Unofficial Start of the Motorcycle Riding Season

One of the things I never liked as a motorcycle mechanic, was changing tires or doing tube repairs. In my personal opinion, even with the proper tire equipment, changing tires was the worst job in the shop. If I am not mistaken, the last tire I've ever changed was in the year 1987 when I replaced the rear tire and the clutch plates on a 1987 Honda Gold Wing 1200. 

This coming weekend is the unofficial start of this year motorcycle riding season. The biggest and most popular vintage motorcycle event in the east coast, the Gathering of the Norton, is this Sunday in New Jersey. My bike is ready; new rear tire and oil and filter has been changed. I am looking forward to attending this motorcycle vintage event! 

Despedida del 2024 con Fuegos Artificiales

Hace un par de dias, una revista de New Jersey se comunico conmigo porque estaban interesados en dos fotos mias de fuegos artificiales que estan en mi cuenta de Flickr. Ellos pidieron permiso para poder utilizar mis fotos en su revista para promover la despedida de año en New Jersey. 

Pense que fue un buen gesto de ellos el pedir permiso para usar las fotos. Otros simplemente copian las fotos sin autorizacion; es algo bien comun en el internet. Si estas interesado/a en ver la pagina, este es el enlace. 

Foto Friday - February 23, 2024

This picture was taken two or three years ago, from Camden NJ waterfront, while I was waiting for the 4th of July fireworks.

The reason why it was never posted until today, is because I was not happy with the colors of the image. Too much distraction due to the mismatched vibrant colors.

Today, I decided to make some adjustments into a black/white picture to give it a more nostalgic and dramatic feeling. In my opinion, the photo looks a lot better in black and white without the distractions of color. The contrast between the subject in the image is more defined, and in my opinion the subject appears to be better isolated.

Quads Ice Racing

One of those rare motorcycle events I had never seen in person, probably because I hate cold/freezing weather, was motorcycle racing on ice. 

Nine years ago I saw a poster advertising motorcycle ice racing in Trenton, New Jersey. The headliner of the event was 5-Time Ice Racing World Champion, (The First Lady of Ice Racing) Mandy "Wild Child" Brodil Cervantes. Since I don't follow ice racing, had no idea who she was. The ad piqued my interest, so I ordered tickets online.

Trenton, NJ, is only a forty five minutes commute by train from Philadelphia. I took half day off from work, and arrived early to attend the paddock pit pass meet and greet to meet the racers and see the bikes up close. I was pleasantly surprised to find only a few motorcycles, the majority of the racing vehicles were Quads. Quads are all terrain vehicles, four-wheel ATV's modified for racing. Since this type of racing is on ice, the tires are equipped with metal studs to help with traction. You can see the Quads with metal studded tires in some of the pictures.

In 2013 I wasn't interested in photography yet, these images were taken with my trusty Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 point-and-shoot. That day I learned that at the Convention Center they don't allow DSLR's and long lenses into the premises. So I am glad that I was only carrying my point-and-shoot camera.

The event was amazing, it exceeded all my expectations. Enjoy the pictures!

Throwback Thursday

This picture was taken in 2001 from Camden, New Jersey waterfront, across the Delaware River. This is the same location of the New Years Eve fireworks. Twenty years ago, I used to be more active, ride my bicycle everywhere, and go dancing every weekend. 

"What a drag it is getting old". - Rolling Stones.

2022 New Years Eve Fireworks

Photographing fireworks has always been a challenge for me, despite watching dozens of YouTube videos for the past five years and trying different suggestions by the "experts". 

On New Years eve, I decided to give fireworks photography one more try. I had nothing else to lose, everything I've tried in the past didn't work. Surprisingly, the planets aligned for me this time and I captured several good images. 

I arrived early to the Camden boardwalk next to the New Jersey Adventure Aquarium, across from Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. The camera was setup in Bulb mode, and it was held in the tripod in vertical position. This time I was able to capture the most keepers, great pictures from a fireworks show. All in all, I am very satisfied by how the pictures look. Enjoy the pics!

A Man's Got To Know His Limitations

Do you remember the line from Clint Eastwood's 1973 movie Magnum Force, "a man's got to know his limitations"? A blog I just read, reminded me about my growing physical limitations. People say that being healthy is a process; with my current limitations I have to remember to pace myself.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis I have come to somewhat accept my physical limitations. I'm 63, and yet I don't feel like a senior citizen. In my mind, I’m definitely still a child inside. The reality is that my body is the one that's giving away.

Last night during a random search, I found a 1995 Kawasaki KX-500 on Craigslist not far from me, and for the right price. Most good deals are usually too far. This is a great project to keep me busy in the garage. The problem is that this type of vintage dirt bike does not come with a electric starter, it has to be kick started. Team Green still relies on boot power to get its big motocross bikes running.

Therein lies the problem, for the past three weeks I've been experiencing inflammation and pain on my right ankle, and have to use ankle support. Do you think I am going to try to consider kickstarting a KX-500? As much as I would love to own this bike, I'll have to pass.

So the search continues.

The pictures included in this post were taken 6 years ago at Kawasaki Race of Champions in Raceway Park Motocross, Englishtown, New Jersey.