Wednesday Wallpaper: Mille Mile

Wednesday Wallpaper, Part Deux.  'Tis the season for giving, so here's another big'n.  Hank Wiles, again, on the Aprilia flat tracker at the Indy Mile.  Click and make big.

Wednesday Wallpaper: Joe Kopp

This week's wallpaper features 2000 AMA Grand National Champion Joe Kopp.  In 2010 Kopp won three times, twice on the venerable Harley-Davidon XR750 and once on the Lloyd Brothers Ducati Hypermotard 1100 to open the Twins season at the Yavapai Downs Mile in Prescott, Arizona.  At the end of the season he announced he'd be retiring from full-time competition.

My photo is from the Indy Mile in 2008.  Click and make big.

Chris Carr. Indy Mile.

Indy Mile

Winner, Pro Singles:  J.D. Beach

Winner, Expert Twins:  Bryan Smith & Kawasaki (!)

Flat-tracker done good:  Nick Hayden (and proud papa Earl)

Suitably impressed flat-track first-timer and MotoGP rider:  Alvaro Bautista

5 days 'til the GP, but only 4 'til the GNC. Indy Mile.

Springfield: The TT

Friday morning prior to Memorial Day saw Dad and I rolling toward Springfield, IL, a trip of nearly 800 miles.  The carrot was two days of AMA Pro Flat Track racing at the Illinois State Fairgrounds--Saturday on the TT course and Sunday on the legendary Mile oval.

TT festivities kicked off around 3pm and continued well into the evening.

 

Chris Carr engages in a flattracker jedi mind meld with a young 'tracker (note Tim White Original Photo on the cover of the current Sideburn issue under Master Carr)

Fresh off a win at Sears Point on his Suzuki roadracer, Danny Eslick was a last-minute entrant at the TT

Even with strong support, his evening didn't go so well.  He seemed to be having a fine time anyway.

These boots are made for racing

Red Bull MotoGP Rookie champ J.D. Beach took the Pro Singles class win

And Henry Wiles took the GNC Singles main event from Jared Mees

Iron Horse Magazine

On the cover of the brand new issue of Iron Horse Magazine is my photo of Larry Pegram riding the Lloyd Bros. Ducati during practice for the 2009 running of the Indy Mile. Enjoy!

Back home again, in Indiana . . .

MotoGP @ Indy next week!

The MotoGP World Championship returns to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend for the 2nd inaugural Red Bull Indianapolis GP. Last year I went as a general admission spectator; this year I'm fortunate to be working as a credentialed member of the fourth estate. Let's hope the weather is improves in kind.

Some photos from last year:

Every race is a home race for Valentino Rossi





It is a home race for Colin Edwards, and he'll be looking to improve on last year's form



Jorge Lorenzo might just be looking to finish . . .


* * *

MotoGP isn't the only happenin' on the weekend, with the Legendary Indy Mile going off Saturday evening.

Chris Carr is the defending race winner, but Smokin' Joe Kopp (pictured here at Indy last year) is coming off a dominant win on the Beulah Mile.



Stay tuned for updates, and maybe a surprise or two . . .

While you're waiting . . .

. . . feel free to do what I do, which is look over last year's photos a few more times, remembering "old" favorites, storing ideas for next year.




View a larger version here.

See you at the races.