Motorcycle hooliganism
I had the best fucking day yesterday. Dallas and I met up with the Exit3 DC crew at work at 9:30 in the morning (only a bit late, pretty impressive) to ride out to Summit and check out the racing there that day. Great group of people, super friendly and they welcomed us on their adventure for the day. Thanks for having us and we hope to ride with you again soon.
For once I was a little bit glad I chose leather in the morning as it was a wee bit chilly, nothing the brisk morning ride wouldn't wear off as we got going the sun warmed our backs slightly. Easy pace, right down route 7 we trotted - fun mixture of bikes with a Harley, Two CBR's, One F4i, Two naked Ducati's. After a while we swung off onto some other roads but I wasn't paying attention to the signs, too busy enjoying our little wolfpack as we headed on out into the countryside a bit.
Photos :: Summit Raceway Adventure with Exit3DC
The circuit itself is small, with what looks like some technical corners and a medium to short front and back straights where you can open it up. On the back there's a slight kink where riders were screaming into at what looked like over 100mph which was some pretty sick shit. The carousel corner was also a great place to spectate as you'd see riders going mental down the back straight, disappear for a second and then emerge with a bit of acceleration to double apex right looooooong corner.
:: Video, carousel corner.
We also hung out on the back straight for a bit right before the kink where they would come flying out of a right hander, over a rise and nail it before heading downhill and break right. Many power-wheelies over the rise, and too fast to tell as they flew past us. Certainly too fast for the shitty digital vid I can get on my camera - framerate looks stuttery but it gives you the idea. Loud. Fast.
:: Video, straight.
There were lots of different classes during the day, some literbikes, some beginners, some fun other classes too though, one with what looked like Buells and.. Two strokes racing side by side? Fuckin' weird! Having never seen a two stroke goin' at it before I was amazed by how teeny tiny they are ('toy bikes' according to Dallas), how fast you can push those little fuckers through corners, and what a pussy sound they make.
I know, I know, shouldn't mess, but really - it must be hard to be a badass racer when your bike's making a noise like that. It's like someone tapping you politely on the shoulder asking you if you would mind awfully if one snuck through on the inside line? Terribly sorry to bother you old chappie, know it's such an awful drag and all, what?
The racing action itself was pretty hot, with the best class by far being the 600's, which was the most competitive. Lots of passing and serious action there, and a fairly gnarly crash right in front of us. Again a large mixture of bikes in this class. I thought it would all be Gixxers but there were a lot of SV650's, CBR's, and the occasional Duc thrown in there as well for good measure. It was also cool to see a girl mixing it with the boys. Think she fell off at some point as she vanished half way through the race though, pisser.
:: Video, 600's
Overall we had a great time kicking around in the sun listening to engines scream and smelling oil on the air. Great day out, ride there and lovely squirrely twisty ride back.
Three things I'll recommend to the executive committee for next time to improve an already fantastic day:
1) If I ever blow off sunscreen again, kick me in the head. Andy will wear sunscreen at all times, regardless of heat index, humidity, cloud cover, headware or any other excuse.
2) A bit of asphalt on the infield would not go amiss, Summit. Riding a CBR over rocks, small cliffs, boulder sized gravel and the occasional landmine while fun, doesn't lend confidence and is a shitty way to get around.
3) All. Cicadas. Must. Die.
For once I was a little bit glad I chose leather in the morning as it was a wee bit chilly, nothing the brisk morning ride wouldn't wear off as we got going the sun warmed our backs slightly. Easy pace, right down route 7 we trotted - fun mixture of bikes with a Harley, Two CBR's, One F4i, Two naked Ducati's. After a while we swung off onto some other roads but I wasn't paying attention to the signs, too busy enjoying our little wolfpack as we headed on out into the countryside a bit.
Photos :: Summit Raceway Adventure with Exit3DC
The circuit itself is small, with what looks like some technical corners and a medium to short front and back straights where you can open it up. On the back there's a slight kink where riders were screaming into at what looked like over 100mph which was some pretty sick shit. The carousel corner was also a great place to spectate as you'd see riders going mental down the back straight, disappear for a second and then emerge with a bit of acceleration to double apex right looooooong corner.
:: Video, carousel corner.
We also hung out on the back straight for a bit right before the kink where they would come flying out of a right hander, over a rise and nail it before heading downhill and break right. Many power-wheelies over the rise, and too fast to tell as they flew past us. Certainly too fast for the shitty digital vid I can get on my camera - framerate looks stuttery but it gives you the idea. Loud. Fast.
:: Video, straight.
There were lots of different classes during the day, some literbikes, some beginners, some fun other classes too though, one with what looked like Buells and.. Two strokes racing side by side? Fuckin' weird! Having never seen a two stroke goin' at it before I was amazed by how teeny tiny they are ('toy bikes' according to Dallas), how fast you can push those little fuckers through corners, and what a pussy sound they make.
I know, I know, shouldn't mess, but really - it must be hard to be a badass racer when your bike's making a noise like that. It's like someone tapping you politely on the shoulder asking you if you would mind awfully if one snuck through on the inside line? Terribly sorry to bother you old chappie, know it's such an awful drag and all, what?
The racing action itself was pretty hot, with the best class by far being the 600's, which was the most competitive. Lots of passing and serious action there, and a fairly gnarly crash right in front of us. Again a large mixture of bikes in this class. I thought it would all be Gixxers but there were a lot of SV650's, CBR's, and the occasional Duc thrown in there as well for good measure. It was also cool to see a girl mixing it with the boys. Think she fell off at some point as she vanished half way through the race though, pisser.
:: Video, 600's
Overall we had a great time kicking around in the sun listening to engines scream and smelling oil on the air. Great day out, ride there and lovely squirrely twisty ride back.
Three things I'll recommend to the executive committee for next time to improve an already fantastic day:
1) If I ever blow off sunscreen again, kick me in the head. Andy will wear sunscreen at all times, regardless of heat index, humidity, cloud cover, headware or any other excuse.
2) A bit of asphalt on the infield would not go amiss, Summit. Riding a CBR over rocks, small cliffs, boulder sized gravel and the occasional landmine while fun, doesn't lend confidence and is a shitty way to get around.
3) All. Cicadas. Must. Die.
posted by CatSpit at
7:19 AM
