Sunday's MRA Event 9-24

[mtnairlover]

Being that I'm such a newbie and have a little over a year under my belt riding, I thought I'd head down to the races on Sunday to see what all the "hype" was about. I'm glad I went and particularly glad I took Mel along with me.

This was the first time I had seen a race up-close and personal. I'd been to races at Bandimere, but that's a straight track and the kind of skill required to cross the finish line there is completely different than the skill I witnessed on Sunday.

Let me just say this...I was humbled by the skill level of the riders on that course. I know I will never be at that skill level only because I can understand now what it takes to get out on the race track. I've got just enough skill to go at my own pace through the canyons and back country roads of this state...and to be honest, that's all I really need. But, those riders out there on Sunday...the way they rode made me understand what it takes. I could feel the adrenaline rush. It was intoxicating, yet scary, all at the same time. I found myself feeling a sort of joy watching some of the riders taking the corners. The control it took to round those curves at high speeds was completely amazing and beautiful to watch.

Taking Mel with me meant I also got a really good play-by-play explanation of the riding styles and skill levels out on the track...from Novice to Expert, as well as the Sportsmen's class. Oh, and then, because she was there, I got to meet some of the racers of the MRA. I was glad to meet all of them.

My only complaint had to do with my camera. It's only good for so much...I definitely need a telescopic lens to get the intesity I see in close-up shots taken by the experts of motorcycle racers. But, I think I like the sideline just for that reason...I went through 4 rolls of film and there were still races going on when I was out.

Just a few of the pics from the races on Sunday, Sept 24.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/jennyinthemiddle.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/14leaning.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/hangten.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/victory.jpg

[Canuck]

Sorry I never introduced myself to you yesterday. I remember seeing you hanging out with Mel. Now I can put a face to your posts :) I was the shmuck on the blue and red Ducati. Too bad you didn't get any pictures of my "Superman'esque" highside moment :o
I'm glad that you had fun. I have yet to meet anyone that hasen't had a good time at the races.

[Feathered upstart!]

Sorry I never introduced myself to you yesterday. I remember seeing you hanging out with Mel. Now I can put a face to your posts :) I was the shmuck on the blue and red Ducati. Too bad you didn't get any pictures of my "Superman'esque" highside moment :o
I'm glad that you had fun. I have yet to meet anyone that hasen't had a good time at the races.

I got crushed between two trucks on my way out:banghead:
Sucked the fun right out of it:drink:

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Heh...everyone loves taking pics of that green shithouse in turn 7.

[mtnairlover]

Heh...everyone loves taking pics of that green shithouse in turn 7.

ugh!...you noticed it?:lol:

Damn...gotta go back and crop those pics! Oh, and I've got lots more on CD, cuz I'm just a tad "special" and don't have a digi camera, so if you guys were out there on Sunday and can give me yer race #, I can see if I caught ya on film and will send it to ya via PM.

[rybo]

Cathy,

It was great to meet you in person and I'm glad you came down to the races!

I'm 728 if you have a couple pics of me getting beaten by Jenny (BTW, Jenny Nice riding this weekend, you've really come a long way this season!)

Also check out Margaret Oliver's site, she comes to all the races with a high $$ digital SLR and takes some great pictures!

http://mra.uber-wheels.com

Good times!

[mtnairlover]

Also check out Margaret Oliver's site, she comes to all the races with a high $$ digital SLR and takes some great pictures!

http://mra.uber-wheels.com

Good times!

Damn! Great pics! K, so now I'm thinking...hmmmm...camera - bike, camera - bike. Nah...I'm getting my bike back, there's no doubt in my mind...I'll just have to wait about another um say 10 years for a fancy shmancy camera like that one, with all the bells and whistles (j/k). It sure does make a difference though. Those pics are amazing.:)

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

Cathy-

Just kidding with you...those are some nice pics. Hopefully, you can get your bike back and give the track a shot yourself. Sounds like you have some good guidance available if/when you need it.

[mtnairlover]

Cathy-

Just kidding with you...those are some nice pics. Hopefully, you can get your bike back and give the track a shot yourself. Sounds like you have some good guidance available if/when you need it.

Meh...not to worry. I was sittin' down at the PC last night messing around with the pics in Photoshop and not one of them was a close-up shot, so I had to zoom in as far as they would go without pixelating like crazy. As I cropped, I realized that shit-can was in all the shots...oh well, at least none of the riders ended up crashed in it.:oops:

Anyway, yea, I can't wait to get my bike back even though it'll be all broken up still, at least I'll be riding. Definitely going to go pick up some JB Weld for that cracked case cover. Not too sure about playing around on a race track...although, with the right prodding, I might just find myself out on the track on a track day next year. Ya never know.;)

[rybo]

Cathy,

It's a totally great place to practice skills that you don't want to practice on the street, like emergency braking. My first track day was a massive discovery of how much capability the bike really had and how far from the "edge" I really was. I still ride like I'm invisible on the street and I haven't changed my street riding dramatically since then, but I feel like I have a much larger safety margin these days than I ever did in the past. I love riding on the track.....no sand, no oncoming traffic and I really can go through a corner as fast as I want to.....I hope you decide to come out and give it a try sometime.

S

[cosp600rr]

Thanks for coming out to watch the races. Its always nice to see people at the track enjoying what we do for fun. I am # 115 if you have any pics of me

[Bassil Duwaik]

those are some nice pics, gotta get me a track bike!!

[DeeStylez]

Definetly looks like plenty of skill is needed to take them curves at high speed...not sure if the tracks are closed for the year but I would like to go and watch. Probably never go as far as track riding but does seem like fun :up:

[mtnairlover]

Sorry I never introduced myself to you yesterday. I remember seeing you hanging out with Mel. Now I can put a face to your posts :) I was the shmuck on the blue and red Ducati. Too bad you didn't get any pictures of my "Superman'esque" highside moment :o
I'm glad that you had fun. I have yet to meet anyone that hasen't had a good time at the races.

Yeah, I get it...it was that weird ass hairdo of mine and the bucked teeth, not to mention that funky hitch in my git-along that made you turn the other way when you saw Mel and me coming down the road;):lol: j/k

See, this is just so not fair...you get to put a face to my posts, but I still have no idea who you are...um, yea I tried the "my space" thing, my PC said, "Where the hell do you want me to go? I don't think so, lady!"

I missed the highside...was it on Sunday? I did catch a cloud of dust right before turn 7 out of the corner of my eye when my face was buried in my camera. Missed that one too, but the rider got up right away and was walking around.

[mtnairlover]

Definetly looks like plenty of skill is needed to take them curves at high speed...not sure if the tracks are closed for the year but I would like to go and watch. Probably never go as far as track riding but does seem like fun :up:

Here's something cool...you can see the difference in skill level in these two pics. The powder blue bike is our own Jenny...she's novice...the other guy, #14 I have no idea who he is, but he was in the expert class...he was going a whole lot faster in his race. Notice how he's leaning a lot longer out of that turn than the novices.

Oh, a little note to those asking for photos...it may take a couple of days...I'm also doing class work in the evenings. I'll send them to ya via PM if I find any.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/jennyinfront_sm.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l12/mtnairlover/number14_sm.jpg

[Bueller]

the other guy, #14 I have no idea who he is, but he was in the expert class...he was going a whole lot faster in his race. Notice how he's leaning a lot longer out of that turn than the novices.

:spit: You mean Mel didn't tell you who #14 was?

http://www.mra-racing.org/index.cfm?action=results_2006&page=riderRESULTS&racerNUMBER=14

[*GSXR~SNAIL*]

http://www.mra-racing.org/index.cfm?action=results_2006&page=riderRESULTS&racerNUMBER=14

Hehe...probably the fastest to run the track?

[rybo]

Yeah,

Shane is pretty quick.....:D

[mtnairlover]

:spit: You mean Mel didn't tell you who #14 was?


Ahhh...now I know...thank you. Those were some awesome stats. He sure is a thrill to watch.