Kevin and i rocked it up to Calabogie, Canada for 3 days of riding with http://www.pro6cycle.com/Default.aspx.
We packed the truck good and got on the road!
We stopped at a state campground near binghamton.
In the morning we rolled out really early (7 am) stopping in Auburn, NY to visit a college friend.
We stopped at Walmart and Lowes to get a small grill and charcoal. Near the Canadian boarder, the US looks like this:
In Canada our bikes look like this:
Calabogie is about 8-8.5 hours away from NYC. I had heard the track is in the middle of nowhere, but it really is.
Then at around 5 pm on Saturday we made it!
We unpacked our truck and started to set up "camp" for the next 3 days. Kevin was nice enough to let me ride his bikes, since my gsxr has a cracked frame. We brought his Gsxr 600 and the SV.
We decided to camp a little bit on the outer edge of the parking lot to try to achieve some privacy / quiet.
We prepped the bikes. Kevin taped up his SV, and I removed the RAM ball mount from the (chest piercing position) handlebars.
We erected our recently purchased EZup, and Kevin (engineer) struggled to put the grill together.
The first night we had sausages and fresh corn on the cob!
Kevin illustrates how even japanese motorcycles are sexy with soft top light.
As the sun went down, the bugs came out. Kevin tried everything to keep the bugs off.
We woke up on Sunday and it was time for the sound test. 98db at 15 feet at 3/4 of your rev limit. We had been sweating that the SV would not pass. well it did with no problem, it was the GIXXXXXER that was way over the limit. 45.00 later and a sound insert we barely passed.
At the morning meeting we were instructed that during a red flag we should roll off the throttle at come to a STOP at the next flag station
This was a completely new concept to us. since the track is so long they find it easier to stop every one on track and roll the ambulance in opposite direction if it's quicker.I was very excited about learning / riding a new track. it's one of the most fun parts about motorcycle road racing (to me). however after the first session at Calabogie, i wasn't so excited. it was taking all my focus just trying to remember if the next blind turn was a right or a left. i found it seriously confusing and not too fun. i was seriously perplexed at how racers can show up on a race weekend and go fast in 1-2 days.
the course is absolutely beautiful. everything i had heard. long, fast, 20 turns, blind, smooth, elevation changes that just don't show in you tube videos. very challenging.
It took 2 days to really wrap our heads around the track. (Sometimes you just can't get comfortable on a chair)
Let me say that pro-6 was a real class act. probably the best track day org. that i've run with. the groups where tiny. the attitude was genuine and the expertise that Sandy the owner exhibited was amazing (free lunch time tire seminar). The general attitude among all the riders was much more laid back then track day's i'm used to. there seemed to be less of a need for "policing." (and free lunch)
We cooked an amazing marinated pork Loin dinner on Monday night.
We had two "mechanical incidents" during our 3 days. First one of the SV's brake caliper bolts worked it's way loose and fell off. The caliper rotated in place and knocked off 2 wheel weights. (1 we found and re-attached) We were able to source a similar bolt in the paddock (always approach someone with a 2-stroke first) and not miss even a session. Also one of the Gsxr's lost a zip tie and had to be replaced.
We were really happy with the spot we chose.
Conserving water bottles to re-fill.
Safety gear.
Monday Night we went out to get some gas and water. Calabogie (town) itself if based around a fairly large lake. it seems to be a vacation destination.
Just two dudes getting some gas.
By eating and camping at the track it gave us lot of time to relax and get to sleep early.
Here is the crash
Monday night we did as much of a track walk as possible (before the bugs started to eat us)
Turn 1 (doesn't feel downhill when you're riding)
Turn 8, decreasing radius.
Elevation change.
More.
Looking through turn 1 to turn 2.
Day 3 session 1 was the greatest. i knew the track, i new the shifts, the bike was humming. i was smooth and relaxed. best feeling all trip. of course, Day 3 also seemed to go the fastest. before you knew it we were packed and ready to leave.
This is what Canada looks like out the window when you're leaving.
We made one stop on the way home for some BBQ in Syracuse. Kevin and i have had many moto trips to dinosaur BBQ in Harlem but he had never been to the one that started it all.
I had a great weekend, and thanks again to kevin for letting me ride his bikes. YAY, again in 2012!! Hopefully some of you guys can join next time..
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