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One off of my bucket list - Texas Tornado Bootcamp


Photos by Marty
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I had the lucky opportunity, due to my wonderful wife, to attend the Pre-Austin GP four day camp in Texas hosted by Colin Edwards.  Had a helluva time ridding dirty bikes (first time ever for me), shooting guns, have great food prepared on site, making new friends and drinking beer.

 

Colin is a class act all the way, as are his instructors.  My lead instructor was Shea Foucher (former AMA rider).  Like I said, I've never been on a drity bike and this was my first attempt.  They has us split into groups based on ability (or lack therefore) and did a hug amount of drills after the instructors showed us how it's done (properly).  They pushed you to your limit and if you were not comfortable, they worked with ya.

 

Saturday was the first day and the last "event" of the day was SuperPole.  They linked all three tracks and timed you.  My first time out and I did a 1:41 (Jake Johnson from AMA Flat Track did a 1:19).  The it was free-ride time.  I tried to push harder and I did, but then went above my abilities and planted myself into the ground.  NO damage to me or the bike, but figured that was a good stopping point for the day.

 

Sunday, I only did 1/2 of the day since my shoulder was killing me from Saturday.

 

Monday, more drills and another SuperPole event.  Pulled off a 1:35 (?) on a tracker that was slicker (Johnson did a 1:21).  Then a one-hour endurance race with two or three man teams.  I decided to work on my oval track skills instead.  Pushed harder, broke later, went faster.  Then of course went above my limits.  Again no injuries so went back at it and did more laps.  The Texas BBQ chicken and pork that night tasted damn good!

 

Tuesday, more drills and a quick SuperPole.  Dialed in a 1:33:05 with a goal of a 1:32. 

 

We had fun at one of the instructors expense.  He made mention that he had a remote kill switch that he was going to install on an instructor's bike without their knowledge.  Well, a few beverages later, and after he left, it was installed on his bike.  So as he was doing his SuperPole on Tuesday the kill switch was tripped.  He figures he was out of gas so he filled up.  Goes for round 2 and we kill it in the same spot.  Goes for round 3 and we kill it at the finish line, proudly holding it in the air for him to see.

 

Garrett Gerloff, Aleix Espargaro, Mattia Pasini, Colin Sr. and Cory West were there as well.

 

If you think you want to go, just do it.  I learned a helluva lot in my four days.  I gotta figure out a way to go again next year.

 

Anyone need a kidney?  I don't need two of them!

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