Shots from September 19-21 and previous dates available here
Heads Up!
There is gravel scattered in the road from the state line down into NC all the way to Tapoco Lodge. There is some civilian construction going on at the state line and the dump trucks are running material in and out, losing some of it along the way. There are no signs.
Also be aware that leaves are starting to fall into the road. They don't have that much affect on traction when they're dry, but be careful if they're wet.
Saturday 9-27-03
Good gawd. There is a ridiculous amount of water falling from the sky right now. I packed it up at about 3:30pm after only shooting for a few hours today. It rained this morning, so I waited (SLEPT) until that passed. The road was pretty well dry about an hour before the second storm hit. A few Triumph motorcycles and a respectable group of Honda S2000s rolled through, accompanied by a new Ferrari.
The leaves are really starting fall, especially when it gets stormy/windy like this. They are really nothing to worry about when they're dry, but if they get wet it can be a little scetchy.
I met a couple of the guys from IndySuperbikes.com Friday...good riders with really trick bikes...Carbon Fiber/OZ wheels, wave rotors, undertail exhausts, etc. They have some pretty unique stuff over there, so if you're looking for rare upgrades like perimeter brakes or single-side swingarms, check them out. If you order something, ask for the killboy.com discount on shipping, and you'll get the hook up. I had just ordered some Titanium knee sliders from them, because as far as I know, they are the only place in the US that sells Motrax Ti sliders.
These pucks will probably just piss people off. They are noisy, and make an obscene amount of sparks. I could see the bank beside me lighting up as it got late in the day...it may have been catching on fire.
I picked up one of these ReplayTV devices finally. They've really come down in price...Radio Shack has a 40 hour recorder for $200. I basically got it because I wanted to see the Barber race last weekend, but I know I wasn't going to be around a TV, and didn't feel like messing with a VCR. With this thing you just find your show on the preview guide, and hit the record button. When the show comes on later, it will record it to the hard drive and save it for ya. Or you can "subscribe" to a show, like a series, and it will record it every time it comes on. Now I'll never miss another episode of Family Guy. ;-) Plus it does all the pausing live TV stuff that is pretty handy.
Ok I'm going to get back to work on these orders. I get asked a lot how this photography thing is working out, and it's going really well. I sat down and did a rough count of total orders placed the other day and we have filled over twelve HUNDRED orders! Y'all keep 'em coming. =)
Thursday 9-25-03
Deepak and Ru had a kid. You know Deepak as the guy doing the Funky Chicken Stoppy a few weeks ago.
Continuing with the Respect-Other-Riders thing, here's a letter I got:
"We made one round trip [on Sept. 12] and three different times sport bikes came into my lane head on, inches from a collision and more times than I could count passed us on blind curves crossing the double yellow and one of those cutting me off so bad I nearly went off the road.
We are all out there to enjoy ourselves each in our own way and have to share the road(man I hate that phrase), but when someone is risking someone else's life they are crossing the line. I live just a few hours from the Dragon and run it many times a year, this last run Sept12 was the worst I have ever seen.
I do promise that if someone does takes me down and is not in need of a meat wagon from the fall they will when I'm done with them. There is no need to do what some riders are doing out there especially when riders like myself will let others by when possible.
Ride safe live long and Drag-on."
Wednesday 9-24-03
Let's ease up off that center line y'all. 90% of riders I see are all crowded up on that yellow on left handers. Then when they meet someone they have to check up, and it throws their rythm all off...not to mention what it does to the person in the other lane. I know it's not easy, but there's a LOT more room over there to the right than what is being used. Try riding against the white line all the way through, or at least on the right side of the lane. I think you'll find yourself much more consistant and comfortable. And if you feel that your "lefts are crap", this is probably why.
By the way, the primary culprit of riding the inside of your lane is usually caused by turning in too early. Try staying out wide longer and see what happens.
That said, here is some impressive riding in my eyes:
Nice lines, good form. (get some gear Tyson! =)
Turbo bikes came out to play...sounded FREAKIN' SICK
Cool couples!
