justin's track day pics

this was my first ever track time... 'everybodyinthehousesay-YAAYY'

OMG..
i think i like this thing... exciting, scary, exhilarating, intimidating, gleeful, ...can we do it again?

..

Go Fast

High Plains Raceway... most of you have heard... is open.

I got one of those gifts that just maybe a life changer... a half day pass to run my bike on open motorcycle track day May 18th.

I am just a wee bit excited. Got my buddies leathers out of his closet.. they fit, barely ... a wee snug but that is how they should fit. I am picking up some Dunlop Qualifiers that are more sticky than my Metzler RoadTec Z6 sport touring meats.

Yee ha. Chris sounds like he is going to go run some laps too and hope more Twisted Ones will join us...

Being this will be my first time on a track, and my 1999 R1100S is a big bike... i will take it easy and get the feel of it all as I get comfortable and all. A friend does have a race only gixxer 750 that he has not run in a while (Dwight who owns the leathers that he would not fit in now... ) perhaps I can play on his bike if I start 'contributions to the parts bin' and pay for track time for him too... good trade.

:-)

just a wee bit excited.

new ride

the joy of motorcycling

It was a good day. Unfortunately good days do not always have cameras or video feeds attached to share with those not in the moment partaking of the reason to smile. The only picture is this...

Laura and I in the parking lot across from Ed's Cantinna in Estes Park.

The ride started Sunday 22 of March in the downtown Loveland Safeway parking lot at US Hwy 287 and 8th St. with Jim from Estes, Dan from Berthoud, Doug from Fort Collins, Justin and Laura and our two friends who ride American Steel... (Shane and Bobbi) honorable mention goes to Gilliam who showed up in his BMW... pejorative word 'in' as he could not make the ride drove over a few blocks from his house to say 'hi.'

With Dan sporting his bright green Olympia jacket in the rear of seven riders I led the group West on 1st Street out to SCR 29 then South. Unknown to most in the group I wanted to beep at my kid while she was at her mom's. We continued south along the foot hills to Hwy 66 in Longmont at the intersection just North of the center of the small town of Hygiene. Turning West again in the perfect weather of not too cold not too hot we waived at the one officer of the law to be seen by us that day sitting in Lyon's. Heading South by West out of Lyons we pointed up Hwy 7.

Now Jim and Laura were right behind me as I wound the throttle to 60 mph and the group separated in two. With practically no one else on the road and perfect pavement perfect weather and perfect grins we carved gracious arcs up the mountain.

Moments like that define the joy of motorcycling. Clean roads, good temps, just one or two cars to remind us that we were dancing up the mountain free of cages and to mark our progress by to be recalled again and again when the ice is down and the weather not keen for two wheels.

Waiting for the group to collect at the intersection where the Peak to Peak turns to Nederland we all lined up happy. From this point the mountains were so magically vivid that they seemed to be a dream as we progressed North up to the town of Estes for lunch where the above photo was taken. Perhaps Doug got some video or Dan the group shot... but what we all took away was the smile.

After eating a good lunch at 11, the group headed straight down the canyon with this time Jim leading Justin on a hard romp using every bit of tire, with Doug and Laura a bit back at their speed and the rest of team happy canyon coming along at their pace just as full of grins. We collected at that Damn Store to laugh and loose a few layers.

A good day.

you can set up your phone to post blogs to this blog

one of the tough things today is so many things to do and keep track of... kind of like when you want to ride to work but need to wear that nice suite and carry the computer and a bunch of files and all you have is stinky leather...

if only santa would being me a brand new roadcrafter aerostitch... but alas...

dirty leather and stinky coats is all that we have ... however, to blog and fill the bit-sphere with ranks rants and video of places from bikes... well. i just set my mobile phone up to send from it so hopefully, i will start sharing and it will inspire you other skid marks to do like kind.

as for the monday meeting the 19th, i am starting a sword training course in loveland... see you on the roads.