Saturday, May 21 2016
WWWobble writes:
While four SMBC campers went camping up North, four others chose to attend the Sacramento Mile. Harry B, Rob Hyman, Southpaw Markus (temporarily), and WWWobble met at the Turf Club where we had a cafeteria style meal, a full bar, and a great view of the track.
I’ve not had the experience of attending a real “Flat Track” event, watching AMA Pro Grand National riders dueling handle bar to handle bar, and shame on me. The GNC1 Main Event was real racin’ with what looked like only inches between the lead #42 Kawasaki (Bryan Smith), and the number 2 Harley ridden by Kenny Coolbeth. The lead bike crossed the finish line at the Main Event 0.024 of a second ahead. Exciting.
Worries about rain abated in the late afternoon. This is the view of the track and pits from our table
Harry gets an autograph from his Heroine, Number 52 Shayna Texter
A Heat race takes off, (the white spot upper right is a beautiful full moon that I failed to capture well)
Riders grid for the GNC1 Main event, a 25 lap race.
Except a blown engine and crash 4th corner of Lap 3 red flagged the race. The re-start is a curved single line based on position at the time of the flag.
The winning #42 bike, Bryan Smith on a Crosley/Howerton prepared Kawasaki 650 parallel twin.
These things are making over 95 horsepower, and they don’t look to weigh much. IMPRESSIVE.
Rob Writes:
Sac the Scenic Way
The destination was the 2016 Sacramento Mile where riders from all over the country compete to see who can go around a one mile dirt track in a very fast way. Many emails and announcements were made to the SMBC group leading up to the event. When it came time to ride, it was Harry Bahlman (BMW RT) in the lead and Rob Hyman on his new to him Indian Chieftain (Big Blue Beast) as Marc calls it.
May 21, 2016 Harry left from Palo Alto and Rob left from SF and we met up in Livermore at the Starbucks on N. Vasco Road. I started off ok then had to stop in Oakland to put on all rain gear as the skies opened up. The more rides I go on the more I like to leave early to avoid the never ending traffic in the Bay Area. Had a back up one mile from my house due to an accident and there were already thousands of people on the road heading for SF.
After coffee the good riding came as Harry lead the way up the delta and very scenic riding although a bit bumpy in many places. Gotta adjust my air suspension on “The Big Blue Beast”. Rode to Rio Vista and saw the many boat marinas where there are many people who live on the water. It’s a different way of life for sure. Criss crossed the Delta waters and took a ferry called the “Real McCoy” with our bikes. See the photo of Harry on the ferry!
Harry took me to the Foster’s Big Whore Café ( See Photo of Big Hor) where I delighted in the treats of the day. I will go back there!
On to Sacramento to rendezvous with Marcus Bauer and Major Wobble who stayed at the Fairfield Inn near the site of the races at Cal Expo. They rode in a quadracycle as Marcus had a big cast on his right hand following hand surgery. It had been a few weeks since his accident in Baja and he still had a black and blue face. Ouch. Met up that night in a pre arranged box seat to see the mile flat track race which is very exciting to witness.
harry riding on water May 21, 2016
BIG BLUE BEAST
Big Hor Photo
Major Wobble
Marcus in cast