Monday, July 30, 2012

Pastures of Heaven

Low res 640 x 480 digital video cam on my tank bag, Following Chuck on his 1098 thru the valley Steinbeck called the Pastures of Heaven. About 6pm - soundtrack music by Scott Rolf - untitled composition as of July 2012.



Blogger seems to res down the video and it does not play on iPhone. Facebook has a better posted version.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3763554679871&set=vb.1006725329&type=2&theater
Going to test video on tumbler, next.

MotoGP Laguna Seca 2012

FRIDAY July 27

Chuck and I ride down to his parents home in Monterey Friday. 70 degree sunny and breezy in the valley. VFR is loaded with saddle and tank bags. I need to take it slow and adjust to the weight. Couple things I notice my headlights seem to be on high beam. The secondary high beam lamps seem dim. Could the connectors be swapped? The left side saddle bag bar carrier was bent from October. Just slightly in towards the plastic tail. When we pulled it out it changed the geometry and now the bag hangs off the lock bar and does not sit fully square on the bottom hanger bar. I took up the space by zip tying on some thin foam. No wiggles ready to go.


After unloading our extra gear at Mr & Mrs Burwell's house just a mile from the track on 68 - we ride down to Wharf 2 in Monterey for dinner. Sandbar & Grill - crab cakes, Salmon caught in the bay friday morning and scallop potatoes. 



Saturday July 28

Out to Ducati Island and damp conditions - foggy, misty and wet. Could not see the cars parked on the hill.

At the hospitality tent we had espresso, water and fruit and biscotti and a bagel from home.
There are all kinds of people from all over the world. At the Walgreens friday night -  a spanish guy is asking about relief for heart - a-burn. We try to prescribe stuff we know nothing about.


 Valentino Rossi mobbed by his followers. Of course through out qualifying who was the cam copter following around? But, he could not do better than 10th on the grid. Still, who has the most championships and entertaining personality than Vale?

 The Red Bull umbrella girls dressed like flight attendants on saturday.

 Mr. Burgess
Randy Mamola' Moto X2 bike - some celebs get to put on leathers and go for a ride. They get to keep the suits if they crap in them.

 Stoner breaking his own track record. But, gets bumped to 2nd on the grid by Lorenzo.
 Copter chasing Rossi around the Corkscrew.
 View from the top of the hill.
 AMA Superbikes in paddock.

Met Michael Eastman and his daughter Madi at the track. Gerry Bruce was there for saturday and we all hiked up to the corkscrew during qualifying.


When Chuck and i left we took the long way home thru what Steinbeck called the Pastures of Heaven. A valley between Monterey and Salinas. As the sun sets it casts light between the hills and the small two lane roads wind between trees, vineyards and ranches. There is alot of sand out there - so, watch the speed.


Sunday Race Day - July 29

Ducati Island with a breakfast burrito and espresso. Walk around checking out the different bikes. Could the Multistrada be my next bike?











 The new Panigale 1199 superbike. Note, no trellis frame or hot pipes under your butt. No passengers.

 Tribute hat to Simoncelli.
Old Yamaha two strokes
I hope our olympic teams are not eating this way. It could effect your performance. Kojak parking spots.


Morning Warm up fog and cold brakes put Hayden into the air fence on turn 5.





 Meet them outside of the paddock and they would not look at you like this. They will happily pose with your embarrassed son, while everyone even your son knows this photo is just for you - you bad dad. And stop making the kid wear a backpack bigger than him loaded with all your swag.
  Superbike crash - not a happy turn out.

Start 2pm from the Grandstands. Lorenzo led most laps and then had a light moment at the top of the corkscrew. Probably scared him enough to back off - then Stoner took him after 11 on the straight. Previous reports are not reliable. Spies bike broke on the corkscrew and he fell into the dirt. Then 2 laps left Rossi eats it at the top of the corkscrew. Photos from Soup



Hayden came by after scoring 6th place and picked him up. Photo from Speed.com


Final race of the day AMA Superbikes. Met up with John Wunderlich, Rob K, Jim D and we went to dinner. 
 

But, on the way JohnW's 919 breaks the chain and he had to leave it for pickup after dinner. Eventful weekend. Back to work tomorrow.



Lesson on Day Off After MotoGP

It is a miracle we are alive.

 Last night on the return trip home after the 2012 MotoGP weekend in Monterey, it was foggy and the roads wet. So, you have a mist on your visor in the dark and then you get into slow traffic on 101. Nervous riding. Had a bad feeling so i signal Chuck to exit on Leavesley and we ride Monterey Road into Morgan Hill. Then dryer conditions take over. Got home stressed and tired and get up late and decide to take the bike out to breakfast.

When i merge onto 85 traffic is fairly light. I look to my left and decide to get over to the commuter lane and it looks clear. But, i do the stupid thing of jumping two lanes at once between cars. As i do i see a SJPD patrol car slow suddenly in my mirrors. I just cut him off and he avoided running into me. So, needless to say. The lights come on and i pull off the the freeway exiting Santa Theresa and pulling into the light rail parking lot. I shut off the bike and get off. He pulls up next to me and rolls down the passenger side window. We look at each other and i know we both look like our eyes are bugging out. He says "Hey- i almost squished you." Then shakes his head. I say " I'm sorry, so, sorry.... i looked over and thought it was clear...."

Cop: "Oh, yeah it was clear but, if at that same moment i thought of speeding up - you would not live through that!" 

Cop: Thank the Lord - that did not happen! I do not want to squish anyone today! Man, i used to ride and you are not riding crazy and speeding and doing wheelies down 85. But, you got to take one lane at a time and be more careful!

Me: I know; i know. I'm sorry - stupid move. 

Cop: I am not going to write you a ticket today. You just have to be more careful.

Me: Thank you, I'm just going to get breakfast and go home and put the bike away.

Cop: Good idea. Be safe. Have a nice day.

I thank God i am alive and breathing today.


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Commute to Work

Garage to the office.



This is just a quick res down video shot on the quick cam. 640x480 then exported to iphone settings. Will edit it in with other video shot in the past couple days and add the new soundtrack Scott Rolf just sent up for July. This gives a real time door to door on a monday morning.


@ Beach Racing

 Went to the shop to have some minor adjustments done.

 This is Ray and his Turbo V-Twin. Having some prep work done. Next month he will be on the Bonneville Salt Flats going for 200+ mph record in two classes.


Ray


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

MotoGP Laguna Seca 2012

Only one week away - riding around Monterey and Highway 1. Tons of bikes and watching the best riders in the world. Ducati Island. The Corkscrew. Cannery Row.


Saturday, July 07, 2012

Bonny Doon Road

Met Chuck in Saratoga at Starbucks on Big Basin Way. Headed up 9 and over the Santa Cruz mountains to Bonny Doon Road. After a couple wrong turns we get back on the right path to the coast. Running between the redwoods on some steep two and one lane roads we curve our way out of the 90 degree heat to the cool sunny coast near Davenport just north of Santa Cruz. Late lunch at Safeway and buzz thru west cliff drive and back over 17 into Campbell for a mocha shake at coffee society. Everybody home safe. Good ride.