- Nov 25, 1999
- 7,926
- 43
The North Texas Smack Pack envited the Heartland Spodes for a day at the track, Badlands. DWreck and I decided to make the trip and take advantage of the 73 degree temperature on February 1, 2003. After meeting up with everyone in McKinney, we caravaned our way to the Badlands. Quite a site seeing all the trucks and trailers hauling bikes across the Texas country side. Upon arriving, we learned of the Shuttle Columbia tragedy. Not the way to start a day of riding but each of us dealt with the tragedy in our own way.
Rich had made changes to the track and was wanting feedback before opening the track to the public. Being the spodes that we are, we decided to take him up on the offer and let him know what we thought. The new sections included and crossover/tunnel. Coming off the existing #2 jump, the track goes over the tunnel and makes a hard right. This new section has a left option and a right option. The left was a 25' double followed by a 33' double. These were big air doubles. The right option gave you a table top step up followed by a high speed double(MAJOR "Pucker factor") then a rounded table into the "plateau" turn. A 180 degrees on the "plateau" to a highspeed table and then a Major Launcher. The next section was yet to be finished. This section would take you into the tunnel followed with a hard right hander into a 15 foot double and a quick 180 left hander that put you back onto the exiting track and the finish line jump(30' double or 55' triple).
During the walk thru, most of the spodes got "puckered" up just looking at the new section. Rich was paying close attention to our comments. He had had a couple of local guys ride the section and was a bit surprised by our comments but duely noted our suggestions.
Soon, everyone was unloaded and suited up. Zero and Will Patterson were already making there site laps and began to get some big air. I watched intently on some of the jumps to see how much drive, gear, and throttle position to due a few of the bigger obstacles. When it came to the new section, my spodely intincts said, "No way, Jose!". I was able to clear the right option tabletop but the others sent visions of a helicopter ride, pain, and harassing that I could not get past. Within 30 minutes or so, I was doing all of the doubles on the exiting track and was have a great time. Everyone was working on things that were important to them and most, if not all, were making progress in their skills.
After the usual bike swapping and swapping of stories, everyone way back on the track making laps. At one point, I spotted Thump at the starting gate. Well, needless to say, I was game for some practice starts. As we watched for traffic we got into position and with the drop of hand, we were off. The two 450F's were quite equal. One of our practice starts I got the holeshot and took the inside line. Thump went outside on the berm and got a great drive towards the first tabletop. We were in the air, bar to bar, wheel to wheel and then it happend. The wind gusted up, Thump had been able to set himself up to compensate but I got swept sideways right before I landed. I was able to get control until I spotted a dried up mud clod the size of a German Shepard right in my path. I chose to bail, picking my landing spot rather than letting it be chosen for me. No harm done, some scratched plastic an a bruise or two. As our time came to and end, smiles were everywhere. Rich had watched everyone and saw that the new sections were not quite Spode friendly and was going to work them over some more before opening to the public in a few weeks. I look forward to returning and giving the track a whirl. Rich is a class act and a very responsive track owner, so if you get a chance to go to the Badlands, do it.
I had a great time. DWreck and I made our way back north of the Red River and were quite pleased with our day. 73 degrees on February first is just too good to be true.
Rich had made changes to the track and was wanting feedback before opening the track to the public. Being the spodes that we are, we decided to take him up on the offer and let him know what we thought. The new sections included and crossover/tunnel. Coming off the existing #2 jump, the track goes over the tunnel and makes a hard right. This new section has a left option and a right option. The left was a 25' double followed by a 33' double. These were big air doubles. The right option gave you a table top step up followed by a high speed double(MAJOR "Pucker factor") then a rounded table into the "plateau" turn. A 180 degrees on the "plateau" to a highspeed table and then a Major Launcher. The next section was yet to be finished. This section would take you into the tunnel followed with a hard right hander into a 15 foot double and a quick 180 left hander that put you back onto the exiting track and the finish line jump(30' double or 55' triple).
During the walk thru, most of the spodes got "puckered" up just looking at the new section. Rich was paying close attention to our comments. He had had a couple of local guys ride the section and was a bit surprised by our comments but duely noted our suggestions.
Soon, everyone was unloaded and suited up. Zero and Will Patterson were already making there site laps and began to get some big air. I watched intently on some of the jumps to see how much drive, gear, and throttle position to due a few of the bigger obstacles. When it came to the new section, my spodely intincts said, "No way, Jose!". I was able to clear the right option tabletop but the others sent visions of a helicopter ride, pain, and harassing that I could not get past. Within 30 minutes or so, I was doing all of the doubles on the exiting track and was have a great time. Everyone was working on things that were important to them and most, if not all, were making progress in their skills.
After the usual bike swapping and swapping of stories, everyone way back on the track making laps. At one point, I spotted Thump at the starting gate. Well, needless to say, I was game for some practice starts. As we watched for traffic we got into position and with the drop of hand, we were off. The two 450F's were quite equal. One of our practice starts I got the holeshot and took the inside line. Thump went outside on the berm and got a great drive towards the first tabletop. We were in the air, bar to bar, wheel to wheel and then it happend. The wind gusted up, Thump had been able to set himself up to compensate but I got swept sideways right before I landed. I was able to get control until I spotted a dried up mud clod the size of a German Shepard right in my path. I chose to bail, picking my landing spot rather than letting it be chosen for me. No harm done, some scratched plastic an a bruise or two. As our time came to and end, smiles were everywhere. Rich had watched everyone and saw that the new sections were not quite Spode friendly and was going to work them over some more before opening to the public in a few weeks. I look forward to returning and giving the track a whirl. Rich is a class act and a very responsive track owner, so if you get a chance to go to the Badlands, do it.
I had a great time. DWreck and I made our way back north of the Red River and were quite pleased with our day. 73 degrees on February first is just too good to be true.
