A person could've spent a good bit of time checking out all the new motorcycles in the CO500 group. It looked to me like several of them were loaded off a showroom floor on the way up here. There were also some very well maintained classics to admire. All required their daily dose of TLC at the pit wagons each morning and every evening.
Pretty much any potion, lotion, chain lube or oil that was needed could be found there along with most needed tools. It was clear the pit crews had done this a time or two before.
Some of you may recognize a couple of tools used by the CO500 pit crews. Both the ONB tire machine and tilting lift became immediately popular with folks. A lot of tires were changed out and flats fixed (including my own front) during the week. I watched as guys would actually wait to use the ONB tilting lift rather than the other ones available. They said it was easier to use and felt more stable.
This was pretty doggone flattering to say it mildly. The greatest endorsement was when the guy running the pit wagons purchased both the tire machine and lift after the event.
That alone, plus getting to swap ideas with the men who invented the Revloc auto clutch (now marketed as the Rekluse) and Wolfman bags, pretty much made my trip. But enough of this! Let’s go ride motorcycles.
It ain't much of a track but it's best to stay in the middle of it.
This picture doesn't come close to the actual view of this valley...
The track can be a little bit elusive at times. Not really a problem...
They call this the devil's punch bowl. These pictures aren't even comparable to the actual view and scale. A young fellow coming down had his bike flip out from under him on the wet rocks. You know how this can happen so darn fast that you land with both feet still on the pegs. Nothing but rock to hit and he did. Got his bell rung and didn't know what had happened or were he was. Without his helmet, he wouldn't have had to worry about it at all.
Later, after we'd moved on down the trail, an older fellow was standing on the edge taking a picture. He fell. That was one of the extractions. He's not in good shape.
You can begin to get some appreciation of the size here at the bottom. If you look real close you can see me and the motorcycle near the bottom of those falls.
We did see some rain and hail. Some mud behaved admirably. Other stuff didn't treat me well at all.
This is the remains of some kind of car or truck that went over the edge here. It was mashed up enough that I really couldn't tell. Looked like the side of the road just caved off with it.