. DRC at Willow Springs ............................

. 3/17/00


This is the pre-ride chit-chat session. It's everybody's chance to toss out an "explanation" in case the performance turns out to be lackluster: Yesterday my bike started acting weird after I waxed it with udder balm...The doctor thinks my burning scalp is caused by manmade fibers in the helmet...I can't see through the tears I've been crying ever since Ben left the country...
Once the first session is out of the way, everybody's totally relaxed and primed for storytelling: I did a buck-ninety through turn 8...I did 1:17 on my second lap after I got the tires warmed up...I was going so fast I came up on myself...
The rider of this F2 locked up the front wheel in turn 1. Having likely busted an engine cover on impact, he left a streak of oil that took quite a while to clean up. You'll notice that the gent laying down the "baby powder" in the left photo goes quite a long ways with it in the right photo.
This creative license plate placement is on Greg Roth's bike. As many of you know, Greg has run from the law in 49 of our 50 states (he has yet to get the bike over to Hawaii). His way-under-seat plate location should ensure that the next time he's stopped he will receive highly "personalized" service from the police.
When I took this guy's picture, I thought he was a DRC member. He did have a 748, after all. His name's John Perry and he's from our neck of the woods (Alpine, east of San Diego). What's so special about John? He's the guy who noticed that Ben Bostrom was at the go-kart track. He, in turn, told Tim Ford, who, in turn, notified me that BB was lurking about. (Tim actually told me about Ben the last time he was at Willow--I do believe I owe Tim a gift.)
This is a "Ben Again" moment. The conversation went something like...
BB: (Look of disturbed recognition) Oh, hello again.
ZK: Hi Ben. How's it going?
BB: Good.
ZK: Mind if I take a picture with you? (I don't wait for an answer and throw myself at Ben.)
ZK: Why aren't you overseas?
BB: I'm going back in ten days (probably thinking "and not a moment too soon").
ZK: Good luck over there.
BB: Thanks (probably thinking "I'll need that luck to dodge you in the future").

Did his luck hold out? Not even for five minutes. I caught him looking bleary eyed in the passenger seat of a truck as I approached the House of Charmin. I remarked, "I can't seem to get away from you!" That made his eyes look even blearier...

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