What a difference 23 years makes - Photos

[Hellgate]

My sister sent this photo to me today of me way back in my very first season of racing, 1986. I was 21 years old and wanted to be Randy Mamola. My bike is a 1976 Yamaha RD 400, bone stock; note the "custom" cut down seat with silver duct tape! The car is my dad's Saab, a U-Haul trailer with huge boards from my dad's workshop for a ramp, and old blue rock climbing rope to tie it all down. The leathers are used Bates flat-trackers that I bought for $75. I spent the day before putting on new tires with 12" tire irons because I didn't have the money to have a shop do it, balanced? Hell NO!

That year I sucked, plain and simple. But it was a good learning year and I got my act together for the next season with my new RZ350 and by season three I was 9th overall out of 50 in 450 Superbike for the season.

So I suppose the lesson is, if there is a will, there is a way.

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[granda080]

Very cool pics and story.

 

[mellofelow]

Sweet memories. Thanks for sharing. My first ride was about the same time, a friend's Ninja. I remembered no helmet law back then... man was I CRAZY!!!

 

[OZXJR]

23 years ago I had an RD250........and way too scared to track it ,lol

 

[FZ1inNH]

Looks almost the same! Just the eyes look like they've got years of keen experience!

 

[Denver_FZ6]

Man! Times have changed. Thanks for sharing.

What's the location?

 

[Hellgate]

Man! Times have changed. Thanks for sharing.

What's the location?

That photo was taken at the old Second Creek Race way outside of Denver off of Buckley and 88th, way, way east. I suppose it is all neighborhoods now. That was my favorite course, very technical.

"Second Creek Raceway is a 1.7-mile road course located near Denver in northeastern Colorado. Second Creek is adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal on the west and Rocky Mountain Speedway (a clay oval) on the north, and is about a mile west of the now infamous Denver International Airport. The entire course can be seen from the stands along the front straight, which is true of very few road courses -- and has producing oil wells on the grounds, another feature uncommon among road courses.

Second Creek has reportedly shut down, probably sold for development (this as of November 2005)."

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[Kilbane83]

That's pretty cool man. Man.. you just look like trouble LoL. Really is surprising how far bikes have come. Thanks for sharing the memories man :thumbup:

 

[Wolfman]

Top stuff Pete....it's funny reminded me of my first bike, and riding gear...yes things have come a long way...in 1986, i was riding arounfd in a "Brando" leather jacket, jeans & Rossi Boots....still got em too!

:thumbup:

 

[Denver_FZ6]

Second Creek has reportedly shut down, probably sold for development (this as of November 2005)."

It is shutdown, but no neighborhoods yet. While on approach flying into Denver International a while back, our flight path took the plane right over it.
Later I asked a racing buddy about it and learned it had been shutdown. He also mentioned it was a good track. Bummer.

 

[DefyInertia]

This is the coolest thread in the history of FZ6-forum.com :thumbup:

That-is-awesome. Pictures FTMFW!

You da' man, Top.