Working Them Corners: Track Marshalling with MotoAmerica at NJMP

Trying to look professional

Earlier this year, MotoAmerica had posted an application for those who wanted to help volunteer as a worker for all rounds of the newly formed MotoAmerica race series. Despite the fact that I never get chosen for stuff like that, I decided submitted an application request and forgot about it completely as the season went on.  As luck would have it, I received an e-mail from David Hawley, the MotoAmerica Track Marshal Volunteer Coordinator.  I was chosen to work as a track marshal or more commonly known around here as a corner worker.  To say that I was excited was an understatement.  Not only would I get a chance to have a different perspective on the racing experience, but I was there to help the organization in its first year.

The One Love Roadracing Team preparing for the weekend

I headed down the night before the first practice day and arrived just a little bit ahead of the storm.  One of my teammates on the One Love Roadracing Team, Adrian Hackett, was racing so I pitted with them and helped where I could.  Things were hectic under the canopy as they were making a few last minute adjustments and fitting new bodywork for the big weekend.  After a bit of helping to set up and a few drinks, I turned in early as I wasn't sure what to expect in the morning.

Despite heavy rain at times, there was still a decent turnout

I awoke the next day to a heavy layer of moisture that had permeated over the entire track. Despite the weather, the paddock was abuzz with nervous energy.  Friday was practice day and most of the racers were running around making sure they were prepared for the day.  I hurriedly grabbed a cup of coffee and headed over to the morning corner workers' meeting at seven o' clock behind the General Store, a hangar which had been made into a retail store as well as housing a few reception halls.  As the corner workers shuffled together, the coordinator for this event gave us our assignments as well as a few pointers on how to be an effective corner worker.  Instructions included the meanings of different flags as well as how we were to never turn our backs to the track and to never grab a rider who went down and instead to only allow the rider to hold onto us for assistance.  I was assigned as a recovery corner worker at the exit of the chicane which basically meant I was supposed to pick up bikes and clean up the corner in the event of a crash.  Luckily, I was assigned a veteran corner worker as a partner who gave me plenty of additional tips.

There was only one crash in the corner I was working, but it was quite the eye opening experience.  When I'm doing a track day or racing, I'm usually in the pits or trying to get back to the pits and only get an inkling as to what's going on out at the track.  Being there as the crash truck pulled up and working with the other track marshals was quite the sight to behold.  The bike that crashed had damaged its clutch master cylinder, bent both rims and was stuck in fourth gear so we couldn't simply roll it onto the trailer.  Without missing a beat, the worker who had first hopped out of the crash truck grabbed some straps and arranged them in a way so that the four of us could pick the bike up and shove it into the trailer chock.  The bike was loaded and the track was swept and cleaned with amazing efficiency and speed.  Most of the rest of the weekend was fairly uneventful at my station so I had a chance to enjoy watching my friends battle it out with the professionals.  My friends asked me whether I would do it again.  I suppose I would if I didn't have a stake in the race, but next year I plan to work as pit crew for Adrian Hackett.  It was definitely a positive experience and I enjoyed myself immensely.

Best Job I Ever Had

Forward: An Update On Recent Events and Disclaimer

I've spent a bit away from the blog as these past couple of months has been a time of transition.  As many of you know, I was a parts guy at Sport Honda for a few years.  A job offer came along with Nexx North America and although it was a bit of a leap and an even bigger gamble, I decided to take the chance to explore something new.  I plan to continue writing and exploring the world of motorcycles in as many capacities as I can, but I will now be writing this completely independent of the dealership or any other outside influence.  So what does that mean?  Any opinions expressed from here on out will be mine and will in no way reflect the opinions of anyone at the dealership or brands mentioned in this blog.

A Belated Thank You

It seems like it was just yesterday I was interviewing for the job and getting my first tour of the business.  I have to admit that a large part of my development as a rider was formed from my experience behind the parts counter.  When I first started, I imagined helping to order cool race parts like forged engine components and fancy exhausts for mostly sport bike riders.  It took about two weeks before I realized I was pretty far off base with my assumption.  However, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing.  Having to learn to help all the customers forced me to leave the comfort zone of the sport bike world and delve into different different aspects of the powersports industry.  Had I never started working at the dealership, I would likely never have ever gotten a motocross bike and even attempted to ride dirt.  I probably would never have learned how much fun you could have with an ATV just rolling around a parking lot during a snow storm.  I sure as hell would have never would have had the opportunity to take a Triumph Thunderbird for a blast down to Atlantic City and learned to appreciate the joy of just hitting the open road on a cruiser and enjoying a leisurely ride down the Parkway.  Without the influence of track day riders and club racers who worked at the dealership as well as some of my customers, there's a good chance I never would have gotten to where I am currently in club racing.  Working at a dealership afforded me the opportunity to learn about all aspects of riding and as a result cultivate an all-inclusive appreciation for everyone who throws a leg over a saddle, be it on a cruiser, sport bike, dirt bike or ATV.

Being a parts guy wasn't the most glamorous job, but it afforded me the opportunities to have all these experiences and for that I am eternally grateful.  Thanks to Dan Notte for seeing something in me when I first approached him about the job to give me a chance at the dealership level.  Ray Lewandowski for all his lessons about the powersports industry, engineering and life in general... also for not writing me up when I burned a whole in the parking lot after doing a burnout on my track bike.  Matt Miller for teaching me the ropes and giving me enough leeway to balance time to pursue my own goals while working the parts counter. Fred Rosenlof, Joe Tweedy, Ed Williams, Steve Hasbrouck, Yen Chu, Jeff Trimmer, Joe Trimmer, Ryan Pote Charlie Meiser and everyone else in the service department who took the time to answer my incessant tech questions and teach me a ton about how to wrench on bikes.  Sally for being the best receptionist ever and always lending an ear.  Danielle Dougherty for teaching me the ins and outs about apparel and always giving me a hook up.  Henry Martinez for imparting to me the knowledge of the deal.  Chuck for always being drunk and Rob for teaching me patua.  Lois and Pauline in the office for being great at their jobs and patiently helping me fix all of my screw ups over the years.  Of course, thanks to everyone else at the dealership who helped make my experience there great.

Now, with all that sappy shit out of the way, I'm back with even more opinionated nonsense and editorial pieces on as many aspects of the powersports world as I can experience.