Mother Nature’s best attempts aside, Bike Week was fun. On Friday, Daytona Beach broke a record. No, not for most motorcycle trailers ever in one place, for rainfall. Over two inches fell, and all of it on the Daytona International Speedway, all of it on us.

Who the Hell is That Guy?

Perfect training for the weather we can expect in Scotland next month, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Saturday was sunny, if a bit chilly. Not New England cold, but Florida cold, which means around 60 degrees. The thin blooded residents of the Sunshine State get frostbite at these temperatures. Bundled up to face the ‘low’ temperatures, we attended the AMA Superbike race at Daytona International Speedway. It was the second time in my life I went to a race track as a fan.

A few racers had a little meeting in turn three, which ended in a polite discussion about the finer points of safe passing.

Josh Hayes on the Team Honda Number One machine won the race, but was later disqualified for having – get this – a ‘polished crankshaft.’ Sounds like something that would get a politician in a lot of trouble nowadays.

I put most of my race pictures on my other blog, found here.

We checked out tons of motorcycles on both days, which to me at least, is really what Bike Week is about. Here are just a few of the sights:

I couldn’t stop smiling for the entire two days we attended Bike Week. There is something almost magical, at least to me, about being surrounded by thousands and thousands of motorcycles and motorcyclists (and of course trailerists, but even that is OK.) The sounds, smells, and of course sights were something that I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. Bike Week will most likely end up on the yearly ‘To Do’ list.

Saturday, Abi and I start riding season properly, with a ride from Orlando to Nashville, including a ride on ‘The Dragon,’ a road in North Carolina that consists of 318 turns in eleven miles.

Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate…

Author: frenchy