Don't forget about the show!  See the link: Seattle Motorcycle Show

If you don't like the fact that it will cost you $11 to get in, consider yourself lucky you don't live in New York where the cost is $15.  Or, if you really want to save some dough, fly to Daytona where the cost is FREE.

Remind me to tell you NEVER TOSS YOUR BIKE!  After waiting almost two weeks for the estimate (which I enumerated in the first place), I waited another week for the insurance company to make their call on whether or not to total the bike.  After some creative conversations, they cut me a check for the full amount and conditionally allowed me to repair my own bike.

Now, I mail-ordered most of the parts at a substantial savings over full retail.  I had the plastics repaired locally.  Both of these methods were not without some minor issues.

Doing the labor myself saved me enough money to score a new 'Stich out of the deal and I'm also looking into a video system for future club rides.  All in all, I'm happy with being back in the saddle and look forward to riding to the show!

Okay, so some were disappointed to find out that no awards were issued at the November dinner meeting.  I apologize for this but never fear as I will have them in time for the Christmas Party on December 20th.  There was one exception, one award that Marv gave me.  Marv presented me a T-shirt of the Official St Helens Inspection Team (check the acronym).  As an alternative to awards, I asked people around the table to talk about their personal highlights of the riding season.  Many stories came out, some old, some new, and some that had spun since the first time I heard them...  Not surprisingly, members had plenty of accolades regarding the NE Washington ride.  That was one trip that really stood out and exceeded all the participants' expectations.

This year the Christmas Party will be hosted by Tim Popovich and Heather Armour.  I guess that means that Tim can't bail out and leave the party early.  Usual style is Pot Luck, so bring a good dish! Please RSVP (phone at bottom of directions) to let them know your status on attending and what you plan on bringing.  Heather will provide some desserts and mulled cider.  I plan to go shopping on the way over to get anything that is missing.  If you seek some "Holiday" beverage, BYOB.  Directions (provided by Heather) to the festivities are as follows:

From SR-167, just north of Puyallup, take US-410 east towards Enumclaw (Mt. Rainier-Sunrise).  Follow 410 East uphill to the first light (Dairy Queen on left corner).

Take a LEFT onto SUMNER-BUCKLEY HIGHWAY.  Follow that past the Fire/Police station and through another light and around corner, ANGELINE ROAD will be on the next corner.  BEAR TO THE RIGHT.  Follow ANGELINE ROAD down about 1 mile to the WILLOWBROOK development.  Enter at the 2ND LEFT.  If you go up a hill and pass PANORAMA HEIGHTS, you've gone too far.  Unfortunately there is no cross street name or sign.

After turning in there, make the FIRST RIGHT, the address is: 11012 - 182nd Avenue Place East.  We have a very big rock in our front yard as a landmark.  Pull into the driveway or along the curb.

Any problems, call us 253-891-0180.

I have wanted to get on the track for a couple of years now, and recently took part of a Mike Sullivan Road Race school.  I am sharing my experience with you, in hopes that some will also take the step to “turn the corner”.

On September 3, 2003, I took one of Mike's classes at Pacific Raceway (aka SIR).  Mike (#1 plate holder for WMRRA) offers three levels, all of which are one-day sessions: Street Rider ($250), Novice Racer ($300), and Advanced Racer ($350).  Since it was my first time on the track, I chose the Street Rider level, which was less expensive and more appropriate for my experience level (read: newbie).

The way that Mike runs his school is to get you signed in and give you a packet of material with a lecture outline and a map of the track.  Mike quickly discusses the items on his outline then diagrams the track, turn by turn.

He talks about “turn-in points” for corner entry, body position (hanging off the bike), the proper gear for each turn for maximum drive, and the optimal line to ride.  His sense of humor is readily apparent with comments like, “I would pass here on the last lap for the win.”  I would assume that more detail was provided for the advanced levels of his classes.  After our discussion, all the riders who had not previously seen the track get into the back of a pickup truck and go for a guided tour by one of Mike’s other instructors.  Mike then continues with more lecture to the advanced students in his other two classes.  At this point, I became part of the tour group and didn't hear any of the supplemental discussion.

Upon returning from our field trip, those of us in the Street class put on our gear and mounted up.  We were lead around the track behind an instructor for two laps at a moderate pace, riding the exact line that Mike had previously discussed on the drawing board.  We were not "at speed" yet.  After my two laps up front were up, I moved to the right along the front straight and fell back, allowing everyone else to move up one position.  I then rejoined at the end of the group.  Everyone got two laps riding immediately behind the instructor, so with 7 in the Street group, I got to run 14 laps to warm everything up.

Once everyone got to follow the instructor, I was again at the front of the pack.  The instructor then fell to the #2 position.  After another two laps with me out front, he pulled me aside to provide coaching, and then followed the next rider in line, so on and so forth.  Now, I was free to ride on my own or to continue to follow the rest of the group.  Simultaneously, the Novice Racer group had entered the track with still another instructor, Mike Sullivan himself.

At lunch, Mike’s entourage provided a first-class lunch, as track lunches go.  After lunch, we all piled back into the pickup and were driven to various turns around the track, while Mike jumped on his bike to provide riding demonstrations.  Mike would then ride past us, exemplifying his racing lines for about a dozen laps.  We continued to move from turn to turn in the back of the truck until we had been able to watch Mike ride through each section of the track.

Mike emphasized safety throughout the morning discussion, limiting the passing while students were still trying to figure out the track.  This became a little frustrating since everyone learns at different rates and I was ready to start riding "fast".  The other factor that slowed people down was that many showed up on bikes that were brand new, some right off the showroom floor.  In the afternoon, we were encouraged to SAFELY overtake slower riders on the OUTSIDE of the turns as dictated by our own comfort level.  The day ended with an awards ceremony where T-shirts were distributed to all and completion certificates were issued to those in the upper two classes.

I rode 170 miles that day and burned through just over a tank of gas (more gas is available at the track for $5+/gallon for high-octane racing gas.)  My tires had seen their first boogers since Lolo Pass and I was physically exhausted.  I can’t think of a better way to spend a day than by working on my riding ability and building my confidence in the bike and tires.

Afterwards, Don Grabrick asked me what it was like?  I told him, “It’s like what we do on the street (albeit a lot faster), but eliminating most of the uncontrollable variables.”  I found myself scraping my curb-feelers on about every turn once I started to ride “fast” (subjective).  I subsequently removed them in the afternoon, only to find myself then dragging the foot pegs.

To prepare your bike, you only have to do minimal work; basically tape over the lights and consider removing your mirrors (otherwise tape those up too).  No safety wiring is necessary for this class.

Mike also offers a WOMEN’S ONLY day in July and seems open to running another in 2004.  Due to the high cost of renting the track and the low number of female participants, things may change.  Ladies, if you’ve already taken an MSF RiderCourse (Beginner or Experienced), and are looking for the next step, this is it!  I HIGHLY encourage you all to do this.  The class will be smaller-sized with plenty of personal attention, and you will not be in a testosterone-driven, competitive environment (only what you make of it).

Guys, it goes without saying – DO IT, you won’t regret a minute!