2008 Indianapolis Moto GP September 12-14

[G.Irish]

September 12-14
This will be the first running of Moto GP at Indianapolis, which will be sort of special since the first race at Indianapolis was a motorcycle race.

This race will also be the first time since the early nineties that the 125 cc and 250 cc classes will race in America. The support classes often have 4,5,6, or 7 bike battles going down to the last lap and with the really long straight at Indy (the longest on the calendar) there should be some crazy drafting battles.

I don't know if I'll still be living in VA at that time but if I am I'll probably ride up there (10 hr ride). I will probably leave on Thursday and come back on Monday but I'm not 100% sure.

For those who have never seen a motorcycle race in person Moto GP will not leave you disappointed. Easily the best sound of any race series I've ever attended (F1, Le Mans, Super GT, Grand Am, etc.).

Moto GP Tickets
We should buy our tickets at the same time so we can get a block of seats and sit together. I'm thinking we should set a date maybe 4 to 6 weeks from now that everyone agrees to buy their tickets on.
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AMA Flat Track Indy Mile
For those that know what flat track racing is this needs no intro but for those that don't, it is one of the more visually spectacular forms of motorcycle racing. The riders basically get up to over 100 in the straightaways and pitch it sideways to get it into the turn (no front brake). Motorcycle drifting if you will. If anyone can find a good flat track clip please post it here. I'll try to rip a little bit from On Any Sunday when I get the time.

Ticketmaster is selling the tickets. Again it might be good to buy the tickets at one time so we can sit together. I don't think it will be quite as critical to buy these tickets early. Maybe we can get away with buying them in two months.
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Hotel
While Indianapolis has enough hotel capacity to host really big events like NASCAR's Brickyard 400 and the Indy 500 I don't want to wait too long to make the hotel reservation. Right now there are hotel rooms downtown going for under $100/night and I'd like to get one of those so we don't have to commute 45 minutes or more each way every day. I'll probably be making that reservation sometime in February. When I make the call on the hotel I'll post where I chose so we can stay near each other. I'm gonna get a double occupancy room, whoever else wants to split the cost speak up.

[Ginger]

I'll go - all of the above.

If you haven't seen flat track, you owe it to yourself. It's probably the most pure form of motorcycle racing in existance at the moment, and it's got the most loyal fans. That, and the balls those guys have..... I've put my knee on the ground at 3 digit speeds and crashed at 3 digit speeds... and what the flat trackers do makes me butt pucker like whoa. Chris Carr will almost certainly be on hand and the pits are likely to be walkable - you'll get a more inside view of flat track than you will anything else. So, uhm, yeah. Go.

[Ginger]

My write up on the last Flat track event I attended:

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And reviews of the 2006 and 2007 MotoGP @ Laguna Seca races can be found with a little digging. I wasn't able to make it in '07, but I know everybody that went in '06 had a great time.

[JohnC]

I edited this to enable registration.

I'm pretty sure Jess and I will be attending, in lieu of going to Laguna Seca.

[G.Irish]

Aight, I'm about ready to reserve das hotel. I wanna get the Hilton Garden Inn in Indy. It's $95 per night and it's a pretty nice hotel chain, I stayed at a few when I had my traveling job. If anyone else wants to get in on this we can all stay at the same hotel. I'm down to split the room 3 or 4 ways if you guys are down.

[Ginger]

What's everybody's thoughts on transportation for this? Riding in? Flying?

[JohnC]

I *think* we're going to take the train from Charlottesville.

[G.Irish]

I'll be riding.

[Ginger]

What day? I'd like to ride with you, if possible, but I don't think I could stretch more than Friday off.

[.RJ]

Details on the train? I'm not riding a CB750 to indy :lol:

[Ginger]

Yeah.. I wouldn't be, either, that's a long way to push.

[.RJ]

Damn :lol:

[Apoc]

Details on the train? I'm not riding a CB750 to indy :lol:

It's 15 hours with either an overnight that Wed or Fri nights.
Return is 15 hours leaving 11:59 pm the Tuesday after.
A regular coach seat is ~$120.

Round trip non-stop flight from IAD is ~$300.

[.RJ]

The train takes twice as long as driving?

[Apoc]

The train takes twice as long as driving?

The train stops like 4x more than you would driving. You just stop to piss, not let a bunch of people on/off.

I really like trains, it's unfortunate they're such a time investment and aren't really an effective way to get anywhere. In Japan, you'd be there in like 4 hours and could read nudie mags until you get there.

[G.Irish]

I'll be riding up on Thursday. So I take it we have RJ, John & Jess, Ginger, and Chris? What will the room split be?

[Ginger]

RJ/G/Ginger/Chris 1 room, the Couple in the other?

[Apoc]

I'm pretty sure I'm out. I got my class schedule and it falls on Saturday that weekend.

[JohnC]

RJ/G/Ginger/Chris 1 room, the Couple in the other?

We're definitely getting our own room. No offense :lol:

[Ginger]

I actually may be out for this... I'm not sure I have the money, ATM.