More pics!

[YAMAHA_Jim]

Heres a few more pics from Thunderdome b/c I know you guys love them so much :)

This is me in the Amain when the green light came on.
http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/DOME_1_21_6_238.jpg
The 3 in front finished 1,2 and 3. #211 got 1st, he won every race so far this year.Lucky guy always ends up on the front row :)


http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/DOME_1_21_6_239.jpg
I had 4th until the blue ex got by me on the last lap.I couldnt pass anyone so I got lazy and he snuck by me on the inside.

Pic of me during practice.
http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/DOME_1_21_6_051.jpg

The 350x/blaster not keeping the rubber side down.
http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/DOME_1_21_6_055.jpg
http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/DOME_1_21_6_056.jpg
I'm not sure if the snapped steering rod caused the accident or happened during.I was in the same practice but on the other side of the track.He was still upside down when I came around.

2 quads trying to become 1 is a common thing at thunderdome :)
http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/DOME_1_21_6_215.jpg

The rest of the pics are here, http://www.openwheelracers.com/Thunderdome%20Photos%20-%20January%2022/Thunder%20Dome%20Photos%20Jan%2022%20-%20Page%201.htm

[thefox]

Nice pictures! That looks like a lot of fun.

[85hondaatc125m]

Does that track have oil on it or is it just that slick that those guys can drift on it?

[YAMAHA_Jim]

The track is coated with coke syrup before the racing starts.Its actually not slick at all.During practice it gets worked into the concrete and gets very tacky after the first few practices go out.Its hard to describe unless you've ridden or walked on it.They've been racing here for 14 yrs so the concrete sort of has a grip to it from all the tire rubber.The track conditions vary from week to week depending on temp and humidity. Every quad reacts different to the track depending on tires,susp,and the rider.Tires are the main thing, Some guys use knobbies,golf cart,lawn tractor,etc tires but they dont hook up as good as the American Racer or hoosiers.I get sideways sometimes but mostly I'm sticking like glue and trying to keep from tipping over.This past race the track was catching alot of guys off guard,one second your sliding sideways and the next thing you know your tires grab traction and your up on 2 wheels trying to keep from flipping.,,,,lots of fun.

[MTS]

Where do you buy them hoosier's from?

[YAMAHA_Jim]

My Trike Sucks- dont know right off hand, go to hoosiers website and look for a list of dealers. no one around me sells hoosiers, so I went straight to Nacs and bought the american racers.

[Billy Golightly]

Very cool pictures Jim. I'm suprised to see that only a handful of guys are wearing chest protectors...dont think theres anyway I'd get out there without one on heh.

[YAMAHA_Jim]

I like to wear mine under the jersey.Proper protection for this type of racing would be steel body armor,seat belt,and a rollcage.:D

[New2ATC]

good pics. Looks like alot of fun. I wouldnt mind trying it, but i dont think theres a place near me for it.

[YAMAHA_Jim]

Thunderdome 1-28-06
I had the pole for my heat race.When the green light came on,I led all 6 laps. In the amatuer Amain I started front and center.The YFZ450 on the pole won his heat w/ a better lap time than me.When the green light came on,he got the lead and checked out. I was in 2nd place and by lap 2 I couldn't see him anymore.I looked back on lap 4 or 5 and I had a decent lead over 3rd so I just went easy and finished the race. ,,,,where's that darn helemt cam?!?!?!

In the pro heat races it was the usual bumping and breaking.The first time, two yfz's tagged eachother in turn 1 (#17 and 66) bringing out the red flag.From the vid it looks like the right front steering rod on 17 was badly damaged but not broken when he went into the blue yfz.That leads to the mayem that happened after the restart.These 2 are good friends also off the track.
On the restart the black YFZ's(17) steering snaps right after the restart and puts him out of the race. Being that this place races under the yellow flag. #17 doesnt have anytime to drag a disabled 450 off the track, so he decides to stick it out using the 450 as a barricade.(I myself probably woulda ran too the middle and left the quad there.) Towards the end of the race #66 slides out a bit too much and plows into his buddys yfz.The black yfz gets a severely bent rear axle and had to be carried off by 5 or 6 guys.Both riders walk away w/o injury,amazing!
In the pro Amain, A nice trx250 got an early lead and won the race.These guys roll like a freight train when they get in single file. Pics will be posted in a few days.I might have a video of me from last night,I'll know next saturday.
I also met John R from 3ww(1999).Another racer that knows him told me he was at the race watching and pointed him out to me. I walked over and introduced myself to him as Tri-Z Jim. His reaction was priceless,I was excited too. More excited than I was during the races. We talked about 3 wheelers and racing for awhile.He is a great guy to have supporting trikes.He also introduced me to a few of his trike buddies. I have to make a trip down there if Greenwood Lake ever freezes.
Thats it for this week...I'm recovering from the Sunday morning exaust fume hangover,lol

enjoy the vids,,sry 56k guys :)
http://media.putfile.com/pro-heat
http://media.putfile.com/pro-heat-restart
http://media.putfile.com/pro-heat2
http://media.putfile.com/pro-Amain