Group: Root Admin
Posts: 4,943
Joined: 8-July 05
From: Chicago, IL
Member No.: 6,767
A quick five hour drive (less, really, except for a crash between Dayton and Columbus), and rolled into town about 3PM Eastern.
A good friend reminded me of how great Priceline was, and I got a killer room at the Hyatt for $60/night (but BEWARE: the parking is $23/day).
Headed out to the track about 5PM, and got there for the tail end of 15-over practice. The track, overall, has gotten 'good' marks from young and old alike (it's still getting worked in, so throughout tonight's practice and pre-race, it would be best described as "yielding" (if it were a horse race on the turf).
The pre-race had 40 motos, and some good slicin and dicin in the classes (the younger classes being the most contentious of tonight's program). Wonder if Mike Fields' "pre-race formula" works on NBL races?
**Mike's Gripes Section**
Gripe #1: If you're a pro/elite/super-ex/or just plain fast, please run a uniform and plate in practice. Never know when a great shot will be snapped. With your jersey and jeans, with no plate, it's a no-go. Suit up for real!
Gripe #2: Black uniforms may look cool when watching live, but indoors, they just make you look like a big amorphous blob in the photos.
</GRIPES>
In the Hyatt, we have a national girl's volleyball tournament also in the house. I'm sure the BMXers will be very welcoming to them.
More to come later. Going to set out for forrage for a burger (Tom Ritz recommends the "Char Bar," so that may be the place).
Group: Members
Posts: 192
Joined: 20-May 08
From: Engineer Land, OH
Member No.: 15,891
Just got home and I didn't have time to edit these, but here are two short clips from practice. Warning: These are unedited, mic not filtered, etc. Just wanted to show the layout from helmet eyes view...lol Watch in High Quality.
Some random things about the track....it is pretty mellow and soft. I know that the pre-race tonight and more practice will help settle things on the track and hopefully a little maintenence will follow suit tonight. The area is really warm. I went in expecting 50-60s inside...forget it. It must have been 75-80 degrees...lol. Note to me, jersey only required. The facility is actually nice from a spectator standpoint. You can see the entire track easily from the bleachers and there looks to be plenty of them. There are three vendors on site and a food court right around the hall. Parking though...eh...14 bucks for the weekend. Not too bad, but cash or check only.
Group: Members
Posts: 435
Joined: 6-February 06
From: dayton,ohio
Member No.: 8,463
just got home from riding there today. track is really simple, and really soft with soft spots constantly rising to the surface. racing should be good though. a decent amount of elite open riders. should be a couple gates worth. quite a few fast ams in attendance too. hopefully the super warm temp in the building will pay off by bringing all the moisture up out of the track so we can get moving down the second straight! safe travels to anyone who has not left yet, or anyone currently on the way. ill see everyone in the morning. Josh Smith
Usually, threads that are started before the event (like the one we have here on the V) are not used for the actual "game day" coverage. Not sure if you were kidding or serious, but anyone can post--even on an "official" thread (the "official" designation is as much tongue-in-cheek as serious).
I am heading over to the track in a few mins here, but I got a text from one of my operatives saying the moto count is 134 for today's race.
More to come, here and on Twitter (follow BMXNOW).
Best,
M
QUOTE (nick2009 @ Feb 13 2009, 11:10 PM)
So how is it "the official tread". And where do we get certified to post on an official tread????
Group: Members
Posts: 409
Joined: 22-December 08
From: West Michigan
Member No.: 19,338
Not a bad day of racing. The track got a little harder over night. And by the time the semi's came around the race got exiting. Say what you want about the track, but the burms are big enough to make for some great races. Some highlights were, 2x4 looking good all day only to go down in the 1st corner in semi looked to be okay. And a big pile up in the pro open main leaving Upshaw, Weston Pope and pretty much the rest of them in the dirt. Pope seemed to be injured the worst some good road rash on the chest and he tore the little hangy thing on your upper lip (inside) off, ouch! Jewell came out the winner & also me I had him in Franky's Squares.
Group: Members
Posts: 192
Joined: 20-May 08
From: Engineer Land, OH
Member No.: 15,891
Just got home from the track. 134 motos and 4 racks of stacked Elite open class. Upshaw looked to pull the perfect today, but took a huge digger going into the first turn. He got up slow but looked to be ok. My buddy Louis Taylor was in 2nd in the semi but was cut off and ate it right at the face of the double into turn two. Two other riders slammed into him. Semis were full of packed gates and carnage. Some good racing for sure. Track dried out a little, but last straight was still slllooooowww. Good turnout today for sure.
Group: Members
Posts: 435
Joined: 6-February 06
From: dayton,ohio
Member No.: 8,463
here is a clip i put together of the elite open main and expert mains today, something happened with the volume and ill fix it later but for the time being you guys can check it out, it has elite open up first then starts with the older experts and goes down to the youngest group.
Feb 13 2009, 07:56 PM
