Days of Blunder

A couple months ago I wanted to start the ball rolling on summer Track Days. I looked at the calendars and selected June 22 as a good day and put money down. Then I started rustling up interest from my riding friends and acquaintances. Soon I had 13 people signed up the the 22nd from my original group. Sweet, great way to spend midsummer.

But as you all know, waiting is darned hard. A few weeks ago one of our friends had an injury that will take months to heal and he needed to unload some track days, so being the magnanimous friend I am I helped him out of two, June 15/16. OK cool, I'm starting my track season a little earlier, the weekend after I get back from Alaska.

Geez the weather this May sure is nice and my job is super stressful the last couple weeks. It sure is tough waiting clear until June to start my Track season...

Well since you all know me so well on Monday I said the heck with it and purchased a Track Day for this Friday. Given the excitement I spread the word and two other people signed up as well, in addition to the handful of my racer friends who were already planning on going. Hail Hail the Gangs all Here!

New tires on, bike loaded up, LETS GO! OK its hard to be that enthusiastic at 4AM when I got up, but Track Days are literally the best thing to get up at 4AM for, so its as enthusiastic as I will EVER be at 4AM.

Ah, the home of my people!

The Silver Bullet (my Bank's new 2018 Ford Fusion Sport 2.7L Twin Turbo V6 AWD) pulled  my trailer quite nicely and got 26mpg doing it. The Gates to PIR opened at 6:30am and it was officially the start of my season.

My day was pretty much re-learning the track, I haven't been to PIR on a 600 since 2014. It seems to have gotten bumpy in the meantime and I've gotten slow. Well maybe 1:28 isn't slow per se, but I'm my own worst (and most realistic) critic and I know exactly how bad I'm over slowing my turn 1 and 7. But self criticism aside I had a fantastic and safe day, my bike went home in the condition it left in (except the tires).

Pictured: Bridgestone S21r with a few millimeters of chicken strip.

Pictured: Getting passed for the millionth time.

On the way home I stopped at a fast food joint once I'd broken clear of the horrible Portland area traffic. In usual fashion I sat somewhere I could keep an eye on the car/bike since its a busy travel stop on the interstate, lots of people walking around, and I'm paranoid. While eating my cheeseburger I saw one guy after another walk by my bike and gawk at it, some even stopping, and one guy getting pulled away by his female counterpart.

I kinda wish I could hear what they're thinking. "Oh man I wish I had a bike" "Oh I miss having a bike" "My wife would kill me. I should kill her and get a bike" "Wow a nice blacked out bike with no passenger seat or pegs, on a purpose built motorcycle trailer, behind a sport sedan loaded with gear. That guy has his priorities straight and his life together". OK that last one is a little of me projecting what I want people to think.