Tom Speeeed
Tom and I went to RPI together. He hailed from Willamantic CT and I from Westerly, RI, so we hit it off in freshman year. At the time, Tom had a Honda 50cc bike that we both somehow fit on the night of freshman end of year exams. After studying of course. The following summer Tom visited me at the RI shore. He had already graduated to a 250cc purple Kawasaki (?), I think. He'll correct me if I'm wrong. This is the bike I learned to ride on. In sophomore year, he went on to a red BSA 650cc, the last bike that I rode, and then catapulted into the speed thermo-exosphere from there. Driving that BSA out on the country roads outside of Troy in the crystal fall air was something else. It was then that I got a glimpse of why people love motorcycling. Tom has always had a work ethic that I admire. He also is a great mechanic and can explain things clearly. On top of all that, he is a good honest person. Tom, true to his Italian heritage, loves speed. We laugh about how great it would have been for Tom and us to drive the Autostrada del Sole in a Lamborghini. This is Tom in 100 degree Texas heat and humidity.
From Tom: "The picture, (October 2007), is of me, (60 yrs young at the time), running in the intermediate class at a track day at Texas World Speedway in College Station Texas. It’s a 2.7 mile roadrace course and the speeds vary from 40 mph in the slowest corners to 170 mph at the end of the straightaway. The bike is a 2004 highly modified Honda CBR1000RR that weighs 375 lbs and puts out 175 HP. I’ve been riding bikes for 45 years and the older I get the more I really lust for speed and power in the motorcycles I ride. During the track day sessions, I’m out on the track with about 20 other riders of comparable skill and we “pretend-race” for 20 minutes and then come into the pits to rest and refuel before going out again. I trailer the bike to the track along with the tools, gas can, tire warmers, generator etc. It’s terrific fun and you’d be surprised at the number of over-50’s that do this. There are some women, but it’s mostly men in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Accidents do happen, but they are rarely serious, with the damage mostly to the bikes not the riders. The gear that I wear is mostly leather and Kevlar and includes a high-tech Kevlar spine protector that I strap on under my race suit. Even the gloves are designed to minimize finger fractures and distended joints. I have yet to crash, (knock on wood), and don’t plan to. I’m just finishing preparing the bike for this season, which involves fitting it with a fresh set of race tires, rebuilding the brakes, tuning the suspension, regearing for more power coming out of the slower corners, and fitting it with a electronic lap timer so I can record and download my lap times. It’s pretty physical, especially in the Texas heat of June through August, and I do a lot of upper body conditioning and running for endurance to be able to stay focused for the whole 20 minute session. Good lap times usually result from being very smooth with no jerky motions, getting comfortable with extreme braking, (sometimes raising the rear off the ground), choosing the proper line through corners, steering with your knees not your arms, and focusing way down the track, not in front of you."
I had no idea. You rule, Marco.
A buddy of mine started WERA racing back in the early 90s. He started in a RD400 class (2 stroke street legal Yamaha screamers), and moved so some class where he was riding a Honda Hawk (650 4 stroke twin). I had a blast just watching him. Usually we'd go to Talladega, but the finals were at Road Atlanta. What a hoot.
Back in the day, I'd go to Laguna Seca for the USGP. Got some great pix of Lawson and Rainey, and Mamola doing a stoppie.
People that think you're crazy don't realize that you're in a controlled environment, there are no potholes, there are no cars or people going in the opposite direction. You're wearing full leathers, helmets, and padding, and typically, if you fall off the bike (low side, that is), you'll just slide on the leather and get back up.
Now the question is, do you have skid marks on your knee pucks? Are you like that crazy guy who has elbow pucks?
Posted by: ashley | January 31, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Perfessor, mind you that's not me but my friend, Tom. I'm not surprised at you. You have done more in your years than most people do in 20 lifetimes!
Posted by: Marco | January 31, 2008 at 02:07 PM
So when are you joining him, Marco?
Posted by: ashley | January 31, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Right after Lent. I'd probably die just from da' Texas heat, not to mention those type of Texans who comment on NOLA ;)
Posted by: Marco | January 31, 2008 at 03:31 PM
Just for that, you just lost your place @ Casamento's on Tuesday
New Orleans isnt the only place where there are Sicilians in the know;)
Posted by: AC | February 02, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Damn, I thought I had that seat at Casamento's wrapped up. I shouldn't have slurred those Sicilian Texans too. It's the other kind of Texan. You know, the kind like Shrub.
Posted by: Marco | February 02, 2008 at 08:44 AM
As they say in the Crescent City, It ain't the heat, it's the stupidity ;)
Correction: We are from the Burning Bush tribe of Sicilian Texans.
You'll get a call, later, from Luca Brasi...he is "heading" up our Krewe, here in Paradise.
Posted by: AC | February 02, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Ah, I just saw good ole Luca the other day in Godfather #1. It was the marriage scene where he was practicing what he was going to say to teh Godfather. I'll be sure to answer the call with rispetto.
Posted by: Marco | February 02, 2008 at 11:45 AM