Whassup with AMA?

[Russell Watson]

Due some major personal life distractions including a divorce and open
heart surgery I missed all of last season of the AMA road racing
season and all of this one up to VIR. I barely recognize it from what
I last saw. I know the NASCAR people bought it a couple of years back
and that changes were coming but DAYUM!
Are there no "factory" teams any more? Everyone looks like what we
used to call "privateers", but I guess this is in keeping with the
NASCAR model where the factories are represented through privately
owned teams, and presumably give them some support?
Why are Honda and Kawasaki not represented? Did they not like the
paradigm shift and bail out? Weird to see Zemke and Hayden on Suzukis
when I'm used to them on Hondas and Kawis, respectively...
The racing is still great, especially in Sportbike, so it's not like I
won't watch it anymore, but it's just sort of like waking up from a
coma and finding the world a little out of phase with how you remember
it.

[R P]

I agree!,....allot of changes to AMA R/racing,..to the point that I
really [don't] watch it any more. Too much Suzuki dominance & too
N.A.S.C.A.R.ish!

Also noticed a huge change in the crowd.

Did the Mid-Ohio weekend for 25 years straight,..been to VIR,Road
Atlanta,,Road America,Brainerd....but no more.

Allot of change in AMA flatrack as well,..but {IMO} for the better.
More brands competing & winning. Ducati & Kawasaki to name two.

Don't know where you live but!,..if ya can ?catch a Moto/GP sometime.
I've done Indy the last three years,...world of difference.

Take care of your heart!!

Ron

[Russell Watson]

Post by R P
I agree!,....allot of changes to AMA R/racing,..to the point that I
really [don't] watch it any more. Too much Suzuki dominance & too
N.A.S.C.A.R.ish!
Also noticed a huge change in the crowd.
Did the Mid-Ohio weekend for 25 years straight,..been to VIR,Road
Atlanta,,Road America,Brainerd....but no more.
Allot of change in AMA flatrack as well,..but {IMO} for the better.
More brands competing & winning. Ducati & Kawasaki to name two.
Don't know where you live but!,..if ya can ?catch a Moto/GP sometime.
I've done Indy the last three years,...world of difference.
Take care of your heart!!
Ron

I'm in FL so I'm a good ways off from the MotoGP venues. Would love to
catch one someday, though. Conversely, I'm only about 4 hours from
Daytona but haven't been since '05.

Ticker is doing well: in 5 days it will be 6 months since surgery and
I'm rockin' right along. Went back to work after 3 weeks, though I had
to take it easy for the first 2 or 3. Biggest pain is between divorce
and med bills I had to sell my bike. Hope to be back in the saddle
next spring if the economy doesn't go totally tits up on us.

[R P]

Glad to hear you're doing well physically,.& like you,..I also hope
the economy recovers.

Have you ever been to a mile flatrack?
That is grass-roots American racing at it's best. I like the half miles
& all,.but the miles are really something to see!!!

If things [do] get better for you,.try for the Moto-GP @ Indy next
year. It's only what 800 or so miles?......& trust me it's worth it!!

Ron

[Russell Watson]

Post by R P
Glad to hear you're doing well physically,.& like you,..I also hope
the economy recovers.
Have you ever been to a mile flatrack?
That is grass-roots American racing at it's best. I like the half miles
& all,.but the miles are really something to see!!!
year. It's only what 800 or so miles?......& trust me it's worth it!!
Ron

I haven't seen one of those but it sounds like it would be fun. My
grandson is 10 so I hope to introduce him to some of this soon. He's a
budding gear-head among whose first attempts at words were
"Vroom-vroom!" (what he used to call my bike). I owe myself a good
vacation so maybe I'll start planning to head out to Indy next year.

[sturd]

Post by Russell Watson

Post by R P
year. It's only what 800 or so miles?......& trust me it's worth it!!

I haven't seen one of those but it sounds like it would be fun. My
grandson is 10 so I hope to introduce him to some of this soon. He's a
budding gear-head among whose first attempts at words were
"Vroom-vroom!" (what he used to call my bike). I owe myself a good
vacation so maybe I'll start planning to head out to Indy next year.

Hot tip on parking if you're not riding:
Park in the lot that extends from the end of N Rybolt Ave, just south
of the track. Get the $20 weekend pass (just Sunday costs $20
otherwise). Before the race, traffic on W10th is easy for getting in.
After the race, police make W10th one way with no cross access
and you'll be on I-65 in less than 10 minutes, including getting out
of the lot.

Also, the AMA dirt track Saturday night is a way better race
than anything else MotoGP weekend.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.

[R P]

I tend to agree Mike.about the mile being the better ?... but the GP
is something to see as well. When they hit the end of the straight at
200+ mph, & head into turn one,..man-o-man !!!

I think allot of folks were surprised this year when Bryan Smith on a
Kawasaki won the mile!!.@ Indy....& then he backed it up with a win at
the Springfield mile.

As for parking?...if you're riding I suggest the American Legion lot
on Georgetown Rd. It's not as quick out as you describe the other place
but it is secure,..& very handy to the track. It's right across the
street from the front straight grandstands,..& there is a gate right
there.
After the race they run G/town Rd one way south ,..it took us maybe
30-45 minutes wait,then it cleared out & they let ya go north if ya
want.

Ron

[littleroot]

Post by Russell Watson
Due some major personal life distractions including a divorce and open
heart surgery I missed all of last season of the AMA road racing
season and all of this one up to VIR. I barely recognize it from what
I last saw. I know the NASCAR people bought it a couple of years back
and that changes were coming but DAYUM!
Are there no "factory" teams any more? Everyone looks like what we
used to call "privateers", but I guess this is in keeping with the
NASCAR model where the factories are represented through privately
owned teams, and presumably give them some support?
Why are Honda and Kawasaki not represented? Did they not like the
paradigm shift and bail out? Weird to see Zemke and Hayden on  Suzukis
when I'm used to them on Hondas and Kawis, respectively...
The racing is still great, especially in Sportbike, so it's not like I
won't watch it anymore, but it's just sort of like waking up from a
coma and finding the world a little out of phase with how you remember
it.

Yeah it's all screwed up but I gotta say the racing is better than
ever. How come? I dunno and I guess I should not care.

[Russell Watson]

On Tue, 7 Sep 2010 12:45:33 -0700 (PDT), littleroot

Post by littleroot

Post by Russell Watson
Due some major personal life distractions including a divorce and open
heart surgery I missed all of last season of the AMA road racing
season and all of this one up to VIR. I barely recognize it from what
I last saw. I know the NASCAR people bought it a couple of years back
and that changes were coming but DAYUM!
Are there no "factory" teams any more? Everyone looks like what we
used to call "privateers", but I guess this is in keeping with the
NASCAR model where the factories are represented through privately
owned teams, and presumably give them some support?
Why are Honda and Kawasaki not represented? Did they not like the
paradigm shift and bail out? Weird to see Zemke and Hayden on  Suzukis
when I'm used to them on Hondas and Kawis, respectively...
The racing is still great, especially in Sportbike, so it's not like I
won't watch it anymore, but it's just sort of like waking up from a
coma and finding the world a little out of phase with how you remember
it.

Yeah it's all screwed up but I gotta say the racing is better than
ever. How come? I dunno and I guess I should not care.

The Sportbikes are certainly competitive, and the Superbikes seem to
have gotten away from the days when one of the 2 mian factory Suzuki
guys (Mladin or Spies) got way out front and stayed there the entire
race barring a get-off due to a mental lapse, while 3 or 4 other top
contenders duked it out for 2nd and 3rd several lengths back.