Too Much To Do, Too Little Time
Monday, August 22nd, 2011
Until two weeks ago I was expecting to be out in Utah right now at Speed Week. I was going to go out and work as crew for Jerry Pokorny as he set about breaking a couple more land speed records. Of course I was then planning to write about the experience for various publications but I also just wanted to experience it all for myself. Jerry has convinced me that it’s an incredible time and something I owe it to myself to experience.
Then I discovered that I had the dates wrong. Speed Week was last week and my wife, Judy, and I had plans to go to Seattle and British Columbia for 10 days. (That picture above is one I shot in Washington, on our way up to Vancouver. I don’t know the guy, it was just a cool shot and I figured I’d use it here.)
So while Jerry was out on the salt flats, I was way up north. Oops. And no, I’m not in Utah now.
OK, so I still plan to talk with Jerry and I’m sure he has some great stories to tell that I can retell. I know I missed a lot, too. The electric superbike boys are continuing their rapid development and improvement and they set new world speed records for electric motorcycles not once but twice. For the first time that record is above 200 mph. I wish I’d been there.
But as one door closes another opens. I had hoped to spend some time this year with the Motomarathon but the Colorado event on that calendar conflicted with my supposed plans for Speed Week. Well, no conflict now so the Motomarathon is back on my agenda. For those who aren’t familiar, the Motomarathon is a creation of John Metzger, of Boulder, and consists of four days of long days of riding some of the best roads in Colorado. Or California, or wherever the event is going on. I’m not going to do the whole thing but I do want to ride one day of it and shoot a bunch of pictures and talk with a bunch of the riders. Stay tuned.
Then I may get out to Utah in September for the Bonneville Vintage Grand Prix. I went out for that two years ago and had a great time and it’s on my calendar again. In the meantime, I need to do some dual-sport riding. I’ve got rides pending with three different guys and am just trying to squeeze it all in. This is all work, mind you. I wouldn’t dream of having fun doing any of this.
Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Cruising British Columbia on an Electra Glide
Biker Quote for Today
The grass is always greener at the end of a 200-mile ride.
So what exactly is this event? I’m still learning about it myself but I’ll tell you what I think I’ve figured out so far. It seems to be in essentially three parts, vintage motorcycle racing, sidecar racing, and a vintage motorcycle show.