Sebring Disappointment....

Me before the accident...

This was going to be my first shot at a RAAM qualifier.  Sebring 12/24hr race came and I was ready.  My legs were overdone physically from an emergency stop a couple of weeks before the race, but I knew that if I were to keep my power level low, that I could make 400 easily if I had it mentally.
Friday afternoon I showed up, pitched the tent and headed out for a nice pre-ride with Kent Polk, Allan Duhm and a few other new friends.  It was fun to chat it up again.  After the ride, I headed back to the tent and prepped for dinner.  It was cool to sit
across the table from so many great riders: John and Jacquie Schlitter, Jim Kern, and Tim Woudenburg.  We had a good time and after that I headed into town to get some much needed supplies. 
Off to bed I went...at 12:30 some people showed up and pitched a tent in a not so quiet way and this kept me up for an  hour before I went back to sleep.  No problem as sleep is what I was going to lack the next night so why not this night...
At 4 in the morning I awoke to the alarm and I started my morning ritual and was ready to check in.  I rolled up to the starting line and as the horn went off, I was off.  I tried not to go oout too fast and it is hard when the testosterone is pumping and people are pulling away.  Doing my best, I stayed back and got my 3 laps in and was escorted out of the track by John Schlitter who assured me I didn't do too many laps.
Out on the road, I did well.  I would roll up hills and keep power at a minimum.  Maria Parker caught me as she was doing the 100 and we chatted for a bit before she walked away from me.  I was amazed at how strong she was.  Jim Kern came next in the velo.  He came slow and I watched him looking like a space ship pulling beside me.  He opened his visor and we talked and laughed before he pulled away.  I passed him up the hill to the lake and then he bombed past me like I was standing still.  I made it up to the turn around and passed my chip in the box.  The ride back was less forgiving.  The crosswinds were brutal and I was wishing for a lower profile front wheel than the Firecrest 404.  I was still managing a 22.7 average when a car from the left at a stop sign decided to pull out and broadside me from my left.  I got hit by an SUV!!!!   I watched in slow motion as my bike and the SUV exploded in pieces around me.  I flew a ways almost to the stop sign on the right side of the road.
The rest was a blur.  The woman called 911 and the police and I lay on the grass not wanting to get up.  I hurt all over.  The ambulance came and helped me up and checked me over noting nothing was broken noticeably and that I wouldn't need stitches in the gash on my left leg.  My M5 was in pieces; broken fork, wheels, frame cracked, seat damaged, and pieces of components like my headlight and speedo were disconnected from the bike.  My helmet was off my head and so was my headset and glasses.
John and my crew, Jeff Clark, came and got my bike and gave me a lift to the track where I changed and crewed for a bit before loading up and going home.  On the way home, I checked myself into Bartow Regional Medical Center for a full set of scans and x-rays.  The doctors couldn't find anything other than massive bruising and contusions, cuts and scrapes, some rod rash, but they did find a bulged disc.  I will have to see an orthopedic surgeon for follow up and hopefully I can get back to normal soon.
For the sake of me and others just wanting to get over that day, I will not post any pics.  I don't want to remember it.  I just want to get back on my bike and ride.
I want to thank Jeff Clark, my crew chief from LeRoy's Bikeworks, for coming to get me and for buying me a beer to help cool me down and to John Schlitter for coming as well and calling my parents and letting them know I was OK.  Vite and LeRoy's members are the best and if you are ever in the Bradenton or Lakeland area give the shop a call and come and shop!