Sometimes you never know who your going to meet

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Warpdrv

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Joined
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Location
Milwaukee, WI
Yesterday was a great day..... went to work early, got all my ducks in a row, it was a beautiful day outside... Work for me is usually a 11 hour day which can tend to drag on and on.... A good amount of the time I can come and go as I please, and looking out at the thin feathery clouds, blue sunny sky, 70 degrees, I thought to myself, it was a day I should probably not let slip away into another of those that a workaholic looks back at and says, where did the time go….

One last thing to do this week, need to return the old cable modem to the cable company.

Now I have a few choices to make

Option 1, go down to the seedy part of town and wait in the line that is usually about 25-30 deep for at least an hour, looking over my shoulder the entire time and pray that violence will not erupt this day.

Option 2, go clear across town through heavy midday traffic with new road construction and run the gamut like the opening laps of the MotoGP and see who comes out on top ??!? I actually enjoy the thrill and excitement of 3 lane cluttered highway riding, good ol bob and weave, dodging cages gets me in the zone, that nail biting, teeth gritting, pinpoint accuracy, right on the edge hunkered down, balls to the wall mode.... fun stuff..... a good spirited ride that gets the heart and adrenaline a pumpin....

Option 3, head out of town north into the country side and enjoy the sights, smells and scenery with little to no traffic for just about an hour to a small town that has a drop off place.

Hmmmmm I’m feelin pretty chill today, Option 3 is lookin pretty nice in my book for this day.

Get home, get a grin on my face ogling that 2 wheeled sexy slut of mine, check the tires, don the gear, fire up the tunes and gps and make my journey via some nice windy roads through the countryside, eying the freshly sprouting fields starting to grow, the smell of cow manure starting to fade away. Over the rivers and through the woods, the miles just seem to melt away, and in no time at all, I arrive to the drop off location for a 1 min interaction to relieve myself of said contractual obligation.

Now what do I do for the next 5 hours….. come out of the store to find some dudes hovering over my slut, think to myself, dammit - why do you have to be so good looking all the time….. Oh well, I could pilot some other form of hideous beast, which is not in my nature for any form of companionship. The risk comes with rewards...

Time for some grub and perhaps a Mojito, stop by the local watering hole enjoy a bite. Engrossed in conversation with the bartender, I forgot the food porn.
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Finish up and walk out to the slut – whats this ?!?! UGH more gawkers…. Oh wait, some fellow riders, a DUC and one of those FJR’s with that sharp 07 Black Cherry Paint… Much discussion ensued……

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OK - time, she is a wastin, lets get a move on…. Perhaps, head over and see that big blue wonder Lake Michigan….

A nice 30 min jaunt and the good ol smell of the lake… usually of some dead fish but beautiful none the less and the wind was blowing in my favor - no abhorrent stench today !!

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Just then a phone call…. My good friend Brian

Road America – Pirelli World Challenge is this weekend you say, qualifying is today…. OK I’ll meet you there my good man, I just happen to be quite close….

And off I go again, heading right back to where I was….. make my way to the gates and mention my good friends name – Yes Sir he is expecting you, just sign in here and off you go… well then, thank you sir…. I meet with my buddy for a short time and he gets called away on track business, he slaps an all access sticker on the slut and is on his way. OK - no big deal plenty to see around here - I will not be without entertainment, my A.D.D. was certainly appeased.

Some fantastic specimens of engineering to behold…..

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Oh look speedy cheesebuger delivery service...

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So after perusing around the pits, and hitting up some of my favorite places to watch those with far more money then I roll around

the track, I spy a couple of guys on some bikes heading into an restricted area by the long straight I have never sat at, thankfully I have that all access sticker on the bike….

Follow them in there so as to start chatting them up… looking over the BMW K1600 and 650 WeeStrom I notice the stickers - Kiwi’s from New Zealand !!! I approach and greet – the accent!! Awesome... They start telling me about their journeys – flying from New Zealand to Vancouver where they keep these bikes for riding North America… Came down from Vancouver into California and made their way in this direction to watch one of their nephews run his Mini’s in the smaller class races. Cool !!

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Then it dawned on me….

The Worlds Fastest Indian (Movie) – The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, (played by Anthony Hopkins) who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. Herbert James "Burt" Munro was a New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, 26 August 1967. This record still stands today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Munro

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I had to ask these gents… I’ve seen this movie dozens of times which still gets me a bit wet in the eyeballs. They smiled and laughed when I brought it up, went on and on about his story and legacy. They knew him well though he lived clear on the Southern end of the island, while they were on the North. They joked about his odd ball behavior, yet relished in the man’s determination and the fact that his record still holds to this day. Stated that when they were talking about making the movie – they all thought, who the hell would buy it ?!? Told me about the Burt Monro Rally as well, comparing it to our Sturgis here in the states.

https://burtmunrochallenge.co.nz/

After spending a good time giving them some info on the track and the various places for onlookers to enjoy the races from, to the Racing History of Elkhart Lake dating back to the early days of racing through town, discussing our machines and all things 2 wheels, I looked at the clock, it was time to move along, shook hands, flung out those keep the shiny sides up / rubber side down well wishes and we said our goodbyes…

The sun was starting to fade to the west and it was getting time to make the journey back to home to start the evening’s adventure with the little woman…. time for one last pic of the slut and off I go… The Adventures Continue

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Sometimes you never know who you’re going to meet !!!

 
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Aaahhhh, you gotta love livin'. Great report,awesome pics, anytime you read something that gives you that "wish I was there feeling" is a good read. Thanks...ff

 
Aaahhhh, you gotta love livin'. Great report,awesome pics, anytime you read something that gives you that "wish I was there feeling" is a good read. Thanks...ff
^^ Yeah to what he said. Wish Ida been there.

Been to that track several times for races (as a spectator) and it's absolutely awesome! So many places to watch a race from. And such a relaxed atmosphere.

 
Thanks guys....

Yeah it turned out to be quite an interesting afternoon - I wish I could have hung out with those guys for the rest of the night and show them around town.

As usual the bike continues to impress and never fails to perform at its finest...

I could post up hundreds of pictures of my times at Road America and Elkhart Lake.

We make it a priority of the summer to take in at least 2 race weekends there staying at one of the hotels there, even though we are only 45 mins away its not worth it to drive home after putting down some cocktails in town after a long day at the track. We treat ourselves...

Its such a hidden gem to be so close to home, and the contacts we have made over the years has been priceless.

We are lucky to have such good friends that allow us basically unlimited access.

Plus another bonus local and extended vicinity offer up some extremely beautiful winding scenic roads....

I invite anyone that is interested in a tour.

 
Aaahhhh, you gotta love livin'. Great report,awesome pics, anytime you read something that gives you that "wish I was there feeling" is a good read. Thanks...ff
^^ Yeah to what he said. Wish Ida been there.

Been to that track several times for races (as a spectator) and it's absolutely awesome! So many places to watch a race from. And such a relaxed atmosphere.
Mike, do a track day there. I've done three there, and if I could find a tire sponsor, I'd do every one that was offered there. (It also has great viewing from ON the track......)

 
Mike, do a track day there. I've done three there, and if I could find a tire sponsor, I'd do every one that was offered there. (It also has great viewing from ON the track......)
That would be such a riot. But I'm afraid that as slow as I'd go, it would be some kind of record....and not a good one.

But it would be cool to do a few laps just to see.

 
It's spendy but I don't think you could put a price on the value or the education nor the time spent on the track.

The novice group Will only last so long, way to slow a pace, any experienced rider will move on quickly too intermediate.

I highly recommend it

 
Mike, do a track day there. I've done three there, and if I could find a tire sponsor, I'd do every one that was offered there. (It also has great viewing from ON the track......)
That would be such a riot. But I'm afraid that as slow as I'd go, it would be some kind of record....and not a good one.

But it would be cool to do a few laps just to see.
Make sure you go darkside.

 
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