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AMA Grand National Dirt Track Motorcycle Racing
AMA Grand National Dirt Track is motorcycle racings, in my opinion, in some ways, depending who you ask, considering all the facts, equivalent to auto racings NASCAR. Maybe not but it doesn't really matter. At the end of the season, somebody wins a #1 plate, so right there I shoot my own argument out the window becasue in NASCAR even though you win you keep the same number on your car. Unless your step mother owns the car then you have to give it up. But anyway, Dirt Track is run on..dirt tracks, usually 1/2 mile and miles. The tracks are not paved, hence the dirt track is in fact acurate. Rather than watch Bill Belichick the cheater on NBC tonight I'm goign to post some pictures form last nights round 17 of 18 of the AMA's Grand NAtional series held in Monticello NY on a horse track, that just happend to be dirt. Armed with my new D40 and my trust Canon A95 I ventured up to Sullivan County to see why people would want to spend a day running a motorcycle with no front brake at high speeds into corners with less than ideal traction. The first thing I noticed was that my sons 300 zoom Nikon lens did not work with the D40's autofocus. no problem I got game. However, shooting dirt track is no easy task, ecspecially after the sun goes down if you don't know your camera. But we do what we can and let the chips fall where they may. I uploaded only oics today I want to comment on so this may be a long thread. It just truns left every 1/4 mile.
We'll try to keep these in somewhat of the order they were taken. We got there at 4 pm, practice was still going on. First lesson learned is know the event. If I'd have gotten there a few hours earlier I could have had hours of shooting in strong sunlight but again, we do our best.
Welcome to Monticello Raceway. I haadn't been there since the first Leonard/duran fight back when if you wanted to see fights like that you went to a place like a horse track. No mas!
Oh well out of sequence already, taken closer to 6pm. :scratch
But I wanted to post this one first.
We'll try to keep these in somewhat of the order they were taken. We got there at 4 pm, practice was still going on. First lesson learned is know the event. If I'd have gotten there a few hours earlier I could have had hours of shooting in strong sunlight but again, we do our best.
Welcome to Monticello Raceway. I haadn't been there since the first Leonard/duran fight back when if you wanted to see fights like that you went to a place like a horse track. No mas!
Oh well out of sequence already, taken closer to 6pm. :scratch
But I wanted to post this one first.
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great shots? no. but it was a learnign experience.
Last years #1 plate winner and likely to repeat in 2007 Kenny Coolbeth.
ps. these pics look better bigger but only large will fit here.
Chris Carr won the Grand National Championship #1 plate 7 times. Thats why he gets a big truck. but to be honest I think the Canon got a better shot.
taken maybe an hour apart, maybe the Nikon was dealing with more "shaded light".
Both taken on Auto.
Nikon.
Canon.
Smokin Joe Kopp's #3 Harleys. Smokin Joe actually won the #1 plate in 2000 despite all of the Y2K computer glitches that never materialized to distract him.
A Suzuki in the shade.
1st dpwn Patriots.
The long shadows may offer some clue as to the tricky lighting that was..being lit?
I think this pic should be sharper.
I want a Honda Cub. Cool bike.
24-0 Patriots. As much as I don't like Bill Belichick I like Norv Turner less.
for future reference you can see his left foot has what they call a hot shoe on it. since they turn left, they use the left foot as an outrigger in the turns. they all wear it and its pretty neat hearing a one legged clang as they walk around.
the hot shoe fits over the regular boot.
you can buy one if you're in the market.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOT-SHOE-STEEL-FOR-FLAT-TRACK-RACING_W0QQitemZ190153036847QQihZ009QQcategoryZ34355QQcmdZViewItem
:deadhorse
the hand truck holds the standard starter and battery like a big fuel drag car.
You can see the chunks on the ground from the mechanic carving the tire up which he is in the process of doing.
1. the reason they don't pave the tracks, is that if they did, the dirt track tires would squeal and make screeching noises in the corners and on the straights at higher speeds would actually whine. while Harley Davidsons have long been known for their uncanny life saving abilities by virtue of their loud pipes, nobody likes to listen to screeching and whining.
2. Why didn't Chris Carr win an 8th title? He claimed once the AMA pulled the claiming rule he could no longer compete without the BMW's being available.
3. What was Smokin Joe Kopp smoking? You'd have to ask him Jay.
OK moving right along. Cue up All the Young Dudes if it helps, I am.
Is that concrete all around?
Right then.
Trick photo, and none of you caught the trick. Well it really wasn't a trick but there was a bit of subtle subtrefuge, or is it subtreflug.
What. Ever. I wanted to do this for years.
So what is the trick in this picture friends? You there yes, you in the glasses. Do you know?
ayyy. you know I once grew my hair just to scare the teacher.
check out the bookworm.
I really like the the paint on Nicholes bike too. the sharp eye will note her name on the seat.
bookworm indeed.
Nichole Cheza. 5'1" 115 pounds and all of 20 years old. In June.
What can you say. I saw her heat and she ran a very respectalbe 3rd. She didn't do good in the Main Event but I don't think it was from lack of trying. I know some pretty manly men who wouldn't get on a bike with no front brake on a chilly saturday night in the Catskills and ride it 90 mph into a corner with 20 or so other riders with no front brakes and trying to win a race being their primary idea.
lifted from her website.
if you think you can ride a bike pretty good. you're probably wrong.
I am.
http://www.nicholecheza.com/