Atlanta Speedway

I got here on wednesday afternoon and we've gotten the majority of our stuff set up by the end of the day today (thursday). We have to be ready on friday for some qualifying and a truck race.

During the day today, they did all kinds of helicopter fly-bys and some skydiving into the stadium. At one point, they had about 8 guys hanging under a helicopter by one rope. Don't know if that's part of the opening ceremony, but it was interesting.

It was supposed to rain today and tomorrow, but it never rained today. Saturday and Sunday are supposed to be sunny and mild.

This is a view of the TV compound here. It's quite a few trucks. I think it's as large as the Daytona compound, but I can't tell for sure

Here's a photo of an old Cadillac that's parked at the track. I know my dad will like this photo.

Back to work - and other stuff

I go back to work on wednesday. This time - to the Atlanta Speedway. It should be fun - I'm really looking forward to it. There's been some upgrades on the Fox 3d cam and I'll be right in the middle of it's implementation. They're working on a presentation for the 'car of tomorrow' that uses the 3D cam - so I'll be helping build that. Cool stuff.

I spent some more time at the boat today and worked out my problems with the outboard - which is superb news - 'cause that's a grand that I didn't want to spend right now. Also, I installed a warning buzzer in the cockpit for low oil pressure and high engine temps.

When I get back from these 2 weeks of work - I'll have a couple of days of general work to do to the boat and then 'off' I'll go for a 3 week trip in which Jan will join me for the last week in the Bahamas.

On another note, a friend of Jan and mine - Barbara Weibel - who was our real estate broker on the Outer Banks- has just begun her 'around the world' trip - BY HERSELF. Barbara retired at the end of the year and moved to Sarasota, FL from Nags Head. She started blogging about 4 months ago and hopes to become a professional blogger. Believe it or not - there IS such a thing as a professional blogger and I think if anyone can do it - Barbara can - she's such an 'over acheiver'.

Anyway, I think her blog along her trip will be interesting and even though you don't know her - I think you may get interested as well if you start reading. (I read several blogs dailly of people whom I don't even know - but find their blogs interesting). The more people who read Barbara's blog - the better the chance she'll become a pro.

Check it out (make sure you bookmark it so you can come back to it) at http://www.holeinthedonut.com/

I'll make blog entries from Atlanta.

Bike Week Over

I read in the paper this morning that attendance for Bike Week was down. It's hard to believe - but then again, I'm not sure I can tell the difference between 500,000 and 400,000 people anyway.

After the first few days, I found myself putting more effort into avoiding all of it rather than heading toward it. It's really neat - as a bike owner - to see all the things you can buy and add to your bike, but there's just so many people and (as I've written before) so much noise. I would say that I must be getting old - but I've never liked loud pipes on a motorcycle.

While at Destination Daytona on wednesday, they had a 'burnout' demonstration on the 'Budweiser Burnout Bike'. The photo is at the top of this post. I tried to make it an animated composite of 4 photos - but not sure it'll work on blogger. You'll know by the time you read this. You have to click on it for it to get animated.

I spent saturday and sunday - leisurely working on the boat. I washed the whole boat and waxed the starboard side. I was going to wax the port side, but my arm just got too tired. It's an odd angle to wax from. I was in the dingy and even though I was tied to the boat, as I pushed to wax - it would push me away from the boat a bit. I think the next time I have the boat out of the water - I'll buff it out quite well. Much easier that way. Still, the boat looks great. I'm looking forward to my trip in it next month.

Also yesterday, I started the outboard engine on the dingy to just make sure it's running properly. Wouldn't you know it - it's not. It'll only run at full throttle. May have to buy a new outboard before I leave. It's always something. I'll check it out again soon. I go back to work on wednesday, so I'll have to decide before I leave. I've found a good replacement online - but I have to allow 2 weeks for delivery.

They've been dredging the marina for the last few days. Pretty amazing operation to watch.


There's this guy that lives not too far from me who has this old VW beetle that he has painted to look rusted and used up. He has put a lot of effort into making it look like a mexican taxi. On the weekends, he loads up all kinds of junk on it to give it more of an authentic look. I've never met the guy until yesterday when I stopped at a 'nautical' yard sale and his car was parked out front. It was a good opportunity to take a photo of it.

The little detail that this guy has added is really cool. He always keeps a 1940's vintage outboard engine on the roofrack. Yesterday he had old luggage, an old cooler, some old fishing rods, a trident and an old style water ski on the car. Inside, the car he has mexican blankets on the floor like floor mats and a stuff armadillo in the back seat. Along the gutters on the car, you can see very old bottle caps crimped on. You can't help but stand around this car and grin.

Images from Bike Week

This is my 2nd Bike Week and it's not really any different from the first. This event is definately a "if you've seen it once, you've seen it all" kinda event. I will say that if you are in the market for a NEW motorcycle - and especially a $40,000 + motorcycle, then it would be worthwhile attending. You have a selection that you can't imagine. Also, all the major manufacturers from BMW, Honda, Kawasaki, Harley etc. will allow you to test ride their bikes. If you're a motorcycle rider - then you should put it on your calendar to attend it at least once.

On the down side - it's amazingly crowded. They estimate 500,000 people. It's also amazingly noisy - and it's noisy ALL-THE-TIME. Loud pipes suck and people who ride with them are generally rude and selfish ego idiots. The local police always brag that they're going to 'crack down this year' because of all the complaints from the people who live here - but you can see no evidence of it.

Anyway, I get out for a couple of hours a day on my bike and ride to different one of the central vendor areas to see what's for sale. Since I have no plans to spend lots of money on a bike or even lots of money on my bike, I usually get bored pretty early. I did talk to the Honda Generator people for a while yesterday trying to figure out my best generator options for my boat. Side note: did you know Honda made 'waverunner' style water craft?. I don't think I did until I saw them yesterday.

Here's some random photos from the event.

I've seen a number of greatly abused and burnt bikes. Seems almost like a trend. People seem to be riding them, although I've only seen them parked.



Here's a nice futuristic looking bike.


Some new Choppers lined up for sale.


V-8 engined bikes appear to be getting popular - at least there's a lot of them for sale.