“Motorcycle racing, all about family and friends - Abbotsford News” plus 3 more |
- Motorcycle racing, all about family and friends - Abbotsford News
- Driver faces racing charge - Elliot Lake Standard
- Freddie Spencer to Teach Riding and Racing at VIR - Who Won
- Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club celebrates 50th birthday - Abbotsford News
| Motorcycle racing, all about family and friends - Abbotsford News Posted: 04 Aug 2009 03:22 PM PDT Amid the tent tops, camping trailers, motorcycles of every shape, size and colour at the Cariboo Raceway, an unexpected sight – women walking around in racing leathers and smiling. Marjie Robertson of Quesnel is a long time dirt-biker, who at the urging of friends Dave Viskari and Steve Graham, decided to give racing on pavement a try. "It was pretty easy to convince me," Robertson said with a shrug. Saturday was her first time road racing, and she obviously has a knack for it. "I've finished first in both my races," Robertson said, seeming unaccustomed to the attention. Robertson, who has raced dirt bikes far and wide, from Chilliwack to Dawson Creek said the most difficult part of the transition from the dirt track to pavement is the stance. "On dirt you spend alot of time standing on the bike, on pavement you sit." Then there are the reflexes, she added. Some reflexes are appropriate for one sport and not the other. "I have to remember not to put my foot down in the corners," Robertson said, something that is common in dirt-bike racing and potentially very dangerous racing on a paved track. The key to success, Robertson said is in the rider's ability to concentrate. "You can't let your mind wander, you need to stay focussed the whole race." Racing alongside Robertson in the intermediate class was Sharon Ham, a mother of three girls, who also races motorcycles. Ham has spent the last three years following her husband Kevin and daughters Jana and Robin, 11, and Brooke, 13, to different racing events in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The decision to race motorcycles was pretty much made for her earlier this year when she received a motorcyle for mother's day, she said with a sheepish smile. "It's fun, if you can't beat them, join them," she said. "It's something we can all do together as a family." Daughter Robin felt the same way, saying the best part about racing motorcycles was racing with her family. Ham, like Robertson, appears unaccustomed to the attention and says that racing in front of a crowd makes her nervous. That nervousness, admitted Ham, compounds the most difficult part of racing for her, the start. That is when the racers are lined up on the starting grid of the race when the riders are revving their engines waiting for the starter to send them on their way. "Don't pop a wheely," Ham says is the main throught going through her head at the start of the race. The start of the race is also the most troublesome part of racing for daughter Jana. "The start line, being in the right gear," she said. Sister Brooke felt the same way. "It's the starts, popping my clutch." Sam McManus, 18, made the trip to Quesnel from Calgary, because she likes to race against her friends. She has been racing for a couple of years, but had to take a year off after a crash. "I knocked my head pretty good." Like Robertson, McManus had dirt bike experience before making the transition to road racing. "I'm hooked," she said. "I love the dicing with people in the corners." With barbecues cooking up in between race meals, and lawn chairs and fans, the raceway had a family friendly feel to it, and that in the end is what draws these ladies to the track. "I like racing with my family," Robin Ham said. "I like finishing ahead of my mom, Brooke Ham said with a big grin. "Racing with my family," Jana said. Dad Kevin agreed. It's a great family activity," he said pointing to all the tents and trailers, friends gathering to share a laugh after racing each other on the track.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Driver faces racing charge - Elliot Lake Standard Posted: 06 Aug 2009 11:09 AM PDT Posted 11 hours agoOn July 30, officers of the East Algoma OPP were conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 17. At approximately 4:10 p.m. police noted a motorcycle on Highway 17, which appeared to be travelling at a high rate of speed. The motorcycle entered the radar beam at a speed of 164 kmph in a 90 kmph zone. Charged with racing a motor vehicle is Cameron Norris (60) of Battersea, Ontario. Norris is scheduled to appear in Blind River court on Sept. 2. The motorcycle was impounded for seven days and was the driver's licence was seized and suspended for seven days. Advertisement  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Freddie Spencer to Teach Riding and Racing at VIR - Who Won Posted: 31 Jul 2009 03:19 PM PDT VIRginia International Raceway Friday, July 31, 2009 Freddie Spencer to Teach Riding and Racing at VIR by Crystal France DANVILLE, Va. -- Three-time World Champion motorcycle racer Freddie Spencer brings his expertise to VIRginia International Raceway with Team Pro-Motion's motorcycle riding schools, August 1-3.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club celebrates 50th birthday - Abbotsford News Posted: 06 Aug 2009 04:38 PM PDT It's been more than 20 years since the din of revving engines was heard atop Coquitlam's Westwood Plateau. It was there, at the Westwood Mostorsport Park, that some the greatest racing legends to ever put tire to asphalt helped introduce the Lower Mainland to elite road racing. Built in 1959, the track was Canada's first permanent, purpose-built road racing facility, hosting Formula 1 racers like Gilles Villeneuve and Keke Rosberg, Indy CART stars like Bobby Rahal and Mario Andretti, as well as Canadian motorcycling legends Steve Dick and Maple Ridge's own Steve Crevier. The track itself closed for good in 1990, falling victim to the suburban sprawl creeping up the slopes of Eagle Ridge. But The Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club has managed to stay in operation ever since, keeping the Westwood racing tradition alive. This weekend the club will be celebrating it's 50th anniversary at the Mission Raceway with two days of events and races. Maple Ridge's Ken Lalonde is the club's vice president and said it's been the love of motorcycles, and of each other, that's kept the club together for these years. "After the track shut down, the club maintained a social membership of riders with nowhere to ride," he said. "It's a great community of people, and I think that's why [the club] was able to stay together." The club eventually found a home at the Mission Raceway Park in 2001, and now hosts a variety of races on the facility's 2.56 km road track. The club has more than 120 registered racers, many of them from Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, and Lalonde hopes their ranks will swell as more motorcyclists discover the joy of racing. "We're a non-profit organization, and we want to promote a positive message about racing: Keep it on the track and not the street." Among the events planned for this Saturday and Sunday are a vintage bike show, barbecue, special appearances by Westwood alumni, and of course, plenty of racing. • For more information about the Westwood Motorcycle Racing Club and their 50th anniversary, visit www.wmrc.ca  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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