I went to the VRRA event on Sunday at Calabogie.
I have to say, the VRRA do put on a really good show and I’m a huge fan of their P1 and P2 classes. It’s really nice to see machines from that era being used in earnest, and not just sitting in a garage collecting dust.
The nice thing about the VRRA is its mixed class racing. They have professionals like Louie Raffa and ex professionals mixed with amateurs. They also have really well prepped ultra-competitive race bikes mixed with equipment that would only have been competitive 40 or 50 years ago. I love watching this stuff. The smell, sounds, etc. it brings back a lot of memories going to Shannonville and Mosport with my Dad when I was a kid. To me it’s the true sign of a good rider when the slow guy can hold a racing line, and the faster guy can pick a way through safely. You even see that in Moto GP.
They also had Canadian Super Bike Lightweight there for one of their rounds, and they very generously mixed the classes to give them extra races.
I was there early Sunday morning and I happened to catch the riders meeting. There was a complete prick of a kid with his mother whining that people in the vintage classes were getting in his way and that he should start first from pole position in the mixed vintage/CSBK classes. I also noticed he was in P4-lightweight and that during the race Daniel Rinfret (VRRA Rider) lapped him on his 650 Hawk within 3 laps. Maybe if his skill was a great as his ego he would be riding in MotoGP. The guy and his mother made such a big deal about this, and the fact that he was also missing from one grid sheet. Mistakes happen - talk to registration and I’m sure if there is an issue, they will be more than happy to fix it fix it.
I have to applaud that VRRA Competition Co-ordinator for keeping his cool. I would have kicked the guys ass out of the event. You don’t swear at, or berate volunteers period. Regardless if they work for the club, or are marshals, or medical staff, etc. These people work very hard for very little recognition in order to put on an event. I used to be assistant Competition Co-ordinator at Mission and believe me, it’s a lot of work.
I'm certainly not saying that all CSBK riders were like that, I just thought it was really sad that this kid is an example of the sort of entitled brats we are collectively raising as a nation... Me first, fook you...
Having said all that it was a great days racing. Beautiful weather and some awesome machines. I particularly enjoyed Dave Roper who brought out some bikes from his stable, the awesome vintage Rudge, and Doug Forbes on that immaculate BMW. Very, very nice indeed.
It was also a beautiful ride. I left home just after 3:00 am and caught the sun rise along Highway 35. Had breakfast at Timmies in Tweed and watched an amazing sun set along Highway 7 on the way home.
I'm really looking forward to the next rounds at Shannonville and Mosport.
I have to say, the VRRA do put on a really good show and I’m a huge fan of their P1 and P2 classes. It’s really nice to see machines from that era being used in earnest, and not just sitting in a garage collecting dust.
The nice thing about the VRRA is its mixed class racing. They have professionals like Louie Raffa and ex professionals mixed with amateurs. They also have really well prepped ultra-competitive race bikes mixed with equipment that would only have been competitive 40 or 50 years ago. I love watching this stuff. The smell, sounds, etc. it brings back a lot of memories going to Shannonville and Mosport with my Dad when I was a kid. To me it’s the true sign of a good rider when the slow guy can hold a racing line, and the faster guy can pick a way through safely. You even see that in Moto GP.
They also had Canadian Super Bike Lightweight there for one of their rounds, and they very generously mixed the classes to give them extra races.
I was there early Sunday morning and I happened to catch the riders meeting. There was a complete prick of a kid with his mother whining that people in the vintage classes were getting in his way and that he should start first from pole position in the mixed vintage/CSBK classes. I also noticed he was in P4-lightweight and that during the race Daniel Rinfret (VRRA Rider) lapped him on his 650 Hawk within 3 laps. Maybe if his skill was a great as his ego he would be riding in MotoGP. The guy and his mother made such a big deal about this, and the fact that he was also missing from one grid sheet. Mistakes happen - talk to registration and I’m sure if there is an issue, they will be more than happy to fix it fix it.
I have to applaud that VRRA Competition Co-ordinator for keeping his cool. I would have kicked the guys ass out of the event. You don’t swear at, or berate volunteers period. Regardless if they work for the club, or are marshals, or medical staff, etc. These people work very hard for very little recognition in order to put on an event. I used to be assistant Competition Co-ordinator at Mission and believe me, it’s a lot of work.
I'm certainly not saying that all CSBK riders were like that, I just thought it was really sad that this kid is an example of the sort of entitled brats we are collectively raising as a nation... Me first, fook you...
Having said all that it was a great days racing. Beautiful weather and some awesome machines. I particularly enjoyed Dave Roper who brought out some bikes from his stable, the awesome vintage Rudge, and Doug Forbes on that immaculate BMW. Very, very nice indeed.
It was also a beautiful ride. I left home just after 3:00 am and caught the sun rise along Highway 35. Had breakfast at Timmies in Tweed and watched an amazing sun set along Highway 7 on the way home.
I'm really looking forward to the next rounds at Shannonville and Mosport.
Always loved the RD's
