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3 September 2008
One more lap at VIR…

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Here it is three weeks later and I’m still pumped up about having attended the 2008 Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals at Virginia International Raceway. Pumped up, excited all seem like words which are too small to actually express how I’m feeling about the experience… It seems what ever word I pick to describe the event it’s been used so much it just doesn’t fit

Awesome isn’t awesome enough to use either, so you will just have to trust me when I tell you it was big, and more fun than I expected. I enjoy watching motorcycle racing on TV. Flo will tell you it’s always safer to stay out of the office when I’m watching a race, especially if I’m talking to the riders…or more like screaming at them. But being there in person was by far much better, not only is the speed more visible, but the opportunities to meet the racers and talk to them create an aura to the event of much greater magnitude.

Mike and I both watched with amazement on Saturday afternoon as Jason Britton performed his stunt show. Ive never seen anyone pull the front end of a motorcycle up into a wheelie as smoothly as he does. His throttle control and brake control are so good he can position the motorcycle with great precision whether it’s balanced on it’s front wheel or the back one.

Stunting is not necessarily a new sport or endeavor, it’s been around in one form or another since motorcycles where invented. But doing it as a competition or for spectators has now become very popular with the younger riders. All over the country there are groups and single riders who are practicing stunts just to break into this new segment of entertainment.

Of course that also means we have a lot more young riders who are intent on entertaining us on public streets and getting the rest of us a lot more scrutiny from the local law enforcement. Stunting has gotten so bad in Florida that they have added new laws allowing them to confiscate motorcycles and suspend licenses for over 5 years just to combat some of this dangerous behavior.

But in a controlled or closed course area it’s by far much safer for the viewing public and for the riders. Well its as safe as it can be for the riders.

The Racing at VIR over the weekend was top notch by everyone in all of the classes that participated in the weekend, Superbike, Supersport, Superstock, Formula Extreme and the Red Bull Rookies Cup. Watching the riders in all of the classes run the various parts of the course have really left me feeling totally incompetent on a motorcycle. I can’t imagine rushing a corner like the "Horseshoe" at the end of the front straight at speeds in excess of 160 mph, then dropping in and coming around and accelerating out of the corner and heading for the next corner NASCAR BEND.

Mike and I both want to do a track day here and see just what it’s like to ride on this beautiful road course. Looking at the pictures you will see just how nice the area is and the amount of elevation change the course takes in it’s 2.5 mile path.

I know that I have mentioned how exciting it as to be standing near the start finish line when Mat Mladin on his Rockstar Markita Suzuki GSXR 1000 when by at over 160 mph. I know what’s it like to be passed by a liter sized sportbike at full song out on the road; but this was truly different. This I could feel all the way down to my toes….

The more we watched the riders lap after lap and each time do the same corners with such speed and precision, my respect and admiration for these young men only grew. It’s one thing to sit in front of the TV and watch them, even with an understanding of the all the technical things the riders are doing; understanding race strategy’s it’s far more fun to see them in the real time at real speed.

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