killboy.com photos - The Original Photographer from Hwy US129 Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap

Weekly Update - August 26, 2009

*Updated* Added this week's highlights video. Higher-Res version here.

How-deeeee! (Minnie Pearl was a distant cousin to me...don't say you didn't learn something new this week.) Hope you're having a great day/week/month/year/life. We've got another (hopefully) interesting update this week. I had a very fun weekend with time spent thrashing on a new Camaro, a crazy sportbike-powered reverse-trike creation, and even an off-road segway! (the latter was probably the most fun of all)

Traffic last week was fairly slow, which seems to be the pattern for August. Good time to get out and play for those who can take advantage of it! We certainly do every chance we get.

Calendar for this weekend is empty, but I know how that goes...probably have 10 groups roll through. Y'all get listed up there if you're planning to visit!

This Sunday (August 30) there will be a Ride for Kids in Asheville so check that out if you're able to.

Also be aware the Women's Sportbike Rally will be kicking off again this year on September 11th, so get over there and sign up if you're of the fairer gender and of a sporting nature.

Ok, on to the highlights!

Lead Shot

I love this job.

ChickonahondARRR

I got a chance to drive Crutchfield Performance's Trixster...

The cockpit is specifically built around the individual, with non-adjustable (but very supportive) racing seats and controls. It didn't fit my skinny long-legged ass very well, but it was still an intense drive. The steering is quick and easy, something I was concerned about after seeing how the T-Rex drivers seem to be contorting their arms to get around the simplest turns. Acceleration is as you'd expect...not as fast as the donor bike due to the extra weight, but there's something about sitting or being surrounded by a cage that makes it all seem more significant. (I notice it in sportscars too...ride a bike all day long with 3-second 0-60 times, but a car with 400hp that can "only" pull 4 or 5 second 0-60 times seems insanely fast.) I had a hard time getting the revs above 6000rpm without feeling like I was going back to the future. All the instrumentation is still located right there inside the nose piece, and the control switches normally located around the throttle are located on the sequential stick shifter in the middle of the cockpit. Just pull back and let off the gas for a second to upshift, push forward and blip the throttle or use the attached clutch lever to downshift. He's using the motorcycle's brakes on the front for stopping, and they are strong enough to lock the tires, but it takes quite a bit of force. Handling, needless to say, is go-kart-like. Very fun toy and I suspect you'll be seeing more of them soon in magazines and around the area, as they are located in north Georgia. More info at their site at http://crutchfieldperformance.com/

One more beauty shot and we'll move on...

We also rented a new Camaro to beat on last week...

It was just a V6 (305hp) automatic, but I have to mention that it is the most impressive torque-converter automatic I've ever driven. I haven't driven any of the new dual-clutch autos yet, but this thing in Sport mode would do cool stuff like downshift early when you got on the brakes, so the drive out of the turn wouldn't require a downshift mid-exit. Plus it would hold the gear between turns if possible, so it wasn't doing a bunch of unnecessary shifting.