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About two years ago, I broke my collar-bone and was briefly knocked senseless after an ugly launch at the drag strip (operator error). In pain and anger, I sold my precious and swore never to ride again, then could think of nothing else.

My 1998 Yamaha V-Max had carried me 67,000 miles in six years without complaint and through many adventures. Now, I have a new ride and am starting over looking for new adventures.

do you intend to go back to drag racing?

congrats on getting back to the sport.

Welcome back to riding. Let me know if you ever ride through San Antonio.

VermilionX wrote:do you intend to go back to drag racing?

That was my first and last night at Angleton Dragway. During the informal pre-race practice runs, on my fifth pass I was up against a pickup with a blower. Naturally I couldn't let him win but I was unable to hear my own ride and didn't understand what was happening to me. Lost it with a burnout-double-donut from hell off the line.

At least that is what my friends told me. I don't remember anything after the light turned green. But still, I believe that motorcycle drag racing is safer than riding on the street.

At the drag strip, there are no cell-phone talking, mini-van driving, inattentive soccer moms, no truck-driving drunken motorcyle-phobic rednecks and no crazed deer to contend with. There is no sand in the curve, anti-freeze at the stop sign or black ice waiting for you. It's just you and your machine. I recommend it. Knock yourself out. My accident was strictly my own stupidity and lack of experience. Got my itch scratched, though.

im not really interested in drag racing

but...

i wanna learn to do a WOT launch and the ability to react fast when the light turns green.

VermilionX wrote:im not really interested in drag racing but... i wanna learn to do a WOT launch and the ability to react fast when the light turns green.

The famous drag racer Dale Walker wrote a series of Riding Info articles about launching a V-Max. I would have been alright if I had remembered to do everything. You might want to take a look at that.

You know this, but for any newbies out there, if you think you want to launch hard from a stop light, don't forget to make sure the cross traffic is stopped and there are no late runners crossing on the pink - that's the interval of time before their stop light has reached a full red glow.

Get your GSXR buddies together and go to your local drag strip. Yeah, peer pressure, that's the ticket.

VermilionX wrote:i wanna react fast when the light turns green.

That's a damn good way to get yourself killed, whether in a car or on a bike.,

Welcome to the forum Mad Mac, that's an awesome picture in your signature!!

Sweet Tooth wrote: ...that's an awesome picture in your signature!!

Thanks. There is a wallpaper sized version available at http://www.best-motorcycle.com/rides/to ... ornia.shtm

Welcome back, Mad Mac. I'm a returning rider myself. I'm also looking forward to the day when I'll pick up a V-Max. It's at the top of my "motorcycles I must someday own" list.

Have a great time getting back into the sport!