November 2015- Viva Las Vegas!

Wayne and I took a short trip north to Las Vegas to watch the final Flat Track race of the season and the first ever SuperPrestigio of the Americas. They were both held in the Oreleans Arena. We arrived on Thursday afternoon, but early enough to hit a couple of motorcycle shops, to just, you know, sit on a couple of bikes!! Unfortunately we still haven't found one that fits my short legs.  Oh well, it sure is fun looking!

The racing was set to start at 7:30 which gave us all day to check out the area around Vegas.

They have the coolest art on their overpasses

These are on the Bruce Woodbury Beltway, also known as County Road 215

We absolutely hate I-15 through Vegas, so we went west to Summerlin and got on CR 215 to take us to US 93.

Smog, with the silhouettes of the big casino looked surreal 

The beltway took us to US 93, where we turned northwest.  This took us to State Route 157 

From the valley up to Mt Charleston, the gain in elevation was very quick. There is a small town at the top.

Check out the foundation on this place.  This house is really on the side of the hill!

Charleston Peak

Angel Peak used to be an Air Force Surveillance Radar Station. The FAA currently operates the radar tower.

The Las Vegas valley from the Lee Canyon Rd overlook

located in the Spring Mountain Recreation Area

A little fake rock wall never hurts, I guess there weren't enough real rocks in the area.

After our drive it was time for a little racing!!

The track was very short, turns 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 were continuous. It made the turns just one big long slide... 

First time I've seen the pyrotechnic hardware.  Flash and boom during the pre-race entertainment. 

So it's a dirt track, so why are they painting such an elaborate start line? It only lasted for the first heat race, when they then went back to a straight line.

We were very disappointed by the turn out. I guess everyone was in Ontario CA at the Endurocross.

They rode 450 motorcross bikes

Notice the lack of a front brake disc.  That's right, and one of the interviews talked about the rear brake being only a suggestion brake.

Briar Bauman won the actual event, but Jared Mees wins his third GNC1 title in four years. Davis Fisher won the GNC2 title before this race, the season finale even began.  Good thing too, as he didn't even make the main event tonight. 

Saturday's road trip took us to the Valley of Fire, which gets its name from red sandstone formations, formed from shifting sand dunes during the age of the dinosaurs.

This is the third area of red rock we've been to in the last couple of months

Weird rocks

Cool formations

These roads would be more fun on a bike

We headed out of the rocks, down to the valley and into the Lake Mead Recreation Area

Lake Mead, when full, is the largest reservoir in the US based on water capacity. Formed by Hoover Dam, the lake is 112 miles long, when full. However the lake has not been full since 1983 due to drought conditions and increased water demand.   

Water level is a little low...

Levels haven't been this low since 2010

This is the marina at Echo Bay. The trees are growing through the covered boat dock.  

This is the new boat launch, the old one has been closed, as it doesn't reach the water any more.

Wayne said the water was good

On the way to Echo Bay the road is lined on both sides by this little fence, all 4.5 miles of it

As you can see it is only knee high.  It is to keep the Desert Tortoise from wandering out on the road. 

We continued on toward Vegas, finding more interesting rock formations 

And cool freeway art

Saturday night was the first ever Superprestigio of the Americas. Attendance was pathetic again.

If we can't get a better turnout, we'll never attract the big European racers. 

The Superprestigio has a different format than last nights flat track finale.  Last night they interviewed the winner of each heat, which took time and was actually kinda boring.  Tonight the racing was non-stop for 12 heats, with the next heat lining up at the starting gate before the current heat even finished. After a short break for track maintenance it started right back up again.

They also had several heats and a final for more traditional flat track bikes, big 750 cc Harleys, Indians and others.

Now that looks like a flat tracker...

When the racing was done, Jared Mees had won the first ever Superprestigio of the Americas. Brad Baker of Eatonville Washington was second.  It was a great night of racing, I just wish more people would come. Even if you aren't into flat track, any one who rides can appreciate the efforts of these riders.

Hope to see more of  you there next year!!