Indy MotoGP - I'm headed that way!

[msbuck]

Ok, the FILM    was dropped off, but the machine was broke   so i have to wait until tomorrow to get pictures back.  

So, mrbuck posted this recap off to a friend of his and I thought I would share his insights.  He's a much better story teller than I am...

"We,  believe it or not, had reasonably good weather at Indy.  Thurs. was a beautiful day, Fri. a few rain showers followed by immediate sunshine, Sat. we got almost blistered by the sun!, Sun. started overcast and got progressively worst after noon.
By the time the main even for the MotoGP started at 3:00 there was some light rain but they raced anyway.  The Europeans are not the wuzzies that the NASCAR and Indy car guys are...they race in the rain...no, not with slicks but grooved rain tires.  Imagine, Valentino Rossi at 197 mph hard braking coming off the 5/8 mile back straightaway down to probably less than a 100 mph.  What a heart stopper!   Then the 60 mph wind and rain hit and the race was called at lap 20 of 28 laps because the standing water became so deep that the bikes were beginning to hydroplane. Remember....almost 200 mph on the straightaways...We were hunkered down behind our umbrellas and chairs laughing like a couple of idiots due to the thrill of seeing the seemingly impossible happening less than a 100 feet from us (some might say we were a couple of idiots for being there). Before we could walk about a 1/4 mile to our car, the sun came out again and then rain and then sun but the officials felt to race further would be too dangerous.

Now...the good, the bad and the ugly.

THE GOOD:
The race track facility and personnel...absolutely first class...organized, courteous..continuous picking up of trash left by the few pigs in the crowd, clean everywhere, grounds, stands, bathrooms....great traffic control and parking, coming in a snap, leaving required patience.....But how about the local police...located at every intersection on 30 th street all the way to I-65...a straight shot with no stopping.  WELL DONE!

The friendliness of 99.999 % of the fans at the track...a very courteous fan base...definitely folks with good upbringing.

THE BAD:
The usual low life encountered in a crowd...It appears some folks cannot live without a beer can in their hands.  I believe drinking makes one deaf because the more they drink the louder they talk and their vocabulary degrades to words beginning with  f--- and s---.

THE UGLY:
With due respect to the locals,  the area around the track especially 29-30 th streets was downright scary...lots of boarded up houses, trash and very depressed and depressing.  Lots of once nice neighborhoods gone down... There is a once beautiful bridge behind the Naval Armory with once pretty lamp posts with globed lights which is now broken down due to car crashes and vandalism.   The missing rails now replaced with Jersey barriers. No tax money being spent in this part of town.

We went the Fairgrounds Sat. night for a dirt track race...sort of disappointing...poor sound and only one big screen TV..couldn't see much across this mile track...the bikes looked like ants going 100 mph down the backstretch.However, it seemed as if the crowd was all one 14,000 person family and I was once again impressed with the friendliness and courtesy of the crowd...Hey, maybe us Southerners are not the only ones with good up bringing...Lots of Europeans there also and they seemed to enjoy the atmosphere.

So here we are back home and all is well.  The Subaru was flawless and we had a few dollars left in the wallet."

Pictures to follow tomorrow?

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

We have a physician in our local club.  The following pictures and comments are his:


Wow!

What a weekend! I don't know where to start....simply amazing.

I had trackside physician duty Saturday and Sunday. Track physician in charge gave me incredible positions both days. Sunday was awesome! I've included a photo from Sunday where I was able to see Turn 1-4. This is the Turn 3&4 view from the safety barrier.

Turn 3&4 from Safety Barrier during 125cc race Sunday

Saturday I was stationed with one of the on-track response ambulances near Turn 6. It was a little further away from the track, but had a great view of Turn 6, 7 and 8. We responded to Thomas Luthi's crash during practice on Saturday.

Look who dropped by for a visit! He caught a quick ride back to the pits via Moto Taxi. I got a chance to say 'hi' and make sure he was OK.

Casey Stoner hitches a ride back to pits via Moto Taxi (KTM 990 Adventure)

It was incredible to see these bikes up close!

Stoner's engine died on his Duc and hitched it's own ride back to the pits

I can't remember who's bike this was. He went down in the grass Saturday and was uninjured. Those Suzuki's seemed to have a unique exhaust note--almost painful to listen to in my opinion. Hearing protection was worn the whole time, but I'd take it off every once in awhile just to hear what it was like. Again, incredible!

Brembos and Ohlins!!! Just like on my RT, right? NOT!!!

Too bad the rain and wind wreaked havoc on the racing Sunday. It was disappointing to see the MotoGP end prematurely, but we'll just have to wait for more action next year.


Was it just me, or did it seem like Rossi followed Hayden around the track for 14 laps just kinda playing with him, looking for weaknesses, and calculating his move to overtake him? When he did get around it's like he was just gone. Could Nicky have caught him again?


My only regret was not being able to get out to the Track on Friday and check out all of the sponsor tents, venders and see things from the fan's side. I was happy to have an air-conditioned ambulance to sit in and wait out the rain on Sunday!


-Dallas Peak, MD

[NC Steve]

Pictures ain't workin', Rob.

Could you try again?  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[SCJJR65]

Wow!  

Why in the Hell can't they do this at Road Atlanta???  

Wish I could've been there at Indy to see this for myself!

[msbuck]

Just a picture or two to share...

In the pits




Getting an autograph from James Toseland before his concert


The Rookies Cup bikes being set up


In the Museum


And yes, the hurricane arrived...check out the big tent/flags in the background being blown away


And they were actually racing in it!


The rest of my pictures are here.... http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p210/cabcgec/2008%20Indy%20MotoGP/?start=all

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Is that a Yamaha piano he is playing???  

[Justin B.]

Looks like it was a blast.  I couldn't even imagine doing something like that in the rain!

[msbuck]

Is that a Yamaha piano he is playing???  

Well, actually YES IT WAS!!!  

[Melena]

Great pictures, Aida!  What fun!  

Now I'll have to get to one of the races around here next season.    8-)  Laguna Seca and Infineon Raceway are both close enough for me to get to.  

I doubt we'll have remnants of a hurricane coming through here so I won't have that part to look forward to.