End Of The Season Thoughts....

Well it's finally over - our first full season of racing.

Roger did well for his first year - our best finish was placing 11th overall in Thunderbike.  The other categories that we raced were respectable too.

We made a lot of new friends, been in some close battles, mourned the loss of one of our own on Pikes Peak, and learned a bit more about ourselves.  Oh yeah - we got a 30 foot trailer with Air Conditioning, refrigerator, microwave, and 2 flat screen TV's too!


We want to give a bit Geezer Gears shout-out to one of our newest friends - Heather Longway.  You might have seen her around the track taking pictures like these:

©2015 Heather A. Longway Photography – used with permission

©2015 Heather A. Longway Photography – used with permission

©2015 Heather A. Longway Photography – used with permission

If you like these pictures (even if they are only of Roger), you should see what else she has:

Heather A. Longway
Photographer and Videographer

You can email her at:
heatherlsmith13@yahoo.com


One of my favorite pictures that really summed up the racing this season is this one:

That's Roger on the back side and Santiago Shirtz on the inside coming up to the finish line.  Thanks Santiago for making this season a blast!

I'll be going through the videos during the off season to put on the blog.  Thanks to everyone that made this year a fun year of racing!

See ya' at the track!

Pops

August 29th & 30th Race Videos

I'll see how this goes but this is the first time I'm posting videos.  If this works out Ok I'll go back through the season and add video clips from earlier races.

These were taken August 29th & 30th at the High Plains Raceway near Deer Trail, Colorado.  The sky was hazy and overcast due to the lingering smoke from the forest fires in the Pacific Northwest.

Sorry about the angles or blurry images - I'm using a hand-held Canon Vixia HFR10 digital video camera that has high def capabilities and optical / digital zoom.

The pits are situated to the North and East of the bulk of the track.  I shot most of the videos from a point where you can see most of the track.  It's also an area that I can get to somewhat quickly so that I can get back to the pit when the race is over before Roger gets there.

For this weekend only the North course was open.

Let me know what you think.  You can drop me an email or use the form on the right.

See ya' at the track!

Pops

End of Day 1

Well our day is over and Roger is off to the showers.  We finished making some adjustments on the bike for tomorrow's races and now the tire warmers are off and the bike cover is on for the night.

Storm clouds are starting to brew. The morning was cool and humid and by lunch the sun came out and really warmed things up.  The bike seemed to be better suited for the warmer conditions and Roger's lap times reflected it.

We also learned a few things about the toyhauler today, and we've started a list of things we forgot.  The things we forgot weren't mission critical but more functional things like a broom, a clock, and a fly swatter.

Roger's lap times are starting to come down and he's getting more comfortable on the track but when you boil it down this is really a young man's game.  While Roger has gotten recognition and awards with his enduro and motocross and drag racing he is starting this style of racing a lot later in life than the other racers.  My hats off to him for sticking with it!

Tomorrow, as they say, us another day!

See ya' at the track!

Pops

Racing in Comfort

Last night Roger and I spent the first night in the new toy hauler (well technically the first time was on the way home from picking it up in Arizona).  The trailer got its initiation thanks to the full fury of Mother Nature - rain, wind, and hail ranging from pea size hail to just about golf ball sized hail.

While watching the local weatherman we realized how far we have come in our creature comforts.  We used to come down for a day, then we were camping in tents, and now this!

The body of the trailer survived the storm but the vent covers, well they didn't make it.  During the rain we saw the water coming in from the vents and realized we had problems.  After the storm we managed to borrow a ladder and I patched the holes and cracks with duct tape.

The weather forecast for today is temperatures in the 80's, cloudy, humid, and a chance of rain.  Sundays forecast is more of the same.  It's probably a good thing that we spent the time last night fixing it.

The sun has come up and the generators are in full humming mode.  I guess it's race day.  We have 2 races today and 2 races tomorrow, and I'll do my best to keep you posted as to how we did - just don't ask about the karaoke at the pavilion last night!

See 'ya at the track!

Pops

Happy 4th of July Greetings From Phoenix!

Happy 4th of July!

We are waking up this morning in Phoenix Arizona. We drove 12 hours yesterday and made it here around dinner time. The trip down was excellent - light traffic and very little construction. While we saw a handful of police cars with their lights flashing, thankfully none of them were for us!

We will probably spend the day kicking around town and tonight we will be having a barbeque with friends and family before we head off to watch fireworks.

Tomorrow we will be going over everything we brought to be installed in the trailer and picking up anything else we might have forgotten.

From all if us here at the Geezer Gears Racing Team, please have a safe and a wonderful 4th of July! Remember that all of the freedoms and liberties you enjoy come from the Veterans who made the sacrifice for you. Please thank a Veteran today!

See ya' at the track!

Pops

It's Trailer Time!

Well the new Geezer Gears Racing Trailer is now officially done.  We ended up with the Genesis 23SS model, and that should be enough room to take our bike, gear, tools, and crew from race to race in style.

Now comes the hard part - the drive to Mesa, Arizona to pick it up.  We still have D-Rings, a Pit Bull Trailer Restraint System, back-up cameras, load stabilizers, etc., that still need to be installed, but we're hopeful that we can be heading back home early next week.  I thought Pueblo was hot - they are expecting 105 degrees+ every day that we're down there.

I've been reading the on-line copy of the owner's manual.  There's a lot to know and a lot that could go wrong with this puppy.  As our wives say, the chances of something going wrong is greatly amplified when Roger and I are working together on a project!  I know I'm bucking the trend by reading the instructions, but for a small racing team like ours we need to take extra care of our new toy, ah, trailer....

Don't know what we'll call it - maybe that should be a contest for our Geezer Gears Blog readers!  At 30 feet there is a lot of room on the side for any sponsors who would like to step up and buy a spot on the trailer - including the coveted back door spot!  Shoot me an email if you are interested.

I'll be blogging / Tweeting / Instagramming our (mis-) adventures along the way so stay tuned!




On a more serious note we'd like to pass along our condolences to the family of Carl Sorensen who died during practice at the 2015 Pikes Peak Hill Climb.  Carl ran the tech inspections on race day for the Motorcycle Racing Association in Colorado.  There is a Memorial Fund that has been set up to help offset the family's financial burden:

http://www.gofundme.com/xy926c





See ya' at the track!

Pops

Pueblo - Epilogue

Believe it or not, your Geezers managed to survive the long, hot weekend!  Sure we needed a shower and a nap when we got home but we made it!  A big round of thanks to our families for letting us do what we do (no matter how crazy it sounds), and for holding Father's Day dinner until after we woke up from our naps!

The weekend races at Pueblo are now in the books.  We came away pretty much unscathed although a bit dusty from all of the kitty litter on the track.  A big shout out to the MRA-Colorado staff and field crew for doing what the could to keep the track in racing condition all weekend.

It's hard when you come up to a patch of kitty litter on the track.  So many things race through your mind so you have to battle harder to stay focused.  For us old guys our minds are usually filled with thoughts like: "don't crash", "set up for this curve", "is my blinker on?", "how much longer do I have - I really have to pee".  For us old Geezers, seeing the residue on the track reminds us of our mortality and how much little time we have left to make our mark in this world.

We picked up a few points and we hit our personal goals for the weekend.  Remember we're just a couple of old farts doing what we can to get out of the "honey-do list" back at home.  We don't have sponsors and we don't have a pit team and we don't have a lot of tools or equipment.  If we can't fix it with what's in our toolbox or with duct tape we just make due.

For us it's the friendships and fellowships that we have with fellow racers that mean more to us than the points.  Yes, we may learn a thing or two about setting up motorcycles or how to set up for corners, but at our age we are just out to have fun.  Thanks for all old friends (and new ones) who stopped by our pit and shared some time and stories with us this weekend.

So what's next for your Geezers?  It looks like we will be in Mesa, Arizona in 2 weeks to pick up the toy hauler.  If your a fan of the Geezer Gears Racing Team you can follow our antics via Twitter and Instagram as I'll be sending out updates as we go.  I'll be reviewing pictures and racing footage with Roger to see where we can improve and I'll also be looking for images to post to our blog.

Again, a big THANK YOU!! to our families and friends that have supported us on this crazy adventure! 

Life is short - hug a Geezer!

See ya' at the track!

Pops

Happy Father's Day!!

Happy Father's Day to all of the dads out there among the interwebs!

Father's Day breakfast was eggs, sausages, and potatoes - Geezer style! Slept well despite waking up in Pueblo.  There was a spider on my tent this morning that looked like a scorpion - it had a leg in the back that looked like a stinger.

Decided to go with my dome tent that I got from Montgomery Wards about thirty years ago.

Roger went with some new fangled style of tent.  Wasn't sure what it was supposed to be at this stage.

We are awaiting the start of the racers meeting.  Look for my recap of today's events!

See ya'  at the track!

Pops

Pueblo - Round 3 - Day 1

I don't mean to sound rather dramatic, but racing in Pueblo is an experience.  Typically racing here means hot, dry conditions  - I mean really hot and dry.  Today was no different, and tomorrow will be even worse.

Now don't get me wrong, I have fond memories of riding my dirt bike here and watching Roger teach my kids how to ride here, but that was a really long time ago!  I'm not saying I am old and can't handle the heat, but as we age there are certain liberties we get to claim.  Mine are life, liberty, and the pursuit of air conditioning!

Pueblo is our State's reminder that we are actually a desert environment and desert settings can be extremely bad ass..  The grass that grows here has prickley things on it, there are large lizzards here, and if you are observant you might see a rattle snake or two.  The further away you get from water the harsher the environment is, and there is a lot of harsh in Pueblo.  Even the pretty little birds that hop around looking for bugs are bad ass  - I swear that one hopped up to me, spun its head around, and threatened to pick my eyes out when I sleep tonight.

We've had 3 red  flag stoppages today, and the day isn't over yet.  The first crash required 2 ambulances.  After the second crash large, buzzard-like birds could be seen circling over the track.  

The corner worker by us is standing in a stand and the heat shimmers are so great that you can't see the ground below his feet.  Imagine coming out of a right turn, hitting the throttle and accelerating quickly, only to see what you think is Jesus dressed in white floating in the air in front of you.

Racing in Pueblo is special, not because saying you raced here in the summer is considered a feat worthy of a badge of honor, but those who race here have an unique bond between them.  They know of the harsh conditions, the sudden wind gusts, and the surprise sand storms blowing in  - and that's just on the track!

I have hunted around Pueblo and in other places in Colorado, but the strangest creatures I have ever come across happened here outside Pueblo.  I'm not saying that I've seen a Chupacabra or Bigfoot (ok in all honesty I did see a Chacabra near Pueblo), but I've seen more unusual incidents here than anywhere else I know.

The goal of Pueblo  is survival.  Dont get lost.  Don't get hurt. Stay hydrated. Dont eat the peyote.  After  Day 1 the Geezer Gears have survived.  We will set up our tents, have a frothy beverage, and rest up for another exciting adventure in the land of ....

Pueblo.

See ya' at the track!

Pops

Another Upate From Round 2

I have been going over the pictures and videos from Round 2 and I think it is safe to say that our team rider Roger is getting more comfortable on the bike, with the track, and with the modifications we are making to the bike.

I have some pics to post once I am done going through them.  Here is a pic of Roger showing off another expertise of his:

Nothing beats track food. We had sausages, potatoes, red onions, and veggies - and a few secret ingredients:

We will pick up the new trailer early next month so we had to rough it and camp in tents.  Now when you get to my age there are things I don't scrimp on, and one of those things is comfort.  I got a  lot of crap for my accommodations but I slept well and woke up refreshed.

Yes, that's a 14 inch air mattress in my tent so go ahead and be jealous!  I also had my hunting ear plugs and an eye mask so once I hit the mattress I was out cold!

Out of the 4 races we were in (2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday), we were just out of the top 10 on the 2 races on Sunday.  We have a lot of room for improvement and out next chance for that will be at Round 3 next weekend in Pueblo.  

I am packing plenty of waters and Gatorade to keep us cool, plus I am bringing a large fan and an extension cord to plug into the generator.  Pueblo tends to get rather warm so we are going to be prepared.

Please come out to Pueblo and support your Geezers!

See ya' at the track!

Pops

Round 2 Recap

Motorcycle Racing in Colorado has now officially begun.  After a rain soaked opening weekend that saw both days cancelled, we finally got to racing this past weekend.

Friday was a lapping day - a big round of thanks for the Motorcycle Roadracing Association for making that happen!  Unfortunately we couldn't make lapping day so we arrived bright and early Saturday morning.  When we pulled up the lot was already full of campers and trailers but we managed to find a spot to sneak in and set up.  That's a sure sign of success - when you arrive early on Saturday morning to a packed pit and camping area!

We put our bike through tech and while Roger (our team rider) attended the rider's meeting I set up our pit for the weekend.  After the meeting we got the bike prepped and Roger made his way out on to the track for morning practice.

It's important to remember that we're new to road racing, but not necessarily new to motorcycle racing.  Roger has raced enduro, motocross and has even drag raced motorcycles with much success.  However the skills used in road racing are different than what he has used in the past so there is a lot of learning and unlearning we have to do as we get into this.

We switched our shifting on this bike to GP shift (which is backwards from normal shifting), braking and braking points are different, angles into and out of curves are different, and sliding the back tire doesn't really exist here like on dirt.  Add in the amount of lean the bikes take to make the corners and the 'slightly' additional weight we older guys carry and have to adjust for and well, no wonder it will take us a while to get comfortable.

Our races on Saturday went as we expected and we met our team goals in those races - don't get lost, get comfortable on the bike and on the track, and make it back to the pit safely.  Saturday afternoon and evening we made a few adjustments to the bike and Sunday those adjustments really helped.  We shaved off 5 to 8 seconds per lap with the tweaks we did, and that made Roger a bit more comfortable on the bike, which in turn made him a bit faster on the track.

With our races out of the way early on Saturday we were able to watch the main event Saturday afternoon - the 4 Hour Endurance Race.  There were 3 categories - "Pony Express" (multiple bikes and riders with one transponder being used as a baton between riders), "True Endurance" (one bike with multiple riders), and "Titanium Butt" (one bike one rider).  There was a pretty bad crash just about midway through the endurance race but thankfully broken bones will mend.  The endurance race ended just before the sun slipped over the horizon.  A big thanks for the corner workers for putting in a long day on the track.

Our next round will be in Pueblo, Colorado.  We'll have to camp that weekend because our trailer won't be ready in time.  Too bad - it's always hot in Pueblo!

Now that we're back to racing (and hunting season is over) I'll keep the blog updated better.  I'm working through the videos and pics from the weekend and I'll post those as I get them ready.  You can always catch us on Twitter ( @GeezerGears ) or on Instagram ( geezergears ).

See ya' at the track!

Pops

Round 1 - Lapping Day

It's going to be a cold and wet weekend, not to mention the grief we've been getting for being away on Mother's Day.  Just the price we pay for being so incredibly dedicated to our sport I guess!

Today is lapping day, but I think we'll take a pass at it.  I'm not sure what the track conditions are but we've had rain all week and they are expecting more storms today.

The weather isn't supposed to be that great for racing this weekend, although Sunday's weather forecast is certainly much better than earlier in the week when they were predicting 3" to 5" of snow on Sunday.  When Roger, our team rider, asked about what to do regarding the snow on Sunday, my answer was quick - let's bring the DOT tires or the studded tires!

I'm sure Mother Nature will throw us a bone this weekend.  After all, we've been getting rain and snow and hail pretty much all week up and down the Front Range.  We're due for some drying out any day now.

The game plan for today is to meet up and load the trailer and truck.  We're still about a month away from our racing trailer so we'll have to rough it for Round 1 (this weekend) and Round 2 (later this month).  We'll head out tomorrow morning early (4:30AM or so) and we'll camp out Saturday night.

I had to dig out the old tent and sleeping bags and I've sprayed the tent with a coat of water repellent.  I've also aired it out - it hasn't seen the light of day in probably 15 years.  I am packing everything from shorts to rain gear to my winter hunting gear (toasty warm!).  We'll have the canopy with us and I'll bring the sides for it so that we can keep the bike out of the weather as much as possible.

Look for Roger (#555) to be racing in 3 classes this weekend: Formula 40 GTU, Solo Endurance Lightweight, and Supertwins GTU.

Come out to the High Plains Raceway this weekend and support your Geezers!

See ya' at the track!

Pops

Lapping Day

This past Saturday was Lapping Day at High Plains Raceway.  The day started out cold but the sun came up and changed everything.  The track was perfect, the atmosphere was great, and we all had a great time.  If you ever get the chance you have to visit this track - it's set among the farms and ranches of Eastern Colorado and the facilities are great.  There are four courses in one track - a 1.28 mile Short Course, a 1.86 mile North Course, a 2.00 mile West Course or the 2.55 mile Full Course.  There is a lot to learn about this track with lots of turns, over 300 feet of cumulative elevation change per lap, and the longest straight-away is over 2,800 feet long.

I'm really glad that most of our Colorado races will be here this year.  I really liked the accommodations and the folks at the Motorcycle Racing Association are fantastic.  Our team rider, Roger, went to the new rider school on Saturday and there was one instructor for two students.  There was a lot of track time and chalk board time to learn new things and try them out on the track.

Lining up for the start of Lapping Day at High Plains Raceway

Roger had lots of one-on-one attention and his instructor, Montana Jeff, helped him see the track better and gave him a better understanding of how to gauge the lines around the track.  Racing at our age really boils down to three things: 1) did we get hurt; 2) did we get lost on the track, & 3) did we have fun.  Roger's background in dirt racing and drag racing helped him out but there is a lot to learn when you transition from dirt and drag to racing on these courses.  To keep things interesting for Roger we switched the gearing on the bike from stock shift to GP shift, which he quickly learned and mastered.

I get to do the pit duties and when Roger is out on the track I like to wander around and talk to the other folks who are there as support crew for their riders.  While we lack sponsors and dollars to fund our operation, I got the sense that anyone out there would be more than willing to help us out and get us back out on the track if we ever got stuck.  That's really comforting for a couple of old farts like us who just want to have a little fun on the weekends!

Pre-Season Lapping Day is also a great way to figure out what you need or what you are missing.  In a couple of weeks Roger and I are heading out to pick up our new racing trailer so I've started a list of the little things we're going to need.  I'm thankful for the support crew folks who showed me around their setups and answered my questions.  We're newbies when it comes to this style of motorcycle racing but I know we'll have fun this year no matter how we do on the track because of the friendly folks associated with this great sport.

Next up on the schedule is a bit of spring turkey hunting, then a trip to pick up the trailer, and then before you know it we'll be back at High Plains Raceway for the start of the 2015 racing season.


See ya at the track!

Pops

And So It Begins......

Typical Colorado weather - we had snow last night and this morning.  Thankfully it's supposed to blow out later today, which is good because tomorrow is Lapping Day at the High Plains Raceway.  I'm hoping that the track will be dry and gravel-free so Roger has a good day on the track.

Lots of bike modifications on the bike this year.  In the last blog I posted pictures of the new racing plastic but what I didn't mention is that we switched the gearing from the stock bike to make it easier for Roger to shift on the race track.

I've been reading over the Motorcycle Racing Association's 2015 Rule Book making sure I've got a handle on the bike specs and the pit rules (still no wolverines allow in the pits according to Section 11 Rule D. ), so all I have left to do is make sure the fire extinguisher is still charged.

Our team rider, Roger, has been running and bicycling this off-season to get himself into racing shape.  Not easy to do at our age!  He rode his KTM to work about a week ago in the snow - now that'd dedication!

Still lots to do on the bike before opening weekend (May 9th & 10).  It looks like Roger and I are off to Mesa, Arizona to pick up a new racing trailer for the season so hopefully we'll get good weather for a long weekend sometime between now and then.

As always, you can follow our hijinks on Twitter ( #geezergears ) or you can find us on Instagram.  I'll be keeping you updated as to our progress at the track tomorrow so stay tuned.


See ya' at the track!

Pops

Lapping Day Is About A Week Away!

I've gotten tired of the snow and the cold and I am really ready for springtime in the Rockies.  Good fishing weather is just around the corner, the Spring turkey hunt is coming up, and the days are getting just a bit longer.

For some reason, I'm really jazzed about the upcoming racing season.  The bike has new plastic and is awaiting the final transformations - paint / numbers / transponder.  Here's the bike so far:

Gotta love that new plastic smell!

We're still working on the colors for this year but at least the plastics are on and we're getting closer to Lapping Day at the High Plains Raceway.

We've got warm weather coming in so it might be a good time to start painting.  Sunny days and 70 degree temperatures should make the job go quickly.

I've got a few gadgets to play with while our team rider, Roger, has his fun out on the track.  With any luck I'll have Twitter updates and Instagram pictures from the pits on race day.  Sign up to stay in touch with the Geezer Gears Team!


See ya at the track!

Pops

March Update!

The Geezer Gears Racing Team have been busy in the off-season.  Our team rider, Roger, has been riding his bicycle and running to get into race shape, the new racing plastic has been installed, and I've been learning new software and hardware to keep you updated as to our hijinks!

We've gotten our tentative Colorado schedule:

May 9th & 10th - High Plains Raceway
May 30th & 31st- High Plains Raceway
June 20th & 21st - Pueblo Motorsports Park
July 11th & 12th - High Plains Raceway
August 8th & 9th - High Plains Raceway
August 29th & 30th - High Plains Raceway
September 19th & 20th - Pikes Peak International Raceway

We are looking at other races in adjoining states (New Mexico, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, & Wyoming).  We'll keep you all posted as to our additional races but if you are at the Colorado races please stop by our pit & say hi.  We'd love to swap stories & we usually have a few of our own to share!

We are close to a new travel trailer for this year - we are down to two possibilities.  One is in Arizona and the other is in Iowa, so we've got a road trip coming up!

Now that we're officially into Spring it will be race day before you know it!

See ya at the track!

Pops

A Big Shout-Out For Our Team Rider!!

The Geezer Gears Racing Team is basically a couple of old guys who have a lot of fun at the track.  We are not the fastest on the track, or have the most bad-ass rig & trailer, nor do we have a lot of sponsors helping us out on weekends.  We really enjoy hanging out with folks that enjoy life like we do, which is pretty much everyone that we've met at the track!

We have families and day jobs and are really just out racing on the weekends so we don't have to spend time at home doing "honey-do's".  At our age, both of us having raised 2 kids and releasing them onto the world, we deserve a little bit if 'me time' - especially since we're married to twin sisters!

We have day jobs that keep us busy too, I'm sure just like all of you do too.  I'm the only non-medical person when the 2 families get together, but I have a great appreciation for what they do.  Now I get to brag a little bit about our team rider, Roger.  Last weekend Roger and a team from his hospital took a 300+ mile round trip in a snowstorm and up over the mountains to save not one but two preemie babies.

Here's a link to the story from the Colorado Springs Gazette:

http://tinyurl.com/o6oce6x


Racing is just a small part of who we are and what we do.  We risk crashes and injuries at the track doing what we love, but let's not forget those who put it on the line everyday as just another day at the office - the medical professionals, fire professionals, police officers and the military folks too.

Winter in Colorado

As a former Chicago boy that came to Colorado almost 30 years ago, I've really grown to love winters here.  Admittedly, I've told some folks from Texas and California that it snows pretty much every day from Halloween to Easter and the pictures they've seen of the mountain snow is what we get all winter long here along the front range.  Ok so maybe that wasn't a good idea but it does keep the congestion on the roads down a bit.

There is something invigorating about being on a motorcycle in January with the temperature around freezing and the air a little crisp on your skin.  You are more immersed in the landscape on a bike that you miss when you are in a car or truck.

Now that the big holidays are out of the way and the Christmas tree and lights are packed away for another year, it's time to start thinking about racing.  If you've followed the blog you know that the Geezer Gears Racing Team is in the process of looking for a new trailer for the upcoming season.

There's a fine art to looking for a trailer - getting the features you need at a price that stays under our wive's radar.  Roger, our team rider, and I went to the RV show in Denver earlier this month to see what's out there.  I gotta say that trailers have come a long way in the past few years - slide out porches, flat screen TV's on the outside, solar panels, LED lighting, backup cameras, and the list goes on and on.

We talked with several vendors about trailers to get a sense as to where the industry is headed in the years to come.  The bulk of the toy haulers we saw were for fifth wheelers but there were several smaller tow behind trailers with fewer options than their larger counterparts.

While we're still not sure which direction to go we know we'll have to make a decision soon if we want to have something for this season.  The hunt goes on!

The new racing plastic has been ordered for this season - can't wait to see that on the bike.  It's time to start a list of 'to-do's to get ready for this season.  What's on your 'to-do' list?

See ya at the track!

Pops