Weekly Update - November 23-30, 2005

We headed back to my parents' place for the holiday weekend...I don't get to see them much during the year. Had a good time, ate lots of good food...hope you all did the same.

In an effort to keep things interesting over the winter months, when we don't shoot much, I'm going to try hosting a Deal's Gap related photoshop contest every week. Totally inspired by this thread over on Cycleforums, each week I'll post the best work from the previous week, along with artist credit for each one, and I'll put up a few new candidates from our highlights of the year for you all to play with. I've kicked things off this week with a few shots from earlier in the year. Just save the image to your computer, open it with an image editor like Photoshop or even Microsoft "Paint" which comes bundled with all versions of Windows, and email them to me (killboy@killboy.com) or post a link to the hosted photo underneath the original. Good luck!

I'm going to take a moment here to say thanks to everyone who has supported us, told their friends about us, and spent their hard-earned cash buying our photos. We processed nearly 7000 orders this year, with practically no dissatisfied customers. It has been a crazy busy year for us, but we are taking steps to keep up with the demand and get orders out in a more timely manner.

I also gotta thank Ron and Nancy over at Tail of the Dragon. Without them, we simply would not be here, selling photos at the low price we do. They've helped us tremendously, and you customers are reaping the benefits of that relationship. If you have not checked out their product line lately, give their online store a look and send them some business if possible. They have some really cool new products and designs, and these folks do a lot of behind-the-scenes work to keep things motorcycle-friendly with the area politicians and government agencies. Your enjoyment of the area has more to do with them and many of the other area businesses than you may realize.

Photoshop Candidate #1 - Funky angle on the Ninja

Photoshop Candidate #2 - Dawgie!

Photoshop Candidate #3 - String of Rx-7s coming down the mountain

Photoshop Candidate #4 - Ken Wheeler on his Boss Hoss lawnmower

Photoshop Candidate #5 - It's just begging for some fighter jet/UFO action.

Warranty? We don't need no stinkin' warranty. So yeah I took the Evo to Jacob and Noah's shop over the Thanksgiving holiday for a cam and cam gear install. Note the trash bag mod...that's top secret stuff there I can't talk about.

Just a minor adjustment to the alignment...

Looks more like I know what I'm doing here eh?

The interior during our air/fuel meter install. It had to pass through the floorboard, and I found a shoe under there! (no, not really ;)

Max does a little dance. He needs a tutu. ;)

Buddy at his happiest...both frisbees.

Ain't they cute!

Sunset at the mom and dad's place.

Here are a couple of clowns in a Cadillac we saw on I-40 Sunday.

And here is one of the cars they were towing.

Until next week, Max says "Do what makes ya feel good!"

Weekend Update - November 19-20, 2005

David got a few hundred photos last weekend, and they are online with the OTHER HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS (hint hint ;) in Tha Store here.

It was pretty nice out Saturday, with sun and temps nearing t-shirt weather. Sunday was a little gloomier and cooler. There is no real snow accumulation that I know of on the roads for now...it did spit a little snow all day today, and you can see white on some of the higher mountains around the area.

A few of the folks from EastTNriders are planning one more clean up on the Gap for the year. Date will be December 11 at around 11am, so come on out and lend a hand to help keep the road we all love looking purdy.

For the first time in several months, we are finally caught up on orders...a bunch went out over the past few days, so everyone should get them in plenty of time for Christmas.

And now for the semi-big announcement:

Killboy's Winter Gap Run - December 17-18, 2005!

I've always thought it was kind of odd that all of the car groups were planning events during the middle of the season, when traffic is at it's peak. Let's have some fun during the off-season, when we can have the whole road to ourselves. Sure it's a little harder to get the tires warm, but we get the road to ourselves!

Nothing special planned...no trophies or give-aways, just driving with other like-minded drivers, of ALL CAR TYPES. So get the word out on your forums, and let's have a little fun in the cages. I'll keep you updated on any further developments.

On to the highlights!

The skies were a little gloomy Sunday, but it was beautiful all the same. This is from an overlook on the Foothills Parkway.

The weather was a little cool, but not bad. Traffic was really light.

How about a little Motard action?

Damn smooth riding guy, fun to watch!

Sweet!

Smooth little Derbi

Uh oh, there's a leaf over the intake.

Shaguar!

Probably one of the best lines I've ever seen around that turn at the picnic tables.

Looks like a bear!

Cool black cruiser

Regular on SV650

That there is the new Subaru WRX STI.

Wave for the camera

Lori and I got out and played a little too.

Sharp dressed man!

Them K1200S's are pretty smooth.

Local boy Phil, aka "Borrowed Time", aka "First Gear Phil", got his Acura Integra running for a little winter Gap phun.

I only found out recently that those Integra Type R's only weigh about 2200 pounds!

Goodbye 2005 riding season!

Until next week, Max says play nice or else!

Weekend Update - November 11-13, 2005

Well the shots from last week are online in Tha Store.

The weather was nearly perfect for riding, and the traffic was pretty light. It was awesome out. The leaves fell during the week, which was quicker than I expected, so they weren't much of a problem. The pine needles were another matter...they were pretty thick in some places.

This weekend is looking kinda chilly for now, so we will see if anyone comes out. This will be about the last weekend we will shoot. David may be around for Thanksgiving, I'm not sure, but I'll be going to visit my parents and getting Jacob to install some more mods on the car.

The leaves have pretty much fallen and now you can really see through some of the turns nicely.

David got a sweet new Canon 28-300mm "L" lens. It adds a nice touch of softness and seperation for a fantasy look.

Another deep cruiser shot.

John Deer/BMW in the mountains

The guy on the scooter asked that his picture be posted up so we could all learn from it. He was turning across the road to meet up with his friends, and didn't roll up far enough to see whether or not it was clear. As soon as he started to cross the road, the motard came around the bend so he locked it up to keep from getting T-boned. Later he said he was contemplating going on down the road to turn around and come back, and wished he had. He was a really nice guy, and the motard rider did a great job of not fixating on the wrecking bike and just took evasive action. I really thought it was going to be a 2-bike incident. Silver Wing rider was a little shook up and had a scratched nose, but he was fine. Also a real powerful image for full-face helmet arguments.

Trick little turn signal setup

Gap regular Paige looking great

Furry helmet?

He doesn't look very enthused

Cool shadow

Later guys!

Getting off-line meant pine needles. Thanks for pulling over though!

Local Pete running a nice line!