The Track, The Shorties, and the Longies...

On a normal weekend, the TVSC gets together at Rockabilly's for Friday night dinner and then rides on Sunday. Well, this weekend started normal; however, ended very divided. On Sunday, we essentially broke into three unique groups: The track-day group, the short-ride group, and the long-ride group. Put me with the long-ride group.

So lets start with the track-dayers. This seemed to be the center of attention this weekend with the bulk of the riders heading to Birmingham for yet another track day. I have yet to get a full report; however, I can only assume they all had a great time and are very tired tonight. As soon as the results come in, I will add their comments to the bottom of this page. In the meantime, check out some of the great pictures Charlie sent me. These include pictures from Friday night Rockabilly's as well as the Barber Trackday pictures. Charlie's pictures can be found HERE (Thanks Charlie for the pics).

As for the rest of us, we met at the normal meeting spot Sunday morning at 10am. Right from the beginning, we divided the group in half with those going on the "short ride" while the rest of us would go on the "long ride" to Beersheba Springs, TN. The idea was that we all would ride the "short ride" and then those going on the long would seperate from the short ride in Fayetteville. We headed north out of Huntsville, railed Hwy 110, and pulled off for a break just shy of Fayetteville, TN. At this point, the "Shorties" seperated from the "Longies". Unfortunately, the "Longies" only included Kevin, Steve, and myself. The other ten or so riders all pointed South and headed for home.

So, Kevin, Steve, and I get through Fayetteville and proceed to Hwy 50. Hwy 50 has some great scenery along with some great curves. It is hard to compromise between looking and railing. I decided to try something in the middle and rode a a "comfortably fast" pace. Unfortunately, the tar snakes on Hwy 50 cause the bike to wiggle around. It is unsettling at first. Then, after twenty or so miles, they grow down-right annoying. None the less, the road is so curvey and fun that the tar snakes can be overlooked. We continue to ride along and have a great time.

Once into Winchester, Steve has to head back. That leaves Kevin and I to carry the weight of the "Longies". Ok, no big deal, we'll make it. We push on, get onto Hwy 41A and proceed to power upto Monteagle. Ok, so that isn't exactly true. Instead, we got stuck behind a string of cars going exactly five mph UNDER the speed limit. Ugh. Five miles later, Kevin and I are now directly behind the offending car; however, we can't pass for we are now in downtown Cowen. Finally, we think relief is in site for the offending car has turned their blinker on. "Yay!", I think to myself. One block, two blocks, five blocks, and one......sloooowwwww......turn. Finally, they turn off the main road and disappear from view. "Thank goodness", I think to myself for the offending car is finally out of my way. I proceed to accelerate.

Just then, we come to the train tracks on Hwy 41A and see red flashing lights. Yup, a train. And not just a normal train passing through. Instead, the train is barely moving (maybe five mph) and is LONNNNNNNGGGG. So, Kevin and I park the bikes and stretch. This situation gave me plenty of time to remember why we always take the back roads around downtown Cowen.

So, we finally get past the slow cars, the train is through, and we are out of Cowen. It's time to go up the mountain to Monteagle and scrub some rubber off the edges of my tires. Going up the mountain, the road has two lanes for up and one lane for down. The road has several series of right-left-right-left combinations that are much fun with a steady throttle. After about the second or third combo, I'm in the left lane going around a right bend when I'm faced with a Z-71 in my lane. THANK GOD I had another lane to switch into. I stick my right knee out alittle, give an extra push on the right handle bar, flick the a$$hole off with my left hand, and shouted "f*#ker" in my helmet. Reflecting on the situation, I'm thinking the one-handed, right-corner correction with left-finger extension had to look pretty cool. But, the reality of the situation states that I'm damn lucky that there was another lane available for I would be a hood orniment right now had it been a normal two-lane road.

Ok, so I will admit that was the most exciting event for me today. Kevin and I stopped in Monteagle for lunch and then cruised on over to Beersheba. To Kevin's and my disappointment, we get there to find NO bikes. What gives? It was probably the most pretty Sunday we have had all summer and there is not a sportbike to be found. I guess Kevin and I have the place to ourselves. Damn, I hate it when that happens, haha.

Just when we decide to ride up and down Hwy 56 a few times, we hear some bikes come. They continue down, we jump out behind them, follow them to the bottom and back to the top. Introduce ourselves and where we have come from. Turns out, Ben, one of the riders in the group of four, used to live in Huntsville and knows all the "normals". We ride back to the middle of the Beersheba run, pull off, and chit-chat for about thirty minutes. It was great to meet those guys who live in south TN and I hope to see them at Beersheba again some day. Unfortunately, For Kevin and I, it's getting late and we want to get home before dark. We wrap up the chit-chat, ride Beersheba one more time, and head for home.

For the "normals" reading this article, Ben G. calls you all a bunch of slackers for not coming to Beersheba more often.

While I'm side-tracked, the Beersheba run (Hwy 56) is in pretty good condition. Last May, the road was washed out in several spots from heavy rains. They finally have those sections of roads fixed with a new base and new asphalt (as opposed to just filling in the holes with more asphalt like they were doing in the spring). The transitions from the old road to the new asphalt are pretty smooth. Unfortunately, there are numerous marbles in the upper hairpin from cars running off the road and kicking the excess asphalt back onto the road. Had it not been for those marbles, I would consider the road perfect.

Ok, so to get back on track here, It's getting late and Kevin and I need to get home. I'm hoping to make some good time blasting down the hill out of Monteagle. After all, my incident on the way up says I deserve a good run back down, right? Yeah, what was I thinking? We got stuck behind a truck pulling this nasty trailer and a cell-phone yapping lady in a SUV. 25-35mph all the way down the hill. It was painful.

Thankfully, this time, I remember the "back roads" way to Hwy 64 and ignore going through Cowen. As we come to the railroad tracks, sure enough, there is another train. Luckily, the back roads have the train going over a bridge. Therefore, this time we zoom right under it and keep on going. "Oh yah", I thought to myself. For good measure, I gave it the finger and laughed as I wasn't defeated by the train *this* time, haha.

The rest of the ride was uneventful and we were in Huntsville city limits about an hour later. We took Hwy 64, to Winchester Rd, and onto Memorial Parkway. For the record, it is roughly 100mi from the Bottom of Beersheba to Memorial Parkway going this way and takes about an hour and twenty to an hour and thirty minutes if you ride straight through. Kevin and I got to Memorial Parkway, shook hands farewell, and I was off for home.

Only highlight the rest of the way home was a "race" with two men in a rusty, smoke pumping, oil leaking, pick-up truck. I never seem to understand this. It "started" when I passed them on a two-lane. Just as I get to their door, I could tell they "nailed it". I guess they didn't want me to pass or maybe they really thought they could accelerate like I could. Too tired to play with these baboons, I just twisted the throttle some more and left them trying to kill every mosquito in a twenty mile radius. Maybe next time guys *sigh*.

Finally home. Got the bike put away, got my gear inside, and proceeded to start the yard work I have ignored for the past two weeks. While raking and pulling weeds, I wondered how the others' rides went today. With so many of us going in different directions, I look forward to hearing about everyone's ride and the track-day report.

Statistics:
Total Mileage	264 miles
Max Speed	116 mph
Average Speed	52 mph

Words simply cannot describe how much damned fun I had at Barbers yesterday. 
Beautiful weather, an excellent facility, good company, and good bike under me.
Yesterday will for sure go on my top 3 motorcycle rides ever. Though I was far 
from the fastest guy from the club there (I bested a 1:56.3 while my pit mate 
Ronnie G got a best 1:43.2 according to our Mychron) I still had a blast. I 
tried to follow Bruce a time or two, but he and Keith Harper both had the place 
pretty will figured out. I was trying to get Royden to show me the fast line, 
and it worked well until he hit a little misfortune of his own. Can't wait to 
go back.
 
Things I learned at Barbers:
1. SV 650's are not slow motorcycles.
2. My CBR isn't either
3. Turn 4 isn't as bad as you brain says it is.
4. Turn 5 is.
5. When you think you are using all the brake you can, you probably have a 
   lot left.
6. Ignore the statues. While pretty, you don't need to be looking at them from 
   the track.
7. Bringing your wife to the track is a good idea. Someone needs to help with 
   the rear-stand.
8. Branam's  Action Photography is WAY overpriced.
9. Pirelli Green's are the bomb... grippy and will last the day.
10. Having friends at the track is a huge bonus.

 second Scott's comments.  Whooooohoooo Barber is a blast.  First of all 
thanks again to Bruce Speers for sharing his #2 trailer spot, and everything 
else.  Thank You.  Second, it was great to have the other Huntsville riders, 
friends, and family down all day.

Riding Barber is better everytime.  Knowing where the track is going allows 
you to focus on the riding, and your own skills.  Like, what's the latest I 
can pull this brake lever down the front?  What gear is best for going fast 
through turns 2 and 3?  YeeeHaaa, how fast can I crest the hill at 4?  How 
long can I stay on the gas going into 5?  How fast can you stop in the grass 
running off turn 5?  Pretty damn fast if you use your FACE for a brake.  Oh 
well..... Watch out, as our Learning Curves instructor said "Turn 5 is about 
the only turn the sucks you in."

I was having a great session/day on the SV up till that.  Dragging knees on 
both sides, carrying more speed everywhere (2&3aregreat), and I was guilty 
of riding way over my head having a ton of fun doing it.  Next time I'll try 
to keep my head on my shoulders, and my ass on the seat.  In the mean time, 
if you see a blue SV near you (i.e. not the red one Keith Harper is blasting 
around on.  I swear Keith's is really an SV750...or SV1000) ...stay clear 
I'm crash prone.  Isn't biaggi too?

The fun wasn't over after the crash.  I had freedom to watch some great 
riding by our group, from all over the track.  I used Ronnie Gs XR80 to get 
around a bit, that thing is a hoot!!!!  I looked at a ton of pics in the 
photo guys trailer.  They are overpriced, but they took some good pictures 
of everyone.  I would attach a pic, but they are HUGE.  See you next time!!!

Royden