| Author | Message | ||
     Grndskpr |
Just got back from the mile, and while i am a huge fan of road racing, this race like no other has made me decide its time to back to the roots of racing motorcycles in the US, it had a great feel, great people, and was more lie home, i was able to spend time with the racers and crew, learn a few things, ans actually see what happens very very good time, i would like to take the time out to thank Bomber for allowing me to tag along on the trip and for generally being an outstanding tour guild so here goes The ride down while a nice ride is fun, but it is Illionis after all, but one of the high spots is the stop at the only(we think) covered bridge in the state, kinda cool  this is Bomber doing his litle i found the bridge dance  | ||
| Grndskpr |
First night is the short track, and i have to say the grounds were out of this world, they really do put on a great show  | ||
| Grndskpr |
And the racing was fantastic  it was cool to be able to see the racers after each heat  | ||
| Grndskpr |
Its also very hard to get good pics, i need to talk to them and ask if they could please slow down so i could get a good one  But i tried, sorry its the best i could do  | ||
| Outrider |
Roger...Great pics and report. Wish I could have tagged along. Perhaps next year. Looking for an old guys updated concept (read: made for creaky bones) of looking for the roots of US Motorcycle Racing... Try this!  Needless to say, I can never resist an opportunity to post this pic. Hope someday some manufacturer catches on. | ||
| Outrider |
If you want to see another variation of old style racing, check out the Midwestern Scrambles usually done on the infield of a half mile fairgrounds track. Those two events are where my family got into the sport after WWII. Then they all jumped into the truck and raced in Daytona each spring in the days of the beach race. Is a combination of TT and Early Motocross with its combination of dirt, sand, tight turns and some low jumps tossed in. Some SuperMoto venues are close to the format, but there is just something about seeing the old style machinery that really gives you the involvement and the feeling that you could do it. There are a few events in Wisconsin each year but Illinois has more. Will check with the AMA and see if there are any remaining events this year. Won't be the Glitz of Springfield, but it will be a lot of local gladiators with a smile from ear to ear and fans to match. | ||
| Grndskpr |
A few computer problems, let continue there always has to be a winner and loosers  Chris Carr did well for most of the main, but didnt have enuff, but my understanding is that h is a better representative than he was However #33 finished on the top of the box  | ||
| Grndskpr |
For thoose who have not been to the Mile, its held on Sunday, on a horse track, all clay, and is much bigger in person than on TV, its got some tracion, but there's a lot of concrete in every corner, but very cool none the less  | ||
| Grndskpr |
Aother cool thin thats done is ABATE of IL, doe a fund raiser for themseves, they charge for a lap around the mile, very cool to be on the track after practice and before the semis start, you get to ride by the grand stands and get a real i dea of what the riders are doing, but at a much slower speed, but it was funn none the less However it kinda tuff to take pics and ride at the same time, but here is the effort  | ||
| Grndskpr |
A few more from the track, did i mention its a pain to ride and take pics??   | ||
| Grndskpr |
We also got to walk around the pits, and spoted some interesting bikes, as most of you might know, the bike of choice is the HD XR750, but Suzuki is trying and there are others, very cool to see   | ||
| Grndskpr |
But HD is still the strongest of the bikes there   | ||
| Grndskpr |
a few more   | ||
| Grndskpr |
The following are the staging area for before you get on the track, and the hot box, if a rider goes down, you are required to go to the hot box, not allowed to enter the pits, keeps people honest    | ||
| Grndskpr |
the rest are just random pics from the race, hope you enjoy    | ||
| Grndskpr |
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| Grndskpr |
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| Grndskpr |
The way home was a nice ride up OLD 66, or at least what was left of it, and we had to stop at the historic GAS stop Hope you enjoy the pics later R  | ||
| José_quiñones |
excellent shots!!! Hagerstown got cancelled due to rain this year, so I have to wait for my dirt track "fix" till next year. Well there's always the Timonium, MD concrete flat track in the winter.... | ||
| Easy_rider |
Great pics! Glad to see you're on two wheels. Keep me in mind if you go next year. I should go over a couple times a year and squeezing in a race would be a plus. | ||
| Court |
Great pics, great report! Still my favorite racing! | ||
| Grndskpr |
Interesting side note, from talking to the guys who run the Aprilla flat track bike, the "gas tank" is the air box, and comes from an outboard motor, the gas tank was to small if they got into the final(they were going to have a bigger one made, but found out at the race) and the slipper clutch can be made to work or not just by conecting vacume lines, very,very grass roots level, and very nice guys The suzuki team, was way set up, but it looked as if other guys were trying to run the Suzuki with limited success, but again cool none the less Really amazed me the willing ness of people to talk about there bikes, and what they have done, or who did it, lots o fun, and if you ever get the chance you should get a look at it R | ||
| Newfie_buell |
Great Shots Roger | ||
| Mikej |
Nice shots, and the on-track shots look like they're in motion. Would they let you cross it up any, or did they require you to keep the speed down?  | ||
| Grndskpr |
Would they let you cross it up any, or did they require you to keep the speed down? NO WAY am i going to cross up a 700 lbs bike, on clay, infront of what looked to be 1 million fans, i watch people do that at the BRAG event at Road America, and realized,a- i am no racer b- i would prefer to be called stupid for something i said than something i did c- its just for fun, and destrying a bike on a parade lap, is just not fun in my book But to each his own Now if someone wanted to donatate a bike for dirt track racing, and was willing to teach me a little, thats a different story R | ||
| Mikej |
 I used to cross up the old hardtail knucklehead with the extended springer I had on dirt and gravel logging roads way back in the olden days. Great fun. I'm going to have to make it down to that track one of these years. Should have more time to ride next summer. (Message edited by mikej on September 07, 2004) | ||
| Bomber |
also, crossing it up on a street bike would possibly foul up the surface of the track, which they'd spent alot of time preparing (thanks for the great job, btw, to Dave from IL HD-Buell), and I'm here to tell you, it's no fun hitting a rut or divot in a clay track! thanks to grounder for the great company, the assistance after my gear-related anomoly, and to the racers and track folks for a great job! grewat racing, no serious injuries, wonderful venue, and . . . . . we managed to do Rte 66 almost all the way home -- didn't cost much time at all, and much more engagin than the slab! | ||
| Blake |
Great stuff! Thanks Roger! And I can almost feel the beat from the Bomber found the bridge celebratory dance. Though I'm sure it has to be seen in person to really be appreciated. With what tune does that dance go? I'm thinking the beginning of CCR's "Fortunate Son." | ||
| Grndskpr |
Some hippy song, i am sure i would not even recognize, I am almost sure it would be something by T-REX?????????Bang a gong maybe?????????? Dont even know who that is, but i am just a youngster after all R | ||
| Grndskpr |
I just noticed, what a squid, has a helmet but decided not to put it on Gezzzzzzzzzzzzzzz R | ||
| Bomber |
Blake Run through the Jungle, of course! or, these days, Gimp through the Jungle like Grounder sez, some hippy song her wouldn't recognize {grin} (credit his knowledge of TRex to a terrifying afternoon in southern wisconsin/northern illinois, and a little too much enthusiasm in blind corners and hills -- my bad) yeah, no lid, and almost 35 MPH!!!!!! yikes! |
