[Fot] SVRA to require head and neck restraints

[Bill Babcock]

I thought Grattan was a great track. Technical, fiddly, and a good  
test of suspension tuning. I don't care for high horsepower tracks in  
general, probably because I don't have much. I really liked that off  
camber turn. I wouldn't call it my favorite, but it's right up there.

Motorcycle racers ARE nuts, I know that personally. Every time you get  
hurt (and you do get hurt a lot) the primary concern is "how long is  
this going to take before I can get back to racing" which explains a  
lot of things like pins, screws and plates where natural healing would  
be better, and casts being cut off in the pits with diagonal cutters.  
All these years later I'm paying a price, but it sure was fun while it  
lasted. You think scrambling into a corner to pass for position, late  
braking, with the rear end hopping and the front end sliding is fun in  
a car, try it on a bike, where four riders might be occupying the same  
space as one car. My heart is pounding just thinking of it. I still  
have dreams of sliding my bike into the big sweepers on a mile dirt  
track, drifting, drifting, with the rear end clawing for grip, the  
front end cranked within a fraction of full lock, sliding my foot  
until the rear end stated driving and then putting it back on the peg,  
still sliding, but starting to drive for the straight. Jesus.

The one thing I NEVER skimped on was safety gear, as much because I  
believed it would reduce the down time as for any life-saving aspect.  
I truly believed I was immortal.

Anyone who wants to ride a bike on the street without a helmet should  
be allowed to--as long as they are over 21 and have signed an organ  
donor card. The outlaw bikers that all cruiser riders emulate used to  
call themselves one-percenters, because the AMA (american motorcycle  
association) said 99 percent of motorcyclists were law abiding  
citizens. Those hairy guys with the do rags are 99 percent poseurs who  
put 100 miles a year on their bike and work as accountants and real  
estate agents. Nouveaux tough. Starbucks Angels. Why waste a perfectly  
good helmet on them.

I feel uncomfortable riding a bike in my driveway without a top  
quality, full coverage helmet on.

Incidentally, here's my latest bit of stupidity: http://www.kenalu.com/2008/11/30/sup-motorcycle-trailer/

On Jan 15, 2009, at 6:57 AM, BillDentin at aol.com wrote:

> Mr. Babcock...My life is one big Bad Example.
>
> I am sure you are far more knowledgeable about motorcycle racing  
> than I'll
> ever be.  Last year I did watch the Super Bikes at ROAD AMERICA, and  
> I think
> they're all nuts.  One year BLACKHAWK held a Speed Week and had all  
> sorts of
> racers at the track including motorcycles.  I can remember after  
> incidents, cycle
> racers lined up outside the First Aid Station, some with limbs  
> dangling.  In
> most instances, they were not so much seeking First Aid, but rather
> authorization to go back out again.  They're nuts.
>
> This whole issue reminds me of the mandatory motorcycle helmet laws  
> on the
> books in many states, and the way a significant portion of the  
> riders fight
> these laws.  May be difficult to understand why anyone would choose  
> to argue
> against what seems to be a good law.  I guess, for some, it comes  
> down to a stand
> against Big Brother overstepping his bounds, and Paternalistic  
> laws.  You know,
> "It's my head and my neck...mind your own business."