MotoGP and camping on the SVs

[Roadstergal]

It may not be the most practical way of getting there, but it's all in the sprit of the event.  And it's great fun to get all of the gear for a nice weekend packed onto a pair of bikes.

It was all about seeing these guys, of course.




But it started off with a packing job and a fuel stop.






And a delightfully ticket-free ride down to Laguna Seca.  Stock lights and a legible license plate help.




One quick stop to pick up the passes at Will Call, and off we went.




We set up the tent, table, and chairs in plenty of time to watch MotoGP free practice.




Free practice pics:




No Playboy for Randy this time around, just Givi.  It seems he'd have to pose with a rack instead of a girl with a rack.  (M'boy shortened this to "Instead of box with a rack, box on a rack.")










HighspeedHarry of Supermoto Engineering, and his Great Big Lens.




Burgess and the rest were heading home by 5pm on Friday.  That's not confidence, that's something beyond.




Superkarts.  Awesome.




I think Mladin wanted to flip me off, but DMG wrote something into his contract forbidding it.




Roland Sands 450 - one of many of the roadrace 450s on display.  From the looks of them, the conversion is not a simple matter...




We watched some more practicing, then our friend Greg came and joined us on his Duke.  We partied a little, he partied a lot, and he wasn't happy to be woken up next morning by the 8am 600cc alarm clocks.




AMA warmup on a cool morning.




A little offline.








R and R back at the tent before the MotoGP warmup.  The Duke is outstanding in its field.








It warmed up quite a bit for the MotoGP folk.






Not enough for Vermeulen...








We checked out the displays during the break.  We still like the little-tyke Yamaha dirt biking section.  It's never too early to start them wheelieing!




Classic.




MotoGP qualifying.  Almost more action than the race, by the end!  Pics at Turn 4.












Nicky didn't have his special paint job and leathers, but he had the 4th of July helmet.




Daytona Sportbike.




Rossi was right - the gravel does have good greeep!  It picked his bike back up...












With all of the Saturday action over, we packed up and headed home.  We like to avoid the crowds and watch the action on the Intertubes, where we can see all of the angles.




Our tires are super-squared off, and we greatly appreciate the products of the Givi company.


Tangentially - we did not go see the karting exhibition on Thursday.  Two laps watching Rossi kart vs. a day of laps doing it ourselves... we had to pick Option Two.  Hubby:








Me.  My first time in a shifter kart.  It is to those little karts you rent on indoor tracks as... comparisons fail me.  It's something above and beyond.






I left a little rubber.

[annguyen1981]

Looked like LOADS of fun.

[JB848]

Wow those are some awsome pics. Did you take all of them at the race? Some are pretty high speed shots.

I think you could have put more "STUFF" on your bikes though to make it interesting 

[Roadstergal]

Yes. it was tons of fun!   

I suggested taking the kitchen sink, but those bikes were a bear to haul around Fox Hill as it was.  Especially m'boy's SV1K, which is a big heavy pig if there ever was one.

[Paulcet]

Thanks for the trip report and pics RGal.

I always enjoy reading of your 2-wheeled adventures

[JB848]

Well it looked like tons of fun. You are a very talented photographer I must say if you took all of those pictures. What kind of a camera where you using?

One of these days soon I am just going to pack up the bike and head out for a long ride to no where and just enjoy the ride. Maybe like NJ to CA. Maybe even set up some meets along the way of all the crazy people on GSTwins along the way!

[yamahonkawazuki]

LMAO that CHP officer looked like a cousin of mine. ( he was on duty at that time lol)

[natedawg120]

Great pics, as always and that looked like a great time.  Esp when you chose cart option 2, why watch when you can DO

[intergalactic]

awesome pics. And I have to agree about shifter karts. I about puked in my helmet the first time I tried them.

[JStrube]

I was thinking about going on Friday, but having never been, had no idea what to expect.  So, I have questions!

I know they charge a set amount for bikes & have a bike gate.  But, I see you brought camping gear, & parked close to where you stayed.  Looked like fun.

Do they just allow you to ride to the hills & park where you like?  Camp there?  Extra fee for camping?  Do you walk around a bunch to get different vantage points?  Do you get Seats in the stands?

OK, how about just giving us the whole logistical lowdown...

Awesome pics, by the way.

[Roadstergal]

Thanks, y'all!  I took the pics with an Olympus E-500.

There are a couple of different tickets.  The General Admission gets you in.  On Friday, the grandstands are open; on Saturday and Sunday, you need a grandstand ticket.  Where we stayed is Fox Hill motorcycle camping; one Fox Hill ticket is good for two motorcycles and one tent.  No cars.  You can buy parking passes and stay outside of the track, or RV camping and stay there, if you don't want to camp on the motos.

Then there are paddock passes, and separate MotoGP paddock passes.

It can get pricey fast. :p  But if you want to check out the scene, buy a Friday GA and watch the practices.  It's the most laid-back of the days, and you still get to hear and see the MotoGP bikes.  Bring earplugs!