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" sorry but you are going to have to disembark the plane. Once you are in the terminal building, we will arrange the onward flights "
We park ourselves in the American Airlines queue waiting to get a flight back to Chicago. The queue keeps growing, but not a lot is moving at the AA desk...
Finally we get the news..
" flight leaves in an hour and will get you into Chicago at 10.20pm. Get to gate H6 before 10.55pm and we will get you on the 11.05pm to Austin "
Perfect we all think !
We land in Chicago at 10.20pm and wander around to H6. We get to the gate with 25 minutes to spare....
Then....
We see an empty H6 waiting area...apart from a Polish guy going mental at 2 AA staff members.
The two AA guys are actually pilots. They don't really know what's happening with our flight. They leave....
Once Polish guy goes mad again and we find out that our flight is closed even though we are at the gate early.
Polish guy then starts banging ( no smashing ) on doors and windows trying to get someone on the planes attention...
Finally an AA manager turns up to inform us that the flight is fully booked and closed and there is nothing he can do.
" how can it be booked when I got a boarding card with a seat allocated ???? "
This continues.....
Then.....
Lil Red sees our luggage boarding the plane without its owners. He goes like the Polish man..mental !
Then....
" OK what time is the next flight to Austin ? " I say
" How does 4.55pm on the 19th sound ? "
" ...... awful ! "
" we got a bike race to go to " Lil Red says...
Not sure the AA guy understood a word of Yorkshire.
" you gonna sort us a hotel for the night Mr AA man ? "
" No "
" so what we going to do for another two days in the airport ? We haven't even got our bags and clothes ! "
" this should help " says AA man And hand us a bag with an eye patch and a razor in it
Then.....
We park ourselves in the American Airlines queue waiting to get a flight back to Chicago. The queue keeps growing, but not a lot is moving at the AA desk...
Finally we get the news..
" flight leaves in an hour and will get you into Chicago at 10.20pm. Get to gate H6 before 10.55pm and we will get you on the 11.05pm to Austin "
Perfect we all think !
We land in Chicago at 10.20pm and wander around to H6. We get to the gate with 25 minutes to spare....
Then....
We see an empty H6 waiting area...apart from a Polish guy going mental at 2 AA staff members.
The two AA guys are actually pilots. They don't really know what's happening with our flight. They leave....
Once Polish guy goes mad again and we find out that our flight is closed even though we are at the gate early.
Polish guy then starts banging ( no smashing ) on doors and windows trying to get someone on the planes attention...
Finally an AA manager turns up to inform us that the flight is fully booked and closed and there is nothing he can do.
" how can it be booked when I got a boarding card with a seat allocated ???? "
This continues.....
Then.....
Lil Red sees our luggage boarding the plane without its owners. He goes like the Polish man..mental !
Then....
" OK what time is the next flight to Austin ? " I say
" How does 4.55pm on the 19th sound ? "
" ...... awful ! "
" we got a bike race to go to " Lil Red says...
Not sure the AA guy understood a word of Yorkshire.
" you gonna sort us a hotel for the night Mr AA man ? "
" No "
" so what we going to do for another two days in the airport ? We haven't even got our bags and clothes ! "
" this should help " says AA man And hand us a bag with an eye patch and a razor in it
Then.....
Arrabbiata1
Blue Smoker
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- Out of Nowhere
So I've been home for a bit now and just gotten a bit of time to myself, I guess I should tell my getting home tale. Not as good as the Brit's getting there tale, but it's worth telling.
I'm also going to start off with : All the powersliders and non I met on this trip, thanks !! The crew was awesome, you dudes ....... ruled and made this already .... cool way cooler.
So what was my scene? After the 6th (?) night in a row involving booze, cigarettes, motorcycle talk and 3 or less hours of sleep, I wake up at 6am pack my .... and call a cab. In very un Austin like style the cab showed up in less than 20 minutes. I could go on at this point about how cool Austin is. Now that I think about it, both the city and the dude. Austin the dude is an encyclopedia of GP knowledge, at one point he identified what year, (and eventually down to the race) a set of Pedrosa's leathers were from just from what patches were on it and where the slide marks were. These were hanging up in the AlpineStars tent. ( I picked them up btw, they must have weighed 20-25 lbs.). Just listening to Austin and Arrabbiati1 have a conversation about racing was awesome all on it's own. Jum's (although he won't admit it) is in there too. As somebody who wakes up to watch the races on his own and has never been in the same room with another enthusiast (Not fanatic, right Lil Red?
this was paradise (Well if there wasn't some sort of paradise that didn't involve Christy Mack, me, and and unlimited supply of baby oil), just sitting about bullshiting about GP was so ....... cool.
Anyway, where was I?
Austin the city is probably my favorite city in NA. As Curve says "a little blue dot in big ....... red state". The town was beuatiful, the girls were beautiful and friendly, the guys were armed and friendly. The tacos were cheap and plentiful. Great place. Oh wait, no I was telling a story, I think.
Ok, so the cab showed up, I say my good byes and off to the airport!! I get to the front counter.
"Name and destination"
"Blue Green, Vancouver Canada"
........."Nope, you're not in here........oh wait here you are"
"?"
"Your flight leaves on Wednesday"
"What?"
"Yup. 8:15am Wednesday"
The time was currently 7am Monday and I was trying to figure out what I was doing at 9pm six weeks before while booking this trip that led me to my current circumstances. Booze? No, I wasn't drinking that night. Drugs? Gave those up years ago. .....? Ahhhh, yes, ....., that was the problem. On occasion I am an ..... and do things like book a flight two days later then I thought, and never once double check the itinerary to makes sure I was getting back when I thought. I must have checked when I was leaving 20 times, but never once did I check when I was getting back. That part didn't concern or interest me I suppose. I really, why should it. Back to work? lol Who cares.
So I inquired about getting a flight out later that day..
"Best I can do is have you in Seattle at midnight"
"17 hours to Seattle?"
"Yes sir, and it's going to be $400 to change your flight"
It would have been cheaper and faster for me to have gone on to craigslist, find an '86 Chevette and driven myself there.
So I did the only sensible thing, got on the phone informed my business partner that I wasn't going to make that Wednesday meeting, told the girlfriend about the flight and booked myself into the greatest Super 8 ever built on the side of a freeway. I ended up getting a room two doors down from our first night room. Curiously the hooker on meth was no longer there, I'm sure she was moving on to ever more exciting Super 8 locations to ply her trade.
So I spent the next two days being a regular tourist, and sleeping in a bed. I saw the capitol buliding, several more tacorias, the transit system, spiders, ants, all manner of things designed to kill me, the university, old motorcycles. And on the last night while walking along the same access road that Jums had only one week previous had driven us the wrong way down I ran into Shane, Curve's buddy.
He was so Texan (ie friendly, generous) that I think he looked injured that I didn't call him up to crash at his place. I just couldn't impose myself. I figured he had to get back to real life.
As Curve said ".... real life".
Turns out that was the mantra of this trip.
I'm also going to start off with : All the powersliders and non I met on this trip, thanks !! The crew was awesome, you dudes ....... ruled and made this already .... cool way cooler.
So what was my scene? After the 6th (?) night in a row involving booze, cigarettes, motorcycle talk and 3 or less hours of sleep, I wake up at 6am pack my .... and call a cab. In very un Austin like style the cab showed up in less than 20 minutes. I could go on at this point about how cool Austin is. Now that I think about it, both the city and the dude. Austin the dude is an encyclopedia of GP knowledge, at one point he identified what year, (and eventually down to the race) a set of Pedrosa's leathers were from just from what patches were on it and where the slide marks were. These were hanging up in the AlpineStars tent. ( I picked them up btw, they must have weighed 20-25 lbs.). Just listening to Austin and Arrabbiati1 have a conversation about racing was awesome all on it's own. Jum's (although he won't admit it) is in there too. As somebody who wakes up to watch the races on his own and has never been in the same room with another enthusiast (Not fanatic, right Lil Red?
this was paradise (Well if there wasn't some sort of paradise that didn't involve Christy Mack, me, and and unlimited supply of baby oil), just sitting about bullshiting about GP was so ....... cool.Anyway, where was I?
Austin the city is probably my favorite city in NA. As Curve says "a little blue dot in big ....... red state". The town was beuatiful, the girls were beautiful and friendly, the guys were armed and friendly. The tacos were cheap and plentiful. Great place. Oh wait, no I was telling a story, I think.
Ok, so the cab showed up, I say my good byes and off to the airport!! I get to the front counter.
"Name and destination"
"Blue Green, Vancouver Canada"
........."Nope, you're not in here........oh wait here you are"
"?"
"Your flight leaves on Wednesday"
"What?"
"Yup. 8:15am Wednesday"
The time was currently 7am Monday and I was trying to figure out what I was doing at 9pm six weeks before while booking this trip that led me to my current circumstances. Booze? No, I wasn't drinking that night. Drugs? Gave those up years ago. .....? Ahhhh, yes, ....., that was the problem. On occasion I am an ..... and do things like book a flight two days later then I thought, and never once double check the itinerary to makes sure I was getting back when I thought. I must have checked when I was leaving 20 times, but never once did I check when I was getting back. That part didn't concern or interest me I suppose. I really, why should it. Back to work? lol Who cares.
So I inquired about getting a flight out later that day..
"Best I can do is have you in Seattle at midnight"
"17 hours to Seattle?"
"Yes sir, and it's going to be $400 to change your flight"
It would have been cheaper and faster for me to have gone on to craigslist, find an '86 Chevette and driven myself there.
So I did the only sensible thing, got on the phone informed my business partner that I wasn't going to make that Wednesday meeting, told the girlfriend about the flight and booked myself into the greatest Super 8 ever built on the side of a freeway. I ended up getting a room two doors down from our first night room. Curiously the hooker on meth was no longer there, I'm sure she was moving on to ever more exciting Super 8 locations to ply her trade.
So I spent the next two days being a regular tourist, and sleeping in a bed. I saw the capitol buliding, several more tacorias, the transit system, spiders, ants, all manner of things designed to kill me, the university, old motorcycles. And on the last night while walking along the same access road that Jums had only one week previous had driven us the wrong way down I ran into Shane, Curve's buddy.
He was so Texan (ie friendly, generous) that I think he looked injured that I didn't call him up to crash at his place. I just couldn't impose myself. I figured he had to get back to real life.
As Curve said ".... real life".
Turns out that was the mantra of this trip.
- Joined
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- Messages
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- Location
- Vancouver
Bluegreen,
I had a late flight monday and landed in seattle around 11pm
fawk,,,I could have given you a ride up as my car was at SeaTac
I had a late flight monday and landed in seattle around 11pm
fawk,,,I could have given you a ride up as my car was at SeaTac
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2006
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- 11,345
- Location
- Texas
Dumb basterd.. :lol:
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2007
- Messages
- 4,934
- Location
- unda cheese
bluegreen
Outstanding writeup BG.
Great writing, great story
3496911367085053
So I've been home for a bit now and just gotten a bit of time to myself, I guess I should tell my getting home tale. Not as good as the Brit's getting there tale, but it's worth telling.
I'm also going to start off with : All the powersliders and non I met on this trip, thanks !! The crew was awesome, you dudes ....... ruled and made this already .... cool way cooler.
So what was my scene? After the 6th (?) night in a row involving booze, cigarettes, motorcycle talk and 3 or less hours of sleep, I wake up at 6am pack my .... and call a cab. In very un Austin like style the cab showed up in less than 20 minutes. I could go on at this point about how cool Austin is at this point. Now that I think about it, both the city and the dude. Austin the dude is an encyclopedia of GP knowledge, at one point he identified what year, (and eventually down to the race) a set of Pedrosa's leathers was from just from what patches where on it and where the slide marks were. These were hanging up in the AlpineStars tent. ( I picked them up btw, they must have weighed 20-25 lbs.). Just listening to Austin and Arrabbiati1 have a conversation about racing was awesome all on it's own. Jum's (although he won't admit it) is in there too. As somebody who wakes up to watch the races on his own and has never been in the same room with another enthusiast (Not fanatic, right Lil Red?
Anyway, where was I?
Austin the city is probably my favorite city in NA. As Curve says "a little blue dot in big ....... red state". The town was beuatiful, the girls were beautiful and friendly, the guys were armed and friendly. The tacos were cheap and plentiful. Great place. Oh wait, no I was telling a story, I think.
Ok, so the cab showed up, I say my good byes and off to the airport!! I get to the front counter.
"Name and destination"
"Blue Green, Vancouver Canada"
........."Nope, you're not in here........oh wait here you are"
"?"
"Your flight leaves on Wednesday"
"What?"
"Yup. 8:15am Wednesday"
The time was currently 7am Monday and I was trying to figure out what I was doing at 9pm six weeks before while booking this trip that led me to my current circumstances. Booze? No, I wasn't drinking that night. Drugs? Gave those up years ago. .....? Ahhhh, yes, ....., that was the problem. On occasion I am an ..... and do things like book a flight two days later then I thought, and never once double check the itinerary to makes sure I was getting back when I thought. I must have checked when I was leaving 20 times, but never once did I check when I was getting back. That part didn't concern or interest me I suppose. I really, why should it. Back to work? lol Who cares.
So I inquired about getting a flight out later that day..
"Best I can do is have you in Seattle at midnight"
"17 hours to Seattle?"
"Yes sir, and it's going to be $400 to change your flight"
It would have been cheaper and faster for me to have gone on to craigslist, find an '86 Chevette and driven myself there.
So I did the only sensible thing, got on the phone informed my business partner that I wasn't going to make that Wednesday meeting, told the girlfriend about the flight and booked myself into the greatest Super 8 ever built on the side of a freeway. I ended up getting a room two doors down from our first night room. Curiously the hooker on meth was no longer there, I'm sure she was moving on to ever more exciting Super 8 locations to ply her trade.
So I spent the next two days being a regular tourist, and sleeping in a bed. I saw the capitol buliding, several more tacorias, the transit system, spiders, ants, all manner of things designed to kill me, the university, old motorcycles. And on the last night while walking along the same access road that Jums had only one week previous had driven us the wrong way down I ran into Shane, Curve's buddy.
He was so Texan (ie friendly, generous) that I think he looked injured that I didn't call him up to crash at his place. I just couldn't impose myself. I figured he had to get back to real life.
As Curve said ".... real life".
Turns out that was the mantra of this trip.
Outstanding writeup BG.
Great writing, great story
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- Messages
- 3,451
- Location
- The North!
Well IF I hadn't been having such a good time,
And IF I had looked at what I had properly on saturday night.
And IF I had sent these to the appropriate publications then!
These Pic's would have paid for the trip!
MM lovers look away
http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Austin%20MotoGP%202013/Marquez%20crash%20afterslide?sort=9&page=1
Enjoy
And IF I had looked at what I had properly on saturday night.
And IF I had sent these to the appropriate publications then!
These Pic's would have paid for the trip!
MM lovers look away
http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Austin%20MotoGP%202013/Marquez%20crash%20afterslide?sort=9&page=1
Enjoy
- Joined
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- Location
- siebenbürgen süße heimat!
Good thing theres no beer for you trackside at donny to distract you from work.
Can't let that happen under my watch.
Primo stuff red, looking forward to seeing more
Thx for sharing bg!
Can't let that happen under my watch.
Primo stuff red, looking forward to seeing more
Thx for sharing bg!
- Joined
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cliché guevara
That's just it,
At trackside I had hardly any beer, just a couple of cans 2 on sat and sun
I blame the company for been such a fantastic bunch of people from all walks of life!
No point dwelling on what could have been,
Let's see what we can do next.
That's just it,
At trackside I had hardly any beer, just a couple of cans 2 on sat and sun
I blame the company for been such a fantastic bunch of people from all walks of life!
No point dwelling on what could have been,
Let's see what we can do next.
Arrabbiata1
Blue Smoker
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2008
- Messages
- 6,925
- Location
- Out of Nowhere
lil red rocket pilot
Funny how memory can be so fallacious. Strangely I recall you bleating how it had gone two thirds race distance and insisting it was a result until Austin pointed out that it was in fact short of two thirds to which I added it had to be taken back a lap before you changed your tune. I do concede though - even knowing this, I wasn't expecting a five lap sprint and once the facts became clear you were adamant that it would be a restart. Stick to the camera Phil....you're a natural photographer, not a pundit P.M. me your address btw, I owe you some $$$ remember.
Important thing was, Iwema was OK. Ten years to the day of Daijiro's passing, seeing the air ambulance landing at the helipad beside the paddock last Sunday was very unsettling.
On that subject....this was wonderful to see:
14247:SAM_1740.JPG]
3495361366924419
Just finally watching the races at home.
Just got to the moto3 restart!
Oh yeah only one peep on that hill was saying it was going to be one!
Remember fellas!?
Funny how memory can be so fallacious. Strangely I recall you bleating how it had gone two thirds race distance and insisting it was a result until Austin pointed out that it was in fact short of two thirds to which I added it had to be taken back a lap before you changed your tune. I do concede though - even knowing this, I wasn't expecting a five lap sprint and once the facts became clear you were adamant that it would be a restart. Stick to the camera Phil....you're a natural photographer, not a pundit
P.M. me your address btw, I owe you some $$$ remember.Important thing was, Iwema was OK. Ten years to the day of Daijiro's passing, seeing the air ambulance landing at the helipad beside the paddock last Sunday was very unsettling.
On that subject....this was wonderful to see:
14247:SAM_1740.JPG]
Attachments
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Oh no Sir I must disagree!
I automatically knew to complete race distance it had to be 13 laps completed knocking back to 12 in a 18 lap race.
Numbers are my forte.
As the english language is yours.
Remember when in some moto3 practice you said
"ask Red he knows numbers and riders"
On the hill at that time I was asking why they were congratulating each other as there had to be a restart!
As for the $$$ keep them and if your offer for Donny WSBK still stands we will gratefully accept.
Edit:
I missed this out but yes thank who ever you praise Iwema was ok,
And I remember you taking that photo and taking time out to tell the relevance in it,
Thanks.
Oh and I also feel a bit of a ........ for just running and jumping on my bus at the airport without saying goodbye properly.
Sat on the bus all I could think is "Phill your such a ......"
I automatically knew to complete race distance it had to be 13 laps completed knocking back to 12 in a 18 lap race.
Numbers are my forte.
As the english language is yours.
Remember when in some moto3 practice you said
"ask Red he knows numbers and riders"
On the hill at that time I was asking why they were congratulating each other as there had to be a restart!
As for the $$$ keep them and if your offer for Donny WSBK still stands we will gratefully accept.
Edit:
I missed this out but yes thank who ever you praise Iwema was ok,
And I remember you taking that photo and taking time out to tell the relevance in it,
Thanks.
Oh and I also feel a bit of a ........ for just running and jumping on my bus at the airport without saying goodbye properly.
Sat on the bus all I could think is "Phill your such a ......"
- Joined
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- 3,210
- Location
- Outback Steakhouse
We prepared to spend possibly three days at O'Hare base camp....
Luckily our friends at American Airlines had provided us with the Spa in the Sky package. An eye patch and a razor....
We bed down for the night. Desperation is setting in. We are gonna miss Friday practice !!!
Arrab and Lil Red curl up and try get some shut eye. The person sleeping next to me was snoring louder than Basspete ever could. I get up, unable to sleep a wink and look at my options...
3am Dunkin Donuts binge.....
Then....
5am wondering about the airport like a lost soul, I bump into Lil Red. We walk by the AA desk and see a lady talking to a couple. We go over and talk to her....
" you two have got confirmed seats on the 8am to Austin this morning " elation sets in. The dejection as we remember Mr Arrab. They have no record of him travelling.
Anyway, we all get seats. We are getting to Austin on the Thursday ! No sleep for god knows how long but we are getting there !
Plane gets delayed. No flight attendant.
Flight attendant arrives sometime later.
Plane gets delayed. No fuel.
Fuel arrives sometime later
We fly to Austin !!!
Luckily our friends at American Airlines had provided us with the Spa in the Sky package. An eye patch and a razor....
We bed down for the night. Desperation is setting in. We are gonna miss Friday practice !!!
Arrab and Lil Red curl up and try get some shut eye. The person sleeping next to me was snoring louder than Basspete ever could. I get up, unable to sleep a wink and look at my options...
3am Dunkin Donuts binge.....
Then....
5am wondering about the airport like a lost soul, I bump into Lil Red. We walk by the AA desk and see a lady talking to a couple. We go over and talk to her....
" you two have got confirmed seats on the 8am to Austin this morning " elation sets in. The dejection as we remember Mr Arrab. They have no record of him travelling.
Anyway, we all get seats. We are getting to Austin on the Thursday ! No sleep for god knows how long but we are getting there !
Plane gets delayed. No flight attendant.
Flight attendant arrives sometime later.
Plane gets delayed. No fuel.
Fuel arrives sometime later
We fly to Austin !!!
Did that woman travel all the way to Austin with her son from Japan (I am assuming Japan)? Awesome spirit shown by her. I've never forgotten Kato. RIP 74
Also, for those that have traveled to GPs in person, do you all encounter Japanese fans that much? Or do they not venture out as much as others (i.e. fans from Europe, Australia, etc.) to attend MotoGP races?
Also, for those that have traveled to GPs in person, do you all encounter Japanese fans that much? Or do they not venture out as much as others (i.e. fans from Europe, Australia, etc.) to attend MotoGP races?
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2009
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- Vancouver
eltoro
There's one Japanese chick in Indy that is all decked out in traditional japanese clothing.
In the paddock from Rising sun on.
There's one Japanese chick in Indy that is all decked out in traditional japanese clothing.
In the paddock from Rising sun on.
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2011
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- 3,451
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I don't think I have been to any GP and not seen a Japanese person.
They seem to be the just the same as Europeans and travel to races worldwide.
COTA was by far the furthest I've personally traveled and there was other Japanese people there.
One guy in particular near us was going crazy near us with his rising sun flag during moto2 quallie.
And there are always some Japanese peeps in the paddock of course
They seem to be the just the same as Europeans and travel to races worldwide.
COTA was by far the furthest I've personally traveled and there was other Japanese people there.
One guy in particular near us was going crazy near us with his rising sun flag during moto2 quallie.
And there are always some Japanese peeps in the paddock of course
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- The North!
Okay I've just had a look through some of the pics I took from the inside of turn 19.
What I found interesting and for this purpose tried to pick pics in the same area of the turn,
Note rubber marks on the track.
Is rider body position,
I know it has been discussed many times but without actual pics.
One thing I have noticed is Marquez, Lorenzo and (I was suprised at this) Smith all get their elbows right down and ..... right off the seat.
However Marquez and Lorenzo have the same head position where Smith does not.
Everyone else is so varied with slight differences but those three stood out.
Look at the pics and discuss,
I'd be interested to hear your comments.
http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Austin%20MotoGP%202013?sort=3&page=1
Enjoy
What I found interesting and for this purpose tried to pick pics in the same area of the turn,
Note rubber marks on the track.
Is rider body position,
I know it has been discussed many times but without actual pics.
One thing I have noticed is Marquez, Lorenzo and (I was suprised at this) Smith all get their elbows right down and ..... right off the seat.
However Marquez and Lorenzo have the same head position where Smith does not.
Everyone else is so varied with slight differences but those three stood out.
Look at the pics and discuss,
I'd be interested to hear your comments.
http://s1120.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Austin%20MotoGP%202013?sort=3&page=1
Enjoy
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2009
- Messages
- 3,155
- Location
- siebenbürgen süße heimat!
great stuff red!
seems to me lorenzo is just taking the whole hanging off thing to the level he needs it to make the corner whereas marquez looks like a spider trying to .... a motorbike from the side
i don't think its really noteworthy how smith holds his head, i think (!) he just focuses on the next corner earlier. at least looks that way.
his head shouldn't be heavy enough to really affect the CoG
seems to me lorenzo is just taking the whole hanging off thing to the level he needs it to make the corner whereas marquez looks like a spider trying to .... a motorbike from the side
i don't think its really noteworthy how smith holds his head, i think (!) he just focuses on the next corner earlier. at least looks that way.
his head shouldn't be heavy enough to really affect the CoG
Austin
Dr. Gonzo
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- Mar 29, 2005
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- Woody Creek
bluegreen
Hey, at least one of us—other than Curve—got to see the city.
3496911367085053
So I've been home for a bit now and just gotten a bit of time to myself, I guess I should tell my getting home tale. Not as good as the Brit's getting there tale, but it's worth telling.
I'm also going to start off with : All the powersliders and non I met on this trip, thanks !! The crew was awesome, you dudes ....... ruled and made this already .... cool way cooler.
So what was my scene? After the 6th (?) night in a row involving booze, cigarettes, motorcycle talk and 3 or less hours of sleep, I wake up at 6am pack my .... and call a cab. In very un Austin like style the cab showed up in less than 20 minutes. I could go on at this point about how cool Austin is. Now that I think about it, both the city and the dude. Austin the dude is an encyclopedia of GP knowledge, at one point he identified what year, (and eventually down to the race) a set of Pedrosa's leathers were from just from what patches were on it and where the slide marks were. These were hanging up in the AlpineStars tent. ( I picked them up btw, they must have weighed 20-25 lbs.). Just listening to Austin and Arrabbiati1 have a conversation about racing was awesome all on it's own. Jum's (although he won't admit it) is in there too. As somebody who wakes up to watch the races on his own and has never been in the same room with another enthusiast (Not fanatic, right Lil Red?
Anyway, where was I?
Austin the city is probably my favorite city in NA. As Curve says "a little blue dot in big ....... red state". The town was beuatiful, the girls were beautiful and friendly, the guys were armed and friendly. The tacos were cheap and plentiful. Great place. Oh wait, no I was telling a story, I think.
Ok, so the cab showed up, I say my good byes and off to the airport!! I get to the front counter.
"Name and destination"
"Blue Green, Vancouver Canada"
........."Nope, you're not in here........oh wait here you are"
"?"
"Your flight leaves on Wednesday"
"What?"
"Yup. 8:15am Wednesday"
The time was currently 7am Monday and I was trying to figure out what I was doing at 9pm six weeks before while booking this trip that led me to my current circumstances. Booze? No, I wasn't drinking that night. Drugs? Gave those up years ago. .....? Ahhhh, yes, ....., that was the problem. On occasion I am an ..... and do things like book a flight two days later then I thought, and never once double check the itinerary to makes sure I was getting back when I thought. I must have checked when I was leaving 20 times, but never once did I check when I was getting back. That part didn't concern or interest me I suppose. I really, why should it. Back to work? lol Who cares.
So I inquired about getting a flight out later that day..
"Best I can do is have you in Seattle at midnight"
"17 hours to Seattle?"
"Yes sir, and it's going to be $400 to change your flight"
It would have been cheaper and faster for me to have gone on to craigslist, find an '86 Chevette and driven myself there.
So I did the only sensible thing, got on the phone informed my business partner that I wasn't going to make that Wednesday meeting, told the girlfriend about the flight and booked myself into the greatest Super 8 ever built on the side of a freeway. I ended up getting a room two doors down from our first night room. Curiously the hooker on meth was no longer there, I'm sure she was moving on to ever more exciting Super 8 locations to ply her trade.
So I spent the next two days being a regular tourist, and sleeping in a bed. I saw the capitol buliding, several more tacorias, the transit system, spiders, ants, all manner of things designed to kill me, the university, old motorcycles. And on the last night while walking along the same access road that Jums had only one week previous had driven us the wrong way down I ran into Shane, Curve's buddy.
He was so Texan (ie friendly, generous) that I think he looked injured that I didn't call him up to crash at his place. I just couldn't impose myself. I figured he had to get back to real life.
As Curve said ".... real life".
Turns out that was the mantra of this trip.
Hey, at least one of us—other than Curve—got to see the city.
