diary of an Endorphin Junkie

I was on TV at 7:30pm PDT on Saturday, when 2 bikes crashed and took 4 others into the sand in Turn 2. Ryan, Marcus, Ari and I were the guys in white clothing with orange MotoGP vests running out to pick up the bikes. The last to arrive before they clipped away was Jerry, our Turn Daddy (turn marshall) from the other side of the track.

You can see a clip of it here:
http://www.lizardarts.com/velociRaptor/superbike-turn2-crash.avi

It is unfortunate, because one of the replays showed a rear view where you can see us crouching behind the tirewall ready to go. But they zoomed in just enough that you miss all four of us jumping the tirewall (which is 5 feet high). We used the hill behind us as leverage and just launched ...

There will be a replay at 11:00AM PDT on Speed Channel.

I may also be seen in the Supersport race where I had to run across a live track to pick up a cone someone collected on in turn 1 and dropped in turn 2 right on the line. But I haven't seen that yet so I don't know. I did get so much applause from the people sitting on the hill above turn 2 that they heard it all the way in turn 4.

I thoroughly enjoyed the MotoGP event this year, but it was hot hot hot. And then some. Up at 5:45am every morning and at trackside by 7:00am. We had to sit in our hot corners and try to keep our drinks as cool as possible. The drinks we kept to lukewarm at best, but we were near boiling ourselves.

Thankfully, we got a decent amount of time off so I got to tour the vendor area and pick up some galfer brake lines and pads at ridiculously cheap prices (probably the only vendor with an actual discount at the event), and some weld-on spools for my ex500 at a fair price.

I saw and chatted with a lot of racers. My MotoGP vest was signed by
#71 Chris Vermulen (Suzuki factory rider in MotoGP) and Pole Position at start of race
#69 Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda factory rider in MotoGP) and WINNER!
#21 John Hopkins (Suzuki factory rider in MotoGP)
#65 Loris Capirossi (Ducati factory rider in MotoGP)
Jeremy Burgess (Valentino Rossi's chief mechanic at Honda and now at Yamaha)

#155 Ben Bostrom (Ducati factory rider in AMA Superbike)
#95 Roger Hayden (Kawasaki factory rider in AMA Superbike and Supersport)
#98 Jake Zemke (Honda factory rider in AMA Superbike)
#32 Eric Bostrom (Yamaha factory rider in AMA Formula Extreme and Superstock)
#43 Jason Pridmore (Team Jordan privateer in AMA Superbike and Supersport)
#99 Geoff May (M4 EMGO Suzuki semi-factory support rider in Supersport and Superstock)
#112 Jessica Zalusky (Kawasaki privateer in Supersport and Formula Extreme)
^^^^ AND THE ONLY WOMAN ON THE AMA NATIONAL GRID for 2 years running!!!

In addition, we had to meatball Valentino Rossi when his engine blew up and started smoking around the track. After he parked the bike he came and sat in our corner trying to cool down a bit in his leathers while the race finished. It really wasn't a good time to ask for an autograph, but a nice memory. He was very polite and friendly even though he was clearly upset.

Eric Bostrom, Geoff May and Jessica Zalusky were extra nice - taking lots of time out to chat with us about their tires, their races and just being really cool and approachable.

The plot, that is. Other than that basic missing feature, Pirates of the Caribean was thoroughly enjoyable. clockworkbuddha, sinmix and I went to see it tonight. And regardless, the special effects were marvelous.