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August 2006
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Saturday, August 26th

Another ACH run with the SCS crew

mood: satisfied

It's been quite a while since I did some serious riding (leathers and all). I was itching to do some canyon carving now that Robyn is nearly 100%. (I only have 3 parts left to get before it is).

I decided to pop onto SoCal Sportbikes and see if there was a ride going on this weekend. I was in luck. RhymeSayer (Ryan) posted a ride up ACH. Everyone would meet at the Shell station at the bottom of ACH (as usual) at 9am and then we'd decide the route from there.

I got there a bit early and chilled out and waited for the rest of the crew. As usual, some of the guys were late. It was all good though, it gave the ones that were there more time to talk.

Once everyone had arrived, we geared up and headed up the mountain. Since it had been a while for me, I didn't want to lead. Ryan led us up to Newcombs at a safe, but fun, pace. We stopped at Newcomb's Ranch for a bit to chat it up and see all who was there. Turns out that there was an All-Girl ride going on, and they were all stopped at Newcomb's.

ACH_826_Newcombs_1 (89k image)

tnACH_826_Newcombs_2 (5k image)tnACH_826_Newcombs_3 (4k image)
tnACH_826_Newcombs_4 (4k image)tnACH_826_Newcombs_5 (4k image)

Once we were all ready to go again, Ryan led us down Big T. On the way down we saw an ambulance . . and a downed rider. Once we got passed him and everyone was able to regroup, we decided to take it easy. Especially after we saw that the downed rider was getting a helicopter ride out. The speeds stayed mellow . . at least for a little while. We made it to the big tree on Angeles Forest Highway in good time.

ACH_826_AFH_Tree (88k image)

We all hung out at the tree for a bit, talkin' bikes and riding. Once we were all ready to go, Ryan volunteered me to lead the group. I was actually enjoying NOT leading, especially since it had been a while, but I was riding well so I figured WTH!!

I was starting to carve it up and get into a rythm when we went by a CHP partol car . . over the speed limit crazy I rolled off hard and gazed at the CHP. He went by us like nothing was wrong . . but we all rode pretty slow after that. I decided to head back up over Big T and the rest of the pack kept going down AFH. I let some other group of riders go by me, so they could be cop bait. It didn't work. I was closing the gap on them and came around a corner and there was a CHP patrol car parked on the shoulder in the opposite lane. I was stressing cause I knew I was over the limit. He just looked at me and gave me the slow down sign. I was quite releaved.

As I made my way down ACH, I saw another downed rider. I made it all the way to the Shell station before I started to hear the sirens of the Ambulance.

Anyway, It was a good day of riding for our group. No one went down and everyone made it home with themselves and their bike in one piece. Sounds like a bunch of winners to me. wink
Stan on 08.26.06 @ 03:31 PM PST [link]


Wednesday, August 16th

The 2006 USGP!!

mood: exhausted

First of all, to all my regular readers, I'd like to apologize for the site being down for a almost a month. I've recovered from the Technical Difficulties and have every expectation that it will be up for the unforeseeable future. smile

Ok, despite being late, I had to give you all my 2006 USGP report. (with pictures). So here goes . .

I decided to ride up to Monterey on Robyn. It was one hell of a ride, considering California was in the beginning of a heat wave and I chose to take the quickest route there . . I-5 . . the Grapevine . . for most of the trip. It was a hot one. I made it in one piece with only a few pounds lost due to sweating like a pig most of the way there. I rode up on Thursday so I could chill the night before all the activity started.

Friday I headed to the track to watch the MotoGP free practices and pick up the tickets to the Yamaha V.I.P. Dinner. Being a winner of the contest gave me access to park in Yamaha's VIP tent as well. wink The practice sessions were fun to watch and hear. What was really cool was how nice all the fans were to one another. I left the track a bit early so I could get ready for the Yahama VIP Dinner. big grin

Stan_M1 (65k image)

This picture made the dismal ride up worth every sweat-soaked mile, me on the '05 Yamaha M1 in the Kenny Robert's livery that was used in the '05 USGP.

Did I see Rossi there? Yes, He was eating dinner. He also had 2 big body guards making sure no one he didn't want to approach him could. I actually felt sorry for how his celebrity status keeps him from being able to really do anything on his own in public. I decided to be one of the fans that would simply admire him from afar. Many others did not take my position, but I couldn't really blame them either. I did get to meet some other celebs (David Allen Grier & Ian Ziering), saw some friends and met Eddie Lawson (pictured below).

tnStan_Eddie (4k image)tnYahama_Marketplace (4k image)

On Saturday, I headed staight to the Yamaha Marketplace early so I could start collecting some of the freebies that a lot of the vendors hand out. I got a bunch of stuff. I then decided to get some good pictures of the on track action up close. I got to the inside of turn 5 to get the pics below. I decided to only to show some of the better pics/riders. (Pedrosa, Melandri, Edwards, Hayden & The Doctor)

tnPedrosa (2k image)tnMelandri (2k image)tnEdwards (3k image)tnHayden (3k image)

Rossi (58k image)

After getting these pics, I decided to head back into the pit area (did I mention pit passes were part of the prize? wink ). Not only did a walk through Ducati Island and get to see Kurtis Roberts' old Proton KR, I also caught Eric Bostrom taking a ride in a golf cart. big grin

tnDucati_Island (5k image)tnProton_KR (4k image)tnEBoz (4k image)


Of course, Saturday night, I went over to the Row . . Cannery Row. It's the hot spot on race weekends in Monterey, It was a pretty thick crowd. It was made motorcycle only (no cages) around 5pm. I also got some pictures of some pretty trick bikes.

Cannery_Row (60k image)

tnTrick_Busa (3k image)tnTrick_Gixxer (4k image)
tnTrick_R1 (3k image)tnTiger_Duc (4k image)

The Tiger Ducati Monster was probably the one that brought the biggest crowds and smiles. All I can say about the person/people responsible for tricking out this bike is . . 'They're GREAT!!!' wink

On Sunday, my boy Steve (aka Mr. Bike, my host and the friend the told me about Robyn) got me into the Red Bull VIP Compound. This is true V.I.P. Just to give you some of the V.I.P. credentials this place had:

1. You couldn't buy a pass to get in here, Red Bull gives the passes to vendors (so sell Red Bull)
2. While I was waiting for Steve to get me in, Pamela Anderson walked out
3. All you can eat gourmet buffet
4. OPEN BAR
5. Free Programs

This was THE place to be . . and I got in an hour before race time. big grin

These pictures give you an idea of what my view of the track was for the race. There couldn't have been a better seat in the house. wink

RedBull_VIP_1 (61k image)
RedBull_VIP_2 (77k image)

What else is there to say . . . yes, I was disappointed that Rossi's M1 blew up on him . . yes, I was happy to see Nicky get the win . . . yes, the ride home was as hot at it was on the way up . . but there was a smile on my face the whole way laugh out loud
Stan on 08.16.06 @ 10:23 PM PST [link]