Autox event #4 this year

Attended the 4th out of 5 scheduled autox event of my rookie season.  Autox rain or shine and on this day, it was autox from rain to shine!

Since attending the previous rookie series event back in April, I turned my focus to motorcycle riding (learning, taking road test, going on rides, etc.) instead of attending as many other autox events as available.  The result was clear, my so-so autox skills stay put while others improve :D  The positive I take away is that I did not become a worse autox driver due to inactivity ;) and it was still fun driving at autox.

This autox box hasn't been used for almost 5 months!

Why does it always rain on my autox day?!?

The never to-scale course map, makes walking the course that much more important!

Sun finally came out!

My highest g-loads run of the day

Destination Squamish: ride (on Wed) & drive (on Sat)

This Wednesday I have put together a string of "firsts" on my bike as I joined in on a group ride:

• first midweek ride (other than few times of short commute)
• first evening ride INTO night ride (had to change from dark smoke to clear visor!)
• first Sea-to-Sky ride

Here are couple fairly bad photos at the destination rest point. I rushed the shots as I was trying to embark on my solo ride into the night towards home soonest possible :p

Overall, it was a great ride!  The group was friendly and I was able to ride at a good pace in my comfort zone along several others without feeling hassled.  The roads offered great elevation changes and twisties; scenery was amazing although I made sure I kept my eyes on the road!  I am also very pleased with how I handled the ride back as it really got dark.  Riding at night is a very different experience, awareness kicked into overdrive, that is quite a rush in itself :D

As I enjoyed the roads and scenery from Wednesday so much, I just had to drive my wife there in my S2000. So tonight we went on an evening-into-night cruise, this time there are better photos!

My sports car and my sports bike

Once a driver, always a driver. Can I also be a rider and still be a driver?

I always love driving, no question about it. I still enjoy driving sports cars very much. I am also still doing autox this year, it happens to be my full rookie season in the sport.

I have also always liked motorcycle, especially sports bikes. In my mind, sports bikes are the purebred lean and mean machines just like jet fighters are. However, I have never given riding a try… always intrigued by the idea but have not done so… until this year, finally.

I took a professional course earlier this month and I have been hooked to riding since the instructor took us out on a (short) first road ride! I am still a driver obsessed with the feel of rear wheels almost losing traction in a perfect launch, weight shifting forward during hard braking and heel-toe downshift into a corner. I also love the high revs (13,000 rpm on my very basic Ninja 250R vs 8,000 rpm on my S2000 AP2) at a twist of my wrist, the law of physics in action when counter-steering to turn at speed and the airflow through the helmet, breathable riding jacket – that is an experience not to be found in any car!

I am always passionate about driving and now I am becoming just as passionate about riding. Who else out there also has an equal amount of passion to driving and riding?