US Track Champs Day 1

Monday morning, Drew and Janice where up and going, next Dean, me I still was on the floor wondering where the coffee was. I skipped the hotel hot breakfast and head over to Starbucks for my breakfast. Drew and Janice headed to the beach. Dean and I head to the track. Dean wanted to get some track time. The LA track is a 250 m track, made out of wood.

We had to sign a release form and pay $20 just to ride on the track in a training session!  WTF? So I did what any chick would do, I told Dean to pay the man then went about my business (yes, I paid the poor kid back, didn’t want to take all his lunch money).

Rode the track for about an hour and half in an 87inch gear only slipped once but I kept it up right. Didn’t want to get “escorted off the track” for sliding down the track – seriously there’s a sign on the track that states if you slide down the track you will be asked to leave. Dean did a few jumps in different gears one start out of the start gate and then cooled down. Good thing, I was getting bored out there.

After the track we head out to find the Double Tree hotel to check in for registration. We drove around, a lot, didn’t find it, but we did find out that the van can do an “LA drift” if you need it too. A dude pulled out in font of us not paying attention and Dean had to turn the van hard right and we just missed him. You’d think someone would see a BRIGHT ORANGE van driving down the highway; guess not.

We finally found the Double Tree Hotel, registration was changed to Tuesday night – it figures, but we now know where the host hotel is. Bumped into the SPIKE Team entourage, must have been 5 coaches including Des Dickie – yep, he’s working with the SPIKE Team now. We exchanged hellos then Dean and I head to the hotel, to dinner with Drew and Janice and then to bed.

Tuesday, October 3 – Again it starts out the same, Drew and Janice are first out the door, followed by Dean who is not going to miss the free hot breakfast, me I’m once again wondering where the heck the coffee is. However I’m not the last Rubicon rider out the door, I don’t think Brian woke up until noon.

Drew and Janice off to check out Hollywood, Dean off to the track (to pay another 20 bucks), me, I went for a 3 and a half hour ride. I’M NOT PAYING $20 TO RIDE ON THE TRACK AGAIN.

Here are a few photos from my ride this morning.

Photo 1 - Riding on the boardwalk
Photo 2 - Hum, boardwalk ends, guess I'll go back now
Photo 3 - Mexican church hiden in trees

Heather and Donna show up at 8pm tonight, and then tomorrow it starts. Steven is first up with a scratch race heat followed by Dean and a flying 250-talent pool test. Me, I’m the loan roadie of the bunch so I won’t be doing anything until Friday night so I will be in charge of ? photos i guess . . . that is unless Brian puts me to work.