Thread: Grattan updates

Originally Posted by DUX

Where is the countdown clock for next year?

We still have tomorrow so I'm guessing around 366 days.

Update for those who couldn't make it:

Great day wish I could have stuck around-both Daves were fast -Eyauch was flying - Dan let me ride that bitchin R-1 -that made my day- thanks again. Toga Tim, Dave and Hammer plus a couple others were video whores when JH41 mounted a rear facing camera. A full session of good video-that should be posted.

Thanks again for a great trackday to all those present who I may have failed to mention.

Hello from Da' Whipper.

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Noodles' best imitation of Colin Edwards.

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Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

Noodles' best imitation of Colin Edwards.

Nice work...

Originally Posted by nhfirefighter13

Noodles' best imitation of Colin Edwards.

Nah, Edwards saved it. It's more like Hopkins when the 'wind blew him off his bike'.

3 PM update:

Biggest. Storm. Ever.

Originally Posted by bwhip

3 PM update:

Biggest. Storm. Ever.

Shit storm? Is Sheep tellin' stories again?

Well hopefully y'all still got some good morning sessions in.

WOW

Great time was had by all. And thanks to shenders I will be divorced when I get home when I tell my wife I want a ducati motard. That thing is AWESOME. Thanks.

That storm was wild! Then there was another one about 40 minutes later!

"First call, Street Group..."

Track is empty now. Everyone has left.

I forgot to look at the photos that were taken-who took them and how can I get some pics?

Originally Posted by for1only

I forgot to look at the photos that were taken-who took them and how can I get some pics?

Me or Taz. We'll be out of touch for a bit though for the trip home.

I hoped to see more of you and say goodbye properly, but I was rudely interrupted by a tornado. Lightning hit the armco on the straightaway as I exited the track, and it was raining so hard I almost drove into the tree lying across the road in front of the track.

So, if I didn't get to say it, I hope to see all of you again soon - it was a great event and I had a great time seeing old faces and meeting some new ones.

In other good news, I was apparently hallucinating on the way home - I had to keep the windows closed against the deluge, and the fumes from that 2-stroke race gas were more prevalent than I suspected . Fortunately, I was pretty sure there wasn't a rest area in that particular location - neon signs notwithstanding...

Glad you guys had a great time

So who's bike did you guys hang?

Originally Posted by FrenchieR6

So who's bike did you guys hang?

We hung a whale instead.

Simply the best trackdays ever. Without question.

Thanks so much to all who were a part of this incredible event. It would seem that there could be no way that it could be worth driving 2000 miles each way, but it is. What an amazing group of people! Class acts, great riders, fun, caring - I'm blessed to have been a part of it.

The Dunlop guy summed it up well when I thanked him for being there just before he left. He said it was the best event he works all year, and that he'll keep coming back even if Dunlop fires him, because he likes our group so much.

Thanks, friends!

The morning sessions were awesome! Particularly fun for me was the epic dicing with evl_twin, NorthernRR and Jetbdude - a bunch of laps in the high 1:20's. Thanks, fellas. I'll never forget it. We got lots of video too. The bike swapping was really fun as well. That Pegram bike of evl_twn's - wow!

Epic highside in the mini's race by the leader. And a whale was spotting riding two-up with JBD! Who'da thunk it?

Dinner at the Timbers was really fun as always, with lots of special awards. Thanks Baketech!

Slickwill and I are on our way to Des Moines and then I'm on to Idaho. The storm at the track was hellacious, but the one heading south toward Chicago was surreal - the most bizarre, incredible storm I've ever experienced. Dark as night, high winds, rain pouring down sideways, with windshield wipers on high speed unable to keep up. Lighting crashing right next to us along the highway, no visibility, power outages, just crazy.

I can't wait for next year!

How did TogaTim's back hold up?

Must be the bike....

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JetBWhip?

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Da Noodlemator!

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eh! Me and Northernrr just stoped for the night. Just a quick post to say good night. More new on Friday.

Best time I ever had on a track. I say it every year but it's true.

Dave on his new toy
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Dan in Turn One
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Evl_Twn knee down in one
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Getting crowded in here
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Seamus with his in-helmet heads up display...
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Slickwill tearing it up
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What a great time...AGAIN! It was wonderful to see old friends and add new ones to the mix. I just love the end of June. I was sad to miss some faces, but that just means I get to look forward to seeing them next year.

Thank you to everyone who has a hand in making this event happen. It really is unlike any other I've ever been a part of. I appreciate everyone allowing Paige the chance to be in on it as well. She was hooked for life after last year and, as you can tell, she's not giving it up any time soon. Thanks for handling her "freedom" better than I did!!

The weather was incredible from start to finish...and man was that a finish! The first two days were sunny, breezy, and cool compared to years past. No humidity made it easier on everyone and the winds kept the pterodactyls (okay fine...mosquitoes) at bay. That led to one hell of a BBQ in the pits Monday night. It was the best turn out I've seen so far and we all ate (and drank) like Kings and Queens. The conversation and laughter lasted for quite a while. Same goes for the Timbers on Tuesday. Good stuff!

The last day is always a mixed bag for me. I know I'm about to leave my friends but I also know that everyone is going to start unleashing some craziness and the games are about to begin. I can never tell who is who on the track because everyone is switching bikes or going back out during each and every session! The mini bike race was a RIOT and I got to do a bit of a whale watching too. How very unexpected!!

The storm was amazing to watch. Although I got soaking wet trying to help (trying being the key word) and stayed chilled for the rest of the night, it was unlike anything we have in NH so it was exciting to witness first hand. Once the sky cleared a bit, we broke out the little grill and did up the leftovers from Monday. We were one of the last trucks to pull out of the raceway...and I can't wait to pull back in next year.

Thanks again everyone...I hope you all have a safe journey home and that we see each other again soon.

K~

P.S. for V.S. Next Year...

Just a quick note for now...more to come with pics later!

mrsmaxib and I had a fantastic time once again with everyone at this event. I'm truly sorry it's over and I have to wait another year for the next one.

maxibs could only sign up for the first two days due to time and dog constraints, so we left at 0500 Weds. then drove and sailed straight through to home. We encountered the storm midway across Lake Michigan and that's another story but we were worried about everyone at Grattan.

Got home too tired to unload so we have to do that today. There was another major problem we discovered at home that prevented unloading...that's another story.

I've got lots of pics to go through and I'll try to chronicle our time soon. Meantime, thanks to all for all the help, fun and friendship. Everyone still on the road, be safe...I want to see you again next time.

The first line in bwhip's post #51 really says it all.

One of my favorite memories of the many I collected at the event was in our very last session. Jetbdude and I were railing on the motards, watching the skies growing darker and darker, with lightning strikes getting really close. We knew it was just about over, but we kept doing "just one more lap."

It reminded me of when I was a little kid on a summer night outside playing with my friends, with my mom calling me to come inside because it was getting dark, and I'd yell back "Five more minutes!"

Thanks, E!