Lean Angle 10/2 Trip

[Vix]

It was quite a trip, of course some heard about us hitting the moose on the way down there. I thought about posting the story here but maybe not something for a motorcycle forum (other than the fact it happened on our way to the track). The image of the scene after the police got there is in my Photo album under "other" - just be warned that it may be a bit graphic for some people.

I was able to take some photos of Group A and C, especially the people I knew. Catamount, JCBell, mzdagrl, Miss Twisties, etc. I put a few in my album but have a lot to do today so can't get to many more until maybe later this weekend or next week. If you were in these groups you let me know your number, I'd be glad to check if I have any photos of you.

[BostonSVkid]

Hey Vix
I was group c almost all day and my number was 88. Got any?? Thanks!

Yesterday was my first track day and I am fookin hooked!!

[markbvt]

It was quite a trip, of course some heard about us hitting the moose on the way down there. I thought about posting the story here but maybe not something for a motorcycle forum (other than the fact it happened on our way to the track).

It's all part of the track day story, so tell it here. Besides, this is the first I've heard about it, and now I'm curious!

Anyone injured? Any serious damage to anyone's vehicle?

--mark

[Vix]

Hey Vix
I was group c almost all day and my number was 88. Got any?? Thanks!

Yesterday was my first track day and I am fookin hooked!!

I have several of you, here are two. I also recommend visiting the photographer's website, View Gallery, he got some really good stuff of us leaning in corners, etc.

[Slyder]

bummer about the swamp donkey and the wet.

[Vix]

It's all part of the track day story, so tell it here. Besides, this is the first I've heard about it, and now I'm curious!

Anyone injured? Any serious damage to anyone's vehicle?

--mark

SilverGhost and I were going from Vermont to Loudon for the track day, he was driving. We headed out at about 5, it was really wet out and got foggy, which was a real pain when it got dark. We had the trailer with two bikes in tow and weren't going very fast and were chatting to pass the time. It was around 7-8pm, pitch black on the highway, foggy from all the rain, 20 miles from Concord on 89.

SilverGhost heard me gasp and looked. I saw a huge moose being revealed in the fog in the middle of the road, it was broadside facing to the right, standing in most of the left lane and into our lane on the right. He had almost no time to react but amazingly swerved to the right and for a moment we both actually thought we'd cleared it. I remember thinking "if that moose doesn't move he'll be okay". But the moose must have reacted by stepping into us, he ended up swiping down the side of the 4Runner and hitting the trailer too.

We pulled over trying to assess the damage in the dark. Finally some approaching cars providing some light but also revealed the moose was down in the right lane and still alive but unable to get up. There was no way to get to it safely and pull it from the road, even if we had been strong enough (it was huge). Almost right away another car hit it, lost control, slammed into the guardrail on the left side of the road, skidded towards us and we ran to get behind the truck and guardrail thinking for sure it was going to end up hitting us. He ended up coming to a stop and then pulling ahead of us. His car was in very bad shape and had to be towed out of there.

I called 911 because people were really in danger coming up on that moose and we saw a few more near accidents. We couldn't tell them exactly where we were until we found a mile marker so it took a while for them to dispatch help. A trucker may have heard what was going on on their radio and ended up pulling up safely behind the moose and prevented any further issues from oncoming cars.

We had to wait on the side of the road for about an hour for the police to get there, fill in the reports, etc. We did check the bikes and they were fine.

Here's a photo of the scene after the police got there. You can see the moose is in part of the right lane and see the size compared to the oncoming cars - imagine one of those hitting it - that's what happened to the Cadilac. Note this is a link to the photo so people can opt to view it or not - it's not a pleasant photo.

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m.../moose6236.jpg

In any case, it sucks to have the damage we do but at the same time Wayne's reaction really did spare us from knocking the legs out from under the moose and having it go up the hood and through the windshield. We were in a 4Runner and all I saw was the legs and chest and nose - it was a big moose.

[Slyder]

unfortunately with critters that big, there's little to do given the circumstances. they're unpredictable, huge, and have no idea that thing coming at them is going to hurt if they touch it. A year ago around this time I came across a young bull vs pickup hauling a horse trailer, only damage done was to the fender on the trailer, bent a little. damage to the moose, well lets say I was extremely pissed at a VT state trooper when I left that scene.

Sounds like Wayne did the right thing, glad you guys are ok.

[BostonSVkid]

I have several of you, here are two. I also recommend visiting the photographer's website, View Gallery, he got some really good stuff of us leaning in corners, etc.

Thanks bud yeah I looked through his photos and will be buying one or too but he only got three of me which is quite upsetting because the guy I was following around a lot had like 20+. OH well

Can you post the rest? I would appreciate it. Thanks!

[Half Squid]

Holy crap, were is the picture of the vehicle??

No pics of me... Damn, I was hoping to see some and not have to wait for the photographer to get them up...

anyone grab his business card? I did not get one. I just need the web link address.

[BostonSVkid]

Holy crap, were is the picture of the vehicle??

No pics of me... Damn, I was hoping to see some and not have to wait for the photographer to get them up...

anyone grab his business card? I did not get one. I just need the web link address.

View Gallery

here you go bud

[kbroderick]

Sucks about the moose. I saw one coming through Granville Gulch a week or tow ago on my bike (in my lane, fortunately she decided to move before I got there)...they look even bigger that way.

You definitely got some cool photos...any chance you grabbed any of me? (Black / teal Ninjette, Group C #48).

oh, and mysnapshots are here. Nothing great, although I think I documented one of the puddles reasonably well.

[rolker]

It was quite a trip, of course some heard about us hitting the moose on the way down there. I thought about posting the story here but maybe not something for a motorcycle forum (other than the fact it happened on our way to the track). The image of the scene after the police got there is in my Photo album under "other" - just be warned that it may be a bit graphic for some people.

Holy shit! Getting to the track is more dangerous than riding on the track. I posted about my crash on the way to the track in the off-topic section... So, who else got in an accident on the way to a track day this week?

Most important is that no one got hurt. Next most important is you got to the track!!

[Vix]

No pics of me... Damn, I was hoping to see some and not have to wait for the photographer to get them up...

Were you in A or C? If so, what was your number? I can look.

Kevin, I photographed for less than half an hour, I sat out one "C" session and photographed instead. I don't recall seeing you on your Ninja but I'll look again when I get home.

[Vix]

Holy shit! Getting to the track is more dangerous than riding on the track. I posted about my crash on the way to the track in the off-topic section... So, who else got in an accident on the way to a track day this week?

Most important is that no one got hurt. Next most important is you got to the track!!

LOL, I try to avoid the off-topic section. I only posted details about the moose upon request and after someone said it was motorcycle related.

The state trooper who showed up said that section of 89 is VERY bad for moose, so anyone traveling it please beware. I think moose tend to be most active at dawn and dusk and of course if bull moose are in rut they are bound to wander a lot more than usual. They can also be much more aggressive and have been known to actually stand off with an oncoming train before as an act of aggression during rut.

[kbroderick]

Were you in A or C? If so, what was your number? I can look.

Kevin, I photographed for less than half an hour, I sat out one "C" session and photographed instead. I don't recall seeing you on your Ninja but I'll look again when I get home.

Was it around lunchtime? That may have been the session I missed while reinstalling the rear wheel. Thanks for checking, though.

Oh, and you didn't happen to get shots of the last session of the day?

[kbroderick]

LOL, I try to avoid the off-topic section. I only posted details about the moose upon request and after someone said it was motorcycle related.

The state trooper who showed up said that section of 89 is VERY bad for moose, so anyone traveling it please beware. I think moose tend to be most active at dawn and dusk and of course if bull moose are in rut they are bound to wander a lot more than usual. They can also be much more aggressive and have been known to actually stand off with an oncoming train before as an act of aggression during rut.

Moose are less crepuscular than other animals, probably because they have few natural predators to hide from (at least when they're healthy). The PITA factor is that they are invisible in twilight and after dark...they tend to look like a black hole, so your best chance of noticing is if they're blocking a piece of background you expect to see.

+1 on moose in rut, though. Also be extra careful in the spring when the newborns are around; overprotective mothers are particularly scary when they weigh several hundred pounds more than you do.

[Jaynnus]

View Gallery

here you go bud

you can buy every image in that gallery for only $47,000.00

[Vix]

Was it around lunchtime? That may have been the session I missed while reinstalling the rear wheel. Thanks for checking, though.

Oh, and you didn't happen to get shots of the last session of the day?

I think it was the first or second session after lunch. That was really the only time I photographed, didn't do anything on the last session. In fact after our 4:00-4:20 session we packed up the bikes and left, even though C was able to ride with B at the end.

[markbvt]

Damn, Vix -- really glad you and SilverGhost are okay, and the vehicular damage wasn't too severe.

Moose and deer are my biggest fear about riding or driving at night.

--mark

[Half Squid]

I was # 46 all blacked out DUKE, I had black leathers and my Helmet was Red with white Racing strips. The # was on the Left rear side of my bike.

Sorry I did not get to meet you or Silver ghost. There were a lot of people there and I had no idea who was on NESR or not. Where were you NESR name tags??? Dammmmit....

Were you in A or C? If so, what was your number? I can look.

Kevin, I photographed for less than half an hour, I sat out one "C" session and photographed instead. I don't recall seeing you on your Ninja but I'll look again when I get home.

[royal690]

having hit a deer in my car, i can't even imagine what seeing a moose in the middle of the road would be like!!! Glad your both ok and made it to the track. I was in C group with my dad, any shots of #50 or #64? Thanks!!!

[Vix]

I will check my image files for #46, #50 and #64 when I get home.

Seeing that moose in the road was like right out of a movie - it was just standing in the middle, broadside, in the fog. I can't help but keep thinking how lucky we were at Wayne's reaction, grateful for the guy in the Caddy after us who remarkably kept the car under control after hitting the moose prone in the road, and also that we didn't ride down on our bikes.

[BostonSVkid]

I will check my image files for #46, #50 and #64 when I get home.

Seeing that moose in the road was like right out of a movie - it was just standing in the middle, broadside, in the fog. I can't help but keep thinking how lucky we were at Wayne's reaction, grateful for the guy in the Caddy after us who remarkably kept the car under control after hitting the moose prone in the road, and also that we didn't ride down on our bikes.

Can you post up all the 88 you had?

[Vix]

I will - I'm at work right now (with no access to my photos from yesterday) and will have to work on it over the weekend.

[BostonSVkid]

I will - I'm at work right now (with no access to my photos from yesterday) and will have to work on it over the weekend.

Great thanks!