Hey Listers, Thought I'd drop a few lines about this weekend's adventures at Texas World Speedway. Myself and fellow lister, Kevin Hunter, stormed into the Texas World Speedway this past weekend to do our first real trackday. We were also signed up for the CRMA Racing Schools certification so we can transfer that certification over to AHRMA and get our racing license with AHRMA. I left Saturday with my '75 400f loaded on my bike trailer. I rode 90% of the 5.5 hour drive to Houston in the rain. Just as I got into Houston, the rain stopped. A few miles later, I pulled into my pal Kevin's drive way. First order of business was for Kevin to look over my bike, while I looked over his 350f racer. His bike is really nice and coming together a little ahead of mine for AHRMA racing. We took the bikes out around his place and did some high speed "road tests" on my bike, just to make sure it wouldn't hand grenade later on the track. So, Monday rolls around and we were up bright and early at 3:00 am to ride to College Station, TX were Texas World Speedway is located. On the way, we met up with a friend of Kevin's, Clayton. I had met Clayton before at Kevin's. Clayton was registered with his Triumph Speed Triple, and it is one sweet bike! We pulled into the gates at about 7a, got set up and went through tech inspection. In looking around, Kevin and I quickly noted that of the 80 registered riders, we were the only old bikes. And let me tell you, I honestly think that we got more looks and compliments that any other bikes there. Several people stopped by to look and chat. It was really nice to hear their stories and see the smiles our old bikes brought to them. Kevin and I were registered in the "C" class of riders, thats for the slowest, newest riders. I asked if they would open a "D" class for me, the officials laughed, I was kinda serious. By now, I was 80% terrified, 20% excited. The first time on the track, Kevin and I were sitting on our bikes, at the "pit out" gate, and the head of the track day stopped by and looked our bikes over and was thrilled to see them, said he felt young again to see them. The first time on the track, 4 riders followed an instructor, so we could get a feel for the track. As we would come around back to the start of the track, the rider behind the instructor would slow down and drop back and the next rider would then follow the instructor. We each did that twice each and then exited the track. We went around at a nice slow pace, but I was getting nervous about all this, and I felt like I was falling behind. We got off the track and waited to get called again, this time as a "C" group and no instructor to follow. My stomach was doing flips... Then, we got the call and out we went. That 20 minute track session was good, I was happy. The only "interesting" event was on the 3rd lap when a rider went around me, got about 25 feet ahead of me and realized he'd messed up and couldn't make the turn, so he went flying off the track. He was Ok, and I watched him crash in slow motion... He complained to the track officials, saying I was going too slow, but they quickly told him that he was responsible for passing, and he screwed up (the track is 40 feet wide, mind you...). One instructor came over to talk to me and he was VERY reassuring, took his time to talk to me, and explain they had decided it was his fault, that I had done nothing wrong. Still kinda shook me up. Over the course of the day, there were 2 riders taken to the hospital (not the one that passed me, thankfully) and probably about 12 crashes total. We went out on the track for a few more sessions, and I felt a little better each time. I got passed by everyone, but that's Ok. I had a really good time. Both Kevin and I got our racing certifications. I have decided I need at least one track school before I race and I need a few more track days. Thats Ok, they are fun. Both bikes ran perfectly without any problems. I encourage anyone interested to visit and participate in a local track day in your area. Our old bikes get some really nice compliments, and I'll say, they can certainly go plenty fast enough! In the long straight, Kevin and I were approaching 100 MPH! What a great weekend!
Bud in New Orleans _________________________________________________________________ Watch high-quality video with fast playback at MSN Video. Free! http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200365ave/direct/01/
