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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: klaviator on June 07, 2021, 04:40:32 PM

Title: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: klaviator on June 07, 2021, 04:40:32 PM
On Saturday I went down to the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama to attend the Small Bore event being held there.  I wasn't expecting to ride my Like 150i on the racetrack but ended up riding on THREE different tracks.

First up was a small racetrack they had set up for small bore bikes.  All of the bikes I saw out there were small motorcycles like Honda Groms and the riders were all wearing full leathers.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-cwVTkzz/0/81af3014/XL/P6050014-XL.jpg)

It looked like fun so I asked about it.  25 bucks for a 20 minute session.  Leather not required just full riding gear.  I had mesh gear, a helmet jacket and boots so I was good to go.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-CDDhC74/0/7157363b/XL/DSC04069-XL.jpg)

.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-XGgdPSC/0/29771b58/XL/DSC04072-XL.jpg)

.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-956kwfT/0/9f078da7/XL/DSC04073-XL.jpg)

.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-DhkLDpB/0/5254c6c8/XL/DSC04077-XL.jpg)

.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-SQtn8MM/0/7d66d79e/XL/DSC04078-XL.jpg)

.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-9RsRgXP/0/70a8345a/X2/DSC04085b-X2.jpg)

What a blast.  I just wish my Like had better cornering clearance.  As it was I think I left some black plastic streaks on the track from touching down my belly pan in the curves.



Title: Re: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: klaviator on June 07, 2021, 04:44:15 PM
Track number two was a 1/32 mile drag strip they had set up.  I beat a Benelli TnT 135 a couple of times.  Then I beat a kid on a small dirtbike.  The highlight was racing a Honda ADV 150.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-W3KcQQL/0/e15b1abf/XL/S0369233-XL.jpg)

I won but not by much.  With a lighter rider on the Honda the results might have been different.

Then I got smoked by a gal on a heavily modified Grom.  I decided to quit while I still had a winning record ;D
Title: Re: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: klaviator on June 07, 2021, 04:48:12 PM
I was watching the racing on the dirt cross country track.  Most of the bikes racing were motorcycles, especially Groms.  Then we saw a scooter leading one of the races!

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-W55R5pG/0/48789226/XL/P6050059-XL.jpg)

I couldn't figure out what kind of scooter it was.  Later I saw it close up.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-3W8ZvtH/0/2d45c156/XL/P6050119-XL.jpg)

It was a Kymco Super 8x
Title: Re: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: klaviator on June 07, 2021, 04:54:10 PM
One more track to ride.  Here is a pic looking down at the main track at Barber.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-4Mpq6fF/0/fee9fdaa/XL/P6050046-XL.jpg)

At the end of the day they do some Parade laps.  It's three laps around the track but the speed is kept down by a pace car which you are not allowed to pass.  I don't know the exact number of bikes on the parade laps but it was well over 100.

I don't have any pics of me on the track but i did take some pics.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-MJPcxN8/0/aebd757b/XL/P6050132-XL.jpg)

This looked like a Kawasaki Sport bike but was actually some kind of scooter ::)

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-sGV8L5N/0/94a6450b/XL/P6050133-XL.jpg)

I was hitting around 60 MPH at times and passed a number of bikes.

(https://photos.smugmug.com/2021a/Barber-Small-Bore-21/i-76ktsrM/0/4bb210d1/XL/P6050134-XL.jpg)
Title: Re: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: big blue on June 07, 2021, 05:38:25 PM
That Barber track is really beautiful I always enjoy watching the Indy Car races there. Looks like a fun day.
Title: Re: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: CROSSBOLT on June 07, 2021, 09:39:26 PM
As always, nice pictures! What a great event! Thank you for the excellent post/ride report!
Title: Re: Kymco Scooters on the racetrack?
Post by: Kansas kymco on June 07, 2021, 10:36:29 PM
It sounds like you had a great day,  thanks for sharing the pictures with us. I would never never expected to see a scooter on a dirt bike track.