Warchild
Benevolent Dictator
And an adventure it surely was.... and quite challenging at times, thanks to the never-ending crap weather we've had out West this Spring.
Background:
Last year, 20-year-old daughter Lauryn and I rode to Tooele, Utah for World Superbike races. It was beyond awesome - excellent weather, terrific racing, you couldn't ask for more. We decided to make it an annual pilgrimage. This is this year's story.....
Here we are late Thursday afternoon, May 26th, about to run to the gas station to fill up the bikes before last minute packing and grabbing some sleep before the midnight departure. Lauryn is riding her mighty, mighty Kawasaki Ninja 500, I am on my Gen II Hayabusa:
At midnight, we are up and heading towards questionable weather as we ride south and east into the dark night and heavy deer country that comprises the Blues Mountain range in northeastern Oregon. Here Lauryn refuels the mighty Ninja at the Shell station in Baker City, Oregon:
Day 1 Trackside:
We arrive the first day to decent weather (well... dry weather, anyway), which was a good thing after riding 700 miles in some unseasonably cold temps. Here, Lauryn backs in her Ninja next to my Hayabusa at the motorcycle-only parking lot at the track:
On our way to the paddock, we of course had to check out all the vendor areas and check out the latest models. Here I get a chance to sit on a machine a LOT of folks are eagerly awaiting to arrive on our shores later this fall: the all-new Yamaha Super Ténéré:
Over near the display for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, a familiar tall blond dude was seen talking to race fans: former AMA and World Superbike Champion, SPEEDTV commentator and 5-time Daytona winner, Scott Russell!!
I have not really cared much for the BMW marque over the years, but below is one BMW that I definitely would own in a heartbeat, if I ever hit the Lotto. The BMW S 1000 RR is an unbelievably fast, hot motorcycle, and incredibly well-balanced, compact machine. I want one someday.
That morning saw all the various teams doing their First Qualifying Sessions, so I was keen to try to snag a decent photo of my favorite racer, Ben Bostrom. This year, Ben is is riding the black/red #23 bike from the Michael Jordan Suzuki satellite team this. Here is Ben coming off the track and about to enter Pit Row at the end of the First Qualifying Session:
Since the weather was looking iffy after that first day, Lauryn decided to try to get in her Superbike "Hot Lap" that first day. The Yamaha Champions Riding School Instructors normally take folks on these rides, but amazingly enough, they had a special Guest Rider join the staff for 2-up rides that day.... Scott Russel!!!!!
I told Lauryn a little bit about Scott Russell's career, and she said, "Dad, I am going to tell Scott Russell he has to carry me around the track!" I told her that it is liable to be quite the eye-opening experience if she drew Scott as her rider. With a devil-gleam in her eye, she said: "I am counting on it!"
And she was successful... Scott Russell took her around at great speed, and she just about scrapped a kneepad! Here is Lauryn and Scott Russell after their Hot Lap:
Lauryn stands above the AMA paddock in the late afternoon, looking down over the Graves Yamaha and Rockstar/Mikita Suzuki pits:
Overall, Day 1 at the track was mighty awesome... quasi-decent weather, and Lauryn was thoroughly jazzed from her Scott Russell hot lap..... at the end of that first day, Daddy and Daughter were tired, but pretty happy:
Day 2 Trackside:
Without question, Day 2 was pretty horrible.... the worst weather you can have while racing. 39 degrees, raining like a ***** when we arrived....
Here is a picture that pretty much sums it up.... while Lauryn was smiling for the camera, she exclaimed, "Dad, this weather just sucks ***"!
Another shot that shows what a crapola day it was thanks to the rain/cold..... here are all the AMA factory and satellite trucks lined up behind the paddock....
Here is Roger Lee Hayden, freezing his *** off in the icy rain on the National Guard Suzuki GSXR1000 #54 bike during Second Session of Qualifying:
Later that afternoon, Lauryn laments the brutal cold/wet by pouting that lower lip:
Still and all, we still had mighty good fun, even if we were wishing for portable Heat-Trollers by the end of the day.... even with full riding coats, we were two frozen popsicles by 5pm....
I am sure the scene below was played out by many a rider to Miller Motorsports Park today.... boots and gloves needs a lot of drying after today!
Background:
Last year, 20-year-old daughter Lauryn and I rode to Tooele, Utah for World Superbike races. It was beyond awesome - excellent weather, terrific racing, you couldn't ask for more. We decided to make it an annual pilgrimage. This is this year's story.....
Here we are late Thursday afternoon, May 26th, about to run to the gas station to fill up the bikes before last minute packing and grabbing some sleep before the midnight departure. Lauryn is riding her mighty, mighty Kawasaki Ninja 500, I am on my Gen II Hayabusa:
At midnight, we are up and heading towards questionable weather as we ride south and east into the dark night and heavy deer country that comprises the Blues Mountain range in northeastern Oregon. Here Lauryn refuels the mighty Ninja at the Shell station in Baker City, Oregon:
Day 1 Trackside:
We arrive the first day to decent weather (well... dry weather, anyway), which was a good thing after riding 700 miles in some unseasonably cold temps. Here, Lauryn backs in her Ninja next to my Hayabusa at the motorcycle-only parking lot at the track:
On our way to the paddock, we of course had to check out all the vendor areas and check out the latest models. Here I get a chance to sit on a machine a LOT of folks are eagerly awaiting to arrive on our shores later this fall: the all-new Yamaha Super Ténéré:
Over near the display for the Yamaha Champions Riding School, a familiar tall blond dude was seen talking to race fans: former AMA and World Superbike Champion, SPEEDTV commentator and 5-time Daytona winner, Scott Russell!!
I have not really cared much for the BMW marque over the years, but below is one BMW that I definitely would own in a heartbeat, if I ever hit the Lotto. The BMW S 1000 RR is an unbelievably fast, hot motorcycle, and incredibly well-balanced, compact machine. I want one someday.
That morning saw all the various teams doing their First Qualifying Sessions, so I was keen to try to snag a decent photo of my favorite racer, Ben Bostrom. This year, Ben is is riding the black/red #23 bike from the Michael Jordan Suzuki satellite team this. Here is Ben coming off the track and about to enter Pit Row at the end of the First Qualifying Session:
Since the weather was looking iffy after that first day, Lauryn decided to try to get in her Superbike "Hot Lap" that first day. The Yamaha Champions Riding School Instructors normally take folks on these rides, but amazingly enough, they had a special Guest Rider join the staff for 2-up rides that day.... Scott Russel!!!!!
I told Lauryn a little bit about Scott Russell's career, and she said, "Dad, I am going to tell Scott Russell he has to carry me around the track!" I told her that it is liable to be quite the eye-opening experience if she drew Scott as her rider. With a devil-gleam in her eye, she said: "I am counting on it!"
And she was successful... Scott Russell took her around at great speed, and she just about scrapped a kneepad! Here is Lauryn and Scott Russell after their Hot Lap:
Lauryn stands above the AMA paddock in the late afternoon, looking down over the Graves Yamaha and Rockstar/Mikita Suzuki pits:
Overall, Day 1 at the track was mighty awesome... quasi-decent weather, and Lauryn was thoroughly jazzed from her Scott Russell hot lap..... at the end of that first day, Daddy and Daughter were tired, but pretty happy:
Day 2 Trackside:
Without question, Day 2 was pretty horrible.... the worst weather you can have while racing. 39 degrees, raining like a ***** when we arrived....
Another shot that shows what a crapola day it was thanks to the rain/cold..... here are all the AMA factory and satellite trucks lined up behind the paddock....
Here is Roger Lee Hayden, freezing his *** off in the icy rain on the National Guard Suzuki GSXR1000 #54 bike during Second Session of Qualifying:
Later that afternoon, Lauryn laments the brutal cold/wet by pouting that lower lip:
Still and all, we still had mighty good fun, even if we were wishing for portable Heat-Trollers by the end of the day.... even with full riding coats, we were two frozen popsicles by 5pm....
I am sure the scene below was played out by many a rider to Miller Motorsports Park today.... boots and gloves needs a lot of drying after today!
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