Lance Orbit...Online Race Columnist

IT'S MY STORY
            (AND I'M STICKING TO IT)
3-24-02

    Hello everyone.  Lance Orbit returning to the scene.  Once again stopping
through to join in the melee and spread good fortune.  It's kinda funny how I
keep popping up with propaganda and hearsay, huh?  Believe you me, it takes
careful calculation and proper planning to bring you the latest and greatest
in two wheel entertainment.  What's that?  Get to the point already?  'Nuff
said guys.     
    This articulate article is based upon a recent weekend spent in the sunny
southern skies of Daytona Beach Florida.  That's right, Ezracer and I hooked
up for another reunion during one of the greatest weekends of the year in all
things motorcycle....Bike Week! 
    Friday night we began to sample the first of the goods by heading down to
Main Street to oogle and stare at the biggest gathering of bikes I've ever
seen.  Harley's rule the streets downtown, and the time and effort some of
these enthusiasts spend on their rides  is truly amazing.  Anything and
everything you could ever imagine.  And then a whole lot more.  People line
the streets to see whose cruising on what.  The crowd is as unique and
diverse as a New York City Street.  The ground shakes with horsepower.  The
air burns with tantalizing foods.  And the bars and nightclubs along side the
streets bust at the seams with thirsty customers.  Our favorite stop was The
Bank.  Cold beers.  A great live rock-a-Billy band, and some of the finest
barmaids Florida is known for.  Does it get any more hip?  Yes!  We rounded
out the night with some old friends from the buckeye state of northern Ohio. 
Dan, John, Chad and the rest of the sport bike crew were in full effect
representing the Wheelz-Up club from up north.  The fine drinking
establishment chosen for our final watering hole of the evening also happened
to be celebrating the start of spring break.  It starts simultaneously as
bike week ends, so the fiesta is truly inebriating.  I think I'm starting to
see a trend here.
    Saturday morning we were off to the speedway to catch some supercross
action.  80 degree weather and 45+thousand fans made the day more enjoyable
than a first-kick start on a four stroke.  Only kidding my dear thumpers. 
Chad Reed smoked the 125 class like a kid in a candy store.  He picked his
lines, kept the gas on, and stayed upright for enough laps to kiss the trophy
girl.  Easy Mr. Reed, your girlfriend happens to be watching.  RC. laid down
the law in the big boys class.
His CR250 was literally on rails.  That dude rides on the edge, and he held
nothing back, pulling away from the pack lap after lap.  On a serious note,
Travis went down and didn't look to be in shape to continue.  Bro, we all
wish you a speedy recovery so somebody can give Ricky a lil' competition. 
The fact that we watched everything next to the likes of Jeff Stanton and
entire Speed Channel team didn't hurt either. Ez and I took it all in, standing on the
words Daytona, on the infield near the start/finish line.  It pays to have
connections baby! That evening was much more mellow, with a cruise out to a
few bars in New Smyrna Beach.  Still lots of bikes and babes, just a tad bit
toned down and relaxed. That is if you call standing next to the similar
members like the Angels and Nomads during a best body contest for the ladies
relaxing.  In all honesty, it was an enjoyable atmosphere with good spirit in
the air.
    Sunday morning it was time to head back to the speedway for the Daytona
200, to check out the Super bike Series.  Once again our handy pit passes
proved to be the hot ticket into the pits of today's fastest sportbike
race teams.  We were actually out on the start line as they were bringing the
bikes out to be lined up.   Big time adrenaline rush.  Just the thought of
trying to make it around the track as quick as these guys do gave me arm
pump.  Talk about control and finesse.  Guess that's why they get paid to
rocket around and stay in one piece.  With Matt Mladin out of the picture,
the race was owned by Nicky Hayden.  His RC51 Honda was way to powerful for
anybody to give him the slightest doubt as to who would be walking away the
race champ.  Congratulations to "The Kid."
    Winding down the weekend in true spirit, we took a very pleasant drive on
the beach to engage in a bit of cruising.  Remember that earlier referral to
spring break?  Hello!  It took us nearly two hours to drive out on the beach,
go northbound for about 2 miles and turn around to head back to the main
entrance of the beach access.  Not that I was complaining.  Fellows, there is
something to be said for bikini's cruising on quadrunners as the sun is
starting to set in the clear westward sky. I hate to sound sexist, but I am a
sucker for a thong every day of the week.  Ladies not fret, there are plenty
of studs down here during the weekend too.  I just wasn't keeping tabs on
them.  EZ was!  Hee, Hee.  Only playing around, your Royal EZness. 
    People, if you only come away with one thing from this short summary,
please let it be the fact that you are already planning next years trip. 
Think about it.  Great weather.  Great racing (dirt, road, and don't even get
me started on the freestyle jump contest, flat track racing, et).  The list
goes on.  Do I need to mention the ladies one more time?  Thought so.  Maybe
it's not for everybody, but we sure have a blast time and time again.  Till
the next venue or bust,
                                                Lance Orbit

All of the photo's below were shot during Bike Week 2002 by Lance Orbit.