Post by Roger Edwards on Mar 17, 2014 16:43:21 GMT -5
Vic, Mark R, Mark E.(my brother) and I made this trip this year. While Mark R. met us at the track, the rest of us braved the cold and early ride with Frank to DeLeon Springs. Fred and his daughter joined us at DeLeon Springs for breakfast too before we headed over to Daytona. Once at the track we set up camp along the fence at NASCAR turn 4 and already the track was abuzz with racers in a qualifying session. We donned our walking shoes and sunscreen and purchased flat track tickets before heading back into the infield grandstands to see the AMA Pro Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XR1200 race. Next up was the AMA Supersport Race 1. These guys are the up and coming racers riding . There is a 19 y/o age limit for this class. The last race on the speedway track was the AMA Superbike Race 1. They reach speeds in excess of 200 mph buzzing by a stones throw from our tents!
After the race we sported our riding gear rode just across the street from the track and had dinner at Bahama Breeze where we enjoyed patio seating right on International Speedway Blvd. and getting the full exposure of the sights and sounds of Daytona Bike Week as we dined. We then headed over to the almost new 1/4 mile dirt flat track right next to the speedway for a night of preliminary races and the main events for the AMA Pro Flat Track series. The night ended with a spectacular fireworks show. We quickly made our way back to the camp in the infield and tucked ourselves away in our sleeping bags for the night.
Like clockwork, 8:00 am brought out the first racers in a warm up session as our wake up call. We got up and after an unsuccessful search for coffee in the infeld, we came back and I fired up my Jet-boil for some coffee that still needs perfecting then packed up our gear and onto the bikes. I think we will plan a little differently for next year for food and beverages.
The racing for the day was kicked off with the AMA Supersport Race 2, then the AMA Superbike Race 2 and culminated with the 73rd running of the historic Daytona 200. The AMA Daytona SportBike class is designated for this race, but next year, the race will change over to the AMA SuperBike class which many believe will make the race much more exciting and hopefully bring back the factory teams.
At the checkered flag for the Daytona 200 won by Danny Eslick, a favorite racer of mine, we headed back to the bikes. Mark R. was ready to get home fast and headed out to battle it on I-4 while Mark E., Vic and I headed back through the woods. We found out later that Mark R. had suffered a flat tire just outside the track, but was able to plug and inflate his tire in about 20 minutes and made it home safe and sound before the rest of us. Just before Clermont, Vic peeled off after a handshake at a stop sign. Mark E. and I continued on to Clermont where we had dinner at Spiro's. After dinner, Mark headed west on SR 50 and I continued down CR 561, one of my favorites, to SR33 and Green Pond Rd and on back home to Brandon. We all had a great time and hope more will join us next year. Enjoy the pics and videos!
After the race we sported our riding gear rode just across the street from the track and had dinner at Bahama Breeze where we enjoyed patio seating right on International Speedway Blvd. and getting the full exposure of the sights and sounds of Daytona Bike Week as we dined. We then headed over to the almost new 1/4 mile dirt flat track right next to the speedway for a night of preliminary races and the main events for the AMA Pro Flat Track series. The night ended with a spectacular fireworks show. We quickly made our way back to the camp in the infield and tucked ourselves away in our sleeping bags for the night.
Like clockwork, 8:00 am brought out the first racers in a warm up session as our wake up call. We got up and after an unsuccessful search for coffee in the infeld, we came back and I fired up my Jet-boil for some coffee that still needs perfecting then packed up our gear and onto the bikes. I think we will plan a little differently for next year for food and beverages.
The racing for the day was kicked off with the AMA Supersport Race 2, then the AMA Superbike Race 2 and culminated with the 73rd running of the historic Daytona 200. The AMA Daytona SportBike class is designated for this race, but next year, the race will change over to the AMA SuperBike class which many believe will make the race much more exciting and hopefully bring back the factory teams.At the checkered flag for the Daytona 200 won by Danny Eslick, a favorite racer of mine, we headed back to the bikes. Mark R. was ready to get home fast and headed out to battle it on I-4 while Mark E., Vic and I headed back through the woods. We found out later that Mark R. had suffered a flat tire just outside the track, but was able to plug and inflate his tire in about 20 minutes and made it home safe and sound before the rest of us. Just before Clermont, Vic peeled off after a handshake at a stop sign. Mark E. and I continued on to Clermont where we had dinner at Spiro's. After dinner, Mark headed west on SR 50 and I continued down CR 561, one of my favorites, to SR33 and Green Pond Rd and on back home to Brandon. We all had a great time and hope more will join us next year. Enjoy the pics and videos!