The Alley - Cats Scramble
1999 
the last hellowe'en before
the apocalypse - Oct. 29 and 30
I also
have some exciting action photos of the racing, but you have to
scroll down through all these boring atmosphere photographs to
get to the link.
Now
would be a good time to go put the kettle on while the pictures
load.
This year, the race was held deep in enemy territory, in a warehouse
way out in the 'burbs at 4061 Yonge and highway 401. I had that
week off so Friday night I rode up there early and lost my wallet,
then I lost to the guy who eventually got third place. I took
my bike up on the subway up on Saturday, 'cause I was lazy and
slept in too late to buy film and ride up there on time.
Even the race announcer takes his life in his hands.
Eyeing the bloodthirsty mob from
behind the curtain in the secluded safety of the Rider's Area.
Hanging from the rafters, you can see one of the classic bikes
from local shop owner Mike Barry's collection.
When the excitement of 12 hours of watching people on bikes go
round and round and round and round got to be too much, movies
were being shown throughout the event on the giant movie screen
by the beer stand.
Big art by couriers
Saturday morning- waiting for the
track to open and the day's schedule to be posted. I raced early
and lost, so I got to relax and watch the rest of the goings-on.
I figured if I was going to lose anyway I might as well lose on
my fixed gear, which is the blue bike in the foreground.
The track incorporates many high tech safety features
Lots of interesting and unsual bikes, some on display and some
being ridden.
Now you know what really goes on behind the curtain in the Rider's
Area.
The track in the clean morning air. A dizzying haze of smoke developed
by evening.
Even couriers must perform mundane chores, like sweeping the crash
debris off the track
A rare quiet moment on the track while one of the bands played.
You can see some of the dizzying haze.
RUN-DMC are either aliens or vampires- they don't show up in my
photographs.
What's
All This Junk? Show Me the Racing!
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