Anyone feel like going to the races??

[v65infla]

Championship Cup Series is running in Homestead the weekend of the 30th/1st.

http://www.ccsracing.us/venues/homestead.html

We could ride or meet down there or meet somewhere on the way down, Saturday late morning.  Tent it to save money or find a cheap hotel, catch afternoon practice, drink some in the evening and go to the races on Sunday??

[danh600]

That sounds really cool. I have been looking at that schedule but let the date slip up on me. I have never been to a motorcycle race. I need to change that.

Let me do some planning.

Jamie you know of any decent campgrounds? It's still early enough it would not be too hot.
I wonder if accommodation book up for the weekend when they have an event like that?

[v65infla]

That sounds really cool. I have been looking at that schedule but let the date slip up on me. I have never been to a motorcycle race. I need to change that.

Let me do some planning.

Jamie you know of any decent campgrounds? It's still early enough it would not be too hot.
I wonder if accommodation book up for the weekend when they have an event like that?

I haven't really been in that area since Hurricane Andrew in 1992 so I don't know it.  This is one of the closest campgrounds to the track that have tent camping and had great reviews.  The only issue's that I have with it is $31 dollars to sleep in a tent is ridiculous and they only allow one tent per site, also ridiculous. I think most of the state parks, allow two or three tents per site.  I can always call them and ask about putting two tents on one site and check some more places.  

http://www.miamicamp.com/Campsites.aspx?Style=Tent%20Sites

I also just heard that it is the song writers national something or other in Key West that weekend so I have no idea if that would affect Homestead or not.  Looking over the track schedule, I have reconsidered going both days as I seen no benefit to watching practice.  Maybe just set up camp Saturday early afternoon, hang out maybe ride the Everglades a bit and get a good nights rest.  Head out to the track fairly early and spend the day there before heading home.  

The wife has plans for that Sunday so the only thing that might hold me back is if the kid wants to go and then I would have to drive because he has gotten too big to ride with me.  I have 2.5 years until he can ride his own and I can't wait.  

PS, This would be a great way for Gary to break in his new tires before NC.   

[danh600]

I am thinking it might also be a sunday ride(drive ) for me too. My wife and son are showing interest. I would like to ride, but my son's bike is out of commission right now. So we might take the car depending on who wants to go.

As of right now it's a go for me on Sunday. Alone on the bike or in the car with a crowd. Either way I want to see a race.

[v65infla]

They are running the weekend after we get back from NC, at PBIR also.  I have an ulterior motive in that I want to go learn as I hope to run the series next year in the old man's class on an 82' V45 Sabre.   

I have a complete bike and an untitled frame.  Gary has a complete bike and a titled frame that needs some serious TLC and I have a third motor.  Between the two, I will have a nice street bike and since I have an untitled frame and two extra motor's, it only makes sense to go racing, or at least that's how I sold it to the wife.   

[v65infla]

Dan, I am not sure how this weekend coming is going to play out.  The kid and I are going up to my mom's in Ft. Pierce on Thursday night so we can get up early Friday and run up to Titusville to watch the Shuttle.  I am not sure yet if we are coming home from there or staying Friday night also to Mt. Bike Saturday morning or if we are going up early to Mt. Bike Thursday afternoon.  I also did not get the bike done this weekend like I had wanted so at this point  I have like 20% chance of making it. 

[danh600]

Shuttle launches are cool. I can see them from the house if the sky is clear, but nothing like being closer. I went years ago for one of the first ones. Have fun with your son. They grow up fast.

I am going to the race. How, when and with who is still in the planning stages.

[danh600]

Do they let you take cameras in the track?

[v65infla]

Do they let you take cameras in the track?

I don't see why not?? 

Again, I am still up in the air.  My plans to drive up to Ft. Pierce on Thursday night have changed because I had forgotten that my new softball league starts and we have the 9:15p game that night.  Now if we go it will have to be an early Friday morning departure and then we will def spend Friday night up there.  I have to talk it over with the kid and see how bad he wants to go. 

[danh600]

Wife and I are leaving in the morning. We are going to make a day of riding tomorrow. I would like to go into the Everglades again, but it might be too hot for that. Then we are staying in Homestead. Hit the races early Sunday morning.

Anybody know much about that race track? Is it general admission? Any selected seats you know are good?

Been to the website and there are seating charts, but not sure they are the same for MC racing.

I did find on the website you can take cameras in. Should be a hot one if we can't find shade.

I am excited this is my first MC road race. I have seen some small dirt bikes race.

[v65infla]

I would think local races you should be able to walk around the pits and get right into it.  I guess its out for me with two weeks to go until we leave with mother's day shooting next Sunday in the ass for prep time.    

[danh600]

Well, I am now an official motorcycle race fan. Absolutely awesome watching those guys. Hard to even describe how hard they ride those bikes. Man and machine as one. Little point and shoot camera does not do it justice. Videos didn't take that well.


Very cool going to that track. You get to ride right into the infield and park anywhere you like. We rode the bikes from one set of small bleachers to the other. Bike racing is not a huge spectator sport mostly family and friends. You are sitting with riders and their families. Nice open people. One guy even asked who we came to see. We said we were just there because it sounded like something fun to watch. He thought that was great. NASCAR it's not. I love sports like this. I have been involved in tournament waterskiing and Powerlifting and they are much the same.

Made a weekend of it. Ate some great Mexican food in a little hole in the wall and rode into the Keys, just because we could. Homestead is certainly not a fancy place but lots to do if you look around.

[danh600]

Even went to the Coral Castle and pushed a couple tons on stone around with one finger.


That stone really did rotate on a pivot with one finger. Look up The Coral Castle. Neat story.

[dt]

Well, I am now an official motorcycle race fan. Absolutely awesome watching those guys. Hard to even describe how hard they ride those bikes. Man and machine as one. Little point and shoot camera does not do it justice. Videos didn't take that well.

Cool. That must have made for a fun day. 

[danh600]

My wife found this on youtube. From an earlier race at homestead. Really cool to see from the track perspective after being there.

We were sitting next to Stefano Mesa parents at one point. Evidently he is a rising star in the sport at 16. Very nice, humble people and very proud of their son.

Stefano Mesa Homestead Win.m4v

[v65infla]

Wow, I haven't been back in this thread for a while.  Thanks for sharing those pic's Dan.  Just like motocross back in the day, just good people getting together to have some good clean fun. 

I am going to try everything I can to get up to PBIR tomorrow.  Wife has to work so we are having our "Memorial Day" cookout today.

I really want to run the 82' Sabre in the old man's class starting next Feb.  It would be much better if they had a vintage class although I didn't see one. 

Anyone else up to it tomorrow??

[danh600]

Stuck at work right now. If I get out of here early and the weather holds I am riding over.

Jamie - not sure you will check back here, so if I head over I will call your cell.

[v65infla]

Stuck at work right now. If I get out of here early and the weather holds I am riding over.

Jamie - not sure you will check back here, so if I head over I will call your cell.

Dan, it is approx. 9am and I am trying to get out the door now.  I wanted to be up there by 10a but will probably be a bit closer to 10:30a.  I am hoping to get there early enough to see some of the GT classes.

Not sure how long I was going to stay so if you know for sure you are coming, give me a call and I'll hang out.  You can always post up here and I get an email on my phone or PM me.   Hope to see you there! 

[danh600]

Got off work today and ran home to change and grab the bike. Open the garage door and go to roll it out and.........flat tire.

Luckily I have a wife that rides, but needed to study today. 

Jump on her bike and head to the races. Weather was great. Enough breeze to cool things off a bit, but not blow the bike around too bad.



Got to meet and finally ride with Jamie. His new bike is very cool. Makes me want to have a sport touring bike now. We took the long way home and had a nice ride. He let me lead. I think I would have been a  memory in the mirror if he had been in front. That's a bike that just lends it's self to running.

[v65infla]

Dan is a great guy and it was my pleasure meeting, hanging out and riding with him.  I have met two board members in two days!!  I had taken these before Dan arrived and I venture to say that some of mine came out better than some of his did..  

There were some great views of the race.







Of course there was some actual racing going on as well.





Here is one of the podium from the Vintage (Geezers) class.


And there were some pretty cool bikes there.




And finally the sweetest bike I could find.

 

[danh600]

I really liked your bike Jamie. It's making me rethink the Stateline 1300. I bet if that seat was on the lowest setting that bike would fit me perfect.

That road we turned right on after Indian Town is Fox Brown Road. That would be a good place to test your bike. I almost never see another car or bike on that road.

We should have got a picture of that zero bike. That was pretty strange looking.

[v65infla]

I almost forgot the pic of Dan riding.  Sorry, it was so windy or I would have gotten beside you for a front shot.  You don't get that opportunity very often.  



Dan, bring the tire down here for me to help you patch and we can arrange a little test ride on the ST if you want??  I am tied up tomorrow night and Thursday night but right now Friday night and the weekend is pretty clear unless I go on the lake ride on Sunday which is still up in the air.  Just get the wheel off the bike and I'll take it from there.

I would think long and hard about what kind of riding you do before deciding on a new bike.  The ST is really taking some getting used too.  I didn't say anything but I was dieing to take a stretch when we passed Port Mayaca yesterday.  I am only good for about 40 miles at a time on that bike so far and I rode well over a 100 yesterday, more like 140 pretty much straight, except for the stop light stretch.  I know a large part of it is just getting used to it because it is much better than the weekend I bought it.  Although we did do 264 miles the 2nd day I had it.  

The Yamaha Raider is a real nice bike to consider, of course I still like the Kaw Vaquero as well as Nomad's and the Royal Star line.

Don't rule out a ST but so far for me it is more sport than tourer and that doesn't fit in real great for Florida roads.  Now, the next time I get to the mountains, I'll be in curve heaven!  

[danh600]

Ha. I figured you were in a hurry to get home so I didn't do all the scenic stops. You should have just put a blinker on.

I think we are leaving town for the weekend on Friday. Let me know if you do the lake ride. We might be coming down 27 on the way home about that time.

The kid here that is a mechanic and rides moto-cross offered to fix the tire. Offered as in he knows I will slip him a few bucks.

[v65infla]

Ha. I figured you were in a hurry to get home so I didn't do all the scenic stops. You should have just put a blinker on.

I think we are leaving town for the weekend on Friday. Let me know if you do the lake ride. We might be coming down 27 on the way home about that time.

The kid here that is a mechanic and rides moto-cross offered to fix the tire. Offered as in he knows I will slip him a few bucks.

Save the money for the gas to drive here and you get a ride on the ST to boot.     I'll let you know when I do about the Lake ride.  Hopefully my seat riser will be here by then.