Ride report, Part 1.
The much anticipated AHRMA Laguna Seca run started with a 48-mile ride west on Interstate 10 to Beaumont Ca. Cool desert air, only 89f (31c) at 7 am with the Jota pushing into a 30mph headwind to its first of many fuels stops, averaging 33mpg at its best. Rendezvous with my mate Dave, 09 BMW R1200R, and then it was onward into the metropolis of 18 million souls about to start their day. 4-6-8-lanes (in one direction) of the 10/210 /5 freeways moving us forward west upon a giant boa suffocating the masses of caged commuters, over, under, and through the find your exit- lane interchanges, Russian roulette for breakfast, worse yet it's not your finger on the trigger you are not even holding the revolver, 2 ton SUV versus motorcycle is not a scenario to explore, you lose. No matter we were very lucky and struck gold, it was a great run nothing less than 70km/h and some stretches of 130km/h, no lane splitting required, and no emergency braking for indecisive fools behind the wheel.
Piru a stop for a Mexican-style fruit bowl breakfast lashed with chile sauce and cayenne pepper sold by a street vendor then it was north on the 150 2 lanes one in each direction up into the Ojai mountains for a good scratch around Lake Casitas. West down to Hwy101 thru Santa Barbara and picked up 2 lanes 154 through to Los Olivos and back roads to HWY 1 thru Guadalupe (Mexican lunch) and onto Pismo Beach to camp for the night. The sounds of the surf and cool weather, are very welcoming after the furnaces of Coachella Valley.
The next morning we spent an hour looking for medical supplies for my mate Dave, hey neither of us are young, Dave is in his early 70s yet still manages to log in more than 20k km a year, more than me so good on him. North up HWY 1, pure bliss, one of motorcycling's greatest rides, no matter how the weather gods treat you or if the traffic is there to mess with your mind the ride is pure joy. The weather was perfect for a 70s air-cooled Italian triple with just a little chill in the air and the tourist traffic was light with a noticeable absence of RV traffic, gas at $7.50 a gallon in Cambria is keeping those beasts at home, lucky for motorcyclists on the 1.
South of Big Sur I met a Harley rider while waiting at roadworks, it is a never-ending job of replacing the highway that constantly slides west into the Pacific ocean. We, myself, and the Harley had passed a line of waiting cars, traffic was down to one lane for both directions and we were waiting for the CalTrans worker with the 'STOP' sign to give us the 'GO' signal. Shut down the Jota and get off to stretch my legs while waiting for the 'Stop' sign to change to 'GO'. Harley man and his woman who is in a tank top, cut-off jean shorts, and knee-high black boots join me to stretch a little, some eye candy there, Harleys attracts women. They fire up a doobie, California dreaming is legal here, she offers me a toke, but I decline. They live in Pismo, Harley guy is taking his gal to lunch in Big Sur, he knows the road.
Back on the bikes and the 'STOP' sign changes to 'GO' and the Harley thunders out the shute like a fueler running at Pomona, that Milwaukee twin had massive off-the-line grunt it was a full 300 meters before the Jota started to close in, on the 114 cubic inches of the Harley, just before the curves hit. Hang back a bit and watch let's see where this goes, very interesting and I was hugely impressed by the bike and the skill of the rider, especially two up. It was a pleasure to sit back and watch and let him 'show me the way', corner after corner the perfect line with never a need for correction or mid-lean brakes, a very rewarding ride at a pace that left little room for any error. Out of the corners, the Harley two-up would give the Jota a workout, who knew a 2022 Road Glide Limited could carve up the curves of HWY 1. In Big Sur, we stopped and I bought the dude a well-earned beer and waited 35 minutes for BMW Dave to catch up, each according to their ability. no worries mate.
As always the ride on HWY 1 to Monterey thru Big Sur country is memorable bliss, addicting leaving you craving more and looking forward to the southbound ride.
www.roadracingworld.com
For the 2005 North America Laverda rally, the AHRMA recognized Laverda as the featured motorcycle, providing Laverda riders with track time on both Saturday and Sunday. No Laverda track time this year but the AHRMA puts on a great event, you are always surprised by the quality of racing and the rarety of machines out on the track.
sounds fabulous.
