Chris,
As a Rookie, I knew the objective of the measured speed trap was to get a speed cert at near tech speed. What I didn't know was exactly where it was. I'd also heard of talk about checkpoint 3 and checkpoint 6 and all kinds of other things.
So come race day I'm wondering where I'll find that measured speed trap. I come across a huge number 3 sign on the right-hand side of the course, and I tell myself... "okay that must be checkpoint 3."
haha
Yea..... next up I see a big number 2 sign and I'm asking myself "why would checkpoint 2 be after checkpoint 3? Or is that an ambulance station?"
But there was nothing else there.
...ohhhhh....
And the big number 1 sign comes into view while my pea-brain is still figuring it out. I managed to top out at 118.9 for the radar, though I'd been traveling at about 120 most of the time. First year... I missed it too.
oh, and I was in the 105 class; finished fastest in class that year at 108 MPH.
Don't feel alone. 
Asa Jay