This years event for me was totally different in that I was pretty much forced to fly to the event due to my work schedule the following week. Had the opportunity to head out with my buddy Bob Wentzell on Friday arriving around 2:30pm at the track picking up my credentials and heading over to see my Trials riding friends. Checked out the Trials loops and took a short ride through the pits then went downtown Friday night for a few drinks and some Southern Fried Chicken:). Saturday Bob was competing in Observed Trials so I followed the action. Congrats to Bob (who was the defending champion) for finishing in the upper half of his class and to Chicago Jerry for winning the Cross Country 60+ class on-board the 250 Penton. I bought an original gosh darn nice and almost ready to compete on 1974 Penton 250 a few months ago and the owner delivered it to the track where Chicago Jerry made room to bring it back
I am looking forward to trying my hand at off road riding instead of Road Racing next year. Spent time with Trials Bike Importer of Sherco's and Scorpa's Brad Baumert. Here's a guy who owns three companies and is the largest importer of Sherco and Scorpa trials bikes and he took third in the Vintage Trials Class! How cool! ! Spent some time with the Brittens, John Brittens legacy is well intact and it was great speaking with his wife and watching the Brittens on the track! I made a point of seeking out Malcom Smith and spent some time with him and had a great interview that I will play tonight on the show. I don't often seek autographs but purchased a Bruce Brown "On Any Sunday" sign and had Malcom autograph it. Such a legend.. Saturday night it is customary to head back to Birmingham where we had dinner at Texas De Brazil . If you've haven't ever ate at this place it's a must do.
Sunday went to the Swap meet, watched the racing, visited in the pits and finally went to Bass Pro Shops. As a guy who dipped a rod or two it's like heaven there! Everyone of my friends were off heading back to their home state by 6pm Sunday so Bob and I left the track went to Birmingham and watched the movie Everest. It is based on John Krackauer's (spelling?) book, "Into Thin Air". A climbing expedition that went terribly wrong resulting in major loss of life, in fact one of those men still is frozen near the peak and cannot be safely brought down.
Had dinner at our Hotel which was the Holiday Inn at the airport and turned in getting ready for an early flight back which was crowded but thankfully uneventful. Along the way I meet some new cool people, many first timers and to a person they said they were coming back.
Barber is the Mecca of motorcycling in America, and I hope many of you who haven't visited this track, museum and facility will mark you calendars for the second week in October and God willing.... I'll see you there!
