New idea...Episodes...

I was thinking about these short videos that I will be making throughout the track season as tests for the final documentary. These are great exercises in learning and experimenting, which will only make the final video stronger. But I've come to realize that even these test videos tell a story (well, I've done one so far) and as they will, in most cases, be published chronologically that perhaps I should treat them as mini episodic video diaries of how the season is going. The final video will share a lot of footage but will be re-edited (and most likely narrated) to give it a more cohesive feel and to fit into a tighter time frame.

Hmm, well I'll give it a try and see how it goes. I'm just sorta making this up as I go, haha! This project is definitely an unformed ball of potential and I'm just trying to get a handle on it and form it into something that doesn't suck.

So that means "New Corners" is basically Episode 1 of whatever I'm calling this documentary thingy. (note to self: come up with catchy title soon).

Episode 2 will be a short "travel" montage. I've done a number of 'actiony' videos now, so I'm looking forward to working on something calmer and more down tempo. I'm intending it to be a very peaceful, reflective piece.

Episode 1: New Corners

Wow, first video post of 2007. Never thought I'd get here, it seems like an eternity!!! Anyway, the goal is to post at least one vid a month.
So here it is, the fist video comprised of footage from Thunder Hill. The season has begun! Enjoy!!!!

Unfortunately, a rider died of injuries he sustained in a crash at Thunder Hill on April 8th. This is so tragic and ever so rare. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Matt Labbe. R.I.P.

Thunder Hill was a success!!! What a great track. It was a lot more technical than I was expecting! Keigwins put on a great weekend.

I got some really good footage from this trip, however, I ran into some bugs with my new camera setup. Some of the camera mounting options I tried turned out to transmit too much vibration. I was also having some audio and video hiccups. I think the video issues were due to a loose power connection which I seemed to work out later in the weekend. But the audio burps have still not fully been worked out. A little disappointing I guess, I was hoping to hit the ground running with this new setup. All in all I still got a lot of usable video. The clouds that showed up for most of the weekend also conspired to mess with my exposure, but there's really nothing I can do about that. Ya work with what ya got!

Anyway, here are some pics of me trying to figure out the track (by GotBlueMilk).

I hope to have my first Thunder Hill practice video up in a week or so! Stay tuned.

Well, just dropped my bike off at Don's place (we're taking the bikes down in his enclosed trailer). Friday the 6th we head down to Thunder Hill for my first track day of the season. It will also technically be Don's first FULL track day but the sneaky bastard did get 3 sessions in at the March 30th Adrenaline Freaks day at Pacific Raceways. Deteriorating track and rain conspired to prevent him from finishing the day.
Dave was supposed to be joining us on this adventure but he went and detached his damn retina over the winter boredom!!! sigh. Damn you Dave! So no Dave/Green Machine (Kawasaki ZX-6RR). Oh well, Don tells me that we'll be pitting/hanging out with some locals that he and Dave know down in Northern Cali. So even minus Dave it should be an amazing trip. 11 hour drive tho, ack.