The Indy Mile is without peer in the world of flat track racing. And the rebirth of this race, the track was awesome and long awaited by many.
This is the track where King Kenny Roberts made a name for himself riding the most insane flat track machine ever built, the infamous TZ 750.
For myself and many other this (flat track racing) may be the last outpost in motor sports where you can actually get close to the motorcycles and the riders. All of the riders! With commercial aspects taking over all forms of motorsport, the horizon for events like these are changing and your chance to mingle among the stars who racing on a dusty oval at breakneck speeds is coming to a close. You will not get this close, this easily to teams and riders in an AMA roadracing or motocross event! With DMG's takeover of AMA racing I highly suggest that you get out and check out a race before the change occurs and you lose your chance to be a part of what racing is all about. These guys risk it all and race this series for the pure love of racing. There is little money in it. That will all change as DMG revamps the flat track racing.
In some ways it will be good for the riders, a chance to make some money, find paying sponsorships and the chance to stop living out of a van. The downside is that we will no longer be able to mingle with these characters, like Nixon, Roberts, Carr, Coolbeth, Hayden, Smith, Atherton, and Springsteen, instead viewing them from a distance. But that's the future and it is not going to stay static, it will and in some ways has to change for the betterment of the sport.
The view from the stands are first class and the pit access and photo areas are exactly what you want as a spectator. Here you could easily spend five or ten minutes chatting with National champions, like Chris Carr, Kenny Coolbeth, Gary Nixon and Jay Springsteen as well as all of the other fast guys and gals.
Nickey Hayden and Kenny Roberts we on hand as were many of the MotoGP teams and riders who came out to check out dirt track racing at its best.
The track was absolutely beautiful and fast. The lighting was decent, the announcing was sub par at best. Parking was a breeze, as well the whole vibe of the place was top notch.
The final race of the night was awesome with the lead being traded back and forth every lap between Bryan Smith, Chris Carr and Keeny Coolbeth. It was an intense race. In the end Smith faded back to third while Chris Carr made a drafting pass off of turn four on the final lap to beat Kenny Coolbeth to the line. It was also great to see Michigan's Kevin Atherton back on the track!
In the expert twins class Kawasaki's Brock Schwarzenbacher beat Aprilia's James Rispoli to the line with Chase Sconyers third.
Of course Karoline and I will be back for this race. We have already ordered our tickets for 2009!
If you haven't watched a flat track race, get out there and check it out!
