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July 2008 Below you will find a few photos’ (37) of my recent trip to Laguna SECA ’08. This was the 3rd year that I have gone out to Monterey to watch the MotoGP Races and I’m already looking towards next year. On Wednesday at noon, I headed out to San Diego to meet a few friends. Thursday, we headed up to Pismo Beach to spend the night. On Friday, we headed up Hwy 1 along the California Coast. I have yet to stop along this area to snap a few photos. Next year I will have to make this a point to do so. It’s such a beautiful area to ride. The following two pics were taken in a small town called Cambria. It is located approx 45-50 Miles North of Pismo Beach. We stopped here for breakfast on Friday before heading to Monterey.  This year our group photographer could not make the trip… which left the entire photo taking responsibilities on the rest of us. This was the First Group Photo of our Gang with our Bikes. We have many other pics’ that were taken in the bar Harry’s in Pismo… but they are not worth looking at.  From Left to Right: Myself, Shizuka (FNG ’08), Tommi (White Hat), and Timo (Black Hat). This shot was taken our first night in Monterey while we were hanging out on Cannery Row… it is bit dark, but you’ll get the idea of the crowd.  This was quite funny to watch. Repsol was hosting Drag Races on Saturday Evening down on Cannery Row… anyone could attempt to race as long as they were on a Repsol Honda. You did not have to own the bike; just have one to ride for the Races. After a few Heats, the Slowest Rider that was able to ride the bike over a short distance, between the Pink Tape on the Ground, without Touching the Ground won a Repsol Helmet. The guy who won already owned a Repsol Helmet… made me laugh.   It turns out that FNG ’08 was a Tequila Girl. This was one of many Tequila’s that we Taste Tested on Saturday Evening while hanging out on Cannery Row.  The Lovely Triumph Tent/Area… I really wish they would bring some Clothing items out to the Track to sell… This is a view from one of the hills that is in the middle of the Track. There were quite a few folks with their Tents set up for camping… I have a few others that I’m looking for a decent photo stitching program to stitch together   This bike made me take a double take… Look at the Rims. They are some form of plastic… One of the many Valentino Rossi Fan’s that was at the race. This was one Hell of a Get-up…
 Of course, what kind of trip would this be if I didn’t snag a picture or two of some of the ladies…? Yea, we all want to be a Rock-Star... This photo was a booth that allowed you to have your picture taken with the Red Bull Laguna SECA MotoGP Trophy along with the Trophy Girls… I’d tried, however they said the platform had a weight limit…  Now a few photo’s of the riders…  This picture was taken on Saturday during one of the practice sessions. The rider is on Turn Five starting the climb up the Hill towards the Corkscrew.  This picture is of Turn Two...  This rider is heading up the Hill towards the Corkscrew... A few of the many that I took of the Corkscrew...      I was lucky enough to have the camera pointing when the following happened at the Corkscrew… The rider was able to keep control of the bike and did not go down    Sunday during the Red Bull Rookies Cup Race on the Second Lap going thru the Corkscrew. These kids were amazing… the age limit for these boys to qualify for this program is 13 to 16 years old.  If only I was 100+ lbs lighter… this would be one heck of a Roller Coaster Ride, riding Pillion on the back of a MotoGP Race Bike at Race/Track Speed  Taken from my seat in the Grandstands at the Start/Finish Line…  Taken from my seat in the Grandstands at the Start/Finish Line…  With all of the Crew & Umbrella Girls on the Track getting ready to kick things off  The Start of the Race This was the only decent shot/timing I got of the bikes pasting by in front of my seat  Rossi up on the Podium receiving his Trophy  Champagne bath anyone? The following photos were taken our last night in Monterey, Sunday Evening…
 In Front, Shizuka (FNG ’08), Back Row from Left to Right: Timo, Tommi, Myself, and Kazu (Owner). After dinner, Timo & Tommi kept Shizuka (FNG ’08) busy while I headed back to the room to decorate her Helmet… one of the many jokes we always play on the FNG’s. First we cover the Helmet with Sticker’s collected from the different Vendors from the Track. Next, we stuff something smelly into the Helmet… not too smelly; the rider still has to wear the Helmet home on the next day. Finally, we take a full roll of Saran Wrap and cover the Helmet. We then place the helmet somewhere hopefully where the FNG will not find it for a few hours... the dog that appears in some of the photos is called Humphrey the Humping Dog. Humphrey made his First Appearance last year and was in high demand again this year...     Well... that’s some of the photo’s from this years trip. This is a Video that I took with my Point & Shoot Camera that I'd posted up on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFfFeSSTbps The clip is 4:05 long and it is of the Moment that Rossi crosses the Finish Line to the point of him returning to Pit Row. It was a Fantastic Race, very Exciting to be at to watch. As always, we had a Great Time. This is the second year that I've rode from Monterey straight back to Phoenix... 775.4 miles from the hotel to my house... 12.5 hours. Next year, I think I will take 2 days to return to Phx. Over All, the trip was 1749.2 miles. Till Next Year….
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