Just a quick report to tell you that the races at Indy were fantastic, even with some challenging weather brought in by Ike (massive rain and 40-50 mph winds at the track on Sunday). Wanderer, Bob Forsyth and I went North last week. Met up with some other riders for the night in Missouri. They were providing motorcycle escort and cameraman service for a professional bicycle race covering much of MO. Our friend was the only female rider on the paid motorcycling crew. Wanderer has some pics somewhere.
In addition to watching the best riders in the world racing MotoGP at the Indy road course for the first time ever (last motorcycle race was in 1909), 250 of us got to take a lap on the track and I'll attach the write up of that below. There was at least one Valk in the group, but I'm on the Ducati to the right of the yellow shirted ST1300 rider in the picture below if the pic shows up. We also ran across a Valk Interstate on the highway, but I'll let Wanderer chime in on that with the picture.
All in all, a great trip. If you want to go next year and get on the track, I think they will do it again and the date will be the weekend of Aug 30. I'm hoping for no hurricanes next year.
Here you go...
From: Mike Traynor
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 4:14 PM
To: Mike Traynor
Subject: Oh what a Ride!
This was an incredible experience for all involved and a great place for a ST to show its stuff. Too bad we had to limit our velocity as my throttle hand twitched the whole way around the track. (We made up for that slow pace on the ride back to Asheville!!!!)
I wish we had video taped it because when our sold-out number of riders got to the end of the ride at the closing celebration/awards ceremony, men who have long since seen their age of majority birthday were hollering their heads off like little kids as they pulled off their helmets. You would have thought they had just won the GP!
It was tremendous fun for the riders, magnificent exposure of the RFK/PBTF, a great fund raiser and a huge hand for the kids we serve. And our PBTF/Joe Parkhurst scholarship recipient Bayleigh Jones gave her finest talk ever. She had all of us spellbound with her story and her thanks. Major kudos to all for your support and encouragement.
And to get the only day with sunshine does make you believe we do have some extra help from on high!
Mike
PS: Hope you got to see Nicky lead the world’s fastest aquatic event on Sunday!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: info
Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 3:26 PM
To: Mike Traynor
Subject: Indianapolis GP Lap of Champions raises more than $49,000 for PBTF
PBTF Home | About Us | Donate Now | Families | Survivors | Medical Community | Ways to Help | Media
Sept. 17, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary O. Ratcliffe
800-253-6530 or
mratcliffe@rideforkids.orgIndianapolis GP Lap of Champions raises more than $49,000 for PBTF
History was made last weekend as the world's premier motorcycle racing series, Moto GP, made its inaugural visit to the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Another kind of history was made on Saturday, Sept. 13, when the first Lap of Champions took place on the new Moto GP circuit. This special Ride for Kids® fundraising event, which raised more than $49,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, offered an enthusiastic group of riders the opportunity to take their motorcycles for a parade lap around the new track.
A sold-out crowd gathered at the famous Brickyard Crossing to sign in. After a rider's meeting everyone climbed aboard their bikes and rode on a cart path of the adjoining golf course to access the track. The group was led by custom bike builder Roland Sands, a former AMA National Road Racing Champion, National Ride for Kids® Director Kyle Clack, and brain tumor survivor Bayleigh Jones, who rode with her father, Chris. Along with RFK founder Mike Traynor, the group made a full circuit of the track to the applause and waving flags of the corner workers.
Afterward the riders gathered in the pavilion and learned about the Ride for Kids® program and the work of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Bayleigh told the group about her battle with a brain tumor and her love of motorcycling. "As a brain tumor survivor and PBTF scholarship recipient, I really appreciate the help you give to all of us," she said.
A drawing for several prizes followed, and lucky donors won an AGV GP Tech helmet, AGV Sport leathers, boots and gloves, a new set of Dunlop tires and an Aerostich suit courtesy of our generous sponsors. Brian Kissinger of O'Fallon, Ill., was the Champion Fundraiser with $3,000 turned in to help the kids.
Special thanks to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway team, especially Mel Harder, senior vice president of operations, for making the event possible. Thanks also go to Brickyard Crossing, Honda of Noblesville, Dreyer Honda and many local volunteers for all their help during the weekend, and to the event's sponsors, AGV, AGV Sport, Dunlop Tires, and Aerostich.
About the PBTF Ride for Kids®
Since 1984, the national Ride for Kids® program and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) have promoted childhood brain tumor research and provided family support through free literature about brain tumors, educational newsletters, online conferences and college scholarships. With the help of America's motorcycling community, the PBTF has become the world's largest non-governmental source of funding for childhood brain tumor research.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tell a friend
If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation news.
