Pics and news to follow up – but the short review: Barber was fantastic, an awesome technical track. Couple that with some great instructors, some skilled riders I got to share sessions with and fantastic weather and it was 2 days of track riding bliss. Top it off with a full day at the museum with Fuzzy and the trip was incredible. Go if you can, it was so worth it. More to follow…
As the little one says, "That Skoleton had a great day"
I received a message from the PR firm working with the Fiat Yamaha Team. They passed along some news and updates for the upcoming MotoGP season.
On February 4th 2010 the official unveiling of the team will be held in Sepang, Malaysia, and all the fans will have the chance to follow the live feed provided by the Fiat livebloggers. Our correspondents will be there to show us not only the unveiling, but also the backstage and the event preparation during the previous days.
…The unveiling will start at 3.00 (GMT+1, 10 o’clock in Malaysia) with Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and their two brand new YZR-M1 bikes on stage.
It will be a special way to open the 2010 season, an initiative that we will carry on during the year with “Follow the Fiat Yamaha Team” a project that will give the fans the chance to interact with the MotoGP world, discovering what’s in the backstage of the World Champion Team. At every race, the Fiat Yamaha Team livebloggers will cover the weekend with photos, videos, news and background stories on MotoGP. Furthermore, on the Fiat official channels you will find lots of interactive activities (tweet-ups, road trips, contests, games)
For More Information- Check out these Fiat Yamaha Links:
In May of 2005 we left Long Island heading towards Mount Rushmore. While we were in the neighborhood we figured that we should probably stop in to visit Yellowstone National Park. So we pointed our bikes west from the Rapid City, South Dakota area and continued on our way, holing up in Cody, Wy. for the night. The following morning we set off on the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway towards Yellowstone.
Kenny's Speed Triple Far Away From Home
This photo of Kenny’s Speed Triple was taken on that cold morning as we made out ascent into the mountains. The feeling of being “away” was so strong on that trip. This photo always represents that to me and it remains one of my favorites to this day.
Every year at Christmas time I struggle to find something meaningful for Crudmop. He’s already got all flavors of motorcycle gear, tools, trinkets and videos. What do you get for the boy who has everything?
Last year in a stroke of genius (yes, I’m tooting my own horn) I got him a seat on the Gotham Dream Car Tour. He seemed to really enjoy that. Who wouldn’t want to spend the day tooling around some winding roads in a Ferrari F430?
Kenny and the Ferrari F430
This year as Christmas began approaching I started to wrack my brain again. What to do, what to do?
Throughout the year, he mentioned on more than one occasion that he would really like to go to Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. He also mentioned that he’d like to do some more trackdays in 2010. ::ding!:: I began searching the web trying to find some information on how to get him a chance to ride at Barber. That’s when I found the Kevin Schwantz 2 -Day Riding School.
Crudmop will be attending the 2 day Schwantz class in May. He’ll be flying in to Alabama to get acquainted with Barber’s 2.3 miles of rolling tarmac on one of the school’s bikes. The school offers small class sizes, 3 to 1 instructor ratio and well – it’s at Barber. I hope that he comes away with a great experience. Because I won’t be attending or even spectating I’m looking forward to seeing the photos that come back from the museum!
On a side note: When I told my dad what I’d gotten for Kenny this year for Christmas, he said, “Do you know what a Schwantz is? It’s a cock!” I love my dad. 
For Christmas this year I received a great Honda 750 Four Cylinder Working Engine model from Dr. Daytona. So, when I’m not motivated to get out in the garage and work on the actual bikes, I can be working on them in the house instead!
Thanks, man! 
Working Honda 750 Engine Model