast forward to today. I've done 3 track days with Tony's Track Days, taken the R6 to The Tail of the Dragon twice and love it all even more than when I first got back into it. In early August 2006, I bought a 1995 Honda RS125 GP bike to go racing with in 2007. on 8/29/06, I'll be taking the RS125 up to NHIS for a track day, then if all goes well, taking the Penguin Race School on Friday 9/1/06 and racing 9/2/06. I'm not expecting to be fast, or to win any races, but I'm going out there to have fun and get a feel for road racing. Here is where you'll find how I'm doing!