What's in your backyard?

[OldGuy]

I left my home town of Hastings, NE in 1964 when I joined the Navy but have always had family there to visit and every Memorial Day since we moved back to Nebraska I go out to decorate the family graves.

The younger brother of one of my high school classmates has been a name in stock car engine building for some time and loves fast cars. I knew that he was scratching that itch by developing a race track east of town but didn't know how big it had gotten until today.

As we were finishing up at the graves I heard the unmistakeable sound of three or four super sports winding it up - I figured they locals were still using Show Boat road as the local drag strip just like we did 45 years ago. Only problem was it wasn't just three or four winding it up (that was just the first wave) it turned out to be a whole "heard" of super bikes at the Memorial Day MRA weekend race.

Turns out George Anderson's little itch has turned into a 2.15 mile SCCA approved track called Motorsport Park Hastings that is being used for everything from private testing for some racers to PCA, BMW, Corvette Club, SCCA, MRA, you name it alphabet soup go fast, make noise, have fun kind of people.

Now I'll have to check the schedule to see if there are any bike races left for the year - my luck there won't be but next year . . .

Also just happens that STAR Motorcycle School out of Norwalk, CA uses track. I know nothing about them but I'm sure someone does. $250 a day you supply your own bike and gear or for $350 you can ride one of their SV650's or $500 will get you a GSX R600.

If you want to take a ride around Nebraska's flatland track with Jason Pridmore here you go.

Or pay the bucks and ride two-up with him

Just goes to show you never know what you will find in your own backyard until you look.

[Alex]

I did the STAR school with Jason a few years back at Thunderhill. Great day, and learned quite a bit. He does 2-up rides if you want in the afternoon, so I took one. Scariest time I've ever been on a motorcycle, sitting on the back of a standard GSX-R1K with Jason in front, leaning the bike over further and taking turns deeper than I'd even contemplate while 1-up. My hat is off to those pillions who can happily sit on the back when someone else is in control like that at those speeds...

[OldGuy]

I forgot I was going to put up one of those 2-up pictures - StandBy please

[Alex]

Notice the smile on my face through the helmet. This was pre-ride.

[OldGuy]

And who cleaned out your leathers when you were done

[CC Cowboy]

I have a pretty cool backyard too. It is being cleaned right now but should be ready for racing soon.















I've been lucky enough to ride around this when it was dry.

I also have a test track in my immediate backyard. I live on the Halifax River and there is an offshore race boat they test on the river on rare occassions. It goes by well in excess of 120mph a few times a year. What a beautiful sound.

[Sailariel]

Oscar, What a GD mess! When I saw your first picture, I thought that it looked very much like a lock on the Erie/Barge Canal. That is a lot of water.

[OldGuy]

What a load of water. Wow. Might as well get some PWC's and race around on those for a while.

That will be one big mess to clean up when everything settles out of the water.

[CC Cowboy]

I bet there are fish everywhere. They stock Lake Lloyd, which is in the infield (and have fishing tournaments during some races).

[OldGuy]

So how many inches of rain over what time frame to get that results?

[camaroz1985]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

I bet there are fish everywhere. They stock Lake Lloyd, which is in the infield (and have fishing tournaments during some races).

I bet you are right.

[CC Cowboy]

We got about 27 inches from Sunday to Friday last week. We had a drought before this. They brought in some Seminole Indians to do the "rain dance" and things got out of control. Why can't these people just stay at their casinos and count the money the suckers give them. It reminds me of the old saying "watch what you ask for, you just might get it".

[OldGuy]

I don't care where you are from CC that is a lot of rain. Going to be a while for that moves out.

[CC Cowboy]

Nah, the water is all gone. They sent it to Texas.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

We got about 27 inches from Sunday to Friday last week. We had a drought before this. They brought in some Seminole Indians to do the "rain dance" and things got out of control. Why can't these people just stay at their casinos and count the money the suckers give them. It reminds me of the old saying "watch what you ask for, you just might get it".

I guess its giving back a little to the community.

[wyckedflesh]

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=...576049805&z=13

My second to last job...

[OldGuy]

Whoa - a five mile diameter skid pad. Wonder what the new Corvette could do on that?

[wyckedflesh]

Originally Posted by OldGuy

Whoa - a five mile diameter skid pad. Wonder what the new Corvette could do on that?

Dunno, but it was interesting watching it all wetted down and the side-hack harley's out there testing the ABS system...

[CC Cowboy]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

I guess its giving back a little to the community.

Gregg, from what I hear from my buddies up there you have gotten rain all spring. On top of getting tons of snow all winter. I'd rather take it all in one week and be over with it.

[KJohnson21]

They're in the process of building the Chuckwalla Valley Raceway in our backyard.

We're looking forward to seeing Richard there soon.

Hopefully everything stays on schedule.

[IlBLisSlI]

oscar and i share the same back yard is seems. and from what i just heard we have a new tropical system developing off the coast so it looks like are in for another load of rain.