HOT LAPS • WATCHING, PHOTOGRAPHING AND RIDING WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST

You don’t have to be a motorcyclist to appreciate this post, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.  Whether you ride or not, attending a professional motorcycle road racing event is an awesome experience.  Most people have come across such races as they scan through the channels on their television.  A few stop their surfing and watch this incredibly exciting motorsport.  Fewer still head off to the nearest motorsports venue to witness this spectacle up close and in person; while the choice few actually take to the track to give it a try for themselves.

In my career as a professional photographer I spent a couple of years covering various motorsports events for a number of different media outlets.  I’ve documented The Monster Energy Monster Truck series, The IMSA Weather Tech Sports Car Championship and national events on the NHRA Mellow Yellow Drag Racing Series.  Because of my love of all things motorcycle-related, my favorite assignments were covering the MotoAmerica series…the premier motorcycle road racing series in The United States.

Forget any first impressions you may have arrived at after seeing a motorcycle road racing event on television.  The small screen does this intense sport no justice whatsoever.  Watching a pack of motorcycles moving across your television screen in unison simply can’t compare to watching it live.  There’s simply nothing that raises your heart rate quite like watching a pack of motorcycles traveling at over 100MPH dive into a turn inches apart from each other…sometimes in the rain.  It is true poetry in motion watching these fearless riders execute maneuvers like this: trusting in their skills, the skills of the other competitors, and the capabilities of their machines.

 

Road racing, by definition, takes place on large race tracks with an assortment of challenging turns, high speed straightaways and multiple elevation changes.  For example: New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ has only 12 turns on its 2-1/4 mile circuit; Virginia International Raceway features 17 on its 3-1/4 mile circuit and Circuit of the Americas (COTA) boasts 20 turns and a 133 foot elevation change over the course of its 3.4 mile length.

The MotoAmerica 2022 schedule includes races at tracks from the east coast to the west coast; as far south as Daytona, Florida and Austin, Texas and as far north as Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and Shelton, Washington (between the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges).  No matter where you live in the USA you’re within driving (and riding) distance of one of the most incredible phenomenons you will ever witness in the world of sports.

 

Road racing events usually take place over a three day span with testing and qualifying done on Fridays, and all day racing on Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday’s programming sometimes include some specialty events sharing the bill with the Superbike and Supersport races.  These might include vintage motorcycle racing, Mini Cup Racing (for young riders), or King of the Bagger events; one of MotoAmerica’s most popular and fastest-growing race classes.  In this class large touring motorcycles from Harley-Davidson® and Indian® are turned into real road racing machines with the help of aftermarket parts companies and creative racing engineers.  These are not your father’s “Geezer Glides”!

 

Road racing events take on a real festival-type atmosphere.  There is no reserved seating along the long race circuits and spectators are free (and encouraged) to move around the course.  Different sections of the race course provide different experiences from near 200MPH top speeds on the straights to gravity-defying maneuvers in the challenging turns.  Photo opportunities abound at road courses with nary a “bad seat in the house”.  At some venues the only difference between the spectator and the credentialed photographer’s point of view can be measured in mere feet…and the bulletproof liability waiver us hired guns have to execute to get ever-so-slightly closer to the tarmac.

Most tracks allow spectators to freely roam through the paddock area where your favorite race teams set up shop for the weekend, and all are invited into the winner’s circle for the post-race celebrations.  This is not the norm at most other professional motorsports events, where media credentials are required to get up that close and personal.  

 

The usual array of food, convenience and souvenir concessions are always on site; along with a “gas station” where you can purchase ethanol-free gasoline of up to 112 octane…for a mega-premium price, of course.  Most tracks offer attractively-priced sites for RVs and tent campers alike; so you’re not relegated to an expensive hotel to make your trip to the track a reality.  Most events have reduced prices or free admittance for children so this is an affordable, family-friendly way to enjoy a professional sporting event with the entire clan.

Whether you choose to spend a day or an entire weekend I can’t recommend this experience highly enough.  The only thing that is better than witnessing motorcycle road racing is getting out on the track and turning a few laps yourself.  There’s a few ways to make that happen.  If you’ve got a spare $10-15 million lying around you could field your own MotoGP International race team for a full season or you can consider one of the following more realistic options.

Track Days:

 

These are events that are held at road racing venues all around the United States.  Quite simply put, track days are a day where you’re able to take your motorcycle out on the closed and controlled environment of a race track.  No fear of some inattentive driver pulling out in front of you at an intersection.  No worries about any oncoming traffic drifting head on into your lane.  No worries about the men in blue pulling you over for riding in too “spirited” a fashion.  These track days are generally open to all types of motorcycles and riders of all skill levels; and are designed so that you are on track with other riders whose skill sets are comparable to your own.  There are, of course, rules to abide by and liability waivers to sign.  There are also certain restrictions and safety requirements for the bike itself.  Each track day has its own set of rules and regulations.  Be sure you’re familiar with them and get your stuff in order before you show up at the track.

 

Racing Schools:

 

This is one of the finest ways to experience the thrill of motorcycle road racing.  Specialized schools tour the country, visiting the same race tracks that are on the professional circuit and offer an immersive educational experience.  They can be single day or multiple day events which include classroom training and hot track time under the personal guidance of qualified instructors.  Though more expensive than your average track day the additional money spent is well worth it.  Most allow you to choose between riding your own bike (properly outfitted and subject to their inspection, of course) or using an appropriate machine belonging to the school.  The schools will also make sure you are properly outfitted with the necessary protective gear (Helmets, gloves, one-piece leather racing suits, boots, etc).

 

Last year some members of my Long Island BMW Riders Club attended such an event on the Thunderbolt Race Course at New Jersey Motorsports Park; a first class racing venue that is on the MotoAmerica schedule.  The event was offered by California Superbike School; an outfit under the direction of the legendary Keith Code, a former Superbike winner at Laguna Seca Raceway and a riding trainer with more than forty years tenure.

 

California Superbike School’s 2022 calendar features single day and multi-day curriculums on 70 different dates at professional road racing circuits all over the United States.  The cost of their programs vary greatly from as little as $575 to as much as $3,450 depending upon a number of factors (the program chosen, whether or not you use their motorcycles, where the class will take place, etc).  You should visit their web site for further information and/or to make reservations.  I receive no compensation for mentioning this particular school.  I just have first hand experience witnessing their operation, along with the other riders from my club who participated.  Top shelf operation in every regard.

Some info for serious photographers checking out this post:

You’ll want to use a good mirrorless or DSLR camera with a long telephoto lens to get the kind of on-track images you see here.  My personal choice is the Nikon Z6II mirrorless camera.  Its great high ISO performance allows me to shoot at the high shutter speeds necessary to freeze the action on-track, as the racers approach 200MPH.  Its incredibly accurate dynamic autofocusing capabilities, coupled with a 14FPS frame rate insures that I capture decisive moments.  I couple the camera with the Nikkor 500MM f5.6E PF ED VR lens that allows me to grab close up shots of the action.  I often add the Nikon AF-S FX TC-14E III TC teleconverter which increases the focal length to 700MM.

 

  Shooting in the Nikon’s DX crop mode can further extend the effective focal length to a whopping 1050MM allowing for incredibly tight close up shots of the action.  Sorry, but your smartphone camera simply won’t cut it in this environment.  Keep in mind, also, that these contests go on even in the pouring rain.  Make sure your expensive camera and lens are protected from the elements.  My personal choice for rain covers are the ones made by LensCoat.  Carry one large enough to completely cover your expensive camera body with a long, fast telephoto lens attached.

Heading To New Jersey Motorsports Park?

MotoAmerica, California Superbike School and The Champion Cup Series (CCS) all host events at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, NJ.  The venue also offers a few track days of its own throughout the year.  When I cover the MotoAmerica event I stay with most of the credentialed media at the Quality Inn and Suites in Millville; just a few minutes from the track.  It is just average lodging but does have an outdoor pool which is wonderful after a hot day at the dusty race track.  WiFi service here was marginal but not a major concern as the credentialed media has access to great WiFi in the media center right at the track, facilitating instant transfer of images to our remote clients.  

 

When I visited for the California Superbike School I stayed at The Ramada by Wyndham in Vineland, NJ.  This property is about a 15 minute ride from the track but is a very nice hotel with a pub and restaurant right in the building and an IHOP restaurant conveniently attached.  All of the major chain restaurant players have set up shop in the Vineland area and I was surprisingly served a truly exceptional filet mignon at the local LongHorn Steakhouse.   

What are your thoughts on this subject?  Do you have any track day enterprises or riding schools that you would recommend to others?  Any tips on food and lodging located close to a road racing venue?  Feel free to contribute by leaving a comment below; and be sure to bookmark this site and subscribe to Roadwork USA to receive notifications when future posts hit the blog.