G's MM Euro Trip

[G.Irish]

So right now I'm at Assen Circuit in the Netherlands covering WSBK for TOV. It has been pretty much a huge hassle up until now because of some confusion and nonsense with rental cars. To make a long story short when you rent a car over here they want a deposit equal to the amount of the rental, plus they want a deposit for a full tank of gas in case you return the car without it. Then there was a whole bait-and-switch but whatever...

Anyway, here's some of my day 1 coverage: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=829245">http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=829245</a><!-- m -->

My hotel is about an hours from here in Groningen. I've gotta say the city is pretty cool, lots of brick roads, clean, and lots of bars and restaurants. Reminds me of a bigger, cooler Georgetown. It is ridiculous how many people ride bicycles here. One would think that all they do is ride bikes and smoke weed (there are a bunch of "coffee shops" here).

I'm pretty tired from driving all over the damned place but I'll try to post some updates here and there.

[John]

Have fun over there!

One would think that all they do is ride bikes and smoke weed (there are a bunch of "coffee shops" here).

Marijuana usage is actually pretty minimal amongst the Dutch populace - it's more of a tourist attraction than anything.

[Feersty]

Do you get to expense everything while your are over there? Are you an employee of TOV or just volunteering? In any case, that is coolio

[Ken]

It is ridiculous how many people ride bicycles here.

When i was in Amsterdam, they had a Warsaw deck basically for just bicycles. Seriously though be careful walking, those things will take you out on the sidewalk.

[G.Irish]

Have fun over there!

One would think that all they do is ride bikes and smoke weed (there are a bunch of "coffee shops" here).

Marijuana usage is actually pretty minimal amongst the Dutch populace - it's more of a tourist attraction than anything.

Yeah I didn't see too many people in the coffee shops when I was walking by. Then again I haven't really gone out at night yet because of all of this ridiculous driving back and forth to Germany.

I wanted to extend my rental until Monday but the rental company wouldn't/couldn't let me do it over the phone. So I had to drive 2 hrs back in Germany just to extend my rental agreement :evil: I've never gotten to the track so late on a press day

I was supposed to interview John Hopkins yesterday but he had to go and crash. Instead I'll be talking to one of the Ten Kate boys this evening.

Then, I'm gonna go out and try to enjoy the nightlife around here. I haven't gotten a chance to hit a solitary bar yet so I've gotta make up for lost time.

When i was in Amsterdam, they had a Warsaw deck basically for just bicycles. Seriously though be careful walking, those things will take you out on the sidewalk.

Yeah man I'd have to dodge a few bikes already. Bikes, scooters, mopeds, they're all over the f'ing place. And this is just Groningen. I dunno, maybe I should just join em :dunno:

[G.Irish]

Do you get to expense everything while your are over there? Are you an employee of TOV or just volunteering? In any case, that is coolio

Usually the motorsport stuff is on my dime. The car stuff is where I get expenses paid since that brings in a ton of traffic for the site. If I got expenses paid for motorsport I'd be gone almost every weekend 8)

[G.Irish]

Some e weird nutjob trikes on the autobahn on the way back to Assen:





I actually saw another one yesterday I think.

My day two update is up: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=829413">http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=829413</a><!-- m -->

Dutch cuisine. When I looked at it I figured it was some sort of breaded and deep-fried sausage thing but it turned out to be more like breaded gravy paste. Now, it looked hot dog-shaped so one would think they'd put it in a hot dog bun. But apparently the Dutch have not discovered hot dog buns yet. Same thing in Germany. I got a sausage/hot dog at gas station and she put it in a roll hrugs:


Haga doing the walk of shame
"Don't worry Nori, she'll call you tomorrow for sure"


This picture came out like shit but I thought the halo over Haslam's head was kinda funny


I swear I'm not stalking Kiyo, it's just that I looovvvveee his paintjob


Okay, I'm off for the night life!

[Ken]

That food was different, i remember in Amsterdam I lived off of the hotdog vendors lol. It was my last stop and I had little to no money left, and the hotdogs were HUGE.

[rezarxt]

I spent some time in Groningen. My sister lived there for a year or so. Its a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy yourself man

[V1GiLaNtE]

I'm completely jealous.. Motorcycles and Europe.. damn...

[PGK]

if you don't drink some damn good beer while you're in that neck of the woods I will be quite disappointed.

[.RJ]

So I flew in on Wednesday morning to meet up with G -

My thoughts on Spain so far

- They really love pork here. Its wonderful. omnomnomnom
- Its a much different (slower) pace
- Their cities are completely unnavigable even with a good map
- The women in Andalucia are absolutely gorgeous

Jerez MotoGP this weekend, then to Barcelona and Monza for World Superbike.

Greetings from Madrid



And Jerez

[Kaan]

- The women in Andalucia are absolutely gorgeous

I'm not sure you are qualified to make statements like this!

Hope you guys are having fun out there! RJ i expect a ton of good pics.

[JohnC]

Damn - looks like you're in for a great time.

[Evan]

- The women in Andalucia are absolutely gorgeous

and you post pictures of meat and some bleachers? asshole.

[Ken]

^ lol

[Mike]

- The women in Andalucia are absolutely gorgeous

and you post pictures of meat and some bleachers? asshole.

he loves meat and ass. what's not to get?

[Maengelito]

- The women in Andalucia are absolutely gorgeous

and you post pictures of meat and some bleachers? asshole.

queue up Feersty style creepy pics

[.RJ]

Old town Jerez

[.RJ]

And some bikes...